by D'Ann Lindun
“You’re welcome. I’m Shannon Lamb. Montana’s best friend.” Pink colored her full cheeks.
“Good to meet you, Montana’s best friend.” He shook her hand. “Liam Steele.”
She held it an instant too long. “Likewise, Liam.”
He recognized an invitation when one was issued, but he’d sworn off women after Whitney Decker—stunning to look at, but no real feelings for him, only a desire to show him off like a champion lapdog. When he didn’t want to play anymore, she raked him over the coals in the arena of public opinion. All he wanted to do in Colorado was stay away from the press and forget about women for a while.
Shannon must’ve sensed his lack of interest, because her smile dimmed and she let go of his hand, moving away to talk to Adrian Devereaux, Cowboy’s lesbian backup singer. Adrian touched the other woman’s hand. Had he been mistaken? Was Shannon gay? He hadn’t gotten that vibe, but his instincts might be off.
His gaze roamed around, looking for the redheaded author. He found her standing in a corner, furiously jotting notes in a small leather notebook. Probably about his gaffe. He wished he could start over with her.
Why, he wasn’t sure. He had no interest in her. The only thing he liked about her was her long legs. He got off on tall women with endless stems. She fit that bill. But she was as bitchy as Whitney over a simple misunderstanding. Okay, maybe he’d taken it a bit far, but how he was to know Cowboy had a biographer? The guy had always hated dealing with reporters in the past because they’d written every dirty detail of his first marriage and subsequent breakup.
As if Kennedy sensed him watching her, she lifted her eyes and their gazes clashed. She held his stare with a bold one of her own. Something arced between them and he winked at her. She responded by making another note with a quick jab of her pen.
The only other sign he’d gotten a reaction was the way she nibbled on the corner of her full, red lips. He watched, mesmerized by her mouth, until he realized he was still staring. He hadn’t made the best first impression. Leering at her like a night stalker probably wasn’t his greatest idea.
He looked around for Stoney and saw him standing by the Coke machine in the far corner. He walked that way, still holding the damn flowers. He sat the vase on a table, glad to be rid of them, and joined Cowboy’s bass player. “How’s it going?”
“Okay.” Stoney sighed. “I hate the waiting part. And this one has gone on a long time. I’m getting a little worried.”
“You’re a dad, right?” Liam vaguely remembered the musician had fathered a child with a groupie a while back.
“Yeah, if you could call it that.” At Liam’s raised brow, he elaborated. “I try, but my ex doesn’t let me see my kid. Keeps me tied up in court on one bogus claim after another.”
“That’s rough, man.”
“Yeah.” Stoney opened a bottle of water and drank. “You got kids?”
“No.” Familiar pain gripped Liam. Had Stoney not read all the garbage in the rags, or watched TMZ? Liam again glanced at the redheaded author. “What’s the story with the writer?”
“Kennedy?” Stoney shrugged. “I don’t know much about her except Cowboy wanted someone to put down his life story and she took the job. She’s been here since last winter. Seems nice enough. Professional.”
“She seeing anyone?” Why the hell do I care?
“Not that I know of.” Stoney’s tone was dry. “Although after the start you got with her, I doubt she’s gonna be jumping to go out with you.”
“I’m not asking,” Liam denied. “I’m taking a break from chicks for a while.”
“Good plan, although it never seems to stick,” Stoney said. “They just seem to find you, no matter how much you vow to stay away from them.”
“I don’t see it as a problem in a town like this.” Liam leaned against the wall as he thought about growing up in Ireland. “I left a place just like this one because everything I don’t want is back there, including girls. Most are only looking for a wedding ring. I like the kind of chick who knows the score, that my music comes first.” Hell, even a supermodel wanted to tie him down…
“Cowboy used to sing a similar tune as you. Now he’s with a woman he’s crazy about who’s about to have his kid,” Stoney reminded him. “And he met his wife in a town tinier than you can imagine.”
Liam shook his head. “Crazy.”
Stoney continued. “Teal’s cheating cost him his marriage, along with his best friend when Cowboy caught them hooking up in his own studio. If it wasn’t for Montana, he’d likely be a bitter, broken and boozed out loser. She restored his faith in women. He’s a lucky guy to have found her.”
“You sound like a romance novel,” Liam groused. “Or a sappy chick song.”
“Nah, just observations from a guy who’s been screwed over by a bitch.” He twisted the lid back on his bottle. “And not lucky enough to have found my own second chance.”
“You looking?”
“Nope. One baby mama’s enough, thanks.” Bitterness seeped into Stoney’s tone. “Cowboy got the last good woman. The rest of us are doomed.” He slapped Liam on the shoulder and walked away.
Liam mulled over what the bassist said. Was he right? Were all who sang, or played music for a living, fated to a life of loneliness? Was Cowboy the exception? Were all women like Cowboy’s, Stoney’s, or his own ex? Only out for what a rock star could give her? Vengeful, if she didn’t get her way?
He glanced around the room, and although he didn’t know most of Cowboy’s band super well, he didn’t think any of them were married, or even in a committed relationship. Maybe they all just preferred the rock and roll lifestyle of screwing groupies, and weren’t looking for anything more than the next hookup.
Not particularly interested in groupies, Liam still wasn’t ready to go the other way—toward marriage and kids. Arm candy would suit him just fine. Next time around, he’d be smart enough to see through the veil, though.
No more had the idea crossed his mind, than his thoughts turned toward Kennedy Donovan. A good Irish name. He wondered if she had ever seen the emerald isle, or if she was generations removed from his homeland. He thought he’d heard some accent in her voice. American south, Texas, he thought. Faint, it laid just under the surface.
He wondered if it became more apparent when she came. Would she throw her head back and scream his name in a heavy drawl?
Jesus.
He was really losing his mind. The girl hated him before she even knew him. The chances of finding out how she sounded in the throes of an orgasm were pretty damn slim.
Images in his head of her writhing under him was putting his cock on display. He had no desire to show the group his fantasy-inspired erection, so he decided a stroll to the cafeteria was in order.
Luckily, the exit was near him, and he could slip away without explanation. As he walked down the hall, his ardor cooled.
Now that his brains were back in control, he reminded himself that he’d come to Colorado to focus on music, not chicks.
CHAPTER TWO
“It’s a girl!”
Like the rest of the people gathered, Kennedy turned toward the doors when Cowboy burst through them with the news of his new baby’s birth. He looked exhausted and ecstatic at the same time.
She hung back, allowing his closer friends and associates to crowd around him. She and the rock star were friends, but some of these people were family to him. Her feelings were secret, and going to stay that way. Not only did he have a woman he adored, he had a brand-new baby daughter.
Finally, the group parted and Kennedy moved up for her turn to hug him. He pulled her tight. “Kennedy. You’re here.”
“Of course,” she said. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” His gravelly voice was rougher than usual.
She pulled out of his arms. “Montana okay?”
“Fantastic. Tired, but on top of the world.” He grinned. “God, Kennedy. You should have seen her. She was magnificent. E
ven when the doctors wanted her to have a C-section she kept pushing and pushing.”
“I’m sure she was great,” Kennedy murmured. “You’ll have to tell me all the details later for the book.”
He held up his phone. “Right here, babe. Every detail in living color.”
Kennedy forced a smile even though her insides churned. “Great.”
Liam moved up to shake his friend’s hand. “Cowboy, congrats.”
“You made it.” Cowboy swept him up in a bear hug. “Great.” He turned his attention back to her, causally slinging his arm around her shoulders. “Have you met Kennedy?”
Liam nodded. “We’ve met.”
“Yeah,” Kennedy muttered. “We did.”
Either too distracted, or too tired to notice her tone, Cowboy squeezed her close in a one-armed hug. “Great. Can you show Liam to the ranch? Get him settled in? Stick around until we come home? It’s going to be a few days until they release Montana.”
Swallowing her protests, she nodded. “Of course.”
Cowboy kissed the top of her head. “Thanks, babe.”
“Sure.”
He released her, then shook Liam’s hand. “See you soon.”
“Thanks again,” Liam said.
“Anytime. We have to get you back on track, man.” Cowboy, the musician, was on display.
“Thanks, but go to your daughter now.” Something like despair flashed in Liam’s eyes before he masked it.
“See you soon.” Cowboy vanished back through the doors into the delivery rooms.
Kennedy stared at Liam. What had she seen? Pain? What was lurking underneath the exterior? Maybe she’d Google him when she got home and see what was up. She gave herself a little shake. Why? He held no interest for her other than a blip in Cowboy’s biography.
“What?” Liam’s growl shook her out of her trance.
“You ready?”
“You sure you want to be alone with me?” His slow grin infuriated her.
She sniffed. “As long as you keep your hands to yourself.”
He held them up, palms out. “Promise.” He slowly raked his gaze over her. “For now.”
Insufferable jerk! She turned away with a hard tug on her crossbody strap. “Come on.”
“Coming.” Laughter filled his tone.
Without looking back, she stomped down the hallway. Why had she been assigned to babysit him? The ride to the ranch was about half an hour. She’d just turn the radio up loud and ignore him.
~*~
Liam followed Kennedy, watching the angry sway of her hips, but his mind wasn’t on her sexy body.
He’d teased her out of habit, but no way was he into a chick who wanted to dig under your skin and expose your bones to the world for its greedy consumption.
They found his rental in the crowded parking lot and he opened the passenger side door for her. She shot him a surprised look, but didn’t comment. He might sing for a living, but his mum had raised him with manners.
He climbed behind the wheel and turned on the engine. “Which way?”
She pointed south. “Onto the highway, then straight for thirty miles.”
He followed her directions, merging into summer traffic, before speaking. “Cowboy has a little girl. Wow. Who would’ve thought it?”
“I know.” She stared out the window as they passed gas stations, a big box store and a strip mall at the edge of town. Her fingers danced over her purse strap. “It’s great.”
“I wonder if being a daddy to a little girl is going to make Cowboy rethink some of the things he’s done.” Liam watched his left mirror as a big RV tried and failed to pass him as the highway narrowed into two lanes, then fell back. If only he could change things, he’d be a da himself about now.
“I don’t know. He seems contrite when he tells me about some of his escapades.” She shrugged. “A child changes a person. My best friend has a new baby, and Violet’s completely rearranged her life. Also, her father’s.”
Liam thought of his baby. He wondered how much he would’ve altered for the child. Initially, he’d been terrified, but then he’d grown thrilled about being a dad, until it all came crashing down.
Cowboy was over the moon about his baby girl. So different from the party animal Liam had met at a festival last summer. The guy had partied hard, guzzled vodka on the rocks, dated strippers and lived for all-night jam sessions. He’d partied like the rock star he was. All shortly after his divorce, Liam recalled.
In his case, he hadn’t gone wild, but he’d reached out to friends as the press raked him over the coals, sharing only half the facts. When he’d called Cowboy for a shoulder to cry on, the man had responded by inviting him to Colorado to get away and forget about Whitney for a while. Liam had accepted, gratefully. He had about a month to regroup before his tour started.
He looked at the San Juan Mountains in the distance. Who would have ever guessed Cowboy would find himself in the middle of the Rockies?
Liam hoped for the same.
Kennedy interrupted his thoughts. “Ever been here before?”
“Black Mountain? No. I’ve played in Denver and Colorado Springs, though.”
“Those are cities. This town is barely big enough for a post office.” She paused. “I like it, though.”
He glanced at her. “Where are you from?”
“New York, but I grew up in Dallas.”
“Quite a jump to Black Mountain, Colorado.” He turned his attention to the narrow two-lane highway.
“Yes.” She didn’t elaborate, instead turning the questions to him instead. “And you?”
“Born in Ireland, a tiny town on the west coast. Moved to L.A. when I was twenty.” He paused. What the hell was he doing sharing his life story? She was the press, or at least an arm of it. They’d crucified him. He was here to escape their scrutiny. Because she had a pretty face didn’t make her any less dangerous. Maybe even more so if he forgot and lost his head around her.
“And you formed a band?” He could feel her gaze on him and he turned to meet her eyes.
“Blue Steele.” Pride and pain warred in his voice. The music they’d created was some of the best of his life. The guys in the band had stood by him, but he didn’t how much longer they could hold on while their music plunged off the charts. Already other bands were making moves on his guys. He couldn’t blame them if they left Blue Steele. Hell, they had to live, too. Hopefully, their upcoming tour would bring back their fans.
Cowboy had turned his own career around after a massive flop; Liam prayed for the same.
“Never heard of it.” Her voice was flat.
Annoyance filled him. How could she not have heard their first single? Rose Full of Thorns had been Grammy-nominated last year. Maybe she only listened to country music, or none. Or maybe she was fucking with him.
“You live under a rock?”
She twisted her purse strap again. “Not hardly.”
“And yet you’ve never heard of Blue Steele or our song, Rose Full of Thorns?” He smiled when her eyes widened.
“Oh.”
“Oh, what?” he pressed.
“Yes, I’ve heard it. I didn’t realize that was your band.” She searched his face and he wondered if in addition to his song, she’d also read he’d refused to marry his pregnant teenage girlfriend, and that she’d terminated the pregnancy rather than be a single parent.
“It’s good.”
He almost swerved off the road at her compliment. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Beautiful country,” he remarked. “I see why Cowboy likes it.”
“He’s made Black Mountain his home,” she said. “People leave him alone out here. He’s made friends with most of the locals, and they respect his privacy.”
Liam longed for the same. Just to be left alone to process the last six months and how to climb out of the hell he found himself in. “Sounds nice.”
“It’s a perfect place to escape and heal.”
She almost sounded as if she understood. How could she? What could possibly haunt her enough to send her to the mountains to hide, or restore herself? Curiosity filled him. He shook it off. He wasn’t interested in being her friend, and he couldn’t be her lover. No way could he let a member of the press close enough to ever burn him again.
~*~
Kennedy showed Liam around the mansion, and the room where he’d be staying. He walked around the spacious bedroom, pausing at the windows facing the San Juans, then sat on the bed. With a wicked grin, he patted the mattress. “Nice. Care to check?”
She sniffed. “No.”
He popped to his feet. “Another time then?”
“Not now, not ever,” she declared. “I’m not your plaything, or for your entertainment. I showed you the way here because Cowboy asked me to. No other reason. I’m not at your disposal in any way.”
“Just Cowboy, huh?”
She glared at him. Had he somehow guessed her secret? “What does that mean?”
He ran a hand over his head and through his long hair. “Nothing, love.”
His Irish accent almost calmed her a little. “You obviously meant something, so spill it. What did you mean?”
“That we all have things we might not want talked about in that book of yours.” He looked past her, at the mountains in the distance.
“First of all, I won’t write anything without checking sources. Second, there’s not much chance you’ll end up in the book anyway. It’s almost done. Montana and the baby are the last chapter, at least for now. The wedding will probably wrap it up.” Why was he so phobic about being written about? Most of the people in her story were thrilled to be included. Cowboy’s ex-bandmate and ex-wife not so much, but that was on them. If they hadn’t cheated, they wouldn’t have anything to be ashamed of.
“Good. I don’t want to be in it.” He sighed. “If no one ever writes about me again, it will be too soon.”
“What about your music? Don’t you want to be interviewed for Rolling Stone or another magazine like it?” She thought of her job in New York, working for a high-end publication. Celebrities had clamored to be featured on its glossy pages.