Hillbilly Rockstar (Blacktop Cowboys 6)

Odette cleared her throat. “Uh, hate to tell you, but that song is all you. Keep it stripped down like that, in that almost confessional whisper tone, and I guarantee it’ll be a hit. Guarantee it, Dev.”

“When did you become the psychic type who can see into the future?”

“I don’t gotta have any special mind skills when my ears work just fine. That song is amazing.”

Devin said something that made Odette laugh.

Then, before Liberty prepared herself, Devin’s footsteps echoed toward her. He stopped when he saw her in the sitting area. “Oh. Hey. I hope we weren’t disturbing you.”

“Not at all.”

His eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”

Shit. “Nothing.”

“Then why is your face wet like you’ve been cryin’?”

“Probably got dust in my eye when the air-conditioning kicked on.”

“Try again.”

“Allergies. I think I’m allergic to Oklahoma.”

Devin crouched down. “Sweetheart, I know something caused the tears that made your makeup run.”

She tried to discreetly wipe under her eyes, and her fingers came away black. God. Sometimes she sucked so bad at being a girl.

Devin sighed, stood and walked to the bathroom, returning with a handful of tissues. “Here.”

“Thanks.”

He was being so sweet, which was probably what spurred her to blurt out, “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Write songs like that? Heartbreaking and beautiful with so much raw emotion.”

“It’s gotta be good if it makes the toughest woman I know cry.”

Liberty didn’t look at him. She just twisted the soggy tissue and said, “Don’t make fun of me.” Then she felt his warm fingers beneath her chin as he tipped her head up, forcing her to look at him.

“I’m not. I’m not bein’ flip when I say I don’t know. Some songs just come easy. Some I work on for months and can’t seem to get right. That song? It . . .” His eyes were dark and so conflicted she couldn’t help but reach for his hand.

“Devin. Sorry I pried. You don’t have to tell me.”

“I would if I could, but even I don’t know where that song came from. I started it when I was havin’ one of them days. Where the gap between where I was and what I wanted just kept getting wider. But even back then the song wasn’t ringing true, so I set it aside. Just in the last couple days I was able to get it where it needed to be.”

“I don’t know anything about music, but Odette does and she’s right. It’s an amazing song.”

“Thank you.” He swept his thumb across her knuckles. “You don’t have to hide back here. You’re welcome to sit with us while we’re workin’.”

“It wouldn’t bother you if I watched you?”

“I play in front of crowds more than five thousand strong damn near every night.”

Devin moved closer.

He continued to stare at her, as if she were a challenge. Or maybe a puzzle. “This . . . attraction between us is makin’ you nervous, isn’t it?”

“Very.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s probably not a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“I work for you.” After she’d said it, she knew it didn’t sound very convincing.

“Technically, you work for Big Sky Promotions, not me.” His lips grazed the section of skin below her temple. “Is that the only reason?”

“No.”

He nuzzled her ear. “Give me another reason, Liberty.”

“That voice of yours in my ear is scrambling my brain.”

“Mmm-hmm. Still not a valid reason, so if you don’t want me to kiss you, say no.”

“I can’t.”

“Can’t what?” he said as he nibbled on her jaw.

Tingles shot across her skin. “Can’t say no because I really want you to kiss me again.”

He smiled against her cheek.

“And that pisses me off.”

Devin brushed his mouth across hers in a barely there kiss. “Is that a challenge for me to kiss the mad outta you?”

“No. But—”

“Liberty.”

“What?”

“Shut. Up.” He slanted his lips over hers and dove in.

The heat was instantaneous.

And so was the interruption.

“Omigod! Seriously? I’m on a bus with the equivalent of horny teens.” Odette marched over and tugged the back of Devin’s shirt until he stood up. “Work. Now. No more breaks.”

“One minute.”

“No. Now,” Odette insisted.

“I said I need another minute,” he snapped. “Go back up front or I’ll get Reg to stop the goddamn bus and I’ll throw you off myself.”

Yikes. This sexually aroused side of him was hot.

“Whatever.” Odette stomped away.

Then all six foot three, two hundred ripped pounds of sexually aroused male loomed over her. “We’ll talk tonight after the show. Set some boundaries and all that since you love rules so damn much.”

She smiled and shocked him by pulling him down for another steamy kiss. “It’s a date. Now go sing me a pretty song.”

The show had been off tonight. Most people in the audience didn’t notice, but he knew, and that’s all that mattered.