Hillbilly Rockstar (Blacktop Cowboys 6)

His face lit up when Harper appeared. “Hey, hot mama.” He tugged her against his body and kissed her soundly.

“You’re back early. I thought you’d check cattle before you came home.”

“Thought I’d see if the boys and Liberty wanted to ride along.” He ruffled Tate’s hair. “Whatcha say, son? Wanna help?”

Tate bounced a couple of times before he announced, “Getting my boots on, Dad.”

“Me too,” Jake said and chased after him.

“Already got them loving ranch work, Bran?” Liberty said dryly.

“Yep. Trick is to make it look like fun and not work.” Bran tucked a hank of hair behind Harper’s ear. “You wanna tag along?”

“No. You go.” Harper smirked at Liberty. “You do realize the invite is so you’ll open gates, right?”

“I figured as much.”

After donning the boots and the hats both boys insisted they needed to do “ranch work,” they trooped out to Bran’s older-model truck.

Liberty didn’t see any car seats.

“I know what you’re thinkin’; I’m not bein’ an irresponsible parent and, yes, Harper lets the boys ride around with me on the ranch without car seats. We don’t go more than five miles an hour, since we’re just bumping through pastures. We don’t go far either. It’s just the way it is around here.” He pointed to Jake. “He’ll hafta sit on your lap.” Then he said, “Tate, buddy, hang on.”

That’s when she noticed the straps hanging from the ceiling. Tate stood in the seat and grabbed the handholds.

Liberty listened to Tate ask ten million questions, and Bran answered every single one with patience. Jake seemed content just to stare out the window and snuggle into her. The trees still had a tinge of green, but the hot, dry, windy months had turned the vegetation brown. Although the area was beautiful, the vastness spooked her. Out here, it was just the ground, the sagebrush, the sky and the sound of the wind. For miles.

It was strange to think Devin had grown up in this landscape. She remembered he’d told her his mom and dad moved from this area when his sister and her family moved to Laramie. She wanted to ask Bran about Devin. What he was like in his younger years. How much he’d changed after Michelle had died. If any of his friends knew how much Michelle’s death had affected him and still haunted him.

“So where are you off to next?” Bran asked.

“There are three weeks left of this assignment and we’re hopscotching all over the place.”

“You really can’t tell me where you’re goin’, can you?”

“No. Sorry.”

“But you’re happy?”

Seemed an odd thing for Bran to ask. “Working for the company in Denver? Yes. I love it.”

“No guys in your life?”

Liberty opened her mouth. Closed it.

Which caused Bran to grin. “I knew it. Harper claims you’d tell her if you were in a relationship, but I said not if it’s something you can’t talk about.” He paused as they bumped over a pothole. “Is it some guy you work with?”

“It’s a . . . client. Which is ridiculously stupid, but it’s just one of those things. I know it won’t last, but I can’t seem to stop myself from living in the moment with him. Talking about it doesn’t help, which is why I haven’t said anything to her.”

Bran nodded. “She’ll want every detail so she can fix it for you.”

“She can’t. If I thought she could, I’d gladly tell her.”

The boys chattered, and Liberty was happy to let the subject die.

After they pulled up to the barn, the boys bounded out of the truck and raced to the house.

Bran paused in front of her. “I hate to take advantage of you bein’ here, but I wondered if you could watch the boys for a few hours tonight?”

“Sure. Why?”

“Because I’d like to take my wife out for a relaxed meal at a nice place where there ain’t crayons on the table.” He shot her a sheepish look. “That’s not a complaint. I love my kids. But I also love their mama, and it’s been a while since just me’n her have gone out.”

“I’d love to take care of them.”

“Thanks, Lib. I mean it.”

“It’s what favorite aunts do.” She smirked at him. “And you don’t have to be home early because your teenage babysitter has to go to school in the morning. Stay out late dancing or . . . whatever.”

He grinned. “Already a two-step ahead of you.”

Harper was taking stock of the refrigerator when they entered the kitchen. “Hope you don’t mind leftovers tonight.”

Bran wrapped his arms around Harper from behind. “Why don’t you let Liberty decide what’s for supper? We’re goin’ out.”

She spun into his arms. “That’s a great idea. Where are we all going?”

He shook his head. “This is just a you’n me thing, princess. It’s already been decided. So go on and get ready while the boys help me finish chores.”

Harper hugged him and whispered something in his ear that made Bran smack her ass.

God. These two were ridiculous. But Liberty couldn’t help smiling.

Harper took her hand and tugged her toward the stairs. “Come on. Keep me company while I make myself look hot for my man.”

Liberty settled in the sitting area across from the big walk-in closet as Harper started tossing outfits on the bed. “I’ve never worn some of these. That’s the downside of owning a clothing store; I’m always tucking away things for myself.” She held up a purple dress with what looked like a rhinestone collar. “Too much?”