Hillbilly Rockstar (Blacktop Cowboys 6)

Oh, sweetheart. It don’t work that way. Dismissing me turns me into a cocklebur you can’t shake.

Harper whispered something in Liberty’s ear and she shook her head.

“What’re you guys drinkin’?” Celia asked.

“I’ll have a Coors since Fletch is driving,” Devin said.

“Coke is fine for me,” Fletch said.

“Me too,” Tobin added.

“Make it three,” Hugh said.

“So, Devin, my grandson thinks you’re ‘da bomb’ for giving us tickets to the Cheyenne show,” Vivien said. “Thank you. I’ve gone up a notch in his eyes since I know you.”

“He seemed like a good kid. It was fun havin’ you all there.” Devin felt Liberty staring at him. Then Garnet leaned closer, blocking his view.

“My granddaughter, Jade, wasn’t impressed when I said you and me were buds,” Garnet complained. “Then again, she listens to them fat Italian dudes that sing opera.” She adjusted the HOT MAMA bandanna higher on her forehead, pushing back her fluff of cotton candy pink hair. Garnet sported a bizarre biker look tonight, including a leather halter top—a size too big, which exposed way more of her upper body than Devin ever wanted to see. But it was hard not to stare at the two dozen temporary tattoos she’d randomly plastered on her wrinkled skin. Did she even know what the term backdoor bitch meant?

“I think that’s the first time you’ve mentioned your granddaughter,” Tobin said.

“That’s because when she was growing up, my son restricted her visits with her backwoods granny. She’s my only grandkid and I gotta go fight the crowds in New York City if I wanna see her. It sucks.” Garnet sighed dramatically. “I don’t know where me’n his daddy went wrong raising that boy. He lit out for ‘civilization’ the day after he graduated from high school.”

Devin wondered for the first time if people around here said the same thing about him. Because he too had taken off before the ink on his diploma had dried.

Then Miz Maybelle, Pearl and Tilda alternately complained and bragged about their grandkids. Which was one of the first times Devin had seen the Mud Lilies acting their age. He preferred to see them shooting tequila and firearms and mouthing off.

“What’s that smile for?” Fletch asked.

“Just happy to be home.”

Liberty cocked her head. “Don’t you get mobbed when you come in here? Being the big-time celebrity?”

“Rarely.”

“Oh, don’t play coy,” Bernice said. “Tongues will be wagging all over town that you’re here. I expect this place to be hopping pretty damn quick and you’ll be surrounded.”

“So I’m counting on all of you lovelies to protect me.”

Liberty glared at him.

Shit. He shouldn’t have reminded her that he was here in Wyoming, unprotected. He was supposed to be under guard, even on break.

For the next fifteen minutes, Devin swigged his beer and watched her charming the ladies. And she claimed she was antisocial. She was warm, gregarious and sexy. Every time she laughed, it settled deep in his chest and warmed something inside him.

Fletch leaned closer and said, “Stop starin’ at her. It’ll just piss her off, and the woman is always armed.”

He muttered, “Don’t I know it.”

“What?” Fletch asked suspiciously.

“I just said that you’re probably right.”

Harper snagged Devin’s attention. “You should stop by and see Bran tomorrow.”

Liberty froze midsentence.

“That’s a great idea, Harper. Thanks for the invite.” He rested his elbows on the table and looked at Liberty. “Will you be there?”

“That’s where I’m staying.”

He eyed her nearly empty glass. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“No, thanks.”

“Since you’re not drinking, would you dance with me?”

Liberty’s cool gaze met his. “I’m not your type.”

Ooh, a punch straight to the groin.

Fletch made a hissing you got burned sound.

But Devin wasn’t giving up. “Fine. If you’re afraid to dance with me, just say so.”

“Why would I be afraid to dance with you?”

“Maybe you’re afraid I’ll sweep you off your feet?”

“Dude,” Tobin complained, “give it a rest. She’s not interested.”

“Gotta give the man points for tryin’,” Hugh said.

Liberty held Devin’s gaze and he knew he had her. He also realized she was trying hard not to laugh. “So is that a definite no?”

“Will you stop pestering me if I dance with you one time?”

“Worth a shot to find out, doncha think, G.I. Jane?”

Liberty sighed. “For every toe you step on, I’m breaking one of your fingers, guitar slinger.”

Devin was on her side of the table before she stood. He offered her his hand.

When she took it, that electric charge between them shot straight up his arm, and she squeezed his hand because she felt it too.

His heart raced as he towed her to the farthest corner of the dance floor. Grateful for the slow song, he wrapped his arms around her and just held on.

“Dammit, Devin, why are you here?”

“Because I couldn’t stay away from you.” He nuzzled her temple.

“It’s not safe for you to be on your own. We agreed—”