Hillbilly Rockstar (Blacktop Cowboys 6)

“No. Just enough to keep you down for at least twelve hours.”

“What time is it?”

“Almost two.”

“In the afternoon? Shit. I have to call Garrett.”

“I already did. I told him you’d check in when you were feeling up to it.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

“How’s your arm?”

“Sore. It’ll be better once I start moving it. You did remember to grab that sheet with the recommended rehab exercises?”

Devin sat on the edge of the bed. “Before you start doin’ physical therapy, are you hungry?”

“Yeah.” She wilted against the headboard. “I could use a shower.”

“Shower first because I need to change your bandage.”

She scowled. “I can do it.”

“I’m sure you can, sweetheart, but you ain’t gonna do it. I am.”

“Fine. How bad is the media?”

“No idea. Been avoiding it. I did call Chelsea Lynn from Country Music Today and gave her an exclusive, since she was the one who’d tipped me off to someone trying to sell pictures of us to the tabloids. See, JT had created this whole spin that you were a controlling bitch and causing problems on my tour. Which just goes to show you how stupid he was. Everyone likes you—except for him. And he got a bunch of his ‘insider information’ wrong, so we narrowed it down to him causin’ the problems pretty easily.”

“I heard him on the phone trying to get in touch with Waverly O’Brien.”

“Fuckin’ douche bag. JT was desperate. According to the statement the cops got, JT owes more than two hundred grand to some Vegas bookies.”

“He didn’t look like a junkie, so I figured he must be into gambling.”

Devin pushed her damp hair off her cheek. “So observant. That’s why you get paid the big bucks.”

A worried look entered her eyes. “Why would you want me here if I can’t do my job?”

“Stop. You’re with me for the duration of this tour. Don’t you think I’m safe now that the threat has been eliminated?”

Liberty shook her head. “You had incidents in the three months JT was recovering.”

“But the worst of it, the attack on JT on my bus, the lax security, my guitars bein’ ripped off, all a thing of the past.”

“But what about your bus getting shot at? And—”

Devin put his fingers over her lips. “We knew the bus incident might’ve been random. And the protestors I brought on myself. I’m not bein’ reckless. I’ll continue to have security at all the events.”

“But it won’t be me.”

“No.”

“Then what good am I to you?”

“You really just asked me that?” He tamped down on his temper. “And by the way, when I told you I was in love with you last night, you didn’t even respond. You just continued ripping into me for tackling JT.” Devin kept a firm grip on her chin, not allowing her to look away. “Are you surprised that I have feelings for you?”

“No.”

“Am I alone in those feelings?”

It took her a second to answer. “No.”

“Good. I’m takin’ care of you. That’ll give us plenty of time to sort out what happens between us when the tour ends in a week.” He kissed her. “Now, would you like scrambled eggs and toast? Or oatmeal?”

“Both.” Then she purred, “And that’s not all I’m hungry for,” with a glance at his crotch.

“One thing at a time, sweetheart.”

On day five of Devin’s mission to keep Liberty under his watch, he would’ve happily shipped her—and his entire crew—to Disneyland to see if being at “the happiest place on earth” would change their shit attitudes.

They’d had a lousy rehearsal. Everyone was ready to be done with the tour and get home. He chewed collective ass until the band and the crew understood he’d keep the rehearsal going until he was satisfied they weren’t just phoning it in.

After the marathon session, his security escorted him to the bus. The second he emerged from the stair bay, he saw that Liberty’s bad mood exceeded his and she was loaded for bear.

She sat on a folding chair in the middle of the living area, working on her physical therapy—bouncing and squeezing a tennis ball. Except she’d modified the exercise. She whipped the ball at the wall above the driver’s cab. If he hadn’t ducked, she would’ve nailed him in the head.

His eyes narrowed. Had she done that on purpose?

“Glad you could grace me with your presence,” she said snottily.

He snagged the ball midair when she threw it again, this time at his groin. “Attitudes during rehearsal sucked, so I kept everyone until the attitudes improved. Why’re you in a bad mood?”

“Because I’ve been a f**king prisoner in this goddamn bus for the last five days.”

Devin flashed her a smile. “Welcome to my world, sweetheart.”

“Oh, go to hell.”

“Just spent two hours there, so no, thanks. How’s the arm?”

“Perfectly fine. One hundred percent healed. It’s a f**king miracle.”

“Great. Get your shit packed. I’ll have Crash book you a flight outta here tonight.”

Liberty stared at him, and he saw the edge of fear in her eyes.

Such a little liar you are, tough girl. You don’t want to go any more than I want you to.