Liberty crawled to the end of the bed. “I’ll shower quickly since you probably want to get to work.”
Devin’s arm snaked around her just as she reached the bathroom door, and he spun her to face him. “You’re okay with—”
“You fucking me raw and then kicking me out of your bed?” She laughed at his shocked look. “Kidding. I’ve been with you for a month, Devin. I won’t infringe on your writing time just because we’ll be banging the headboard in here. This change has to be positive for both of us or we should go back to the way things were.”
He crowded her against the wall. “No way in hell are we goin’ back. I just find it surprising”—he traced the frown line between her eyes—“or maybe I should say refreshing that you don’t wanna—”
“Monopolize your free time? I’m not a . . .” Shit. Wrong thing to say.
“Groupie. Say it.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m not a groupie, but after being naked with you, I know firsthand why groupies want to climb on and ride you like a fucking pony.”
Devin grinned.
“I can separate my job as your protector from the woman who’s your lover.” Her eyes searched his. “Can you?”
“In the past, any woman who’s been in my bed and on my bus wants me to act like a boyfriend all the time. That’s why it’s almost too easy for me to switch gears from it bein’ about sex to it bein’ about work. I didn’t want you to feel like after last night and this morning I was bein’ dismissive. Of you. Of this.”
Dammit. This was recreational sex. Nothing more. She needed to remind him of that. “I need my personal space too. And I’ll expect you to leave your aggressive lover side on the bus.”
“That I can do.” He kissed her forehead. “So many different roles we’re playing. Is there any doubt one of us is gonna fuck something up?”
“As long as you let me do my job in public, I’ll gladly let you put me in any role you want when the bus door closes.”
“Remember you said that.”
She stepped back and stared at him.
“What?”
“Handing you control was easier and more freeing than I thought it’d be. I’ve never done that before.”
Devin growled. “Get in the damn shower before I change my mind and join you.”
They were thirty minutes late to the pancake house.
They took a rash of crap for it—undeserved because Devin had been working on a song, not working her over between the sheets. As soon as they grabbed seats, Devin scooted their chairs together so Liberty couldn’t move any part of her body without bumping into his. While wanting her by his side was a bigger declaration of their togetherness than she’d expected, his closeness impeded her ability to get to her gun.
She murmured, “I’m on duty, so give me some space.”
Devin stiffened. Then he placed his lips on her ear. “I’m pretty sure no one is gunning for me in Batesville.”
“If they were, you’re blocking me in. You know the deal. Our personal parameters changed last night, but the professional ones, especially in public, remain the same. Especially since three people recognized you the second you walked in.”
He frowned at her. “Really? Already?”
“I never understand why that surprises you.” She placed her hand on his cheek. “This is a memorable face. Too damn handsome for your own good.”
“I like this flattering side of you.” He angled his head and lightly bit the base of her thumb before he backed off.
She paid little attention to the band’s conversation at the table. Or the stack of pancakes Devin ordered for her. Before she’d taken more than a few bites, the group of teenage girls in the corner got up and approached Devin.
“Ah, Mr. McClain?”
He whipped his head around. “That’s me. What’s up, ladies?”
“Omigod! You’re, like, my favorite singer ever! I can’t believe you’re in my town!”
The other girls behind her squealed their excitement.
“Crash, would you take some pictures?”
Good to head them off before they could ask; it put him in control. Liberty stepped to the side, keeping an eye on the fans and the front door. As soon as the cell phone snapshots were done and he signed autographs, the girls practically floated out of the restaurant.
Then an angry woman stomped close enough to get right in his face. “I’ve heard your songs. You sing about sex, sex and more sex. And even homosexual sex. It’s wrong to put them kind of nasty ideas in young girls’ heads. I’m praying for you to find God’s guidance in your life and use the talent he gave you to spread the Good Word.”
“I appreciate the prayers, ma’am. You have a fine day.”
She really had no comeback for that.
Devin returned to his seat. His food had gone cold. But he scooted up to the table and shoveled in what was left. Then he snatched the bacon off Liberty’s plate and grinned at her while he crunched it.
“Hurry up,” Crash said. “We’ve got an hour before we reach the venue, and we have to do a quick run-through as soon as we hit the parking lot.”
“Why? We’ve played there before,” Gage said.
“They upgraded the sound system since last time. I’ve been on the phone with Boomer. He’s having a shit fit. Nothin’ is going right. Half the speakers don’t work, and amateurs are trying to tell him how to do his fucking job.”
“Amateurs?” Devin repeated.
“Jesse-Belle’s crew.”
“We’re done here.” Devin stood and addressed everyone at the table. “Be ready to hit the stage as soon as the bus door opens. Got it?”
Mumbled yeahs echoed.
Liberty hadn’t seen Devin so infuriated since he’d had front-of-house security haul out a guy in the front row after he’d punched his girlfriend in the face.
Devin had his phone out and was barking orders at someone as he exited the restaurant. She remained a few steps behind him, glancing around to see if the woman with the Bible intended to chase him down and thump him with it.
Reg reached the bus first and unlocked it. He and Liberty exchanged a look when Devin scaled the bus steps without pause.
“Thanks, Reg. Time to put the pedal to the metal, huh?”
“Sounds like, Miss Liberty.”
Inside, Devin paced. “I don’t give a damn. She can use our equipment, or I’ll scratch her from the rest of the dates. Yeah? Go ahead and call Carl at Big Sky. I guarantee if it gets out that I dropped her from the tour, it’ll be a long damn time before she gets another offer from anyone. No, sir, that is not a threat; it’s a fact. I’m not letting some wet-behind-the-ears twenty-year-old diva fuck up one of my best venues.” He paused. “You do that. We’ll be there in less than an hour.” He hung up. “Motherfucking hell.”
“What’s going on?”
“In a nutshell, Jesse-Belle’s road crew can’t get her equipment to work, which has delayed getting my stage show set up. We’re sold out for tonight. The damn show starts late anyway, and I’m not sucking up her delays. I’ll cut her. Double Trouble can do their set damn near acoustically, so I’m not worried about them.” He tossed his phone on the bench. “Only ten shows with her, they said. How bad can it be? It’s the second night and I want to send her packing.”
Here’s where the change in their relationship caused her hesitation and some confusion. Was she supposed to try to soothe him like a lover would? Or keep their interaction focused on business?
When Devin plopped down and rested his head against the back cushion with a sigh, she reacted instinctively. She straddled his lap, curled her hands around his face and kissed him. She didn’t offer him comfort, but distraction.
He eased back and murmured, “You taste so damn sweet. Like maple syrup.”
“And you taste like stolen bacon.”
He laughed softly and returned to the kiss. Keeping it just as sweet and soothing as she had. No rush, just focusing on sliding lips, twining tongues an
d gentle touches.
Something shifted inside her.
No. It was just the bus swaying; that’s all.
Devin’s lips slid free from hers, and he followed the curve of her neck down to the top button of her blouse. “Thank you.”
“Truly my pleasure. Is there anything else I can do?”
“Not now. But it’s an understatement to say I don’t trust her or that bunch of clowns she calls a management team. So just keep a closer eye on it tonight.”
Liberty tipped his head back to look into his eyes. “Should I be worried to the point I’ll need to add extra security?” Not that she could at this late in the day.
“Maybe around me so I’m not tempted to throttle her.”
“I’m keeping my stun gun away from your twitchy fingers.”
Devin sighed again—an agitated sound. “This venue is great for everything except there aren’t any backstage accommodations other than sponsor tents.”
“Want me to duck into my bunk so you can get into the right headspace?”
“Where would I warm up? In the shower? Wait. That’s your special singing spot.” His eyes narrowed. “That reminds me. We never talked about why you didn’t mention you’ve got a killer voice.”
She tried to squirm away. “Stop teasing me.”
Then he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and held her in place. “I’m serious. When I heard you singing in my shower I thought you were Tay.”
“Maybe the manufacturer added excellent acoustics in the shower since this is a rockstar bus.”
He made an annoyed noise. “If the acoustics were that damn good, I’d record my next album in there. So try again. Where’d you learn to sing so well that I confused you with a professional vocalist? Have you had training?”
“Are you kidding me? Half the time we didn’t have enough money for food. I’ve always liked to sing. I still do. That’s it.”
“That’s it, she says.” He brushed his lips across hers. “So if you like to sing, sing with me.”
“What? No way.”
“Please.” Another brush of his velvety lips.
“Devin. Don’t.”
“Sing with me one time and then I’ll leave you alone.”
She snorted. Right.
Then he started to hum. She recognized the song and the next line popped into her head. But her lips remained firmly closed.
“Come on, you know you want to. Sing a little something with me and I promise I’ll play a song—any song you want—onstage tonight just for you.”
Devin hummed louder. Then he switched to the actual lyrics. And she couldn’t help herself when he hit the catchy chorus; she chimed in. So softly at first she doubted he heard her.
But he immediately matched her softer tone, so their voices were the same strength. On the next line, Devin sang harmony as she kept up the melody.
When they reached the end of the tune, Devin grinned and kissed her. “Screw bein’ my bodyguard. I’m makin’ you my new backup singer.”
Liberty blushed. “High praise. Thank you.”
“Would it be over-the-top if I said, Baby, we’re gonna make beautiful music together?”
“Yes, and it makes you a total dork.”
“You wound me, darlin’.” He slapped her ass. “I gotta get ready.”
“I need to make a phone call anyway.”
Devin was so distracted he didn’t ask who she was calling.
Which was a good thing because the call she needed to make might end everything.
“Garrett.”
“Liberty. I’m surprised to hear from you in person. You usually e-mail me your reports. What’s goin’ on?”
“Something came up, and I don’t know what to do.”
“What happened?”
No reason to make polite chitchat. She blurted out, “I slept with Devin.”
A pause, then, “I assume it was by mutual consent?”
“Of course.”
“Is he demanding replacement security?”
“No. In fact, just the opposite. Devin seems to think we’re in some sort of personal relationship.”
“Of course he does,” Garrett drawled. “Think that’ll put him in danger? He expects you to act like his girlfriend and not as his bodyguard?”
Liberty leaned her head against the plush padding in her bunk wall. “To be honest, I’m not sure. This is a job, but yet it feels different somehow.” Until now she’d avoided drawing parallels between this situation and the one with her commanding officer. They were similar in that she and Sean had to keep what they were doing a secret; they both could’ve faced disciplinary actions. Devin wasn’t asking her to keep their intimate relationship under wraps, but her purpose for being with him, who she really was, was a secret from the rest of the band. Part of her thought that was a harder pill to swallow.
When Garrett didn’t respond, her brain chimed in with the serious repercussions she was trying to ignore.
Was fucking him worth losing your job? Worth losing one hundred thousand dollars? Worth losing your self-respect, to think that you’re just another woman who fell into Devin McClain’s bed?
She couldn’t stand the silence any longer. “Garrett? Are you so quiet because you’re booking plane tickets?”
“Excuse me?”
“I worried that when I told you about Devin and me becoming lovers, you’d have my ass on the next plane back to Denver.”
“Is that what you want?”
“No! It’s just . . . the fact that you’re not freaking out about this is freaking me out a little.”
Garrett said, “Gimme a minute, okay?”
“Fine.” He put her on hold and canned Muzak tortured her ear. Who thought an instrumental version of “Smells like Teen Spirit” was a good idea?
Maybe Garrett wouldn’t shitcan her. Maybe he’d just pull her off the assignment.
Why did the thought of leaving Devin make her sad and not like she’d dodged a personal and professional bullet?
“I’m back. This might be the understatement of the year, but besides your bedroom antics, you and Devin are getting along well?”
“Yes. He takes the security issues seriously. He listens to me and trusts me.”
“Look. If it were anyone else, I’d pull them off assignment, but I suspected something like this would happen. And before your outrage burns through the telephone lines and zaps my brain stem, lemme explain something. It is not that uncommon when people are in close quarters like you two have been that an intimate relationship will develop.”
Relief swept through her, followed quickly by a niggling suspicion. “You didn’t plan for this to happen, did you?”
“No, but I’m not naive either. So be warned: There’s truth in that movie The Bodyguard—how it played out and how it ended.”
It ended badly, if she recalled correctly.
“When the period of danger is over for the client, the guard and the client go their separate ways.” He paused. “Is that what worries you? Have you fallen for him?”
No. Not yet. Okay, maybe a little. “No. I just . . . I wasn’t sure if sleeping with the client was a firing offense. The situation wasn’t addressed in the employee handbook.”
Garrett chuckled. “As long as you can be honest about your ability to still do your job at the same commitment level as when you started the assignment, then I don’t have a problem with it. But if there’s a change in dynamic on either side, you’ll need to inform me ASAP.”
“Understood.”
“I never doubted your ability to handle this job, Liberty. But I avoid assigning opposite-sex bodyguards to clients for any length of time for this very reason.”
“Great. I’m a cliché now too.”
“Not yet. So do you want me to tell the promotion company that your relationship with Devin has become intimate and see how they weigh in?”
She chewed on her lip. “I’ll leave that decision up to you.”
“Then as far as
I’m concerned, everything is goin’ according to the contract we signed. I’ll leave it as is for now. They were the ones who insisted on hiring you. They were the ones who suggested you pose as his girlfriend before we settled on the personal assistant title. They really can’t be shocked that you two became sexually involved.”