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—”
“That was before I missed you so fuckin’ much I couldn’t stand it, okay? I’m always safe when I’m with you. I thought you’d be happy I’m here.”
Liberty didn’t say anything.
He realized they hadn’t moved, so he clasped her hand in his to make it at least looked like they were dancing. “Say you missed me, Liberty. Say you missed me like crazy.”
He felt her smile against his cheek. “I missed you, crazy man.”
“Thank God.” He danced them into a corner. As soon as they were out of view, he pressed his body to hers, kissing her in a full-out onslaught. Pouring all of his heat and need into her. A deep rumble of satisfaction escaped at the familiar taste of her and the familiar sensation of how quickly the passion rose between them.
Liberty ripped her mouth free. “We have to stop.” She nestled her cheek against his chest. “Take us back into the crowd before we can’t stop.”
Devin brushed his lips across her crown before he directed them onto the dance floor.
She held herself stiffly, scanning the room to see if anyone was watching them.
“Are you upset that I didn’t let anyone know we’re in a relationship?”
“How would you explain it? Besides, this is temporary between us. This is your hometown and these are your longtime friends. I don’t want you—or Harper—to have to deal with questions about me and what happened when we go our separate ways.”
Why did she always bring that up?
“So in the interest of keeping our cover, you do realize I’ll have to dance with Tobin?”
“Only if you want to watch me break his fuckin’ arms if he puts his hands on you.”
Liberty tipped her head back to gape at him. “What the hell has gotten into you? You never act like this.”
You’ve gotten into me. You’re under my skin. You’ve taken over my brain. Why haven’t you grasped the fact that you’re mine?
“Devin?”
“You haven’t been paying attention if you believe this is the first time I’ve bared my teeth at another male getting too close to you.”
“Seriously?”
“Dead-ass serious.” Maybe he shouldn’t mention the chat he’d had with his road crew about them acting too friendly with his personal assistant. Or the fact he’d almost come to blows with every single one of the Wright Brothers after he’d caught them eyeballing her ass. And her chest. And her face. He spun her so his back was to the room. “Any chance I can see you alone tomorrow when I come out to Bran’s?”
“I don’t know. Won’t they get suspicious if we sneak off to lock ourselves in my bedroom and then the headboard starts banging against the wall?”
Devin growled. “Don’t even fucking tease me with that possibility. It’s been days since I’ve had you.”
Liberty rolled her eyes. “It’s been four days.”
“That’s four days too long.”
For a moment she must’ve forgotten where they were because she nestled her face in the crook of his neck. “I almost called you last night.”
“What time?”
“Midnight.”
“We must’ve been on the same wavelength because I had my phone in my hand ready to call you. Then I . . .”
Liberty lifted her head. “What?”
“Decided I needed to see you in person, so I called the airline instead.”
“You’re killing me with this sweetness. You know that, right?”
“You’re the only reason I’m here. You know that, right?”
“So you aren’t gonna swing by your sister’s place? Isn’t it on the way?”
Of course she’d bring that up. “Hadn’t planned on it.”
“Oh.”
There was that one-syllable word again. “Oh, what?”
“I just can’t imagine being within a few miles of my sister and not at least stopping in to say hello.”
“Liberty, I don’t have the same kind of relationship with my sister that you do with yours.”
“That’s a shame. She’s all you’ve got. That’d make me wanna hold on tighter, not let go completely.”
He briefly rested his forehead to hers. “But I want to see you tomorrow.”
She sighed. “You are relentless.”
“Yep. We’ll still have five days off after this. I want to spend it with you.”
“Where?”
“My cabin in Montana. We could hang out. Get us both a flight out of Missoula for the Portland gig.”
“I don’t know.”
“You weren’t planning to spend all ten days with the Turners?”
She blinked those steely eyes at him. “No. But . . .”
“What?”
“We’ve spent almost every waking minute of the last three months together. Don’t you think time apart will do us good? Put everything in perspective?”
“No.” Devin slid his fingers across her skin above the waistband of her jeans, needing to touch her. “I still want more of you. Of us.”
When Liberty continued to waffle, he pulled out his trump card. “I have fifty acres, no neighbors and a closetful of firearms.”
She groaned. “Bringing out the big guns, huh?”
“Darlin’, I play to win. You know that.”
“All right. You win.” Then her eyes narrowed. “Have you told anyone you’re spending time at your remote cabin?”
“I hadn’t planned on going until just now, so that’d be a no. It’s the safest place I could be. Especially if you’re there with me.”
“God, you’re good.” She stepped back, breaking their connection as soon as the song ended.
No one seemed to be paying attention to them as they returned to their seats.
Some old guy was grilling Fletch—probably for free veterinary advice. Tobin and Harlow were speaking animatedly as Hugh silently looked on a little too intently. Harper and Celia were talking about their kids. Eli and Summer had stopped over to say hello before they joined another table of friends.
Pearl glommed onto Liberty the second she sat down. Garnet, Tilda, Bernice and Vivien were arguing about the next round of shots. Which left him with Miz Maybelle’s undivided attention.
When she smiled at Devin and scooted her chair closer, he knew he was screwed.
“Quite a show you put on,” she said, blocking him from the rest of the table.
“I’m glad you were able to make it to Cheyenne. There’s nothin’ like playing to a hometown crowd.”
She snorted. “I’m not talking about the concert—although that was a hoot. I’m talking about the show you and Liberty just put on. Acting like you two don’t know each other when it’s plain as day that you’re in love with the girl.”
Devin couldn’t hide his shock.
“Relax. I doubt anyone else noticed, since half the table is in the sauce. I assume there’s a good reason you’re keeping your relationship with her under wraps?”
“It’s . . . complicated. That’s all I can say. If I could let people know we were together, I would.” He imagined sitting next to Liberty in this bar, his arm around her and her head resting on his shoulder like a normal couple. “In a damn heartbeat.”
She patted his leg. “She’s several steps up from your usual type I see you with in them magazines. And I don’t see that look of . . . desperation in your eyes anymore. Which is probably why you’re not being hounded by the ladies who showed up here, hoping to get into your Wranglers.”
“Seriously?” But as Devin allowed a stealthy look around, he noticed the bar had filled with women of all ages, all focused on him.
Liberty sensed it too. If he hadn’t known her like he did, he might’ve missed the immediate change in her demeanor.
“Let me give you some advice. It’ll be damn lonely if all you’ve got to snuggle up to at the end of the day are bags of money. A good woman who sees you, not just your fame and fortune, is worth more than her weight in gold.”
“I know that. I just gotta convince her I feel that way about her—and that I always will.” He impulsively leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Miz Maybelle.”
“Anytime. Now, get Fletch to take you outta here. He’s restless and missing Tanna anyway. But at least he’s not working to fill his free hours when she’s gone.”
Devin caught Fletch’s eye and gestured to the door.
A look of relief crossed his face and he stood. “I’ve got an early morning, so I’m headin’ out. Come on, Dev. Let’s hit the road.”
He scooted his chair back. “Great hanging out with y’all, even if it was for a short time.” He locked his gaze to Liberty. “Nice meeting you.”
“Same here.”
Fletch was familiar with the drill. It was easy for him to run interference for Devin because no one wanted to mess with a guy Fletch’s size.
Still, even after they escaped outside, the door banged behind them. He automatically turned around to see if he’d been followed, and a pack of four women were approaching.
Then Liberty cut in front of them, shouting, “Ah, Dr. Fletcher, could I ask you a question?”
Fletch stopped. Sighed. “Sure.”
“It’s about . . . dogs.”
Dogs?
“I’m thinking about getting Tate and Jake a puppy. Of course I wouldn’t do it without Bran or Harper’s say-so, but when is the best time of year to get one? Spring? Or fall?”
Devin noticed the women had stopped. And that Liberty had positioned herself and Fletch so they were blocking him completely from view.
God, he loved this woman, who looked out for him even when she wasn’t being paid to do so. That meant something. It had to.
“My usual response is to say spring, but as ranchers, Bran and Harper would have more time to work with the puppy in the fall, not during calving season.”
“Dr. Fletcher, did you unlock your vehicle?” Liberty asked in a low tone.
Startled by the abrupt conversational switch, Fletch warily said, “Yeah. I unlocked it when we came out. Why?”
Without looking away from Fletch, Liberty said, “Devin, get in the truck. Now. And try not to be obvious.”
He didn’t argue and he didn’t stick around to hear Liberty explain to Fletch why she was bossing him around.
Chapter Twenty-five
Liberty spent the morning outside with the boys, playing cowboys and Indians in their fort. She took them for a walk so they could pick wildflowers—weeds mostly—for their mama.
She cleaned up her dirty charges afterward and then hopped in the shower herself. Since she was heading back to Denver, she dressed in shorts, flip-flops and the AWESOME AUNTIE T-shirt Tate and Jake had given her. No need to slather on makeup or bother fixing her hair. She finger-combed the blue streak she’d re-dyed this morning, figuring it’d be the last time she got to have a teeny bit of personality in her hairstyle. Once she returned to GSC, she’d revert to her normal don’t-stand-out hair color.
Her stomach rumbled when she got a whiff of lunch. She slung her