Hillbilly Rockstar (33 page)

Events never happened in slow motion for her. For her, they happened in a nanosecond. She saw the shadowed form in her periphery vision and then a split second later the form tackled JT. She turned to reach for her gun, saw the muzzle blast and heard the pop as JT's gun fired.

Then she felt the bullet rip through her flesh and a warm gush of blood. In shock, she staggered backward before she fell forward onto her knees.

Devin's roar vibrated through the air.

Dozens of footsteps pounded past her. Shouts sounded, and a male voice yelled in pain.

Crash crouched in front of her. “Liberty, are you okay?”

“He shot me.”

Then Devin shoved Crash aside. “He fucking
shot
you?”

“Devin—”

“Where did the bullet hit?”

“My left arm. Fuck. I always forget how fucking much it hurts to get shot.”

“Ambulance is on its way,” Crash said. “Cops too.”

“She can't wait for the fucking ambulance,” Devin snarled.

Then Check was right there. “Move. I know what to do.” He spoke in a
low, soothing voice, asking where it hurt, gently poking the outside of her biceps and fashioning a tourniquet out of his bandanna.

Liberty needed to focus on something besides the pain. “Who's dealing with JT?”

“Event security guys. They stun gunned him a couple of times.”

“Wish I coulda had a go at him,” Crash grumbled.

“Good timing on your part, but how'd you find us?”

“Devin and I suspected JT was up to something, so in the past couple days, I started watching him.”

“You suspected JT,” she said evenly. “And yet you didn't think to oh,
discuss
it with me? Since I'm—”

“Not thinkin' clearly,” Crash interjected, jerking his chin toward Check, who had no idea that Liberty was Devin's bodyguard.

Dammit. Even now, sporting a goddamn gunshot wound, she had to keep her mouth shut.

“Tonight I had to deal with equipment breakage, so I couldn't keep an eye on him after the show. SOB probably vandalized the equipment so I would be occupied,” Crash said bitterly. “How'd you find JT?”

“I was by the bus and I heard a strange noise. I tracked the sound and came upon JT and some enforcer type guy beating on him.”

“Devin said you were lookin' for me, so I went lookin' for you. When I couldn't find you, I knew something was up.”

“Did you bring Devin along as your crime-fighting partner?” Liberty asked, unable to keep the disapproval from her voice.

“Fuck no.” Crash glared at Devin. “Odette told him you were worried someone was watching you two and you'd followed JT outside. So Odette distracted security and Devin snuck out.”

Liberty aimed a cool stare at him, hoping it masked the pain in her eyes. “You decided it'd be a good idea to jump in front of a gun?”

Devin's jaw tightened. “I was just supposed to let him shoot you?”

She opened her mouth, snapping it shut when he made a snarling noise.

“I lost a hundred years off my life seein' him with a gun pointed at you. I reacted like any normal man would when the woman he's in love with is threatened.”

“He could've shot you.”

Devin curled his hand around the side of her face. “Baby, he
did
shoot you.”

She blew a raspberry. “Please. He winged me. Barely a flesh wound.”

“Jesus.”

At that point the cavalry arrived. The EMTs helped her up and led her to the ambulance.

Devin was right there with her, every step of the way.

After she warned the EMTs that she was armed, they very gingerly cut away the ripped and bloody sleeve of her shirt. She hissed when they started poking around in the wound.

Her eyes met Devin's. He reached for her hand and kissed her knuckles. He'd stayed so close to her side that she figured the EMTs would boot his ass any second. They tried; Devin snarled and they let him stay.

The EMTs conferred in low tones. The medical jargon meant nothing to her, but the wound was getting to the excruciatingly painful stage. During a break in their conversation, she said, “So? What's the prognosis?”

“The bullet grazed you. But given the caliber of the bullet, it took a decent-sized chunk of flesh out of your arm. Not sure if there's muscle damage, so we need to get you to the ER.”

“Is there a veterans hospital around here?”

“Liberty, you don't have to worry about that. We'll take care of the bill.”

She rolled her eyes. “The VA has all my medical records. It'll save time. Plus, if they've got a wound care unit, that's who I want treating me.”

“There is a VA close by,” the female EMT offered.

“Good. Let's go.”

Crash jogged over. “You all set here?”

“They're takin' her to the VA. I'm riding along with her.”

“Uh, no, you're not,” Liberty said. “I'm not exactly in the best position to protect you.”

Devin smiled at the wide-eyed EMTs. “Can you please give us a moment alone?”

As soon as they stepped aside, Devin lit into her. “Not another fuckin' word about you protecting me. The guy who caused the problems is under arrest. And there's no way in hell I'm gonna sit on the bus with my thumb
up my ass while you're in the fuckin' hospital from a goddamn bullet wound, Liberty.”

Liberty looked at Crash, expecting he'd talk sense into Devin.

But Crash just shrugged. “I'm with Dev on this.”

“Why?”

“Because if I know he's with you, I won't have to worry that he'll pull some dangerous dumb stunt trying to
get
to you.”

“Fine.” She gave Devin a hard look. “But we're going to a military hospital. I'm a former soldier, so there will be no fucking coddling me, got it?”

“Yes, ma'am. Now give him your gun,” Devin told her in that bossy tone of his.

She reached around with her right hand—thank God she hadn't been shot in her right arm—and pulled the gun from her Undertech concealment shorts and handed it to Crash. “It's got one in the chamber.”

“You are one scary-ass woman.” Crash handled it like it was a snake, which amused her to the point she had to bite back hysterical laughter.

Possibly she was coming down from the danger high and was about to crash.

Hey, she could crash
into
Crash. Wasn't that funny? She had to chomp on her tongue to keep from chortling like a hyena at her awesome play on words.

“I won't be able to keep this from the media. So how do you want Big Sky to spin this?” Crash asked Devin.

“The official immediate statement should be: ‘Unstable tour bus driver took a member of Devin McClain's road crew hostage. After a brief scuffle, the bus driver is in police custody awaiting charges. The crew member
suffered a non-life-threatening wound and is expected to make a full recovery.'”

Liberty cocked her head. “Wow. If I could clap right now, I would. Damn, guitar slinger, you're quick on the uptake.”

Devin smiled. “Ain't my first rodeo, G.I. Jane.”

F
our hours later, Devin was stretched out on the bed on his bus beside Liberty. After she'd given her statement to the cops, the docs had doped her up on pain meds since she'd refused to spend the night in the hospital. She'd gone comatose the instant her head had hit the pillow.

He'd wanted to cosset her in a nice hotel with room service, but they'd hit the road so he could make his next performance.

A performance he'd be a zombie for since he couldn't take his eyes off her. Devin had never been so terrified as in that moment when he realized that JT
would
shoot her. He'd reacted instinctively and he'd do it again, despite Miss Professional Bodyguard's ass chewing for his macho behavior. She'd pointed out—repeatedly—that he could've hit JT at the wrong angle, sending the bullet ricocheting into her head or into her heart. To which he'd calmly replied that her head was so fucking hard the bullet would've bounced off it like rubber.

She'd not found that amusing.

Eventually his eyelids drooped. Before he succumbed to slumber, he wondered if the drugs would keep Liberty from having combat nightmares. Because guaranteed this event would stir them up.

The next morning Devin had showered and dressed by the time Liberty woke up. “Mornin', bullet catcher.”

“Fuck off.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Did JT hit part of your funny bone last night when he shot your arm? Because, woman, that was funny.”

“Ha. Fucking. Ha. Better?” She struggled to sit up. “God. Did they slip me elephant tranquilizers last night?”

“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 fucking 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 fucking 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.

She stood. “I'm not looking to leave. I'm looking to get back to work.”

“No. The doctors said one full week of no strenuous activity.”

“So is that why you haven't fucked me? Because it's always so fucking strenuous?”

“That's what you're so pissy about?”

She pushed the chair aside—using her injured arm, fully aware that he'd notice her little act of defiance. “Yes. Why haven't we had sex in six days?”

“Because you have a bullet wound.”

She cocked her head. Devin braced himself for the barrage of bullshit she was about to spew. “Last I checked, I didn't get shot in the pussy; I got shot in the arm. And since you're not into armpit fucking, there shouldn't be a problem.” Her gaze dropped to his crotch. “Or is there?”

He laughed. Goddamn, she was a piece of work. “No problem on my end.” His eyes made a very slow, very hungry pass up and down her body. “You lookin' to get fucked?”

“Yes!”

“Then strip.”

“Right here?”

“No, out in the damn courtyard.
Yes
, right here.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unless that's a problem?”

Keeping her eyes locked on his, she dropped her sweatpants. No underwear. Then she unbuttoned her shirt and tossed it aside. No bra.

Yes, his hot, sexy woman did want to get fucked.

Too bad he wasn't going to oblige her.

“Very nice. Now walk down the hall nice and slow so I can see every jiggle of that fantastic ass of yours.”

Liberty turned. She spread her legs and bent forward, dangling her head between her feet, exposing her pussy and that sweet little asshole. “Remember when you fucked me like this? And I braced one hand on the floor so I could play with your balls as you rammed into me? You fucked me so hard I nearly passed out. Let's do that one again.”

He growled, “Get your ass into the bedroom. Now.”

She sashayed off.
Sashayed
. G.I. Jane never sashayed.

When Devin reached the bedroom, Liberty was spread out on the bed, her vibrator in her right hand. “You priming the pump?”

Her husky laugh zinged straight to his cock. “No. I've been making do with Slim, here, oh, a couple . . . three times a day since I've been left to my own devices.”

Own devices. She cracked him up. But he kept the smile from his face. “That right?” Devin kicked off his boots. Yanked off his T-shirt. Watched those silvery eyes focus on his fingers as he unhooked his belt, lowered the
zipper and shed his jeans and boxers. “You and Slim wanna give me a show?”

“No. I want the real thing.”

He reached in the drawer and pulled out a neckerchief.

Liberty's eyes zoomed to the silky black fabric. “What's that for?”

“For fun and games. Right arm up by the headboard.”

“But I don't need fun and games, Devin. I need you to fuck me.”

He crawled across the bed and stopped to kiss her with brutal possession. “I'll give you what you need. Now, arm up.”

She sighed dramatically, but she obeyed.

After he tied her, he started to touch her. First with his hands. Featherlight caresses all along her supple body. Taking time to marvel at the softness of her skin and the strength beneath it. Her graceful neck, her strong shoulders, her luscious chest, her compact rib cage. Then he moved on to her taut belly, her rounded hips, her muscular thighs, defined calves and the delicate tops of her feet.

Then he let his mouth have a turn. Kissing. Licking. Sucking. Paying particular attention to the spots he sometimes overlooked in order to focus on the obvious body parts that made her scream and cream for him. The ripped musculature of her forearms, biceps and triceps. The bend in her elbow. The valley between each one of her fingers. The stubborn jut of her chin. The outer curves of her breasts.

He rolled her over to properly worship her backside. From the sexy sweep of the nape of her neck to her shoulder blades and the curve of her spine. The tempting dimples above her ass. The soft arc of flesh where her hips flared into her thighs.

As he teased and explored, her breathing grew shallow.

He looked up, expecting she'd have her eyes closed. But they were open and focused on him.

“Don't treat me like I'm fragile.”

“I'm not.” He kissed the swell of her breast that covered her heart. “I'm treating you like you're precious.” He kissed her again. “Because you are so very, very precious to me, Liberty.”

“Devin.”

He looked up at her again, seeing a combination of fear and hope on her face. “I love you. Been wantin' to say it to you again. But this is better.”

“What?”

“Showin' you that I love you. Every inch of you. Because I know every inch of this beautiful body. I know where to touch you to make you sigh. To make you moan. To make you cry out. This body knows me. It knows my intent every time I'm naked with you. But today I want your heart to know my intent. Because, baby, I want to prove to you that if you give it over to me as easily as you do your body, I'll cherish it.”