She nodded. Then she threw herself at him, sobbing. “Thank you.”
Devin looked at Liberty over Tay’s head and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
Liberty’s expression didn’t change. But as soon as Tay released him, she stepped between them. “Hang on one second and we’ll head to the bus and get you settled.”
Odette said, “I’ll grab your stuff.”
“No. There will be no stuff grabbing besides a toothbrush and bedding,” Devin warned. “One night doesn’t mean tonight and all day tomorrow. We’ll be in Oklahoma City by ten a.m. That’s when my hospitality ends, Tay. Understand?”
“Yes.”
Liberty took him aside. “Once I’m in the bus, I’ll have to stay since I don’t trust Tay not to create a chance for a security breach in her distracted state.” She inhaled. Exhaled. “Which means the security guys will have to stay with you until teardown is done.”
“Got it.” Devin ran his finger across her jaw. “Will you be in my bed when I get there?”
“No. And I need you to lock your bedroom door tonight.”
“Jesus, Liberty. Tay isn’t gonna try to sleep f**k me or something.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. She’s emotional, and people in a mind-set where emotions overrule normal thought processes are capable of doing things you’d never expect. To guard against that, I’m telling you to lock your door.”
She had the don’t-question-me look on her face, which meant arguing was moot, and if he tried, well, she’d make her alternate suggestion even more extreme. “Fine. But I want all your firearms locked up tonight. Every. One. The last thing I need to worry about is you shooting a pregnant woman while I’m locked in my room.”
“No problem.”
They stared at each other.
“This isn’t at all how I wanted our night to end.”
“Me either.”
Chapter Thirteen
Early the next afternoon, since Devin was under the watch of venue security, Liberty returned to the bus to take a shower after her workout.
With no one around, she stripped in front of her bunk. She jammed her workout clothes in the overflowing hamper and laid her outfit out on her bed. Hitting the light switch in her tiny bathroom, she realized the overhead light wasn’t working. No windows meant she’d have to shower in the dark, and that wasn’t happening.
No big deal; she’d use Devin’s shower. Her mind bounced from thought to thought as she headed down the hallway. The door to Devin’s room was ajar. She pushed it open, her eyes automatically sweeping the space. He always made his bed. The man was a serious neat freak.
Liberty entered the tidy bathroom and slid the pocket door closed. This space was so luxurious she couldn’t believe it was on a tour bus. Skylights provided natural light in the slate-tiled shower and above the double vanity. With the funky angles of the walls, the shower didn’t need a door. She cranked on the water and stepped into the enclosure. Five showerheads blasted water at her; one from above and two from each side. She closed her eyes and sighed. The heat and steam and solitude were heavenly. No wonder Devin spent so much time in his master suite.
She reached for her shampoo and remembered she hadn’t brought her toiletries with her. There was something that felt really intimate about using Devin’s shampoo and body wash, but she didn’t have a choice. She drew the line at using his razor.
Some oddly happy impulse spurred her to hum while she scrubbed her hair. Her humming morphed into belting out the 70s power ballads currently stuck in her brain, starting with Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain.” She’d just segued into the chorus of Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” when the bathroom door slammed open and Devin’s angry voice filled the space.
“Jesus, Tay, I’ve told you a million f**kin’ times to stay out of my shower . . .” Devin froze inside the doorway.
Liberty froze too.
However, Devin’s eyes weren’t frozen in place for long.
His gaze moved from her face, down to her br**sts, then followed the center of her torso to the juncture of her thighs. His gaze returned to her br**sts for several long moments. Then his eyes roamed over the curve of her hips and her thighs, briefly dipping to her feet before zooming back up to focus entirely on her br**sts.
He said, “You’re not Tay.”
No shit.
“Sweet mother of God, Liberty Masterson. You’ve got the most rockin’ body I have ever seen.”
Oh wow. Now, there was a compliment. She was pretty sure she blushed from head to toe, but she couldn’t look away from the molten heat in Devin’s eyes. Her skin erupted in gooseflesh, causing her ni**les to harden.
Devin growled. He reached in and shut the shower off. Ignoring that he was clothed, he stepped into the enclosure with her, crowding her until her back hit the wall. Although he’d braced his hands by her head, he’d left enough space between them so he could still stare at her chest.
Liberty’s heart raced. Despite the water dripping down her body, her mouth had gone desert dry.
“Two things I wanna know,” he said to her br**sts. “First. Why hide these? Jesus. They’re spectacular.” Then his gaze—his hungry gaze—returned to hers. “I’ve lived with you on this bus for a month. I’ve worked out with you. Hell, I’ve even had my arms around you in my bed. And, darlin’, I’m unapologetically a breast man. I notice them. So there’s no way I should’ve missed these beauties. No way. Unless you were purposely hiding them. Were you?”