“You ready, Mr. McClain?”
“Yeah.”
A guy flanked him on each side, and they traveled the maze until they reached the backstage stairs.
Devin automatically looked around for Liberty. She accompanied him only when the security was light. No sign of her.
You’ll see plenty of her tonight.
He snagged a bottle of water out of the tub.
Check started handing out guitars. Devin didn’t bother to strum to see if his was tuned, because Check was more anal about that than he was.
Steve bounced from foot to foot. Odette ran her bow across her strings. Tay chomped her gum and blew big pink bubbles at Jase. Gage and Leon leaned against the back wall, lost in discussion. Just another preshow night. And like always, Devin sent up a silent prayer of thanks to the universe that he got to do what he loved for a living.
“You ready?” Crash asked, like he always did.
“Yep.”
“Let’s get your gear on. The set changes ain’t takin’ long.” Crash handed him the earpiece and the remote pack.
Then Crash shook his head at someone who’d come up behind them. Devin felt the air change as the bodyguards closed rank. He kept his gaze on Crash. “I don’t wanna know who that was or what’s goin’ on, do I?”
“Don’t worry. It’s bein’ handled.”
“By who?”
“Me. Because Little Miss I-Think-I’m-Hot-Shit does not want Liberty comin’ down on her about security breaches. She has no idea that Liberty would chew her up, spit her out and use her bones to pick her teeth.”
Devin laughed. “My woman is something, all right.”
Crash lifted both eyebrows. “Since when is she your woman?”
“I’m starting to think since the minute I set eyes on her.”
“Jesus. I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“Knew you’d be bangin’ her at every opportunity. No woman alive is immune to that Devin McClain superstar charm.”
Devin bunched his hand in Crash’s shirt. “Watch it. Not that it’s any of your goddamn business, but Liberty and I haven’t had sex.”
“Are you kiddin’ me?”
“No.”
“That’s worse. Way worse.”
“Why?”
But before Crash answered, Devin was prompted by his earpiece.
The applause was thunderous as his band appeared, instrument by instrument, starting with drums, followed by guitars and, finally, Odette’s fiddle. The crowd quickly changed the chants into “Devin, Devin, Devin,” so when he crossed the stage, he could hardly hear himself think.
Goddamn, he loved this. There was nothing like it in the world.
“That’s one helluva a fine welcome for this Wyoming cowboy. What say we crank it up loud tonight? Get this party started right?” Jase jammed on the opening chords for “Bring on the Party” and that wall of sound washed over the stage again.
Yep. He had the best job in the world.
Chapter Fourteen
“Good night, Oklahoma City! Y’all have been awesome!” Devin and his band took their final bows after their encore. As soon as the stage went black, he slipped off his guitar strap and was the first one to reach Check and the instrument-loading bay.
“In a hurry tonight, Dev?” Check asked.
“Yeah.” Devin’s eyes searched the crowd until his gaze landed on her. His lips curled into a smile and his groin tightened. Liberty was deep in conversation with one of his security escorts. Come on, baby. Look at me. You know I’m lookin’ at you.
“You sticking around while they load up?”
“No. I’m callin’ it an early night. We’ll shove off before the rest of you do.”
“But you’ll be at Patsy’s Pancake Plaza tomorrow, right? We always hit Patsy’s before the Black Creek Pavilion show.”
He’d forgotten about that tradition. “Of course. Save us seats.”
As soon as Devin knew he had Liberty’s attention, he started toward her.
People gave him a wide berth.
Except Jesse-Belle stepped right in front of him. The silly girl threw her arms around him, pressing her face into his neck and her tits against his chest. “Omigod, what a show! You are totes outstanding onstage!”
Liberty’s laser-sharp gaze could’ve sliced off her limbs.
Devin never looked away from Liberty as he clamped his hands on Jesse-Belle’s scrawny arms and set her aside. “Thanks.” Then he stepped around her.
But she planted herself in front of him again. “I’d like to talk with you about punching up my stage presence. Did you see my show earlier?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
If this girl didn’t back the f**k off, he’d show her the meaning of rude. He’d tried polite and disinterested with her and she hadn’t gotten the hint. He finally looked down at her, about to let her have it, when Crash intercepted.
“Jesse-Belle, there you are. Boomer and your soundman have questions before the guys start to tear everything down.”
“Oh. Sure. Until next time . . .” She offered Devin a smile—but her attempt at being sexy fell short of the mark.
Way short. He wanted a woman—not a girl pretending to be one.
He mouthed “thank you” to Crash and kicked up his pace until he stood toe-to-toe with his scowling personal assistant. “Something wrong?”