But the longer she listened to their exploits, the more she believed they were some kind of ninja badass grannies.
She instantly fell in love with all of them.
“I think it’s my turn to buy a round,” Liberty said after a bit, feeling pleasantly muzzy from the booze. “Who’s up for shots?”
Everyone’s hand went up.
“Now, wait a sec. Someone has to be a designated driver besides Harper.”
“Oh, honey, we’ve already lined up a couple of drivers. They just ain’t allowed to show up until later and we’ve had our girl time,” Vivien said.
“All right. I get to pick?” She smirked. “I’ll go with a man who’s near and dear to my heart . . . Johnnie Walker.”
Cheers erupted.
The toasts were made. Some of the ladies got up to dance. Or in the case of Garnet, she boogied right in her chair.
“So tell me, Liberty Bell,” Miz Maybelle said with a snicker, “you got yourself a fella? Maybe one of them hot special ops types? All muscle and no bull?”
Liberty shook her head. “There’s been one guy . . . but it’s temporary. I knew starting up with him that it wasn’t going anyplace.”
“Sweetie, when you look back on your life, you regret the things you didn’t do. So I’m glad you decided the short term was good enough.”
Harper leaned closer. “You’ve been holding out on me.”
“Not really—there’s not much I can tell you.” By this point she missed Devin like crazy. She wondered how he was spending his downtime in Nashville. Hopefully, he was keeping a very low profile. She’d lain in bed last night after tucking the boys in, unable to sleep, her phone in her hand, tempted to call him. After she’d heard Harper giggling and Bran’s deep-voiced response as they passed down the hallway, she’d felt a serious pang of loneliness.
The ladies all whooped and hollered, and Liberty glanced up to see what the commotion was about.
Several guys were walking toward them. Hot guys. Cowboys.
But the only one Liberty saw was Devin.
Chapter Twenty-four
Everything inside Devin settled down when he saw Liberty.
Still, it took every ounce of willpower he possessed not to run over, sweep her into his arms and kiss every inch of the face he loved so much.
And it killed him, f**king killed him not to get to be with her, in front of friends, like he wanted to.
So swallow your pride and stake your claim.
He couldn’t. And that made him hate himself even more—that his pride was blocking the path to her.
Liberty looked away, as if she knew what he’d been thinking.
You’re an ass. You don’t deserve her.
But he sure as f**k couldn’t stay away from her.
“Omigod, Devin!” Celia squealed and threw herself at him. “Kyle will be sorry he missed you, but someone’s gotta stay home with the princess. What’re you doin’ here?”
“I had a few days off. I’m crashing with Fletch.” He clapped him on the back. “He’s batching it this week with Tanna bein’ in Tulsa.”
Fletch looked around the table. “You ladies getting into trouble?”
“Not yet. Now we can go wild since our rides are here,” Miz Maybelle said to Tilda, and they bumped fists.
Harper stood and hugged Devin. “I’m happy to see you. Sorry we missed the concert in Cheyenne. Everyone said it was awesome.”
“We were lucky to have such a great crowd.” He noticed the chair directly across from Liberty was open. “Mind if I sit here?”
She shrugged.
Liberty still hadn’t looked at him. But she was eyeing the other men in the group freely.
“I should probably introduce everyone. This is my sister Liberty Masterson. She’s visiting. Liberty, the guy on the end is Hugh. He’s the foreman up at the Split Rock.”
Hugh inclined his hat to her.
Harper continued. “Next to him is Tobin; he’s Renner’s genetics expert and Hugh’s right-hand man.”
Tobin, that sly bastard, took Liberty’s hand, giving her the I’m-just-a-good-old-boy grin that had women sighing as they jotted down their phone numbers. “Beauty must run in the family. Very pleased to meet a real live heroine. Harper’s talked a lot about you. Thanks for your service to this country.”
Tobin kept holding Liberty’s hand, tempting Devin to knock it away and knock him on his ass.
Liberty said, “I never know what to say to that, so . . . you’re welcome?”
“And you’re just as sweet and charming as Harper too.” Tobin winked at her.
Devin wanted to punch him—see if the jerk could still wink with a swollen eye.
“You’ve met Fletch, our vet extraordinaire.”
“Nice to see you again.” Liberty didn’t mention the connection of working for Tanna’s brother. Neither did Fletch. Devin found it hard to believe that could stay a secret.
“And lastly, this is Devin McClain.” Harper said it with a flourish, as if he didn’t need further introduction.
“A true pleasure to meet you, Liberty.”
“Same here.” She cocked her head; her eyes were filled with challenge. “You look smaller in person than you do on TV.”
Jesus. Really? She was gonna push him? Fine. Two could play at this game. “Ain’t nothin’ small about me, darlin’.”
“Including your ego,” she muttered and faced Garnet, blowing him off completely.