“Then what is it about?”

“Makin’ love. Showin’ love. Bein’ in love.”

Liberty’s lips trembled. “I don’t know how to do that.”

“Sweetheart, we’ve been learning how to do exactly that for the last four months we’ve been together.” When their mouths met, the kiss was scorching hot. But Devin wouldn’t be rushed. When he kissed her, that’s all he focused on. Her taste. The feel of her tongue tangling with his. Their synchronized breathing. How perfectly their mouths fit together.

How perfectly they fit together.

When the time was right, Devin levered himself over her, wedging his hips against hers, and slowly slipped inside her. He forced himself to stay still. To not give in to that powerful need to thrust. He looked down at her.

She lifted her free hand and touched his face. “I love you.”

He’d never been happier than in that moment. “I love you too.”

Her hand moved down his side to his ass. She slapped it hard. “Now f**k me.”

Devin laughed. “Whatever you want.”

Chapter Thirty-one

The final performance of Devin McClain’s four-month-long Heroes and Heartbreakers tour had arrived.

Liberty would be intimately familiar with the term heartbreaker at the end of the night.

The late-afternoon sun shone through the skylight above Devin’s bed, sending sunbeams across his skin.

They’d spent the last hour in bed. The first time had been so fast—clothes off, hit the mattress and boom he was thrusting inside her—that she wondered if they were playing Beat the Clock.

The second time had been slower. Climbing that peak together until they both tumbled down in a dizzying, blissful rush.

Devin’s rough-tipped finger circled the white bandage on her biceps. “I know it’s been a week, but sometimes . . . I can’t believe you got shot.”

“I’m happy there wasn’t muscle damage.”

“Me too. Still . . . you’ll have a scar.”

“It’ll match the others.”

“Liberty—”

“I’m not being flip.” She looked at his fingers gently stroking the inside of her arm. “Now I’m officially two for two.”

“Meaning what?”

“The ambassador I saved? First and last security assignment.”

“But I thought . . .”

“My security specialist skills Garrett brags about were securing transport trucks, not people.”

“That tears it. I’m gonna demand my money back for false advertising,” Devin drawled.

Liberty smiled. “Too late. And now, with my very first private security job, I end up with another damn bullet hole. It’s enough to put a girl off bodyguard jobs for good.” The instant she said it, she wished she hadn’t.

“So ditch your job workin’ for GSC and come to work for me full-time. You can handle security for my tours.” He smoothed his hand over her shoulder and curled his hand around her cheek. “Although you never want to talk about this, you know I don’t want this to be an ending. Let’s make it a beginning.”

“Devin—”

“Hear me out. I need a security coordinator. You’re the very best I’ve ever had. You could run your own business, set your own hours. We’d be together on the bus during tours and the rest of the time we can live at my place in Nashville. We could be out as a couple everywhere.”

The way he phrased it sounded perfectly logical.

But not for her.

Didn’t he see that? How could he not realize that she’d suffocate in that no-purpose role? She’d never fit in his lifestyle. She needed something for herself beyond seeing to his needs.

But doesn’t he see to yours? In ways you never imagined any man would?

Yes. But still, Liberty had known their relationship would end when the tour did, despite all of Devin’s hints that he wanted it to continue. She could tell herself that she hadn’t meant to fall in love with him, but from the moment he’d hauled her out of bed and comforted her after she’d had a nightmare, she realized falling for him was inevitable.

So her options were to end this with a big fight, or nod her head, play along with his delusions of their togetherness and then leave him like she’d planned.

Shame on you. Act like a soldier, not a coward running away again, and face this thing head-on.

At least a fight would allow her to tell him exactly why they wouldn’t work. It’d hurt him—something she didn’t relish doing. She wanted a clean break, not a cruel break. Which is why she’d never tell him about the hundred-thousand-dollar bonus she’d earned for staying with him on tour.

Walking away from him would be hard, but she’d survive. She always did.

So why was she crying just thinking about it?

“Darlin’, what’s wrong?”

She rolled to the side of the bed and started putting on her clothes.

“Liberty? Say something.”

Inhaling a deep breath, she turned around and said, “No.”

“No what? No, you don’t want to say something?”

“While I appreciate the offer, no, I won’t be handling your security on a permanent basis.”

Devin shifted to his side of the bed and pulled on his clothing.

Then they faced each other in the middle of the room, ready for battle.

“What don’t you understand? I love you. I want a life with you.”