Cheri woke with her head aching and fuzzy from spending too many hours looking at numbers and trying to sling them into the proper places on the band’s profit and loss statement. The only saving grace of yesterday was that Richard let her off the hook for load-in and load-out for that night’s show because she worked all day on the books. She also spent all night on them too, until the numbers ran together before her eyes on the screen.

In fact, she didn’t even remember going to bed.

But at least they’d finally determined exactly what was stolen and, according to Richard, the FBI was on the case to get it, and Bill, back.

She blinked and sucked in a long breath. It hit her that the smells of the bus were slightly different, more male, and her digit-scrambled brain didn’t place the irregularity until she heard an all too familiar voice.

“Wake up, asshole,” he said. “I want to get some breakfast.”

Dev? What was he doing on the bus?

“Fuck you,” said Rory groggily. “Where the hell are we?”

Hell, she was on bus one. She was working here, hadn’t moved really, since that awful night when they found out about Bill’s betrayal while she worked. She must have fallen asleep and someone moved her to the nearest open bunk.

“Same place as yesterday, except four hundred miles down the road.”

“Shit. You should make that into a song lyric,” groaned Rory.

“Maybe I will. Are you going to get your ass out of bed, or what?”

“Go away,” growled Rory as if in pain. “I’m still not over my hangover.”

“You can’t have a hangover from a binge two nights ago or you’re the saddest rock star ever.”

“Says you. Go torture someone else.” Rory made a retching noise, which Cheri from long experience knew was fake.

“Eggs,” said Dev, and Rory belched.

“Bacon,” said Dev, and Rory whined.

“Hash browns.”

“You monster,” groaned Rory.

“Coffee,” said Dev with fiendish glee.

“Get thee gone, Satan. I reject you and all your works.”

“Fine, spend your one day off in forever on this stinking bus. Anyone else want to join me?”

“Shut up,” moaned Mac.

“Turn off the light, asshole,” groused Quinn.

Only muffled sounds emerged from Connor’s bunk. He was obviously too insensible to even answer.

Cheri poked her head out.

“I could use some food.”

Dev grinned at her, a soul-shattering, sexy smile. Her stomach did a black flip in the most pleasurable way. God, she loved looking at him, the way his tee clung tightly to his muscles, and his jeans hung off his lean hips.

“Welcome to the land of the living.” He kicked the bottom of Rory’s bunk. “Galveston, I’m taking your sister out for food.”

“I don’t care what you do. Just leave me the fuck alone.”

Now Cheri’s concern spiked. She slid out of the bunk and peeked into Rory’s.

“Are you okay?” she said.

“Yeah, sis,” he said. “Just beat. Too many days of successive hammering on the skins. I need a break—from everyone and everything.”

She gave him a little kiss on the forehead.

“Ok, big bro. You rest up then.”

“I plan to.” Rory pulled up his blanket over his shoulders and turned his back to his sister.

Dev’s eyes sparkled with unmasked joy. “I guess it’s you and me then?”

“I should clean up,” said Cheri raking her fingers through her hair.

“No. You look—” he glanced back at Rory’s bunk, “fine.”

But when they both got out of the bus, Dev put his arm around her waist and whispered in her ear in a panty-melting low voice.

“You’re gorgeous.”

Cheri closed her eyes as she breathed in his scent. Having him this close dissolved the problems of the past couple days and she almost sighed with happiness.

Dev had his phone out, scanning the online options for breakfast.

“There’s a breakfast restaurant here, ‘The Wicked Skillet’.”

“Wicked?”

“Specializes in pancakes.”

“You’re an eggs and bacon man.”

“I make exceptions for half-starved accountants.” He gave her a little slap on her rear. “You’re wasting away. We need to get food into you.”

“Your concern is duly noted,” said Cheri rubbing her backside, “but I’m hardly a candidate for modeling school just yet.”

“Could fool me, beautiful. Here’s the Uber.”

Cheri melted when Dev called her beautiful. Here she was, hair a mess, in jeans and a t-shirt, but he couldn’t care less. She snuggled up close to him in the car and he put his arm around her shoulders.

This wasn’t a lesson. This was a date. An oasis in the midst of a shit-storm. It might not last, but there was no denying that this wasn’t a favor anymore. Dev was here with her because this was where he wanted to be.

The knowledge was bone deep and warmed her to the core, but she didn’t dare say it out loud. She didn’t want to jinx it.

The car took them to a quaint tree-lined street downtown, lined with local shops and restaurants. It reminded Cheri of the little town in Connecticut named Mystic that she’d once visited that retained the character of centuries past as if the world hadn’t entered the twenty-first century.

They walked into the small restaurant where a long counter and stools ran the length of the right-hand side, and a row of booths took up the left-side wall. Several people looked up from their meals to watch them enter.

“Hello,” said a woman carrying two menus. “New in town?”

“No,” said Dev smoothly. “Just here for breakfast.”

The woman eyed their t-shirts with the band logo.

“Sub-Zero?” she said.

“Oh, my god!” screamed a teenage girl from one of the booths. She was sitting with two adults who looked horrified at their daughter’s behavior. The girl whipped out of the booth. “It’s Dev Lachlan!”

“Elizabeth,” said the woman with her frowning sternly, “sit down.”

“But, mom,” whined the girl.

Dev walked to the booth with Cheri trailing behind him. “That’s okay,” he said. “How are you?”

“Amazing, now. I’m going to your concert tomorrow night,” enthused the girl.

“Not if you don’t behave,” said the father.

Cheri watched with amusement and a little awe that Dev was now recognized in the smallest of towns.

“We’re sorry,” said the mother. “Our daughter does know better.”

“It’s okay,” said Dev with a smile. “Comes with the job.”

“Would you sign my t-shirt?”

“Elizabeth!” snapped her mother.

“Okay, my jacket.” She pulled up a jean jacket from behind her seat. “If you sign that, it would be awesome.” She held out a black permanent marker expectantly. Dev glanced at the parents for approval and the mother nodded, so he signed the back with wide sweeping strokes.

“How’s that?” he said.

“Sick!” enthused the teen. “Thank you, Dev.” With that, the girl launched herself at Dev and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Elizabeth!” both parents chorused and Cheri had to hold back her laughter.

“Okay, got to go now,” said Dev. “I’ve got to get this lady here fed.” He pointed to Cheri.

“Who is that?”

“Cheri Galveston, Rory’s sister.”

“Wow,” the girl mouthed. “Where’s he?”

“On his day off. Nice meeting you Elizabeth, ma’am, sir.”

Dev moved down several booths and the waitress followed. He wisely sat with his back to the teen and Cheri sat opposite him. Dev rattled off his order as Cheri peered at the menu. She ordered blueberry pancakes and the waitress left them alone. When she finally raised her eyes to Dev she found him watching her. She blushed at the intensity of his stare, which seemed to communicate just what he wished they were doing right now.

It wasn’t something that they could do in a restaurant.

Memories of the other night, when they’d been so close, flooded her and she shoved them away ruthlessly. She didn’t need to get all hot and bothered at breakfast, for God’s sake. The tour would probably be over before they had a chance to be alone like that again.

The thought made her cringe, but she pushed that aside too. She was going to enjoy the time she had with Dev, no matter how fleeting.

Cheri watched as the teenager excitedly typed into her iPhone and she wondered if and when her friends would descend on “The Wicked Skillet”.

“We may have to make a strategic retreat,” she said in a low voice. “Your fan is texting her friends right now.”

“The price of fame may be too steep if I can’t get breakfast.”

The waitress brought their food just then, and Dev gave her a thumbs-up.

“Is there a back door? You know, should we need it?” asked Cheri. She threw a look toward the teenager and the waitress nodded her head.

“Go back toward the restrooms. You’ll see it.”

“Great,” said Dev handing her his credit card. “I’ll pay now.”

“Sure, son. I’ll bring this right back.”

They dug into their food, and the waitress returned Dev’s card. They ate quickly against the possibility of a teen fan invasion. Just as they were about to take the last bites both Cheri and Dev’s phones buzzed with a group text from Richard.

I’ve booked us rooms at the local hotel tonight so we can all get a good night’s sleep. Check in is at 2:00 PM. Everyone has their own room, on my dime. You’re welcome. And don’t get used to it.

He sent a picture and directions.

“That was really sweet of him. Seems like he’s taking his new duties seriously,” said Cheri.

“I’m glad. After two weeks on the road, I could use some time off that bus. I’m not going to let him pay for all the rooms, but you’re right. It was a nice offer. He’s a good egg.”

“So what do you want to do until two?”

Dev arched his eyebrows.

“We’ll think of something.”

“Think fast. Teenyboppers on your six.”

Dev flashed a glance over his shoulder to see a group of excited young girls crowding the front door.

“While I hate to disappoint my fans, I think Operation: Get the Fuck Out of Here is in full effect,” he said standing swiftly. “Count to thirty to make it seem like I went to the restroom.”

“Twenty. They look determined.”

“Okay, fifteen.”

Dev lunged with feral grace down the hallway and Cheri watched with amusement as the gaggle of girls mobbed their friend. But Cheri stood before Elizabeth could direct them toward their booth, and followed in Dev’s direction.

The door was slightly ajar and, as she exited, Dev grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him. He kicked the door shut with his foot and crushed his lips against hers.

* * *

Dev’s heart jackhammered as he kissed Cheri. He held her tight, and ravaged her mouth with his tongue, taking everything she would give him.

As he explored her body with his hands, his problems fell away.

More. He needed more.

He wanted to see it as he entered her and feel her body clutching him. He wanted to make her cry out, to beg and plead for more of him, to have her shake and moan when they hit the heights of ecstasy.

“Dev,” said Cheri, “maybe we should find a hideout?”

“Hideout?” His desire-filled brain wasn’t registering her request.

“From the Teen Brigade? I’m sure they will fan out soon. They smell rock star and they will seek you out.”

Dev gave her another kiss, though a quick one, and released her. Then, he took her hand.

“Let’s go.”

He led the way down the alleyway to the street and looked both ways.

“Coast seems clear.”

“Across the street,” said Cheri. “A hunting store.”

“What? You propose we arm ourselves? I want to avoid them, not kill them.”

“No,” she said slapping his arm. “We can find some hats, and maybe jackets to disguise ourselves.”

Dev saw a young girl at the entrance of the restaurant looking away from them.

“Walk slowly across the street,” he said.

“What? Like ‘The Birds’?”

He grinned. “Oh, you remember that?”

“When you and Rory took me to the library when I was ten to watch horror movies at Halloween? How could I forget? I had nightmares for a month.”

“You did? That’s hilarious.”

“Go,” she said giving him a push.

Hand in hand, they walked casually across the street. Dev turned stealthily to peer back over his shoulder.

“Don’t look,” hissed Cheri.

Dev smiled. He was having fun with Cheri and their little hide-and-seek game. Who knew if those girls really were looking for them, but who cared? For once, he wanted to be free and not give a shit about anything, and he wanted to do it with Cheri.

Once in the store, they pawed through the racks of cheap clothing.

“Here’s a hat for you,” said Dev. He slapped a camo baseball cap on her head.

She looked in the mirror.

“No, Dev, not my color. Beige looks awful on me.”

“It’s not a fashion show, we’re on a mission.”

“Fine. Here,” said Cheri, handing him a black cap with the face of a wolf, part of the band’s logo, on the front.

“Aren’t we advertising if I put this on?” said Dev dubiously.

“The best way to hide is in plain sight.” She selected a black jacket with the same patch. “Try this on.”

She helped him with the jacket, smoothing her hands down the front in a way that made Dev’s abs flex.

The jacket fit perfectly. “Do you know all my sizes?” he said quirking an eyebrow at her.

“Oh, yeah, big guy,” she said in a seductive whisper. “From top to bottom.”

Fuck. Her words zinged from his brain to his cock immediately.

“Wicked woman,” he said. “I may have to punish you for teasing me. Do they have dressing rooms here?”

“What for?”

“So I can spank your bottom in privacy.”

“No. No dressing rooms,” said Cheri. “You’ll have to put your spanking plans on hold. But you never have been good at carrying a grudge. So I think I’m safe.”

Dev was about to say, “Don’t be so sure”, when he spotted a teenage girl about to open the shop’s door. Dev pulled Cheri, who was holding a similar cap and jacket, behind a curtain that shielded the back room of the shop.

Cheri opened her mouth to speak, but Dev clasped his hand over her mouth.

“Did a man and woman come in here, Will?” asked the girl.

“Yeah. But they aren’t here now,” replied a masculine voice. “You can see for yourself.”

“Did you see where they went?” she asked hopefully.

“No. I’m not in the habit of tracking people.”

“Ha ha, very funny, Will. I’ll tell dad that you admit that you suck at tracking.”

“Get out of here, brat.”

The door slammed shut.

“You can come out now,” said Will. “You’re safe from my sister.”

“Sister, eh?” said Dev poking his head cautiously out of the curtain.

“I know who you are,” said Will. “The brat’s done nothing but go on about your concert tomorrow night. You’re sold out, you know, and she couldn’t get tickets. She’s been insufferable.”

“Dev, go stand with Will there.”

“Why?”

“So I can take your picture. This will make a great blog post.”

“Woman, can’t you stop working?”

“No. This is a great story because we are going to cap it off by giving her backstage passes. If she’s any kind of fan, she’ll be reading our blog and find that we’ll have her name at the gate with the passes.”

“Oh, man,” said Will, “you’re killing me here. She’s going to be insufferable.”

“We’ll give you passes too,” said Dev. “I’m sure you have a girl to take that would love to come backstage at a rock concert.”

“Yeah, that would make me a hero in the eyes of one particular girl I’m thinking of.”

Cheri snapped the pictures, did a quick blog post on her phone, and sent Gina the information, along with Will and his sister’s name for Gina to set up the passes.

“That was nice of you,” said Dev, giving Cheri a quick kiss on the top of her head as they left the store with their newly purchased gear.

“Being the object of my brother’s teasing for years gives me an appreciation for the plight of the younger sister.”

“I suspected as much. Are we being followed?”

“Not yet. But we need to find a new hideout.”

“Perfect,” said Dev as he spotted a sign down the road.

“What?” said Cheri.

“Twenty-four-hour Monster bash at the Capitol Theater.”

“Monsters? Are you trying to psychically scar me?”

“It’s perfect to hide in.” He winked at her. “I’ll protect you.”

“You’re an evil man.”

Cheri’s phone buzzed with a text. She groaned.

“We better seek the darkness soon. Gina loved the blog post so much, she started a ‘Dev Hunt’.”

“She didn’t.”

Cheri showed him the text.

“Fuck.”

It wasn’t quite noon, and the movie house had just opened, so they were alone in the theater. Juggling popcorn and drinks, Dev led her to the topmost row of seats and to the darkest corner.

He set down the snacks and took off his jacket.

“Come sit,” he said.

“You have this look like you are planning something evil,” said Cheri.

“Well, I had thought about giving you your spanking, but I’ll save that for a special occasion.”

The house lights darkened, and trailers for future movies flashed across the screen.

“Sit on my lap,” said Dev.

Cheri gave him a skeptical look, but she lowered herself onto Dev’s thighs. He put his arms around her.

“There. That’s much better.”

“You’re comfortable like this?”

“Honey, anytime you sit your sweet ass on my lap is heaven.”

He pulled his jacket over her legs.

“What are you, oh--”

Dev unzipped her jeans and slipped his hand under her panties until he reached her mound and her sensitive nub. The heat and wetness of her pussy sent Dev’s libido into overdrive.

Dev curled his fingers to reach her opening. He couldn’t believe how slick she was.

“You’re so fucking wet. I know you want me.”

“I do,” she breathed. “I’ve always wanted you.”

“Soon, baby, soon. We will go to the hotel and have the whole night. But right now, I’m going to make sure you’re ready. You’re going to have to be very quiet, though, because we aren’t alone.”

“We aren’t?” squeaked Cheri.

“Some people just came in. Just put your arms around me and don’t make a sound.”

“Oh god,” she murmured.

Oh god was right. The tour was almost over, and unless something changed, so was his time with Cheri. He was going to make the most of it.