Page 92 of My UnTrue Love
“That they do.” Bill agreed.
“Butthatfella…? Well, let’s just say I understand the appeal of permanently hogtieing myself a handsome coyote.”
Bill got to his feet. “Coffee?” He asked Dinah and Clementine got the feeling the two of them were forging some kind of truce.
“Nah. I just came to get another look at you.” Dinah crossed her bony arms over her chest. “Maybe I miscalculated. Maybe Clem don’t need a bookish, softer sort of man. Maybe she’d do better with one who can look out for her.”
“She looks out for me, too.”
Dinah gave a sniff. “Clementine never told me the docs said she should avoid smoke, ya know. Otherwise, I would’ve banned it from the bar. She can be too obliging, at times. It’ll probably impact your career. Managers gotta be tenacious as hellhounds.”
All of that was said like Clem wasn’t even in the room.
“Clem’s a prize manager.” Bill said loyally. “Nobody better.”
“I can be assertive.” Clem protested to Dinah, at the same time. “People smoking around me just isn’t that big a deal.”
Bill retracted his defense. “Yes, itisa big deal.” His eyes went to Dinah, now caught up in his favorite pastime of micromanaging Clem’s health. “Clementine can’t have much salt, either. Watch her with those pretzels at your bar.”
Dinah pursed her lips. “I serve peanuts at the bar.”
“You should switch to pretzels. She likes peanuts even more.”
“It’s fine to have a few peanuts, every now and then.” Clementine protested. “I’m sure the doctor said so.”
“He didn’t.” Bill guaranteed. “Wanna see the notes I took at the appointment?”
Clementine sighed in exasperation.
“So, I’ve decided you’ve got some potential.” Dinah went on to Bill. (Clem got admonished. He got praised. Typical.) “Not like Johnny’s got it anymore. Man became the fastest has-been I ever saw. He came into my place and made a damn fool of himself last night. I have it all on security tape, if you wanna see it. I already watched it twice.”
Icy eyes gleamed. “I have always been a fan of a picture show.”
Dinah was visibly smitten with Bill’s mischievous side. “No matter how much I enjoy sharing popcorn and a movie with you, though, I can’t put someone on my stage who’s using my Clem to get there.”
“Makes sense.” Bill agreed.
“Oh, Bill’s not…”
Dinah talked right over Clementine’s interruption. Why was Clem even in this conversation? Dinah could just decide Clem’s life without her input, it seemed. “I also can’t have talent slipping through my fingers. It ain’t good business.” She paused. “And I heard tell you put on the best performance ofWild Horses Runever played at the Lone Prairie.”
“It was the best ever played in the whole town.” Clementine chimed in, because it was true and because shewasassertive, damn it.
“I got fired from the Lone Prairie, after beating the shit outta the asshole who touched my mate.” Bill reminded Dinah. “So, it couldn’t have beenthatimpressive a song.”
Clem felt another rush of excitement, because he’d just said “mate” again. It put all kinds of stimulating thoughts in her head. She couldn’t help it. Confidence surged. “Dinah, if you let Bill play at The Kitchen, you won’t regret it. I know he’ll bring in customers. He’s a star.”
That claim earned her a pained look from Bill. He was so modest. Clementine needed to make sure his talent was recognized. It was her job as his manager.
And as his mate!
“I gotta be sure he’s serious about you, Clem.” Dinah insisted. “Not like Johnny. I care about you too much to let any man use you to get ahead.”
“Well, you just heard him say that I’m his mate.” Clementine had certainly heard it. Twice! It wasallshe heard and it was making her feel giddy inside. Her plan to entice him had worked.
“Coyotes don’t have mates.” Dinah pronounced. “They steal ‘em.”
Bill flinched.
