Page 16 of My UnTrue Love
“He said it just last night.” Bill confirmed. “Clem didn’t agree, of course, but Johnny seemedrealsure.”
Dinah made a humph sound, but she refused to address him directly. “That little turd.” She muttered again and kept her eyes on Clementine. “Well, some B-list singer like Johnny is trouble enough for a girl. But a guitar-playing coyote?”
“Bill’s no trouble!” Clem defended. “He’s a perfect gentleman.”
That was sweet. She wasalwayssweet. Bill eyed her riotous curls, picturing them wrapped all around his fist as he showed her how to suck him dry like a Good girl.
Dinah gave another snort. “I got charmed by a coyote, back in my day. Sex, and lies, and devilishness. This fella looks about the same type. You need a softer, bookish kinda man. What happened to that nice Febold Feboldson boy? He’s smart. I set you up on a date with him, just last month.”
“He stood me up.”
Bill became fascinated with the chandelier.
“Did you call and ask him why?” Dinah demanded. “He wouldn’t have skipped your date without a reason. Febold is real partial to you.”
Bill kept on studying the wagon wheel lighting fixture. Yep. There it was.
“I can’t ask him anything.” Clem countered. “Febold left town. He didn’t even leave a forwarding address.”
Bill suppressed a gratified smile. Febold understood how to listen. Feboldwasa smart one.
“Well, wherever he is, he’s still better thanthisfella.” She gestured towards Bill, as if he was unacceptable livestock at a farm auction. “If somebody like you gets mixed up with a coyote, you might as well hand over your panties and your heart at the outset, Clem. Save you some time.”
That sounded like a stellar plan to Bill.
“Someone like me?” Clem repeated, her tone miffed.
“Naive.Trusting.Easily duped.”
“Ditzy, you mean.” Clem snapped.
Dinah rolled her eyes. “Maybe just have that sheriff of yours look into this guy.” She suggested meaningfully and pulled a gold lighter from the depths of her pocket.
What sheriff of hers?
“You datin’ the sheriff?” That was impossible, right? Bill would’ve known about it and the man would be quickly fleeing town, just like smart ol’ Febold. Coyotes weren’t much for competition.
“No, of course not.” Clementine said distractedly. She drew in a deep breath, as if forcing herself to ignore Dinah’s lack of faith in her abilities. “Dinah, all I’m asking for is a trial. A few slots a week. You’re always looking for new talent to fill the shows.”
“The Kitchen is abusiness. I’m not gonna put some random nobody on stage.” Dinah flicked a flame on her lighter.
Bill’s shoulders tensed. That just wasn’t gonna work for him.
“Bill isn’t a random nobody. You’ll hear that, if you just give him a chance.”
“Clementine, you’re kin to me. If you hadn’t loved your new foster family so much, I woulda had you livin’ at my homestead, after your folks died. There is nothin’ I wouldn’t do for you. But coyotes are a different breed of man than you’re used to…”
“You can’t smoke around Clem.” Bill interrupted flatly.
Dinah’s skinny eyebrows soared, the lighter stopping halfway to her cigarette. “Come again?” She rapped out, glowering over at him.
“You can’t smoke around Clem.” Bill repeated.
“I own this place, boy.”
“I know.” Bill ignored Clementine’s pointed little elbow jabbing into his side, trying to get him to shut up. “But I don’t let people endanger Clem’s health, whether they own this place or not.”
Dinah stared at him.
