Page 4 of My UnTrue Love
Everybody except Clementine.
Anger began to boil. They’d founded The Yellow Roses together. Gone to fucking prom together! She’d been his muse for years. You’d think that would engender some loyalty, butno. She honestly thought that damn coyote was a better musician than Johnny.
Clementine took a step closer to him, uncharacteristic anger flushing her cheeks. Anger that her precious hobo guitar player wasn’t being coddled enough. “Bill makes your songs hits.” She whispered fiercely. She rarely fought about anything, but she’d apparently go to the mat for that washed-up cowpoke. “He adds so much to your music. Do you really not see that?”
“Imake the songs hits.” Johnny shot back. “That’s whateverybodysees. Without me headlining, the best Bill could ever hope for is an occasional show at The Kitchen. Someplace fit for a has-been and never-was.”
Clementine shot him a frustrated look. “That is a lousy thing to say.” She moved to intercept Bill, as he casually strolled for the exit. “Don’t do this, Bill.” She laid a beseeching palm on his arm. “I appreciate it, but you are going to hurt your career, if you leave this band.”
Bill glanced down at her fingers touching his sleeve and then he looked at her face. “Band’s done.” He didn’t bother to lower his voice as he delivered that verdict. It was loud and clear to everyone in the studio. “Johnny’s got no music in him without you.”
The drummer and bass banjo player seemed even more disconcerted.
Fury moved through Johnny. No music in him?! Hewasgoddamn music! “Get out!” He shouted at Bill. “I never wanted to hire you to begin with. Who would want a coyote hanging around? All of your kind are thieves. I’m lucky you didn’t walk off with every valuable thing I own!”
Bill’s creepy blue eyes flicked his way and he slowly smiled.
It was never Good news when you saw a coyote smile. The things that amused them probably wouldn’t please you half so much. They were a breed of misfits and loners, feeding off the scraps of Good men.
Unlike most species, coyotes didn’t even have True Loves. According to legend, they’d been cursed to always be alone. If they wanted a mate, they had to abscond with somebody else’s woman. Coyotes sighted on a vulnerable female, scheming, and circling, and luring her away. Claiming what was never meant to be theirs. Robbing her from the guy shereallybelonged to.
Stealing his happily ever after.
Johnny wasn’t sure why he suddenly thought of that, except the smug flash of Bill’s too-white teeth sent a chill through him.
“That kind of bigotry is completely beneath you, Johnny.” Clementine seemed outraged by his opinion on coyotes. “You owe Bill an apology.”
Bill’s gaze stayed fixed on Johnny and there was a taunting glint in it now. He raised both eyebrows, like he was waiting.
Shit.
Johnny didn’t want it getting around that he was prejudiced against coyotes, because he wasn’t prejudiced against anyone. Not atall. There were just some indisputable facts about those thieving bastards that everybody knew. Was it bigoted to recognize the truth?
Whatever.
Johnny drew in a deep breath and thought of his career. “I didn’t mean it that way, Bill. You know I didn’t. Emotions are just high.”
Bill snorted, disregarding the olive branch. That asshole probably didn’t evenhaveemotions. He was just a background player. His only purpose was to support the real artists.
Clementine wasn’t done complaining at Johnny. “Bill was a huge part of the last album’s success. Firing him is a mistake.”
Bill absently adjusted the collar of his jacket. “He’s not firing me. I’m quittin’.”
“You heard him. He’s quitting.” Johnny waved a hand at Bill, ignoring the rest of Clem’s nonsense. The woman was out of her mind. “Let him go back to being a vagrant.”
Clementine’s lips thinned, fully prepared to argue this out for hours.
Bill leaned down and whispered something into her ear.
Whatever it was, it caused Clementine to stop short. She turned to look up at him in surprise.
Bill stared back at her.
Clementine’s forehead creased, like they were having an in-depth conversation and she was considering the nuances of his argument.
It bugged Johnny that they could talk without talking. Like they had some kind of connection. If Clem had a connection with anyone, it wasJohnny. They were best friends!
Yes, transitioning her out of the band would be rough on her at first, but it was just business. Clem wasn’t one to holda grudge. If Johnny ever needed her, she was sure to be there. They hadsucha great relationship. Nothing could break it.
