Page 60 of My UnTrue Love
“That’s right, I would. I’m not sleeping with anyone, but especially not Rosalee.”
He intended to ruin the woman, actually, and Johnny was inadvertently helping him do it. Once The Yellow Roses collapsed, Rosalee’s career would be in the toilet too. And the Susannah Alabama affair was sure to be unwelcomed news for her.
Bill might’vealsoset a situation into motion featuring Rosalee, Rosalee’s expensive sand-yacht, and a herd of angry jackalopes. Just to make sure he got his point across about what a downright poor life choice it was to disrespect Clementine. …In a quiet, indirect way.
“You’re not seeing anyone else, at all?” Clem persisted hopefully.
“Only you. I never meant to upset you, when I flirted with Rosalee. My intention was just gettingJohnnyfocused on her.” It was why Bill subtly maneuvered for Rosalee to get hired, in the first place. He’d known she’d be a real good fit for his scheme to let Johnny destroy himself. Those two deserved each other.
“Well, I guess your matchmaking plan worked, since they’re dating now.”
“Dating is a nice way to put it.” He had a feeling Vulture Valente’s gossip site would use less sanitized verbs, when he exposed the texts that Bill had helpfully forwarded. “I wasn’t exactly matchmaking, either. John’s just competitive with me.”
Clem scoffed, like it was silly that the other man even tried to compete.
“I thought if Johnny was busy trying to win Roselee away and beat me in some dick-measuring contest, he’d stop spending so much time with you.”
Clementine looked confused. “Why would you want that?”
“So you’d spend time with me instead.”
She blinked. “You wanted to spend time withmeand not Rosalee?”
“Of course! That woman is damn annoying.”
Clem gave a sputtering laugh. “Oh my God, shesois.”
Bill relaxed some. “You and Johnny used to eat lunch together, remember? I figured if Johnny and Rosalee began sharing their breaks, you might come sit with me and we could…” He trailed off with a shrug.
“Talk?” She finished for him.
“To begin with. Sure.”
“Oh.” Clementine pushed her curly hair behind her ear and flushed pink. It seemed like she was suppressing a grin. “Well, I see how doing all that might upset you. Pretending to have an attraction to Rosalee felt emotionally dishonest.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“I think you’re being too hard on yourself.” She leaned forward to touch his arm. “When we met, you felt drawn to me. Am I right?”
“That’s for certain.”
“Because I’m a muse!” She insisted with an understanding smile. “Our connection is bound to cloud your judgment, from time to time, and set you on mischievous paths like this Rosalee thing.” She waved it aside. “Artists are driven by passions and they’re not always light.”
“It’s not because you’re a muse.” He shook his head. “Our connection is because you’reClementine. And I cannot stand the idea of you connecting with anyone but me.”
The atmosphere in the room shifted.
Clementine’s breathing got faster. She liked that possessive statement. She’d probably call it “poetictemperament.” Bill knew it was “territorial aggression.” Either way, she liked being the focus of all his attention. Which was damn fortunate, since he had a hard time looking anyplace but her.
“I want you to be my muse.” He reiterated. “How do we do that?”
“Like this.” She leaned forward, her lips brushing against his.
There was a spark of golden light behind his eyes. So quick and bright, Bill almost thought he imagined it. There might have been more, too. He wasn’t sure, because he was too caught up in the magic of Clem’s taste to notice plain old ordinary magic, at all.
It was probably meant to be a very quick kiss. Kisses were a common way to seal and unseal spells. But Bill wasn’t about to let his stolen-mate slip away with just a harmless peck. Her soft lips touched his and Bill lost control.
One second, her mouth was sweetly closed. The next, his tongue was surging inside.
