Page 75 of My UnTrue Love
“Haaaaaaaank…” Clem groaned, exactly the way she surely had when she was a teenager, and she thought her big brother was being overprotective.
“It’s hard to say for sure how long she’ll live there.” Bill volunteered helpfully. “The whole situation is temporary.”
Clem blinked. “What do you mean temporary? You want me to move out?”
“I want usbothto move out of that dump.” Clementine deserved the best and Bill would see that she got it. “Sooner or later, we’ll get us a finer place.”
Her eyes brightened. “I have always wanted to live somewhere with a tree in the yard! Do you think one day we could rent somewhere with a tree in the yard?”
“One day, I’ll buy you a house surrounded by trees.”
Hank crossed his gigantic arms over his gigantic chest. “You probably don’t want to tie yourself to this guy through homeownership, Clem. What if you find your True Love and want to move out?” He gestured towards Bill. “Coyotes can’t have True Loves.”
Bill’s teeth ground together.
“I think the whole True Love thing is overrated.” Clem opined. “And Bill has a lot of interest in real estate. Didn’t you hear me telling you about that house-flipping show we watch?”
Hank pretended not to hear that either. “You understand they will never find your body if you hurt my sister, don’t cha?” He challenged Bill. “I only put up with Johnny, because he neverlaid a hand on her. I found that reassuring. I’m not getting that same kind of reassurance from you.”
“Why, I’d never hurt Clementine.”
But that wasn’t what Hank meant and they both knew it.
“You’re so gallant.” Clem rubbed Bill’s wrists, like she was worried about his blood flow. “I wish you’d think about yourself, a little more. You might’ve been hurt tonight. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you, Bill.”
“I’m fine, darlin’. Don’t you worry.” Bill kissed her forehead, his gaze locked on Hank. “I’m not going nowhere.”
“Suddenly I miss that asshole Johnny.” Hank rolled his eyes, as someone called his name. “I’ve got to go deal with this mess. Clem, we’re not done discussing your ‘temporary’ living arrangements.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” She hurried over to kiss his cheek, which necessitated him bending almost in half so she could reach it. “I love you, but you’re a dictator.”
“I’m your brother. It’s my job.” He ruffled her hair, his hand encompassing most of her skull. “Yourjob is to listen to me, so work on that.” He went stalking off. “Don’t do anything stupid.” He warned over his shoulder. “And call me tomorrow.”
“I’m sonotcalling him tomorrow.” Clem whispered to Bill, coming back to his side. “He’ll lecture me for hours. My brothers think I’m ditzy.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m sorry about all of this. Especially about your big night getting ruined.”
“Nothin’s ruined, if you’re here with me.” The leftover aggression in his body was morphing into lust. Bill was used to controlling himself around Clem, so he didn’t scare her, but having her so close made him drunk on her scent. “You sureyou’re okay, baby?” He murmured, trying to hold back his desire. It darkened his voice.
For some reason, the rougher tone sent a shiver through her. “Yes.” She whispered back. “Are you sureyou’reokay? I can’t believe you were handcuffed. What if they’d cut off circulation to your fingers?”
“I can feel all ten of ‘em.” Bill promised. “You think you could rub my arms some, though?”
Her hands slipped up to his biceps. “Do they hurt?”
Bill melted beneath her soothing touch. “Not much.” He told her truthfully, because he’d never lie to Clem. He just wanted her hands on him.
She made a small noise that said she didn’t believe his denial and kept massaging.
He was uncomfortably hard and losing higher brain functions. Did he move back from her, though? Hell no. He dipped his head to inhale more of her sweet fragrance.
“Better?” She asked breathlessly, still stroking his arms.
“Somuch better.” Her touch made every part of him better. He just wished the sleeves of his shirt weren’t between them, so he could feel her skin. “Every time you leave my side, you end up in trouble, you know that?”
“That’s not true.”
He arched a brow. “Somehow I keep losing jobs, too. This is the fourth one this week.”
“That’s onlysometimesmy fault. Besides, you were too good for this place.”
