Page 9 of My UnTrue Love
“Some duchess in Nottingham kidnapped me to sing at her wedding, a couple years back. I escaped when the castle exploded.”
She laughed at that silly story. “You have such a great sense of humor. I wish everyone else could see that.”
“Oh, I keep it hidden, alright.”
He kept so much of himself hidden away. “It can be hard to make friends.” She told him in deep understanding.
Bill made a considering face. “It’s an ongoin’ challenge for me. No doubt.”
“I think maybe you open up to me, more than other people.”
He met her eyes. “I do.” He allowed quietly.
Artists felt comfortable with muses, even when they’d never collaborated. It was instinctual. With Bill, that instinct seemed to be magnified.Exponentiallymagnified. If they were working in the studio, he stayed right beside Clementine. They ate meals together, and talked together, and he would even smile at her. He was very private, but he seemed to enjoy being with her.
Goodness knew Clementine enjoyed being with him. Bill was a brilliant artist and a devoted friend.
Also, he was very handsome.
She tried not to notice that, because it was unprofessional to rapturously gaze at your colleague’s ass, no matter how great it looked in blue jeans. She didn’t want to make Bill uncomfortable. He was such a gentleman. He would never have deviant, sexual thoughts about a friend. Not like Clementine did when she ogled him.
She cleared her throat. “Sometimes a performer has to lay his emotions bare. Pull from something real and raw inside of him. That’s what puts the extra-specialness into a song. Theka-pow!” She gave him an encouraging smile. “I know it’s difficult for you to be vulnerable.”
Bill frowned. “I’mnotvulnerable.”
“You have to harness emotions to create great art.” Clementine stressed, anticipating his instinctive denial. He needed some time to come to grips with his profound feelings. “I see such amazing potential in you, Bill. If you express your inner world, you’ll be a star.”
“I’m never gonna be a star, Clem. All I do is play guitar.”
“No, you play guitarbetter than anyone else in Red River Valley.”
“You were serious about that, earlier?” He demanded, incredulous now. “I figured you were just screwin’ with Johnny, when…” He broke off for half a second. “No. You’re too sweet to deliberately screw with anybody.”
“What a nice thing to say!”
He made a seesawing hand gesture, like his words could be interpreted either way.
Clementine wasn’t deterred. “Youarethe best musician in town. A natural, amazing, once-in-a-lifetime talent.”
Bill stared at her, saying nothing.
She wrinkled her nose. “I should warn you… I’m ambitious.”
He gave himself a shake, like he was clearing his head. “Well, who’d hire a manager who isn’t?”
“Some people don’t like ambition. Especially in a woman. But it’s just who I am and you should be prepared for it, since we’re partners now.”
The word “partner” had his mouth curving upward at one corner. “I support women being whatever they like. Don’t worry. I know what I’m getting into.”
“I will be really pushy about your career.” She stressed. “If I push you too hard, you’ll have to let me know, because I will be completely blind to it. I haveso muchfaith in you. I think everyone should hear you play and that’s what I’m going to make happen.” She paused and then immediately started pushing. “And it would be easier to book jobs if you sang.”
“Probably be easier to book me jobs, if I juggled penguins on a unicycle. …But I can’t do that, either.”
Clementine sighed. Bill was so, so gifted. And so, so stubborn. She constantly nudged him towards center stage, but he constantly resisted. Like all great artists, he was temperamental. She needed to be patient.
“Okay.” She soothed. “For now, we’ll find you a gig where all you do is play guitar. For now. It won’t be glamorous, at first.”
“I’m not goin’ nowhere. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it. I can play anything.”
