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“Not my business. And if you don’t want to talk, neither do I.”
Valerie growled and steered her car onto the highway entry ramp. “I’m not the one who didn’t want to talk. That wasyoubeing coy about Leah.”
“All I said was that you should ask her if you really want to know what she was up to.”
“I just want to know if who she was playing with is trustworthy in your opinion. Leah’s not always the best at making those judgments.”
“Oh, Well, yeah. Totally trustworthy.”
“Are yousure?” Carine had made the proclamation so quickly that Valerie shouldn’t have read any doubt in her words, but she had to know for certain that Leah hadn’t gotten in over her head.
“Positive. I think, for a first-timer, she couldn’t have done any better. She was well taken care of.”
“That’s good. So when I call her now, I can sound less accusatory in my questioning.”
“Why would you sound accusatory in the first place? She’s a grown woman, and if she needs to make some mistakes, stay out of her way and let her do it.”
“You know who else is grown?”
“Who?”
“Kevin Dowd. I just met the lad. Ray of sunshine, he is.”
“Oh.Shit. That’s right, they moved his house arrest over to Tim’s yesterday.”
“First of all, why do you know that? Second of all, why didn’t you tell me Tim had a jerk for a kid?”
“First of all, I’m a native. I have a finger on the pulse of everything that matters around here. Second of all, I told Tim myself he should probably keep some things under wraps so he didn’t scare you off.”
Valerie scoffed. “That doesn’t matter now. I managed to walk away from Tim. I’m glad to have decided to cool things offbeforeI was introduced to his disrespectful spawn.”
“Umm…well, let’s not be hasty here. You know, most of us just ignore Kevin’s antics. There’s nothing Tim could have done differently with him, and we keep telling him that, but I could see how he would be too much for a romantic interest of Tim’s.”
“He’s certainly a complication, but that doesn’t matter. I’m done with Tim.”
“Butwhy? What happened?”
“Nothing. I just want to make sure I can walk away before anyone’s disappointed.” Valerie looked down and noticed she’d been white-knuckling the steering wheel. Apparently, the subject of the conversation didn’t make for peaceful driving.
“I’m sure you don’t want any unsolicited advice from me, but I’m gonna tell you anyway. I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Your opinion has been noted. And I don’t think I am. And what were you saying about Tim holding back with me? What do you know about him that I don’t?”
“Why does it matter? You don’t care.”
“I’m just curious. Are you going to tell me it’s his business and you can’t spill the secret? Spare me.”
“No, I’m not gonna tell you that. It’s not really a secret to anyone who’s been going to Clay’s for any period of time. Tim’sgood. Probably the most creative user of a paddle I’ve seen. What I’m telling you is that he’s not just a dom, Val. Clay may be the King of the Filthy Freaks, but I think Tim’s tastes can run a little darker. And sometimes he…well, treats us to demonstrations.”
Valerie had to pull over onto the shoulder and make sure her phone was connected correctly to the car speakers. “Hewhat?”
“Like I said,” Carine said lightly. “He likes you so he must be holding back.”
Valerie gave her head an incredulous shake. “I don’t believe that.”
“Why not? Because he wears khaki shorts too much? You think he’s some kind of squeamish nerd?” Carine emitted the single most inelegant snort Valerie had ever heard.
“I… Well.No,” Valerie said mulishly.
