“She’s your child, isn’t she? Who’s the father?” Elaine asked and took a step back.
“I don’t kiss and tell—but look at her dark hair and think about it.”
Clinton could hear the conversation in the front, and he couldn’t have held back the smile if he’d tried. Taryn probably shouldn’t be leading Elaine on, but the woman deserved it—and more. Trying to coerce him into marriage ... What self-respecting woman did that?
“Does Irene know about this?” Elaine snapped.
“She does,” Taryn answered. “And she thinks Zoe is adorable.”
“I would have expected something like this from you,” Elaine said in a huff. “Do you even know who the father is?”
“Like I said, I do not kiss and tell.” Taryn shot her a smirk.
“Is that ... Did you ... Is Clinton ...,” Elaine stammered.
“Are you ready to leave Clinton alone and quit trying to lead him down the aisle like a lamb to slaughter?” Taryn asked.
“I’ll be a wonderful wife to him,” Elaine said.
“And mother to his children?” Taryn asked.
“I don’t like kids and never intend to spoil my body by having them,” Elaine hissed.
If Clinton had had doubts about being nice to Elaine, they were squelched like a bug right that second. He wanted children of his own someday. He eased off the barstool so he could peek around the corner and see what was happening.
Taryn covered one of Zoe’s ears with her hand. “It’s all right, baby girl. Don’t pay any attention to her. Lots of people don’t like babies, but I love them. You’re going to grow up to be smart and even more beautiful than you are now.” Then she leaned forward. “Clinton loves children, so if you don’t like babies, you might consider cutting your losses and dropping out of the contest.”
“Never!” Elaine stormed out of the shop.
“Well, crap!” Clinton groaned. “I thought maybe I’d be done with that one.”
“I guess she didn’t want to buy anything or bring us something special for our midmorning snack,” Taryn said with a laugh and started back to the workroom.
On his way to the cooler to get flowers, Clinton could see the baby give Taryn a toothless smile and a giggle when the bell rang for the second time that morning. He quickly ducked to the side of the archway when he saw Diana breeze into the shop. Her makeup was all done just perfect, and her cute little flowing sundress revealed her shoulders. But she still didn’t appeal to Clinton. Being chased like a rabbit by abunch of coyotes would make any man gun-shy. He loved his work helping vets, and his best air force buddy, Quincy, had said that he was interested in coming to Shamrock to help with the workload, which kept getting bigger every week. They were about to be a real firm. But that day, Clinton was fighting the urge to pick up and run from all the drama going on with these pushy women.
“Do you get your hair done every week to keep the roots from showing?” Taryn asked. “And how often do you spend time in a tanning bed?”
“That’s none of your business.” Diana glared at her. “Whose kid is that?”
“Elaine was just here,” Taryn replied. “I figured she would have told you since you’ve always been best friends. Y’all had to have passed each other on the street.”
“We aren’t talking until this contest is over,” Diana said. “That kid has your face shape and ...” She clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Does this baby change anything about the contest?” Taryn asked.
“She does not,” Diana said. “I’m here to ask Clinton to go to a picnic with me on Sunday afternoon. Our family reunion is always held on the Sunday before Memorial Day, and I want to introduce him to all my relatives.Youcan babysit that day.”
He could hear Taryn biting back a grin. “This is Clinton’s weekend to have Zoe, so if he goes to the picnic, the baby goes with him. You can show him what a good little stepmother you would make.”
Clinton stepped out of the doorway and took Zoe out of Taryn’s arms. “Thank you for the invitation, but Zoe and I have plans for the whole weekend.”
“Doing what?” Diana asked.
“That’s his business,” Taryn answered before he could.
“You should have stayed away from Shamrock.” Diana left the shop in a huff.
“Two down and one to go,” Clinton chuckled. “Why did you do that?”
