Page 6 of Backed By You
“Blieb,” I command him to stay, and he returns to his original position.
The man snarls, glaring at Hulk, then me. “Like I said, no dogs.”
“He’s a service dog,” I finally say. “He has every right to be anywhere and everywhere I am. Now get off my porch before I call the police.”
The towering man’s brow furrows, but before he can say anything, Duke’s truck pulls in the driveway behind my car. Maci gapes at me from the front seat as she hangs up the phone.
“What kind of service dog?” Big Jerk asks.
“None of your damn business, that’s what kind,” I sass with a heated glare.
Duke jumps out of his truck and jogs over. “Beau! Christ, man. You really know how to make a first impression.”
Beau?
Wait…
My mind trails back to the conversation I had with Maci roughly a week ago when she told me Duke’s brother, Beau, is the one who owns the cabin I’m renting. This whole time I’ve been leasing from them on his behalf while he’s been away. But when she said ‘away,’ she didn’t elaborate, just that he’d be back soon and taking over rent and maintenance.
Isthismy new landlord?
Big Jerk—orBeau—gestures to me while speaking to his brother. “I told you, no fucking pets.”
Duke nods. “Yeah, I know, but Hulk’s a service dog. You can’t deny a tenant when you’re listing as no pets if the animal is certified.”
I sigh heavily. This is going to be a while. I hustle to the kitchen to turn off the stove, where the chicken is now overcooked.
Hulk barks in warning, and I turn to Beau watching my every move. “Where’s his certification? And shouldn’t he be wearing a vest of some kind?”
“He doesn’t need to wear it when they’re at home, man.” Duke huffs, peeking his head in. “I’m sorry, Callie, but could you grab the papers to show him?”
I nod, thumbing through my wallet and removing Hulk’s certification card, marking him as a PTSD service dog. I hand it toDuketo show his giant dick of a brother who should’vekindlytold me who he was, instead of coming at me like a bull seeing red.
Duke hands it off, and I watch Beau look it over. I take a deep breath, willing myself to answer any asinine questions he may have. They’re always the same: How old is he? Where did he go to doggy service school?
What caused you to need a service dog?
His dark eyes peer at me a moment later. He doesn’t say a word as he simply hands me the card.
I take it, tucking it in the waistband of my sweats. “He wears his service vest in public,” I tell him. “I don’t leave it on him at home. His collar also states he’s a service dog as well, but it can get hidden by his fur.”
Duke grins. “See? It’s all good.”
Beau grunts in response.
I bite my lip, gazing down at my buddy still on guard. “Steh platz,” I whisper, letting him know he can stand down. Hulk takes a step back beside me, sitting at my feet with his side pressed against my leg and a watchful eye on BeauandDuke.
Hulk’s been around Duke enough to know he’s not a threat. If anything, he gets excited when he sees Duke’s truck because he usually has Maci with him. And wherever Maci is, so is their baby girl, Olivia. And Hulklovesbabies.
Beau’s brow furrows even deeper. “Why would a service dog know German commands?”
I cross my arms over my chest in challenge. Becausethatis something I willnotbe sharing with anyone. Let alone this guy.
Duke slaps a sturdy hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I think what my brother is trying to say is, he’s sorry for the confusion.”
I highly doubt that’s what he’s trying to say.
I tip my head to really look at this mountain of a man. I force a smile, extending my hand to him. “Callie Ryan,” I say. “Your tenant.”
