Chapter Sixteen
Grady wasn’t goingto slink away. Not even if the sheriff himself were to point a howitzer at him. He stepped out of the truck and wandered around the Mountain Dog RescueCenter.
The dogs out back barked up a storm, but there was no sound from inside the cabin. Had Linx somehow gotten wind of him coming down the hill toward her and slippedaway?
But then, she claimed she wanted totalk.
Her text message,We need to talk,was front and center in hismind.
She was holding a secret, maybe more than one, and it was time for her to fess up. Or maybe she was still playing a game, setting him up for not coming at her beck and call for the two retrievers she suddenly decided to lure himwith.
He should have met her at the motel for another dog transfer. Casual sex was no problem for a hotshot firefighter—make-up sex, even better, although there was, according to her, no relationship betweenthem.
What did heknow?
Linx was so prickly and short-tempered that most of the time, he couldn’t tell if she was coming or going. But then, that was what made her interesting, and so veryaddicting.
He was never sure where he stood with her, and that appealed to the adrenaline junkie in him. She was fiery and one hot, determinedwoman.
When he was her drill instructor, he wanted to see how much pain she could take. He’d pushed her harder than any of the other rookies and exposed her to danger to test hermettle.
She never once complained—never whined and never shirked her duty. She’d grit her teeth and her eyes would focus with laser intensity as she charged forward. There’d been days and nights when he was sure she would collapse. He’d tell her to quit, and she’d refuse, insisting on completing his orders, no matter howextreme.
And then, she’d get a second wind after he carried her into the shower and cooled her down only to heat her up inbed.
His cell phone rang and his heart jumped, until he saw it was onlyNessa.
“Hello,” he mumbled, getting back into his truck. “What’sup?”
“It’s Sam. He’s bitten someone, and the city is serving notice to you, the registered owner, for a hearing to determine whether he’s dangerous orvicious.”
Grady’s pulse shot up to attention. “Wait. What exactlyhappened?”
“Zulu has a male friend who’s been sleeping on her couch. This guy’s former military—big man. He didn’t like Sam right off the bat, and Sam didn’t like him either. It’s almost like they’re incompetition.”
“How serious is thebite?”
“Not too bad. A superficial bite on the hand.” Nessa said. “But the guy filed acomplaint.”
“Was itprovoked?”
“Zulu says Sawyer, that’s the Army guy, was upset that Sam wouldn’t let him into her bedroom. I think he tried to grab Sam’s collar and Sam nailed him. I believe that’s provocation, don’tyou?”
“I agree, so what do we have todo?”
“I’ve got Sam here at my house now. If we can get Sawyer to drop the complaint, or admit he provoked him, then we’re golden. Otherwise, there’s a hearing and determination of whether he’s dangerous and vicious, and if he is, they could impoundhim.”
“Would they have him destroyed?” Grady gritted his teeth, unwilling to picture that quiet and sullen dog putdown.
“Not if we can show he was doing his job protecting Zulu,” Nessa replied. “The easiest would be to get Sawyer to withdraw his complaint. I think he’s more upset because his pride was hurt. Zulu isn’t interested in him as anything more than a friend, and he’s been protecting her for months without getting to firstbase.”
“You want me to speak tohim?”
“Yes, if you can, man to man. I’ve already tried, but he’s resistant. I told him a woman with her traumatic background is not open to a relationship, and he denies it—says he’s only being afriend.”
“I’m not a trained counselor like you are,” Grady said. “But I’ll give it a try. How do I get in touch withhim?”
“It might be easier if you came by,” Nessa said. “You’re Sam’s legal owner, and you’ll have to attend thehearing.”
