“A month, and if you try to counter my offer again, I’ll make it two months.”
My lips snapped shut in agreement. “Fine. One month.”
He spat in his hand and held it out. I did the same, sealing our agreement with saliva and a handshake.
With a new bowlfirmly in hand, I went to my property line and dropped it on his side, careful not to cross into his territory.
Though technically, I wasn’t sure he had a leg to stand on. He was renting from the Parker family, so it wasn’t really his place to order me around.
“Milo!” I called the precious dog over.
Yipping, he sat up, his ears perked high as he waited for the usual rattle. Bag in hand, I shook it just once, and he came running toward me. Pouring the food in, I was careful not to cross the property line.
Brushing his wet nose up against my hand, he delighted in a few pets before he shoved his face in the bowl and started scarfing down his delicious bites. Well, I hoped they were delicious, anyway. I had thought of getting some wet food for him, but the price would absolutely kill me.
“You’re such a good boy. Yes, you are,” I cooed as I ran my fingers over his mangy coat. “You really need a bath. You should definitely talk to your owner about fixing this situation. Maybe sneak into his house and get in the shower with him,” I smiled.
“What the hell are you doing?” JR shouted from his front steps.
He was flying down them and stalking toward me, the anger on his face nearly making me laugh. But I had enough common sense not to poke the bear.
“I was petting your dog.”
“You were feeding him!” JR shouted.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I can see the bag of food in your hand.”
Looking down, I frowned at the bag that was very clearly marked as dog food. “What, this? Oh, no. This is mine.”
Those gray eyes narrowed on me in a way that I knew I wouldn’t like the challenge that followed.
“Yours, huh?”
“Yep.”
“You eat dog food.”
“It’s a healthy treat,” I countered, unwilling to give in.
“Then let me see you eat some.”
“Oh, I can’t,” I chuckled. “See, you’re only supposed to eat three bites a day, and I already had my fill.”
His feet moved swiftly until he was right at the edge of his property line. Broad shoulders loomed over me, his Henley stretched to the brink by those large muscles that filled every inch of fabric so perfectly.
I could still feel the way those rough hands gripped my neck and how tight his body felt as it was pressed against mine.
I would not think of any of that. Not when I was waging a war here.
“Stop feeding the dog on my property.”
“I didn’t feed the dog on your property.”
“The bowl is on my side.”
“You told me not to go on your property, and I haven’t. I haven’t put a finger over the line.”
