“What the hell do you want?” I say. “I am working right now. I’m at work. This is my job. You need to leave.”
“I just wanted to say I heard what you did to my dad about not moving the event date. No one ever stands up to him, and apparently you did. That’s insane.”
“I’m just doing my job,” I say. Rex growls again. “Please leave.”
“What if I don’t want to leave?” His smile turns to a leer. “What if I’d like a seat, Charlotte?” He steps forward and Rex backs up, firmly placing himself between me and my ex. Bobby grimaces down at him, then looks up at me. “What are you gonna do if I walk in there and sit down without an RSVP? Are you gonna cause a scene?”
“Probably not,” another voice says. Caleb steps out, leveling his gaze at Bobby. “But I will.”
chapter twenty-eight
Caleb
“This doesn’t involve you,” the guy says with a dismissive wave of his hand. He wears jeans and a polo shirt which isn’t exactly gala attire. I’m not sure if he’s a vendor or vagrant, but he’s clearly not supposed to be here. “Charlotte and I go way back. We’re good here.”
Rex’s deep growl fills the air. The hair on the back of his neck literally lifts and spreads out, giving him a terrifying mane. His tail slowly sways back and forth in anticipation. It would be bad if one of my dogs bit someone on the property. The insurance rate would go up, and he might even sue me. Not to mention the repercussions biting someone would have on Rex’s rehabilitation. He’s not a patrol dog anymore and he doesn’t get to do that stuff now. Now instead of tracking down and apprehending bad guys, he needs to learn how to be a retired lazy dog who lounges on couches instead of chasing after people. I need Rex to do the right thing, so that means I have to do the right thing. I have to let this go.
“Get off my property,” I tell him. “Or I’ll have LPD officers here in five minutes to trespass you.”
“Tell him it’s fine,” the guy says to Charlotte. “Tell him you know me.”
“I don’t take orders from you,” she says, glancing back at me. Her expression is darkly serious. Her lips press tight as she grips the leash. “Come on, Rex.”
Rex’s scruff is still raised in defense mode, and she didn’t even use any German commands but he does what she asks of him. They walk toward the kennels and the guy starts to walk with her.
“Come on, Char, don’t be like that.”
I step in front of him and put my hand on his chest. “Leave, now.”
He backs up as if my hand is fire and just burned him. “What if I make a donation? That’s what this is all about, right? Getting money?”
“I don’t take money from shitty people.”
“Do you know who you’re talking to?”
”You’re hassling someone who has asked you to leave. Two people, actually, who want you to leave. That tells me all I need to know about you.”
His nostrils flare. “Don’t ever ask WLB Construction for money again.”
That was unexpected, but years of police work has trained me to look neutral no matter what thoughts are going on in my head. As he stomps back to his truck, I watch, making sure he actually does leave. Then I exhale and walk quickly to the kennels. That wasn’t the CEO who’s pissed at me for not moving the gala date. Who the hell was it?
Charlotte stands next to Rex’s kennel gate, one hand gripped on the fencing while she watches Rex drink water. She’s managed to get him inside the kennel and take his collar off, which may not seem much for a regular dog lover, but for Charlotte it’s a big deal.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” she says back, not looking my way. “I’m so sorry about that. That was… humiliating.”
“It’s not a problem.” I reach out, wanting to touch her, to wrap my arm around her shoulders and give her whatever comfort she needs right now. My hand pauses mid-air. I shove it in my pocket. Maybe she doesn’t want me touching her. “Who was that guy?”
Her head turns down, hair falling in her face as she stares at the grass. “Bobby Bryan. Also known as the heir to WLB construction. Also known as my ex.”
“Ah.” All the pieces fall together now. “William Bryan sent someone to scope out the gala he didn’t get to participate in. Why didn’t you tell me you knew them?”
“It didn't matter,” she says, turning to me. She tucks her hair behind her ears. It’s not often that I see her hair down like this. Usually it’s pulled up high in a messy bun but today it’s smooth, soft and wavy. She’s beautiful both ways, but seems more fragile like this. With her hair pulled back, it’s like she’s ready to take on anything.
“It does matter,” I say. “I don’t want you working with someone you don’t like.”
“It doesn’t matter who or what I like,” she says. “I’m a professional. I was hired to do a job, even if the biggest donor at the time was the dad of my ex. I’m still going to do the job.” She shrugs and flashes a little smirk at me. “And now it’s even better that he has nothing to do with your foundation, so he can’t claim anything when it gets really big and makes a huge impact.”
