The driver’s jaw clenched. “Then I guess you’ll be moving those rocks, won’t you?”
I glanced over my shoulder and shrugged. “I’d like to help you out, of course, but they aren’t my property, so I can’t make that decision. Besides, have you seen the size of those things? I doubt even you could move them.”
“They’re on council land,” he ground out. “You need to move them, now.”
I released an overly dramatic sigh. “As I said, I’d love to help, but after sixty years of leasing out the property, you’d think the council would provide some warning if they needed anything... prepared.”
The man all but growled, “Thecouncilwas here two days ago, and I’m pretty goddammed sure that pile of crap wasn’t there. I was told you’d been warned about the paper road.”
I shrugged. “Maybe so, but as I said, I’m not the property owner, and I’m pretty sure no one notified Ryder of exactlywhenyou were coming.” I wiped a sweaty palm down the front of my jeans and steadied my voice as blackness picked at the edge of my vision.No. Dammit. Get a grip, Thaddeus. Get a fucking grip. Ryder needs you.I almost baulked at the thought. The fact thatanybodyneeded me for more than my computer skills was a fucking miracle in itself.
The driver’s angry gaze flicked between the rock pile and me. “That’s not my problem. You need to move those rocks or I’ll move them for you.”
“You can’t,” I managed in something more than a squeak, which was pretty damn phenomenal, all things considered. “Not unless you use Ryder’s driveway to offload your machine, and that’s not allowed. Of course, now that you’ve brought mattersto Ryder’s attention, I’m sure he’ll get on to it as soon as he can once he’s consulted with his lawyer.” I tilted my head toward the sky, like I was considering the probability. “Possibly next week, if the weather holds up.”
“Jesus Christ.” The driver’s mottled face blew red. He threw open his door, heaved his ample body to the ground, and for the first time I caught sight of his name badge. Eric. I made sure to capture it on camera before he stomped angrily toward the pile of rocks and gave one of the larger ones a shove with his boot. It didn’t budge, of course. He scowled and put his hands on his hips. “If this was deliberate, then that’s illegal obstruction.” He eyeballed me. “Which means you’re in big trouble, whoever you are.”
“Not the owner.” I returned his glare and somehow managed to keep my voice steady as I replied. “Besides, why would we do something like that?”
The driver’s jaw tensed and he looked ready to pop a gasket. “You people think you’re so fucking clever with your fancy words and expensive lawyers. But when it comes down to it, you or your mates don’t own this land. The council does.”
You people.I considered his words and the spiteful anger behind them. I’d run into more than my fair share of Eric’s in my life. Angry men with small lives and a loathing for even the whiff of education. “No,” I answered, slowly and deliberately. “I don’tthinkI’m clever. I fuckingknowI am. Which is how I know that the council might own the paper road, but they can’t touch an inch of dirt on Ryder’s property until alegaldecision is made regarding his lease. Now,youcan try to move those rocks on your own. I won’t stop you. What Iwilldo is stand here and make sure thatyoudon’t break the law by setting even one toe on Ryder’s land. Currently, your truck is in breach of that injunction.” I pointed to where his front tyres sat over Ryder’s driveway. I suggest that you move it before I call the police.”
The driver’s complexion turned an ugly shade of beetroot, his hands clenching at his sides. “You think you’re helping him, but you’re not. You’re just delaying the inevitable. We’ll be back.”
“I’m sure,” I replied evenly. “But next time, how about you call first and we’ll be sure to get those rocks moved in time. Have a nice day.” I intended to make a dramatic exit, but a heavy hand landed on my shoulder, pinning me in place.
“Oh no, you don’t.” The man’s lip curled as he tightened his grip, his fingers digging into my collarbone. “You’re gonna stay right there while I call my boss.”
Sensing my panic, Ziggy barked in the man’s face, startling him enough that I could yank myself free and push him away. “Get your hands off me.” I spun on my heels to get as far away from this crazy fucker as quickly as I could.
But the driver wasn’t done. He gave me a hard shove, sending me stumbling backwards onto my arse on the gravel. I somehow kept hold of my phone, but Ziggy wriggled free. He hit the ground running, snarling as he lunged at the driver’s leg, sinking his needle teeth deep into the leather of his boot.
“Get off me, you little shit.” The driver threw out his leg and Ziggy went flying. He landed on the driveway with a yelp and I saw fucking red.
“You leave him alone!” I scrambled to my feet and ran at the driver with no plan other than to barrel into him. But he threw up his arm and caught me under the jaw, snapping my head back so hard that I saw stars. I fell to my knees, spitting blood from God knew where, along with a crown I’d only had fitted a few months before, dammit.
I had just enough time to regret not adding dental coverage to my insurance policy before the roar of an engine broke through my brain fog, and I opened my eyes to see Ryder’s ute screaming to a halt, gravel spewing from its back tyres.
Ryder was out of the ute and kneeling at my side in seconds, his eyes blowing wide at the sight of blood on my shirt. “Jesus, Thaddeus. What the hell happ?—”
“That bastard hurt Ziggy.” I dragged the back of my hand over my bloody mouth, then grabbed hold of Ryder’s bicep to pull myself up. “Keep this safe.” I shoved the broken dental crown into his hand, then launched myself at the driver, ramming him backwards into the side of his truck. “Fixing that is going to cost me a fortune, you motherfucker!”
“Get off me.” The driver pushed back, looking furious enough to throw a punch, especially after Ziggy started tugging on his boot again. But I could tell he didn’t like his odds, not with Ryder standing at my back, so he raised his hands and inched toward the truck’s cab. “Fine, I’m leaving. Call your fucking dog off.”
Ryder called Ziggy to his side while I stalked after the man, my temper boiling over. “Yeah, you do that,” I sneered, wondering where in the hell this Thaddeus had been hiding all these years. “But if you leave even one tyre print on Ryder’s land, I’m going to make sure that video goes viral with your name all over it,Eric.I can see the headlines now.Council worker kicks dog in brutal infringement of property owner’s rights.You were onourproperty when you did that, arsehole.”Our?I didn’t dare look at Ryder, whose eyes were burning two holes between my shoulder blades. “I can guarantee it won’t look good for you.”
The man gave an ugly snort. “Whatever. No one gives a shit.” But he sounded a lot less cocky than he had done. “You’re fucking nuts, both of you.” He dismissed us with a wave of his hand and climbed into his truck.
I shouted through his open window as he started the engine, “Why don’t you tell your boss how you beat up a tiny dog and a guy half your size. See how much sympathy you get.” As the truck began to creep back in reverse, I walked alongside, still yelling. “And be sure to tell him I’ll be sending the council mydental bill along with the footage I filmed. I expect to be reim—” My rant was cut short when Ryder’s arms circled my waist and lifted me off the ground.
“Easy there, tiger.” He carried me backwards, my legs still pumping.
I struggled for all of two seconds before my adrenaline began to crash and I crumpled in Ryder’s arms. His arms locked around my waist, the heat of his body fanning flames across my back, his warm breath grazing my neck, that earthy, workday scent popping goosebumps over my skin and making it hard to breathe.
He kept me like that until the truck was gone, and then his hold loosened. I turned slowly to face him, surprised to find him grinning from ear to ear.
“Don’t know what you’re so happy about,” I grumbled, using the hem of my T-shirt to dab at the split on my lower lip. “And where’s my tooth?”
