by K. C. Crowne
“Pay your bills, Danielle,” Greg retorted smartly. “If you can’t keep a roof over our daughter’s head, then maybe she would be better off with me.”
My hand tightened on the phone, and I feared I might crush it with my grip - just what I wanted to do with his neck at that moment. I took a deep breath and counted to ten.
My ex-husband was a powerful man. Rich as all get-out, all of it inherited from his grandfather’s luck in the mining business before Greg was even born. Greg owned and operated several businesses of his own, all started with capital from his family’s massive reserves. Most of them failed, but as soon as one went bankrupt, he started another and could always keep up the appearance of success. The family money wasn’t going to run out anytime soon, so he was set for life no matter what stupid decisions he made. I’d once told him he’d have better odds making money from his inheritance by throwing it down on a craps table in Vegas than starting another business, but that just earned me a lecture about “my place” and how I should “stay out of his business affairs” since I was a woman.
A myriad of comebacks rushed through my head, but in the distance, I heard my daughter's sweet voice. The more I pissed him off, the more he’d try to punish me for it - and that usually entailed my innocent child in some way or another. He never hurt her; he was a good father even if he was a terrible husband, but he knew if he took her away from me, I’d be destroyed.
“I’ll take care of it,” I said through gritted teeth.
“You better,” he said before the line went dead.
I stood in the hallway in silence for a moment, the urge to scream deep in my chest. I wanted to cry, not from sadness or pain but from frustration.
Why did you agree to the terms to keep this place? I cursed at myself. Except I knew the answer - I’d had little choice.
Greg had bought the property for me to run my business from while we were still married. The house we lived in had been a rental at the time, just some extra income in Greg’s pocket to justify the cost of the rescue. But since that day, he held the favor over my head - using it to manipulate me into doing whatever he wanted.
It gave him control over me, and I hated it. I wanted to be free from the debt, but the only way to do that would be to buy the place outright and I didn’t have that kind of money. I was paying out my ass in legal fees, thanks to him taking me to court for every little thing, contesting everything even if he’d later agree to it - all to punish me for leaving him.
I took a deep breath and remembered the man in the other room. The potential client. My heart sank as I thought about taking him on. As much as I wanted to, the reality was, I wasn’t really set up for this type of thing right now. I needed work to repair the damage to the property, but I wasn’t sure how I could work when the property was in the shape it was. It was the Catch-22 from hell.
I walked back into the room and painted a fake smile on my face.
Mason took one look at me and furrowed his brow. “Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah, everything’s fine,” I lied.
I hardly knew the guy; I wasn’t about to confess to him about all my personal problems. No matter how kind he seemed or how easy on the eyes he was, I still didn’t trust him. He was a man, after all, and based on my experiences with men, even the good ones didn’t stay good forever. I took a seat next to him, mentally scolding myself for socializing with him so freely before. I’d showed him around the house. He’d met my daughter. That needed to stop right now. We needed to focus on business.
I cleared my throat. “So, there’s just one problem with your request,” I said. “I currently don’t have a training facility, and right now, all my available dogs are split between different rescues across Utah. I usually prefer working with dogs I already know, since I’m familiar with their personalities and can gauge whether they’d make a good service dog, but without a facility and all that, I really don’t think I can help you right now.”
“Well, I’m happy to pay you very well for your time,” Mason said. “I’ll pay double - no, make that triple - what you’d normally charge per hour. It’s very important that we get my friend the best dog possible, and I trust you.”
I was in shock over his generous offer and swallowed before speaking. “You hardly even know me.”
“Yeah, but I read your reviews, and I’m also a good judge of character. I can tell you’re good at what you do. You’re passionate and caring,” he said, a crooked grin on that handsome face.
“That’s very generous of you, but—" I thought about Greg. He had once offered the property to me as a very generous gift, no strings attached. But there’d been strings; I only got caught up in them later. My eyes narrowed. “But why would you want to pay me so much more than my going rate?”
“Because I only want to work with you, and it’s clear you need the help getting back on your feet. I’ll pay you today,” he said, pulling out his wallet. “How much you need? I don’t know what’s a fair rate for this sort of thing. $10,000 maybe?”
My throat felt like it had clenched shut to try and stop me from speaking. God, I needed that money. I needed it so badly…I should say yes. But he seemed eager. Too eager.
“You’re still here!” Skyler’s voice cut through my thoughts. In her arms was our big, white, fluffy cat. “Meet Marshmallow.”
“Oh, what a good-looking kitty,” Mason said, reaching down to pet the cat’s head. Marshmallow loved attention and enjoyed being held and carried by Skyler, which was one reason I’d kept the cat when he’d come into our shelter. The animal purred as Mason scratched under his chin.
He was perfect. Too perfect. Just like when I’d met Greg. He was all charming and full of flattery. He’d ooh and aah at animals with me, donating large sums of money to charities and advertising what a good man he was to try and lure me in. It taught me something - never trust a man that seems too perfect. If it seems too good to be true, it’s probably because he has something to hide.
So what was Mason Harvey up to, and what did he want?
“Mr. Harvey, I—I can’t work with you,” I said flatly.
Mason stopped petting the cat and stared at me. “Why not?”
“Well, first of all, why would you offer to give me $10,000 just out of the blue like this? Right as I’m telling you that I don’t have a facility or my dogs. It feels off to me.”
“Like I said, I trust you, Danielle.”
Trust me? He barely even knows me. Sure, he read my reviews, but to just hand me a large sum of money based on reviews online seemed fishy. I’d noticed the way he’d looked at me when we first saw each other. His eyes had nearly exploded from his head as he gave me a once over. Sure, I was ogling him too, but that was different. I wasn’t offering an exorbitant amount of money for a job that wouldn’t cost near that much.
“What do you really want, Mason?” I asked. I reached over and cupped my hands over Skyler’s ears, and lowered my voice. “Because if it’s sex you want, you can get prostitutes far cheaper than what you’re offering me.”
Skyler scowled at me as I removed my hands from her ears.
His eyes widened, confusion on his face. “That’s not—I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re a beautiful woman, but that isn’t at all what I was looking for. I just want to help.”
Mason’s brow furrowed in concern and his eyes seemed so sincere, I wanted to believe him. Hell, maybe I did believe him - that he didn’t want sex from me. But I knew from experience that no one just handed you ten grand on a job that would likely cost half that or less without expecting a little more out of the deal. Eventually, my debt to him would come due, and the last thing I needed was owing my life to another man.
“I don’t need your charity, thank you. I’ll do what I can to find a suitable dog for your friend, though I can’t promise anything since I don’t know of any off hand. But if I find one, I’ll do the work for my regular fees only.” I rose from the table, a hint that I was ready to show him out.
Mason looked as if he wanted to argue, but he nodded and said, “Alright then. I appreciate that.”
He handed me a card with his name and contact details. I tucked it into my pocket as we headed for the door.
I wanted to believe that Mason was doing all of this out of the goodness of his heart. He seemed like the type of guy who would. But the last time I thought that about any man, I ended up waist deep in debt and caught in a web I would unlikely ever be free from.
We said our goodbyes, and my eyes lingered on his tight ass as he walked to his truck.
“I like him,” Skyler said from beside me.
“You hardly know him,” I muttered.
“He was nice,” my daughter retorted matter-of-factly.
I didn’t want to teach my daughter to be bitter at such a young age, so I kept my thoughts to myself. She was too young to know about the shady people in the world. I stroked her hair back from her face and asked, “So, do you want pizza for dinner tonight?”
I knew the answer before I asked the question. Skyler always wanted pizza.
“Yes! Yes, please Mama! Can we have pizza? Pretty please?”
It was a rare treat these days, as we tried to eat at home as much as possible. But I was tired, and Mason’s visit had pushed back my plans to go to the store. I picked up my phone and called the local pizza place since they didn’t have online ordering.
Skyler was dancing around the living room, singing a made-up song about pizza. I’d almost forgotten about the call with her father and smiled at her sweet innocence.
I plopped down on the couch, my eyes feeling heavy from the long day. I still had to bathe Skyler and put her to bed after dinner. Normally, I’d try to get some work done, but tonight, I was likely to pass out right after she did.
I leaned my head back against the couch, my eyes growing heavier.
Something bumped against my leg, and I opened my eyes. I stared into the eyes of my massive Great Dane. His big, brown gaze and floppy ears brought a smile to my face. Oscar’s grey fur was silky and soft under my fingers. The massive dog rested his head on my chest, leaning into me a bit. He was still just a pup by Dane standards, only around eight months old, but he was easily the most well-behaved dog I’d ever met. So easy to train too. He seemed to understand what I needed from him before I gave the command, and like tonight, he was always willing to lean on me and remind me that there are, indeed, some good males in the world. They just happened to be dogs.
In the past, I’d thought he would make an excellent therapy dog. He was intuitive and friendly and not a mean bone in his body. He loved everyone he met and was truly the epitome of a gentle giant.
“It’s hard to believe you came to me as a scrawny runt,” I said, scratching behind his ears. “Now look at you.”
He was still small by Great Dane standards - only one hundred pounds. Males could reach a hundred and fifty to two hundred, but Oscar hadn’t outgrown his runt status. Or perhaps he was mixed with something. He had the Dane face and body, just on a smaller frame. He also had the temperament. I always said it was a good thing he was smaller than most, though, since the larger ones typically had such short life spans.
There was a thought in the back of my mind, one I was trying to push away. But my brain just wouldn’t shut up.
Oscar would make a perfect emotional support dog.
Yes, yes he would. He was practically mine already. But…
The only but was that I didn’t want to give him up.
But he could truly help someone, my brain countered my heart. He could help Mason’s friend.
Oscar gazed at me as if trying to understand why there were tears welling in my eyes. He gently licked my hand, reminding me he was there for me.
“You’re a good boy, Oscar,” I murmured. “The best boy.”
It’s not like you would never see him again. He’d be living in town. And you could open your home to another dog in need.
None of the dogs I’d sheltered was as ready for emotional support training as Oscar. Hell, he’d probably need very little training. He was a natural.
“Mama! Pizza is here,” Skyler called out, pulling me from my thoughts.
Oscar got up as I stood, and he followed me to the door. He didn’t bark at the delivery driver, nor did he beg for the food as we ate.
He really was the best boy.
Mason
“Look who finally decided to show up.”
My youngest brother Eli was standing between me and the stairs leading up to my bedroom. With his arms crossed in front of his chest and the glare on his face, he reminded me of our mom after she caught me sneaking in after curfew or something. Except, of course, Eli looked more like our dad - as did all of the Harveys. We were big men, solid and tall. I had a couple inches on Eli, but he was still over six feet of solid muscle.
“Sorry, didn’t know I had a curfew,” I scoffed.
“Not a curfew, asshole. A meeting.”
I closed my eyes and cursed. “Shit. Yeah, that’s right. With Jacob Flynn. The guy looking for his daughter. I’m so sorry, Eli. It slipped my mind.”
I’d been so caught up in taking care of Calvin, that I forgot the reason my visit to him was supposed to be quick. I saw a problem that needed solved and went straight to the dog rescue, got caught up with Danielle and totally missed the meeting.
“Well, you weren’t the only one. Graham at least had the decency to tell me yesterday that he couldn’t make it - an OB appointment or some shit.” My brother’s brow was scrunched so tightly, it gave me a headache just looking at him.
“How’d it go?”
“Ended up being no meeting. When no one else showed up, Flynn decided we were too flaky with such an important case and he left. Ran into Sam on the way out the door. At least he decided to show up, even if he was fifteen minutes late.”
“I’m sorry, Eli,” I said again.
“Well, sorry ain’t good enough, man. What’s up with you lately? All of y’all are acting like you no longer want to run this business together.”
I pushed past my brother.
“What the fuck, Mason?” Eli said, following me up the stairs. “You’re not even gonna tell me why you missed one of the biggest potential cases we’ve had in months?”
“I was busy helping someone, Eli. I said I’m sorry. What else do you want from me?”
“Was it more important than the business you run with your brothers?” Eli scoffed.
I reached my bedroom door and was ready to go inside and slam it shut. Sometimes sharing a house with your brothers was a blessing - there was always someone to shoot the shit with or drink with. But other times, it was just damned annoying. We were working on a property with separate homes. This was merely a rental, but I was ready to have my own space. It was past time for that, in fact. Graham and Sam had moved into temporary places with their fiancées. Maybe it was high time for me to consider that as well.
Eli was still running at the mouth. I could go in my room and shut him out, lock the door. But there was a chance he’d just bang on it until I talked to him. Or until he got the answers he wanted. He could be damned stubborn sometimes. Hell, we all could be.
“I’m sorry if I actually want to do something good instead of just helping rich assholes who get themselves into trouble.”
“Flynn is looking for his daughter,” Eli scoffed. “Not getting himself into trouble.”
“He’s still a rich asshole. Maybe if he’d not walked out on his baby mama when she was pregnant, he wouldn’t have to be trying to find her now,” I said with a shrug.
I’d also read the papers and knew that he likely abused the poor woman. After all, not many women wouldn’t want to go after a rich asshole like Flynn for child support unless they were afraid of him. It was all rumors, but I couldn’t deny that my loyalty was most definitely not with Flynn. His daughter very well might be better off without him in her life.
I turned the doorknob, and Eli grabbed my arm. I pulle
d it away violently.
“Mason, what the hell is wrong with you? This was our dream, man. Our way of not just living off our dad’s money but paving our own way in life.”
“Maybe it was your dream. Hell, maybe it was my dream at one time, but…” I trailed off before I could finish that sentence. I knew that if I said much more, if I told him how I really felt, like how I got no satisfaction simply working cases anymore, and how I needed something more - a true purpose - he wouldn’t understand.
I also didn’t want to be impulsive and throw away the family business because of an argument with my little brother.
Even if I had been feeling a bit done, I knew I was being impulsive.
I sighed and rested my head against the doorframe, closing my eyes. My jaw was clenched so tightly, I spoke through gritted teeth. “Listen, I’m sorry, Eli. I just need a break. Please, just give me a break, alright?”
After the flooding and helping out at the clinic 24/7. And the re-building efforts. And meeting Calvin and deciding to help him. I was completely overwhelmed, and the last thing I wanted to deal with was Eli’s temper.
Eli backed off, eyeing me with suspicion. “Fine,” he said dryly. “We’ll talk later.”
I knew this wasn’t the end of our feud. It was only the end of this particular argument, which was fine with me. My head was beginning to hurt from all the tension in my jaw and neck.
Eli walked back downstairs, as evidenced by the heavy footsteps. He wasn’t happy, but at least I’d get some respite from his drama for the evening. I opened my bedroom door and entered, locking it behind me. I would have hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the handle had one been available. I just wanted to be left alone.
I didn’t want to worry about letting some rich football player down. I didn’t want to worry about helping yet another rich prick with whatever problem he found himself in this time.
One thing that working at the clinic had shown me was that I wanted to do more than just carve out a career for myself. I had a need to help people. I wanted to do better.
I stripped out of my clothes and tossed them into the dirty laundry before heading into the private bathroom. One good thing about this rental - it had plenty of rooms and bathrooms for all of us, so none of us had to share. Even if the rooms themselves were a bit small, it was supposed to have been temporary while we searched for our half-brother, Jack, here in Liberty. But we fell in love with the little mountain town and were planning to stick around. Especially since both Jack and his sister, Madison, were family. Being here in Liberty allowed us to get to know them and their family more, something we’d missed out on growing up.