Page 13 of Perfectly Leashed
“It’s also in technique. It took forever for me to get it right. My pookie is an amazing teacher. Did you know it takes a rocket three days to make it to the moon? If you took a commercial airplane at normal speed, you would reach Jupiter in roughly seven hundred years?”
Darcy wasn’t sure Jamie had taken a breath the entire time he talked.
“These are my practice wings.” Jamie bounced on the balls of his feet, looking as if he would rocket into outer space at any second. “Go ahead, eat them. I’ve never served a customer before. I’m anxious to see if you like them.” He bit his bottom lip, worry in his eyes.
“Do I have to pay for them?” Darcy just wanted to be clear before he dug in. He didn’t want to end up with a bill he couldn’t pay.
Where in the hell was Luca? It was twenty minutes past the time they’d agreed on. Santiago had said the mechanic was one of the good guys, but doubt was starting to creep inside Darcy.
Jamie turned to Cesar. “He doesn’t have to pay for them, does he?”
“Luca invited him to lunch at Sin’s.” Percy grabbed a wing from the plate.
Darcy wanted to smack it out of his hand. Jamie had offered them to him, a starving dog walker who might’ve just been stood up.
He was ready to eat his feelings and wanted every one of those wings.
Cesar studied Darcy, just like Santiago had. What was with that? Was Luca asking someone to lunch that unbelievable? Darcy didn’t think so. The guy was too gorgeous not to have men vying for his attention.
Like me.
“No cost,” Cesar finally replied. “You can eat them at the table, Darcy.”
The table Percy had pulled him away from? As much as he was enjoying himself, this was a weird moment. Luca was a no-show, and Percy had dragged him off for no reason.
And everyone kept staring at Darcy whenever they found out Luca had asked him to lunch.
Percy grabbed the plate, and Darcy whimpered as he followed the delicious-smelling chicken. He paused when he spotted the huge dining room table on the right side of the room. How had he not noticed it before now?
There were a dozen chairs pushed under what looked like stained oak, a very expensive piece of wood.
“I’ll grab us something to drink since it seems I’m now your waiter.” Percy winked at Darcy. “The most fabulous one here.”
As Percy made a grand exit, two guys walked in. Their gazes immediately zeroed in on the plate of chicken. Darcy had an urge to pull it to his chest and growl, “Mine.”
“Who’s the guy and tell me you have more wings,” one of them said. The two kind of resembled each other, making Darcy think they were related.
“Sorry, Jared, but Darcy beat you to them.” Cesar smirked. “And he’s a guest of Luca’s.”
More strange looks. Darcy was getting a creeping feeling there was more going on besides a lunch date, but he was too hungry to give it another moment’s thought.
His eyes rolled back and he moaned when he took his first bite. Flavor exploded in his mouth, as the juices made him drool. This was even better than Smack Yo Mama’s chicken, which Darcy was addicted to.
“You like it?” Jamie held his clasped hands against his chest, eyes bright, bottom lips sucked between his teeth. The guy looked on the edge of bursting as he waited for Darcy’s reply.
“You made this?” Darcy pointed at the plate.
Jamie nodded vigorously, his smile slightly fading. “Did I add too much seasoning? Is it dry or undercooked? I followed Cesar’s instructions, but maybe I messed something up.”
Cesar crossed the room and cupped his partner’s cheeks. “Breathe, colibrí. You did amazing. Didn’t even burn those scanning fingers I love so much.”
“Jamie?”
He turned his head and stared at Darcy.
“I was asking if you made these because they are the best wings I’ve ever had. I just wanted to make sure I was gushing over them to the right person.”
“Really?” The smile not only returned but radiated pure joy. Even if they had sucked, Darcy wouldn’t have been a straight-up asshole to criticize such an adorable guy.
