Page 8 of Perfectly Leashed
“See?” Luca gestured toward the engine like Darcy was supposed to know what he was looking at. He’d never been under a hood before.
“Um.” He gripped the leashes tighter, causing the remaining three dogs to tug. “What exactly am I looking at?”
Luca began pointing, naming things that shouldn’t be there or were missing. Darcy simply nodded, having no clue what a timing belt or gasket was. Though, he was pretty sure all that pink neon tape didn’t belong.
And was that a shoestring?
Atlas jerked toward the bay door, damn near ripping off Darcy’s arm. He cried out, dropping his cup of coffee when he gripped the leash with both hands. “Down, boy!”
A freaking chipmunk sat at the edge of the bay, staring at the Great Dane like it dared the dog to come after it. Just what Darcy didn’t need. A flexing rodent.
Luca was in front of Atlas in seconds, a low growl rumbling from his throat. What the… The Great Dane eased onto his haunches, then lowered all the way to the floor in a relaxed pose. He rested his head on his crossed paws as the chipmunk stared, and Darcy could’ve sworn the damn thing was laughing at Atlas.
“How…” Darcy scratched under his chin, still thinking about that growl. It hadn’t sounded human.
“Permanecer.” Luca pointed at Atlas. “No vas a lastimar al humano.”
“What did you just say?” Darcy glanced between Luca and Atlas. “I’ve never seen him that still before.”
Luca picked up the fallen cup and lid then tossed down a few paper towels to soak up the coffee.
“I just told him to keep his butt still.” He tossed the wet towels into a nearby trash can.
Why did Darcy have a feeling that wasn’t all the guy had said? There was something off about Luca, but hell if Darcy could figure out what it was. Maybe he didn’t want to know.
* * * *
Darcy opened the gate, leading the dog inside the yard. He was doing a lot better walking the dogs. Luca couldn’t believe how four simple dogs had overwhelmed the human, especially when he was a dog walker. What surprised Luca most was how quickly he’d offered his services. The male intrigued him. Maybe because he was stunning, with those green eyes that glinted in the sun or possibly the way it seemed as if the dogs were taking Darcy for a walk instead of the other way around.
But he saw genuine care in the way Darcy treated the animals, like they were misbehaving children instead of burdens he dealt with for the pay.
“You think Jimbo’s gonna tell his owner how awful I am at this?” Soft laughter escaped Darcy, his eyes darting over to Luca for a heartbeat before he rang the doorbell.
“You did a lot better today.” He spoke slowly, not dragging it out but slow enough to make sure the male knew how sincere he was.
“Thanks, but we both know it was because you were there,” Darcy said, both of them watching Jimbo plant his paws and sniff at something near the flowerbed.
“No digging in the soil.” Darcy unclipped the leash, all awkward elbows and knees, but the affection was real.
Maybe that was what drew him to the human. The way he cared deeply for the canines he was responsible for.
A middle-aged woman with a tight bun and sharp blue eyes stuck her head out. Her greeting landed somewhere between suspicious and amused.
“Jimbo’s been walked and should rest for you, Mrs. Pollard.” Darcy patted the Doberman. “He was such a good boy.”
“You’re the only one who can return Jimbo with all four legs still attached. Thank you, Darcy.” She opened the door wider so Jimbo could pad inside. “Have a nice day, you two.”
Luca grinned, raising a hand in a lazy goodbye. Darcy mumbled something about hazard pay then let the gate swing shut. They stood side by side on the hot sidewalk, neither seeming ready to end their time together.
“Would you like to grab lunch with me, lucerito?” A few of Darcy’s hairs moved with the slight breeze, and Luca was dying to tuck them behind his ear.
Darcy licked his bottom lip then let it sit between his teeth.
“It’s cool if you don’t want to,” Luca said, though he had to admit he was disappointed. He really liked Darcy and wouldn’t mind spending more time with him.
“I do want to go.” He tapped his thumb on his thigh in a nervous rhythm. “I’m just…broke.”
Placing a hand over his chest in a playful gesture, Luca said, “Then let me pay you back for brightening my mornings, good sir, by treating you to lunch.”
