Page 1 of Perfectly Leashed
Chapter One
The two pit bulls hauled left, the dachshund dove right, and Darcy skidded halfway down the cracked sidewalk before he found his footing. Meatball—the heavier pit—latched onto the scent of a jogger’s neon laces. Darcy tightened the leash, sneakers sliding on loose gravel as he shouted an apology nobody believed.
“Easy, Meatball, we agreed. No homicide before lunch.”
When the leashes knotted themselves into a braided nightmare, Darcy was half hoping a sinkhole opened and swallowed the entire block. He planted his sneakers, wrapped a line around his waist for leverage, and addressed the pack like an unqualified camp counselor.
“Okay, team meeting. New rule. We walk. No drag races, no sneaker snacks, and definitely no—”
The Great Dane at the rear chose that moment to spot a squirrel. Shit. Darcy braced a heartbeat too late. He was yanked forward so hard his sunglasses flipped off his face and clattered down a storm drain.
“Freaking great.” Those had been knock-off Ray-Bans, but they’d cost him two shifts and a bruised ego.
Somewhere in the chaos he started laughing—because anger took too much energy—and hollered to the sky, “Cut me some slack!”
A passing woman in colorful scrubs lifted her to-go cup in salute. “You’re a hero, hon!”
“Or a glutton for punishment,” Darcy muttered.
He moved forward—half march, half tug-of-war—dogs weaving around him like sentient jump ropes. He definitely sucked at walking them, but they were his morning hustle.
He readjusted yet again, squaring his shoulders in determination and marching forward, a defiant “fuck it” on his tongue. He sucked at this, sure, but surrendering to canine chaos before breakfast wasn’t an option.
Next corner, fresh disaster. Story of his life. Darcy had thought a dog-walking gig would be easy money, a way to put extra cash in his pocket. How hard could holding a leash be?
The herd of uncontrollable droolers were in cahoots with the chaos gods. Darcy just knew it.
Princess Consuela, all six pounds of stubborn sausage dog, wove between Darcy’s ankles, tangling every line into a knot.
“We’ve talked about this.” Darcy rolled his eyes. “You’re as hardheaded as Meatball. You sweet on him, Consuela? Trying to show him you can be just as— Meatball, put that tire down right this instant!”
The heavy pit bull had snagged a tire leaning against the back of a car and decided it was his. Jesus. It was like trying to wrangle a toddler with boundary issues.
“Siéntate!” A voice, sharp yet calm, cut through the chaos.
Every dog except Meatball sat instantly. Darcy blinked, wondering what kind of voodoo this was.
“I’ll give you five bucks if you let it go,” Darcy bartered. “Five is the highest I’ll go, you tire-chewing nugget.”
A tall, lean stranger sauntered closer, wiping his hands on a blue shop rag. Holy fuck. Darcy ran his fingers over his mouth to make sure he wasn’t drooling.
“¡Suelta!” The man’s voice was smooth, seductive, and devastatingly deep. Meatball dropped the tire and rolled over, belly up.
“Good boy.” A low chuckle rumbled from deep in the stranger’s chest while he rubbed Meatball’s stomach. Darcy wanted a belly rub.
“I’ve got some rope you might prefer, buddy. That tire seems a bit excessive.” The man’s carefree grin pulled Darcy into the orbit of his charm. “If that’s okay with your pet parent.”
“Rope. Right.” Dirty thoughts flooded his mind of this gorgeous dog-tamer tying him up then twirling his long mustache.
Darcy frowned. Where in the hell had that thought come from?
“Don’t have kids,” Darcy replied.
The guy straightened, offering his hand. “Luca.”
He slapped Luca’s palm like a hostile idiot, wincing at himself. “Sorry! Darcy. Normally less aggressive with my greetings.” And my dirty thoughts. “How’d you get them to listen? One word and you’ve got them sitting like they’re perfect angels. You have got to teach me how you do it.” Darcy pressed his lips together. “Or not.”
Luca reached out again. Darcy mistakenly went for a second handshake, unwilling to pass up the opportunity to touch him one more time. His hands were callused, but gentle. Now Darcy wondered what they would feel like mapping out his naked body.
