Of Love and Corn Dogs (10 page)

“I'd have to check the buses. The cab ride would cost me all the money I made on a good night.”

Darwin opened his mouth, then closed it. He peered intently at Ricky, then said, “I think you'd be a great fit here. After what Louisa said about you at Asiago, it seems more your speed. Family is important to the owners, and they treat their staff right.”

They chatted over the remainder of the appetizers, which Ricky couldn't stop eating. He kept telling himself he'd have just one more, but then Darwin would pick something up and put it on his plate, saying he had to try it. The more he tried, the more he could see himself waiting tables here.

When Simon brought out the main courses, Ricky gawped. Their plates were
loaded
.

“There's no way I can eat all this,” Ricky said.

“We have to-go boxes,” Simon told him, placing a small one beside Ricky.

“What's this?” he asked, opening the carton.

What he saw had him very confused.

“This is a piece of grilled salmon,” Simon replied. Then he smiled at Ricky, gave Darwin a nod, and went to another table.

“But no one ordered it,” Ricky protested.

“I did,” Darwin admitted, gracing Ricky with a blush and an embarrassed smile.

“I don't understand.”

Darwin scratched his cheek. “Okay, it sounds silly now, but I thought about your kitten at home, and figured he should get a doggy bag. When I went to the bathroom, I asked Simon to add it to our order.”

“You…bought something for Merlin?”

His heart thumped wildly. Who went out on a date and bought something for a cat? He peered at Darwin and could see the pink in his cheeks deepen to scarlet.

“This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me,” he whispered.

And it had been. Though he hadn't had Merlin long, the cat had become a friend to him, a confidante when he needed to share something and didn't think anyone would understand. He loved him as if he were the best buddy Ricky had. And to see Darwin care about him without an ulterior motive?

“Thank you,” Ricky said, his voice choked with emotion.

“You're very welcome,” Darwin replied, picking up his fork.

They ate in silence after that. Mostly because Ricky had no idea what to say. He kept looking over at the box of fish Darwin had gotten for Merlin, and no matter how many times he saw it, he couldn't accept that someone would go out of their way to do something like that.

“How's your dinner?” Darwin asked.

“I like this place,” Ricky said around a mouthful of shrimp linguini. He took a sip of his Pinot grigio, then set his glass down.

“I'm glad. Do you want to try some of mine?”

“I'm good, thanks.”

Darwin frowned, and Ricky found it to be the most adorable pout ever as his date's lower lip pushed out and quivered dramatically. “I got extra plates so we could try each other's dinners. Yours smells delicious. Even if you don't want to try mine, I want to taste yours.”

A laugh bubbled out of Ricky at the expression on Darwin's face. “Okay, I'd like to try your scallops, if you don't mind. I've never had them before.”

Darwin heaped the side plate full of things from his entree, and Ricky grinned.

“I don't think all of those are scallops,” he teased.

“No, but they're all so good. I wanted to share.”

As Ricky popped a breaded scallop into his mouth, he glanced over at Darwin, whose smile made him feel warm on the inside. His mother's words drifted back to him once more. Though this had been their first real date and they had so much to learn about one another, he could see making a home with Darwin. Raising a family. Darwin was the one person he'd been out with that his mother would be proud of. Maybe he should talk to her. But then she'd want to meet him, and wouldn't that just be awkward?

****

Darwin had to force himself to look at his plate. His gaze kept drifting toward Ricky and the wide green eyes that seemed to be taking everything in. They'd finished their dinner and sat eating a bowlful of spumoni ice cream and drinking a cup of coffee.

“Did you like your dinner?”

“Oh my God, I'm so stuffed. I may not have to eat again all week. Everything was so good, but I really loved the pasta. Thank you for encouraging me to get it.”

“I'm glad. I wanted you to enjoy yourself. I liked seeing it.”

“So are you ready to put aside the elephant in the room?” Ricky asked, pinning Darwin with a stare.

Darwin froze. He couldn't imagine what Ricky meant. Did he know who Darwin was? Or had he been talking about something else?

“I'm not sure what you mean.”

“Well, every time I try to ask you a question about yourself, you hedge. You turn the conversation back to me. I'd really like to get to know you.”

It took Darwin a few seconds to calm himself. He pushed his ice cream aside, folded his arms on the table, and met Ricky's gaze.

Darwin took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for what would likely be a difficult conversation. “What would you like to know?”

“Really? So I can ask you anything?”

Darwin narrowed his eyes. “Well, I don't know about
anything
, but I'll do my best to answer anything you ask.”

“Siblings?”

“One. My older brother, Kent.”

“Parents?”

“Yes,” Darwin replied, trying to give Ricky what Henley called Darwin's infuriating smirk.

Ricky cocked his head. “Yes?”

“Well, I'm assuming you're asking if I have them.” Darwin grinned.

Ricky groaned and rolled his eyes. “Okay, you got me there.”

“In answer to your question, they died a long time ago.”

“Oh. I'm sorry. My dad died, too. My mom really misses him. Me and my sister do, too.”

Reaching out to hold Ricky's hand, Darwin realized how much he enjoyed this. Conversation. Touching. Just being with someone. Sure, he'd had his fantasies about Roy, but Ricky was flesh and blood, warm and alive. He stroked his fingers over the back of Ricky's hand, and when he saw the goose bumps, it sent a little jolt through him.

“Nothing to be sorry for, I promise.” Darwin detected Ricky's sadness, so he decided to go back to safe topics. “So you've got to tell me. How did you end up at Asiago?”

Ricky grinned. “Would you believe dumb luck? I'd had a few other jobs in restaurants, and I enjoyed them for the most part. But those types of places really didn't pay the bills. I started putting in applications in other places and decided to stop at Asiago. Their ad said they wanted someone with five years serving experience. All combined, I did have five years, but not in the type of dining they did. When Louisa saw my resume, her eyebrows disappeared into her hairline. She started to say something, probably that I didn't have the experience, but then she got a call off. She was furious, because it wasn't the guy's first time saying he was sick. She fired him and hired me on the spot.”

The cheeky grin he got had Darwin laughing. When Simon slid the check folder onto the table, Darwin snatched it up, wanting to keep Ricky from snooping. He glanced at the bill, wrote in a three-hundred-dollar tip, and slipped it back to Simon. When he went to the register, he heard the cashier gasp and look over at them, a hand covering her mouth. Darwin gave her a nod. A few moments later, Simon came back to the table, a very wide smile on his face.

“Thank you so much, gentlemen. I hope you have a very pleasant evening.” Then he strode away, looking very much like he was on cloud nine.

Darwin grinned and put his credit card in his wallet, then slipped his billfold back into his pocket. He turned to Ricky, his smile lingering, and said, “So, what should we do?”

A slight frown crossed Ricky's face. “I should go home. I have to feed Merlin, plus I need to hit the streets again tomorrow. Jobs aren't easy to come by. Since I was only at Asiago for a few months, it really doesn't look good on my resume. I know Louisa said she'd give me a glowing recommendation, but I'm guessing people see the fact I quit, and that's it for me.”

I'll get you a job. Tell me what you want to do.
The words were on the tip of Darwin's tongue. Hell, if Ricky wanted, Darwin would
buy
Asiago for him. But Ricky wasn't the kind of guy you threw money at. His reaction to the piece of fish for his cat had proven that. And Darwin didn't want to start their relationship in that way. He wanted Ricky to like him for who he was.

“Apply here,” he said brightly. “What's the worst that could happen?”

“I'm thinking about it,” Ricky replied. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Would you mind if we called it a night?”

“Yes. I really would,” Darwin answered truthfully. “But I know why, and it's important, so I'll ask them to get us a cab.”

Ricky's smile lit up Darwin's heart. It could never be seen as anything less than genuine. Just like the man himself. He waved at the host, and asked if he'd mind calling for them. He said he'd be delighted and headed back to the desk. Ricky stood, picked up his boxes of food, and they left the restaurant.

The night air had finally cooled off some. No longer sweltering, it provided a welcome respite from the heat they'd been crushed by for the last week. He sat on the bench outside, and Darwin smiled when Ricky took the spot next to him.

“I had a really nice time. Thank you.”

Darwin dipped his chin. “Me, too. Thank you for coming with me.”

They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes. Then Darwin jumped when Ricky took his hand and laced their fingers together.

“Sorry,” Ricky said, pulling his hand back. “I should have asked if you were out. I don't want to cause you any problems.”

The loss of connection speared Darwin. He couldn't believe how much he missed it already.
What are you doing to me? Is it because I've been so lonely? No. I can't believe that. Since you spoke up at Asiago, you've been on my mind. Why do I react to you the way I do?

“No, no. Definitely out. It just surprised me is all. Could I…?”

He held out his hand, and joy surged through him when Ricky slipped his hand into Darwin's. The biggest surprise came when Ricky leaned over and rested his head on Darwin's shoulder.

“I really don't want this night to end,” Ricky admitted, then sighed. “Everything was…perfect. Especially the company.”

Darwin tilted his head until it touched Ricky's. He could smell a lemony scent, likely his shampoo or body wash, sharp and tangy. It would be forever linked in his mind with Ricky. He'd give anything to freeze this moment in time.

“For me, too. I can't believe how nervous I was about calling you.”

“Ha! I hoped you would, but if I'm honest, I was equally nervous. I don't really date much, so I wasn't sure what the proper protocol is.”

“None,” Darwin insisted. “You have my number. If you ever want to call me, regardless of the reason, do it.” He was quiet for a minute, then Ricky shuffled a little closer. “I'd like to see you again. Would that be okay?”

Ricky squeezed Darwin's hand. “Gee, I don't know.”

The light, teasing tone, coupled with the warmth of Ricky's hand gave Darwin a sense of peace. They sat there, not saying anything until the cab pulled up.

 

The whole ride back to Ricky's apartment, he stayed pressed up against Darwin, as if taking comfort in his presence. Darwin had no complaints at all. The interior of the cab smelled of the food in Ricky's to-go boxes, a rich, delicious scent that had Darwin's stomach rumbling.

“Want to take some of this home?” Ricky asked, chuckling.

“No. If I get hungry—” He stopped. He'd almost said his cook would warm him up some cabbage rolls. “I'm pretty sure there are some pizza rolls in the freezer.” Another thing he'd never tried, but if Henley hadn't left him any of Maria's specialty, maybe he'd indulge himself tonight and eat something from his friend's stash.

“Those won't make a meal for you. I've still got two containers of linguini. Take one.”

He picked one up and held it out toward Darwin. He thought about taking it without arguing, but this could be a couple of meals for Ricky, and probably Merlin, too. Ricky needed it more than Darwin.

“No, I'm good. Thanks. Shouldn't even be hungry. I think it's the smell of the food that's triggering the
Feed Me, Seymour
vibe.”

“You like
Little Shop of Horrors
? I loved the one with Rick Moranis. He was absolutely adorable in that role,” Ricky said with a chuckle.

“I liked Levi Stubbs as Audrey II. He had an incredible singing voice.”

Ricky opened his mouth, then closed it as the cab pulled up in front of his apartment. A strange loneliness swept through Darwin. He didn't want the night to be over. He wanted… He wanted to sit on the couch with Ricky. Share their favorite movies. Anything to not have to go home to a big, empty house.

“Can I walk you in?” he asked, trying to hide the sadness.

“I'd like that.”

They got out of the cab. Darwin stuck his head into the open window and asked the driver if he'd mind waiting a few minutes. The man seemed ready to protest when Darwin flashed him a one-hundred-dollar bill.

“No problem at all, sir!” the driver said with a little too much enthusiasm.

Darwin walked Ricky into the vestibule of his apartment. They stood for a moment, simply staring into each other's eyes. Then Ricky put his hand on the back of Darwin's neck and pulled him down into a kiss. It wasn't anything like the one the night at the bar. This one screamed need and desire as Ricky's tongue probed Darwin's mouth, licking, teasing, ratcheting up the desire. When he stepped back, Darwin felt the loss immediately.

“Good night,” Ricky whispered, then rushed to the elevator.