Page 22 of Burning Love
“I’m twenty-four,” she said. “I’m considered the flighty one of the family because when I graduated college two years ago I didn’t have an idea of what I wanted to do and was making jewelry to sell online.”
He was still trying to get over how young she was.
Shit!
“Why did you stop?”
“It wasn’t sustainable and it was more a hobby. I knew I had to buckle down and started to work at a temp agency. I thought maybe I’d find my calling and I did. I spent a few months working with Elias when I didn’t like the jobs being offered. I had to do something and he encouraged me to pursue this.”
“Did you make beer?”
“No,” she said. “You think that’s funny, don’t you?”
“You’d be nice to have around if you could make that for me.”
Talia laughed. At least she took that as the joke he intended. “I’d like to think I’m good to have around for a number of reasons.”
“I bet you are,” he said, lifting his eyebrows. “Does that mean you want me to come around again?”
“I’m still working it out in my head. I have to admit I’m having fun tonight even though I’m spilling a lot of my guts on the floor. Kind of messy, don’t you think?”
“I do,” he said. “It might get messier when you find out how old I am.”
“What?” she asked. “What does that have to do with anything? I’m not good with guys’ ages. Are you like thirty?”
He snorted. “Thirty-seven.”
There her jaw went lowering. “You’re only a year younger than West.”
“Yep. The guy you said has been a stand-in father for you. Now what are you thinking?”
“I need to process this. Hang on.”
She picked her wine up and finished it.
The server came over and delivered their food and she got another drink. He still had half his beer left.
“Are you going to fill me in on what’s going through your mind?” he asked after a minute of them eating.
“Age is just a number. I had no clue of your age. You don’t look it.”
“Thanks, I think.”
“I mean it. My mother did tell me you were older, but that didn’t mean anything to me.”
Because anything over twenty-four was older than her.
He had to admit he hadn’t dated anyone thirteen years younger than him before and wasn’t so sure how this would go. Or how they’d be.
But then he reminded himself that she seemed a lot more mature than he thought when they were talking. Her career put her there too.
“What did your mother say about me?”
“First, I told her that you were sexy and she got nosy and had to see for herself. That’s why you got cookies.”
He laughed. “I can’t believe you told your mother that.”
“We are close. Though she doesn’t know I’m here with you. I said I was having a drink with a friend.”
