Page 67 of A Much Younger Man
“Oh, you should. There are so many wonderful vegan recipes you’d never even miss meat.”
“I do meatless Mondays sometimes, but going vegan doesn’t sound like my kind of thing.”
“That surprises me.” And disappointed him too judging by the look on his face. That was probably a speed record for me. “I’d have thought you of all people—someone who has dedicated their life to caring for animals—wouldn’t go around eating them.”
“I’ll just see if there’s anything you can eat in the fridge.” I turned and opened the refrigerator door.
Not looking at him gave me time to think. Fortunately, he’d left a glass of wine for me on the counter. I was going to need it. In the fridge, I found some fruit and hard-boiled eggs. Nope. Eggs were on the no-fly list, so I put them back.
Dylan closed the distance between us. “I really don’t want you to go to any trouble for me.”
“It’s no trouble at all. I have fruit and lettuce and”—I opened the freezer—“Thai vegetable gyoza from Trader Joe’s. Can you have that?”
“Ooh, sounds delicious. Let me read the label.” He took his time. “This is perfect. Thank you. If you hand me a frying pan, I’ll make it myself. Go eat your dinner.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded happily. “Of course. You have a lovely kitchen.”
“Thanks. Long day on my part.”
I got him what he needed, took my wine, and sat at the counter.
“So, my mother said she thought we’d hit it off, but I don’t really do long distance relationships.” Or any relationships.
“Well, she’s a doll. She was so understanding about the divorce. Wanted to know all about how my girls are doing.”
“Your girls? How many kids do you have?”
“I have three daughters, Emily, Andrea, and Dylanne with twon’s and ane. She’s the baby. But I call them allthe girls—my ex, Dana, included. My girls.”
“That’s nice you can still have such a good relationship.”
“Yeah. I’m lucky. I probably don’t deserve it, but I am.”
“Mom said Dana remarried?”
“Oh yes. Her yoga instructor. He’s wonderful with my girls. It’s a shame he isn’t poly. We could live as one big happy family.”
Yeah. If having a relationship was beyond me, having one with multiple partners scared me as much as Rico scared him. I guessed I was not a good fit here.
“What my mom doesn’t seem to understand,” I broached the uncomfortable subject, “is that I’m not interested in a relationship. At all.”
He waved that off. “She said you think that, but you just haven’t found the right man yet.”
“Um. No, actually—”
“It’s okay. It’s like being vegan. Everything has it’s time. When you’re ready, you’ll be ready. There’s no point in pushing yourself into a relationship until it’s right.”
He poured a small amount of water into the pan and lidded it. Steam built beneath the clear glass lid just as it was building inside me. At least he knew how to make pot stickers.
“As long as you understand that nothing is going to happen here.” I truly wasn’t even interested in a one-night stand.
“Really? Nothing?” He picked up his glass and stalked over to join me at the counter. “Are you so sure already?”
I was sure that to anyone else, the move would have seemed sexy and a little sweet. I put down my glass, curious to see what he planned to do. After the night before, with Beck, there was nothing he could do to interest me, but I let him wrap his hand around my neck and draw me in for a kiss because…because I was afraid Beck had ruined me for anyone else.
I was right. Beck had obliterated me.
