I follow him to the kitchen, which is a classy mix of modern appliances with an antique table and chairs, granite counter tops, stone backsplash, and more gothic wall decor.
He pulls out a chair and motions for me to sit. “Can I help with anything?” I ask him, feeling spoiled. I’ve never had a man cook for me before, and I have to admit, it’s definitely a nice feeling.
“Nope, I’ve got it all under control.”
I watch him move around the kitchen, setting bowls and plates of food on the table in front of me.
“White wine?” he asks, holding a bottle up.
“Ooh, sounds great.”
He takes his seat and pours two glasses of wine. Everything he’s prepared looks and smells delicious. All his serving dishes are black with a marble pattern—very different from the cream-colored set I have at home. He’s made a big tossed spring mix salad that we each fill our own salad bowls from, and the chicken a la king is arranged on my plate with a side garnish of orange peel slices in the shape of a flower. I feel like I’m sitting in a five star restaurant and not some young goth guy’s kitchen.
“I’m very impressed,” I say, smiling across the table at him. “You did all of this?”
“I sure did. I love to cook.”
“It shows. It looks too pretty to eat.”
“Don’t be shy. Dig in. I have extra forks, and I can make you lots more pretty food.”
I shake my head and smile as I cut up my food, loving how he teases me. “This house is so big. Do you get lonely here?” I ask him before taking a bite of the chicken. “Mm . . . this is delicious!” I exclaim, and it really is yummy perfection. Is there anything he can’t do?
“I have the bird to keep me company,” he says simply, and I can tell that he means it sincerely, like having just the bird is totally okay, nothing and no one else needed. I’m not sure if that’s sad or admirable.
“Can I ask you something personal?” I want to get to know him, but I hate feeling like I’m prying into his life and possibly digging up bad memories for him.
He tips his glass at me before raising it to his lips. “That’s why we’re here, baby doll, to get to know each other better. Ask away.”
“Have you ever been in a long term relationship?”
He nods and swallows. “Yup. I was with a girl for almost three years, seventeen to twenty. We had a pretty great thing going, but unfortunately, money changes people.”
“Your inheritance? Did getting all that money so young change you?”
He shakes his hair out of his eyes and smirks a little. “No, me getting all that money changed her.”
“Oh,” I say. “I’m sorry to hear that.”