A Much Younger Man - Z.A. Maxfield Page 0,46
he could get. “They’re feathered dinosaurs with Jurassic looking talons and sharp little beaks.”
“Okaaay.” I silently apologized to Rico by stroking his breast before putting him back in his cage. “He’s back inside the cage. No problem.”
“It’s not that I don’t like the idea of birds. Outside. Flying around.”
“Just the face-to-beak interaction?” If he said some of his best friends were birds…
“In trees or something they’re fine. At the park. Except pigeons. I can’t do pigeons ever.”
“I apologize for assuming. Most people really enjoy the chance to interact with him. He’s the perfect pet for me because I don’t have a lot of time to spend at home. His mirror keeps him company while I’m at work. He adores looking at himself.”
“You ruin everything!”
“What?” Dylan jumped. “Was he talking to me?”
“No. My ex used to tell me that. He just likes to remind me.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “He doesn’t know what he’s saying. He’s just a mimic.”
“You ruin everything!”
Dylan scowled. “Because it really did sound like he was talking about me.”
“He’s not conversant in English. He’s a parrot.” I called, “Boop.”
“Boop.” Rico ruffled his feathers again.
Dylan shivered.
“So, dinner? I picked up food from Café Bêtise. It’s pretty delicious.” I went to the table where I’d left the bag and started pulling out the containers. “I got cottage pie. Do you like it?”
“Well…”
“There’s Caesar salad, and this”—I held the smaller bag out—“is the holy grail. Chocolate mousse. Yasha pipes it into a hollowed out orange half with the pith carefully removed so all you get is a burst of orange zest. So, so delicious.”
“I am going to be the worst date you’ve ever…” Dylan trailed off, mouth half-open. He snapped his lips together and glanced away.
“What?”
“I’m, um, vegan.”
“You’re from Vegas?” I asked in jest.
“San Diego. You know that. We’re vegans. My wife and I both stopped eating meat because the girls wouldn’t, and it just—”
Understanding dawned. “You can’t eat a single thing here, can you?”
“It sounds delicious. Really. But yeah. No. Nothing.” He grinned winningly. “Seriously, though. You should try going vegan. I feel a thousand times more vibrant. More strength, more stamina, better digestion. Better sex…Have you ever considered it?”
“I haven’t really.” Not even for a single second.
“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 two n’s and an e. She’s the baby. But I call them all the 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