Coda Books 04 - Strawberries for Dessert (MM)

seemed to consider for a moment, drinking his wine, and then he said, “I travel.”
    “You travel ?” I asked. I was racking my brain in an effort to figure out what in the world he meant. “I don’t understand.”
    “Is it a word you’re not familiar with?” he asked, and I could see in his eyes how amusing he found it all. I felt like he had been quietly laughing at me ever since we had introduced ourselves, and for better or worse, it was starting to annoy me.

    “Of course I’m familiar with it,” I said, “but don’t see how you can make a career out of it.”
    “I never said that I did, darling.”
    “But you just said—”
    “I like to cook, too.”
    “So, you’re a chef?”
    “I guess you could say that. But I don’t do that for a living either, if that’s what you mean.”
    “ Of course that’s what I mean!” I said, and even I was surprised by how angry I sounded. Several of the people at nearby tables had turned to look at me, and I felt myself blushing again. I closed my eyes and made myself count to five.
    “Have I upset you somehow, darling?”
    “No!” I said, calmer now, although I was still irritated at him.
    “So quick to apologize about the little things,” he said lightly. I finally opened my eyes again and found that he was still smiling at me, although his expression was far less mocking than it had been earlier.
    “How long were you and Zach together?”
    The sudden change of subject completely caught me off-guard. I was still confused and annoyed over the last conversation. But the look he was giving me now was open and honest, rather than condescending, and I answered, “Three years.”
    “How long ago was that?”
    “It ended ten years ago. Why do you ask?”
    He smiled at me apologetically. “I was only making conversation, actually. But it was a terrible topic to choose, wasn’t it? I guess what I really wanted to know is, are you seeing anybody?”
    “Obviously not, if I’m here with you.”
    “Does that make it obvious? I have to admit, I’ve met plenty of men who felt it was acceptable to be vague about their relationship status.”

    He had a point. “No, I’m not seeing anyone, in any capacity.”
    Occasionally I would go to clubs to pick somebody up, or go to the bathhouse, but I hadn’t actually dated anyone in months. “Are you?”
    “I have many friends, but no commitment of any kind.”
    I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “It seems that you’re one of those men who chooses to be vague.”
    He smiled back, just barely. “Suffice it to say, I haven’t had dinner with anybody in a very long time.”
    We were interrupted then by a familiar voice saying, “Jonathan!”
    I looked up to find Julia beaming down at me. Julia was my next-door neighbor. She was a few years older than me. Her husband Bill was in real estate, and Julia spent most of her days shuttling their three kids around town.
    “Hey, Julia.”
    She turned to Cole meaningfully. I was about to introduce them, but my phone rang again. At least with the ringer off, the only people who noticed were Cole and Julia.
    It turned out Cole didn’t need me to introduce him anyway. He had already stood up from the table and was shaking her hand. I actually thought for a moment he was going to kiss it. I was on the phone with Sarah again, talking her through another software glitch, so I didn’t hear their conversation, but I watched them. Something about Cole’s manner was respectful yet still flirtatious, and Julia was eating it up.
    I was just ending the call when Julia’s husband appeared. “Looks like our table is ready,” she said. “It was nice meeting you, Cole.” She looked pointedly at me. “I’ll talk to you later, Jonathan.”
    She left and Cole sat back down, watching me with a sly smile on his face.
    “What?” I asked, although I couldn’t help but smile back.
    “I get the feeling my ears will be burning later.”
    I had to laugh. “I have a feeling you’re right.”
    “How do you know her?”

    “She’s my neighbor. She takes care of my house whenever I’m away on business. She feeds my fish and brings in my mail. And I dated her brother Tony for a couple of years before he moved to California.”
    “Are you and she close?”
    “I guess so. I don’t know. We have been known to drink a bottle of wine together. Or two.” He looked even more amused now, and I asked again, “ What ?”
    “Nothing really , darling—”
    “It’s Jonathan