Love With A Younger Man Read Online Free

Monday morning. He couldn’t have chosen to call at a worse time. I’d just gotten back to the office after meeting with a prospective buyer. The meeting hadn’t gone well, and I was in no mood to be scolded by Geoffrey.
    “Why didn’t you call me?” he demanded.
    “You were the one who walked out on me, remember?”
    “You might have called to let me know you got home safely.”
    “Why? I’m a big girl, and you gave me money for a taxi.”
    “Speaking of which, do you have any change for me?”
    I gave out a short laugh.
    “I take that to mean that you don’t. You’re no better than the idiots who work for me. They can’t hold on to money, either!”
    “I’m in no mood for your name calling.”
    “Well, if the shoe fits—”
    That did it. I slammed down the phone. Would I have done that had Richard not entered my life? Probably not, but it felt wonderful. Until Richard, I had no idea that I’d outgrown Geoffrey. I knew I’d probably never hear from Geoffrey again. His ego wouldn’t permit him to call me. Besides, he would expect me to crawl back to him on my hands and knees and beg him to forgive me. Maybe I would have in some other lifetime, but definitely not during this one! I was glad this had happened; it made cutting Geoffrey out of my life so much easier. Geoffrey didn’t know it, but he’d done me a big favor.
     
    ***
     
    Richard and I began to date. I found him to be totally different from Geoffrey in one very big way: He never tried to mold me into someone different from the person I was and seemed to appreciate all the little things I did. I never regretted being with him, but most of all, neither did he regret being with me. He was much younger than Geoffrey, not only in age but also in his outlook on life. How had I ever stayed with such a stuffy, self-centered man for so long? Being with Richard was like being at a carnival filled with fun and surprise. I had truly never known how enjoyable life could be. He made me feel ten years younger. And most of all—loved.
     
    ***
     
    Richard and I had an early dinner and caught a movie. Afterwards, he felt hungry, so we stopped at his favorite Italian restaurant a few blocks from his apartment and ordered a pizza with extra toppings—including anchovies—to take back to his place.
    “I can’t believe you’re that hungry, Richard.”
    “Why? Aren’t you? We ate so early.”
    “But don’t forget you also had that huge bucket of buttered popcorn you practically inhaled while the trailers for the coming attractions were still on.”
    “I had to have the popcorn. The minute I passed the candy counter and smelled it, I was a goner.”
    “But afterwards, you went back out for the hotdog and Junior Mints.”
    He looked at me sheepishly and shrugged. “What can I tell you, I’m a growing boy.”
    “It must be a male thing,” I concluded.
    “Not really. I knew some girls in college who could out-eat and out-drink any man.”
    “Yeah, and they were probably training to be lady Sumo wrestlers,” I said.
    “Not really…distant cousins.”
    “Oh, you…” I nearly clocked him. I must admit, I did have a slice of the pizza even though Richard ate most of it. I’d succumbed to the tantalizing smell.
    I was about to throw away the last two pieces when Richard stopped me. “Hey, where are you going with that?”
    “To the garbage.”
    “Don’t you dare, lady!”
    “You can’t be still hungry.”
    “I’m not.”
    “So, what are you saving it for?”
    “Breakfast.”
    “Breakfast?” I looked at him as if he were crazy.
    “Of course! Cold pizza is terrific for breakfast.”
    “Richard!”
    “Okay, okay, you can have one, too.”
    I shook my head and rolled my eyes toward heaven.
    He laughed and took me into his arms. “You’re even sexy with pizza sauce on your nose.”
    “I don’t have sauce on my nose.”
    “There is now,” he said, dabbing my nose with a saucy finger.
    “You’re incorrigible.”
    “And you’re