“That’s the plan.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes and he shifted in his seat.
“You don’t sound excited about the prospect.”
He shrugged, but didn’t comment. Perhaps she shouldn’t have mentioned it. “What do you do when you’re not working?”
“I play golf, tennis, sometimes go sailing.”
He probably belonged to a country club. Just the thought made Zita cringe. She imagined it full of people vying to outdo each other with how much they spent on plastic surgery or the latest car.
“Sometimes I go hiking with my friends,” he added.
“There are some beautiful hiking areas around the city. I take my dogs there on the weekend.”
“You have dogs?”
She smiled. “Yes. Bess is a lab-cross and Saint is a German shepherd. I rescued them from the pound a couple of years ago. I’d have more, but Mama’s not as keen. They do tend to leave a lot of hair around.” She wanted a whole pack of dogs. It had broken her heart to go to the pound and not be able to rescue them all. Though Bridget’s partner Jack had been making noises about getting a dog soon. He and Bridget had moved into their new house and there was plenty of space, so maybe she could save another dog through them.
“I’d love a dog, but they don’t allow them in my apartment building.”
“Well, feel free to borrow mine any time you need a fix.” The words were out before she considered them. She naturally shared what she had with others, but perhaps he’d think it odd, or maybe she wouldn’t want to see him again. A sensational kiss didn’t make a relationship.
“Thanks.” He took a sip of his wine. “So what do you do in your spare time?”
“There’s always stuff to do around Casa Flanagan— gardening, cleaning, helping Alejandra with her baby.” Did it sound as pathetic to him as it did to her?
He shook his head. “That’s work. What do you do when you go home?”
She hesitated. It was always awkward when she had this conversation with guys. “I live at Casa Flanagan. That is my home. I help Mama with the foster girls.” She waited for the usual reaction.
He frowned. “You live with your mother?”
There it was. “Sure do.” She kept her voice light. “Taking care of six girls is a lot of work, and we also help the migrant community.”
David was silent a moment. “So do you get time off?”
“I get a few hours on the weekends. I take the dogs and explore the different hiking tracks around Houston.”
“I bet they love that.”
She grinned. “They sure do.”
Their food arrived and it smelled amazing. Zita took a mouthful, and the flavors burst on her tongue. “This is delicious.”
David nodded in agreement. “The chef is so good.”
She cast her mind around for something else to ask. “Have you considered moving so you can get a dog?”
“No. Too much hassle.”
He obviously wasn’t that keen then.
David took a sip of his wine. “I hear Evan’s exhibition did really well last month.”
She grinned. “It did. I’m so happy for him. I wish I was as talented.”
“You paint?”
“Not really. The most creative I get is sewing.”
