I'm just having not the best of luck meeting guys who are very direct with me lately. I wonder if it is me or them. . .but I hope i can sort out the part that is me;)

If a guy lays his cards on the table to a woman straight away, you can guarantee that the woman wouldn't be too interested anymore.  Guys can't just tell the woman straight away what he's feeling, he has to be sure of his feelings first. It can take a while before he's sussed out what the woman is like.

Anyway another one: I am 31 and met a 38 year old guy at a friend's housewarming party. He did laugh a bit when we realized our age difference.

Age difference?  If it was more than 10 years I'd understand, but 7 that's not really an issue to most people.

We talked for 20 minutes and parted ways. He came back to get my contact before he left though. I haven't heard from him until now (1 month later). Should I be suspicious or why would a man do that?

Because he had other better options, or because he kept putting off contacting you, or more likely he wasn't interested in you a lot.

We exchanged some messages now and: I got an email from him last nights (and to which I haven't yet responded to since he took a week to respond to my first reply) which ends: "I am usually back in NYC after 7, so can meet for a drink one day. We could play be ear next month?"

Well, I suppose the next month thing, kind of pushes you into not replying too soon.  It seems he wants to be casual about meeting up with you.  He's also pretending indirectly that he has a busy schedule, so I'll meet up next month.

Thoughts?

It doesn't sound like he's that into you.  But only meeting up with him will you find that out for certain.