Page 46 of Don't Date A DILF

“What? It’s true,” he said. “Even if— Well, it’s just true, is all.”

The kid had a point. Other than my one evening with Clark’s trivia team, it had been half a year since I’d gone out with another adult. This fake date would be the most action I’d gotten in a long time. Not that there would be any action, per se.

“Uh, well,” Clark fumbled. “I guess we could…”

“Wonderful!” Nana exclaimed. “It’s a date!”

Clark tipped his head back, probably to hide his expression, but it put his neck on display—as pale as the rest of him, but with a little golden stubble. I wondered idly how that stubble would feel if I kissed him.

The thought set off a flock of butterflies in my stomach. Would I need to kiss him? No one had to see us be that intimate. They’d see us on a date, and Nana’s gossip would take care of the rest. And yet…I kind of wanted to try it out, if only to see what it would be like. I was drawn to Clark in ways I hadn’t been drawn to any man. This was a chance to figure out what it meant.

That was selfish though. Clark hadn’t signed up for this to make out with me.

But would he really mind?He looks at me as if he wouldn’t…

“I’ll go get the dessert. How do you all feel about apple pie?”

“That sounds good!” Toby exclaimed.

Nana grinned. “Well, hon, why don’t you come help me dish it up in the kitchen.”

She drew Toby away, probably to give us some space to talk.

Clark had dropped his head back down, though now he was studying his plate as if it contained all the answers to the universe.

I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling nervous. “Are you okay with this? If not…”

He glanced at me. “Yeah, no, it’s just Nana is so eager. I feel like an old piece of furniture she’s trying to hawk off.” He snorted. “I’m surprised she didn’t offer to pay you to take me.”

I shifted my chair a little closer to his. “Hey, you know she just wants you to be happy, right? She was full of praise for you. She thinks you’re amazing. She just wants everyone to see it.”

Clark nodded, but his vibe was still troubled, and his distress bothered me.

“Look, if you want to call it off, we can. If this feels uncomfortable. But for what it’s worth…I’d really like to have dinner with you.”

He raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical. “You would?”

“Yeah. I like talking to you. Besides, I really could use help picking out that stove.”

“Sure, you do.”

“I definitely need help learning how to cook like a grandma.”

Clark chuckled. “Don’t we all?”

“What do you say? Will you please go on a date with me, Clark Fletcher?”

He gazed at me, a smile playing around his lips. “Well, since you asked so nicely…yes, Mr. Rhodes, I would love to have dinner and stove-shopping with you. Just name the time and place.”

Nana came back in, carrying two plates, with Toby behind her with the other two.

“Well, don’t you two look cozy?” she said with a wide grin.

“Just hashing out the details for that date,” I said easily.

She beamed a smile. “I knew you were a smart man, Hunter Rhodes.”

I tapped Clark’s foot with mine under the table, and he gave me a little smile, seeming more relaxed after our talk. Nana, thankfully, moved on to boasting about her pie-making skills, and we all lavished her with praise as we dug in.

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