Page 20 of Daddy Crush (Silver Fox Daddy)

“Far as I know, true love isn’t falling at all. It’s like walking into a house and suddenly knowing you’re home,” Doc stated, direct and to the point. He certainly had insight on this after marrying Priscilla, a woman he’d been friends with for years.

Sharing his insight with me was a step in the right direction, even though, yet again, I was the older brother going to him for advice.

“Suppose you’re right,” I acknowledged.

“I’ll swing by the café a few times while you’re out of town. Make sure the workers aren’t revolting while you’re gone.” Sounding amicable now, it was as if he’d forgotten, for a moment, all the poor decisions I’d ever made, all the days I’d disappointed him, and it felt like the greatest gift anyone had ever given me.

Even if it only lasted a moment.

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it. And let me know if I can return the favor any time you and Priscilla head out of town.” I hung up; the anticipation of Clover’s surprise was still killing me.

My heart raced with excitement as I started up the truck and drove to fetch her, knowing it was more than just sex. God knows I wasn’t looking for anyone when she got off that bus, but I needed to spend more and more time with her. Working with her wasn’t enough.

And I wanted her to get to know the real me, to knock down all the walls I’d constructed and let her in.

On that note, she wasn’t the only one with a surprise to share.

* * *

The drive to Mendocino was the perfect setting for Clover and me to get to know each other better. I’d missed having her around all the time to talk to, and it felt so right having her on the passenger side of my pickup.

“So, have you thought of what you want to do now that your parents sold the farm?” I asked.

“I don’t really know,” she said. “I’ve never been one of those people who always knew what they wanted to be when they grew up. Probably why I was perfectly happy taking care of the goats and gardens every day.”

I thought for a moment, trying to come up with what to say, but the best I could do was, “You’ve got plenty of time.”

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth and smiled rather wistfully as Highway 1 wound around the tight curves, taking us from 101 North to the coast, cutting west through mountain forests. “I guess serving coffee the rest of my life isn’t the most ambitious thing I could ever aspire to.”

I picked up her hand and gave it a gentle massage. “You can work there for as long as you need.”

Clover kicked up her bare feet on the dash, and I wondered why her every movement reminded me of how much I wanted to be inside her. There was nothing contrived or insincere about anything she did. I wasn’t a fan of phony vibes or playing games, and neither would even occur to her.

She looked as if she were weighing my offer and said, “I don’t know. The boss can be a real hard ass, you know?”

The drive to the Mendocino Coast took a few hours, and during that time, Clover and I discussed her dreams and dislikes. We got to know each other better, and if I wasn’t mistaken, I wasn’t the only one whose feelings had shifted. Were we falling head over heels for one another?

I didn’t want to push it too soon any more than I wanted to ruin the mood of this perfect road trip. Instead, I let myself relish every moment of the drive, with her at my side. She was like a piece of decadent dark chocolate to be savored and enjoyed. And the entire way there, I pretended she was mine forever.

We checked in to The Sea Ranch Lodge up the coast from Mendocino and hung out until it was time for our reservation at the restaurant overlooking the ocean.

They decorated the place with candles and white linen tablecloths. We ordered food from an extensive menu that included seafood and local delicacies. The conversation flowed easily, as if we’d spent years in each other’s company as adults, instead of just over a month now.

When it came time for dessert, however, I had something much more important than sweets on my mind. The question at the tip of my tongue hammered at me.

I cleared my throat before asking Clover about what had been on my mind the entire drive. “Would you want to explore something new with me on this trip?” Her eyes lit up with excitement, which muddled my fears that she might refuse or run away, scared by my proposition. Taking a leap of faith, I continued, “I know this may sound strange, but... I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.” I’d made a reservation for us at Liberté, just in case she was up for it. It was too risky to take her to The Ranch in town. Even though it enforced a strict rule of secrecy—What happened at the sex club, stayed at the sex club—I was nervous about running into someone we knew there.

Clover looked out the window at the soft peach and pink hues painting the sky, and a smile trembled over her lips.

“When you were staying at my place, you agreed to trust me to lead the way sexually and otherwise.” Her appeal as she sat across from me—young, kind, and inexperienced—was devastating. I studied every move she made and held my breath.

She became increasingly uneasy under my scrutiny, shifting in her seat and clearing her throat.

“Use your words, baby girl,” I encouraged.

She took a sip of water, and I placed my hand over hers, hoping to soothe her nerves.

“I did,” she said matter-of-factly. “I do.”

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