Rowan Briggs

Rowan BriggsSilver Fox Book OneBriar Wixx Copyright © 2023 Briar WixxRowan BriggsSilver Fox: Book OneCopyright © Briar Wixx 2023All rights reserved.First published in 2023All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author and publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact [email protected]. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.Cover: Briar WixxEditor: Wips & EditsProofing by: Proofs by Polly For soul mates. Contents Title PageCopyrightDedicationContent WarningPlaylistChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 30EpilogueAcknowledgementsAbout The Author Content WarningThis is a fictitious age gap romance with a happily ever after. There will be rollercoasters to get there, but trust me… it will all be worth it in the end. Contains mention of parental deaths and health scares of loved ones. Recommended for readers 18+ for content and language, neither of which I will apologize for. PlaylistMagic In The Hamptons (feat. Lil Yachty) • Social HouseSpace Song • Beach HouseSeason of the Witch • DonovanBlack Magic Woman • VCTRYSSweet Dreams • Ravens RockLa Llorona • Chavela VargasUnholy (feat. Kim Petras) • Sam SmithMy Body’s a Zombie For You • Dead Man’s BonesWindow • BonefieldTear You Apart • She Wants RevengeHaunted Heart • Christina AguileraRide The Lightning - 717 Tapes • Warren ZeidersI Put A Spell On You • Sylvia BlackSpecial Death • Mirahcult leader • KiNG MALACry To Me • Solomon BurkeTainted Love • Hannah PeelEyes Don’t Lie • Tones and IAugust (Acoustic) • flipturnthe fruits • Paris PalomaTip Toe • PatrickRezaWhen You Say My Name • Chandler LeightonSex and Candy • Alexander JeanLover • Taylor Swift Chapter 1LarkI keep myself busy by restocking lids and the various sizes of cups behind the counter as I wait for the 7 a.m. rush to hit. I’ve been here since 5:30, grinding freshly roasted coffee beans and baking up two dozen each of four types of muffins. The chocolate chip muffins have been a daily favorite for months, but I like to keep other options available.When I accepted the manager position at Sippers almost six months ago, I knew it would include a lot of early mornings and late nights. But the owner, Mr. Teller, is an old friend of my grandfather’s and I couldn’t turn him down when he offered me the job.I had just turned twenty-five and decided it was finally time to move out of my grandparents’ home. Don’t get me wrong, the pristine couch with a brown, floral print that was considered outdated twenty years before I was born, complete with a plastic cover, was where I laid my head at night since I moved in at the age of fourteen.My grandparents weren’t well-off by any means, but they gave me everything I needed and more. They took me in after my parents passed away in a freak accident a little over ten years ago, and they made sure I knew I was loved and cared for in my parents’ absence. But it was time to get a place of my own and move out of their antiquated basement.On a whim, I had stopped by for an iced latte and asked Mr. Teller if he knew anything about the apartments for rent across the street. Sure, the building had seen better days, but the rent was within my practically nonexistent budget and there was a sign out front indicating that someone had recently purchased the building.Mr. Teller, who had opened his coffee shop, Sippers, in the 70s when my parents were kids, told me it was a decent place; well-lit, locked entrances at both the front and rear of the building, and it was walking distance of the coffee shop. Although he didn’t know anything about the new owners, or what the sale of the building meant for existing renters, he surmised that since there was still a For Rent sign outside, that at the very least I should inquire about a unit.And the rest is history, so to speak. I signed a lease that day, packed up what few belongings I had at my grandparents’ home, and moved in two days later. When I entered Sippers the following morning to tell Mr. Teller that he would be seeing a lot more of me since I had taken up residence across the street, the gleeful old man offered me a manager’s position on the spot. Which I earnestly accepted since I didn’t have a job to pay for my newly acquired residence that needed to be furnished, and my savings would only last me so long.So, here I am; slinging beans and following my dreams. Well, sort of. Did I imagine I would be running a coffee shop in my early twenties? No. But am I thankful for the experience and responsibilities I’ve learned over the past six months? Yes.Not to mention, getting to know all the regular customers and meeting new people every single day is a life experience I never expected. They are all an extension of the family that was taken from me too soon. I always imagined I would have a large family of my own one day, so in a way, the individuals who come through the front door are a part of my dreams.The bell chimes on the front door, pulling me from my thoughts. My smile that slips into place feels natural as I turn to greet the first of several customers this morning.The glare shining off the glass as the door closes temporarily blinds me as I welcome the customer. “Good morning! What can I make fresh for you today?”The man standing before