Page 18 of Silver Fox in Cedarwood

“Isaac?” Len inched up to him. “Are you okay?”

So much for getting out without being remembered…He forced a smile. “I’m fine. My friend just got dumped.”

“Friend?” Len swept his gaze over Dorian. “Do you need help getting him out to the car? Or a ride home?”

“I drove.” Isaac allowed Len to take some of Dorian’s weight. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Len glanced over at him and smiled. “I didn’t know you visited this club.”

“We opted to tonight.” He walked Dorian down the steps toward the parking lot. “Thanks for the help.”

Len hesitated. “Do you need more?”

Yes. Love, craving…his kiss.Isaac regained himself before he blurted something he couldn’t take back. “We’ll be okay.”

“You’re sure?” Len let go, but followed Dorian and Isaac to the sports car. Once Isaac deposited Dorian in the passenger seat, Len touched Isaac’s arm. “If you’re not okay or you need something, tell me.”

The honesty in Len’s eyes, combined with the sparks from his touch, were almost too strong for Isaac to ignore. Still, he needed to answer. “I will.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.” He’d do just about whatever Len wanted. God, he needed to find his confidence and tell Len how he felt.

“Well, I’ll let you get your friend home.” Len dipped his head. “You’re in Cedarwood now?”

“I am.” He walked around the car with Len and longed to grasp his hand. “You?”Duh.Len volunteered at the shelter. “Sorry.”

Len smiled, then shook his head. “Be good to yourself, Doc.”

What?Was he leaving?No.The words ‘come back’ teetered on his tongue. “Sure. You, too.”Damn it.He’d wanted to sound more eloquent. He watched Len walk away.So much for having a night to forget my troubles.He’d never get Len Connor out of his head.

Chapter Five

For the next two days, Len threw himself into his exercise and volunteering. He’d dared to go to a club and wasn’t thrilled by what he’d seen. Isaac had been there, but not alone. Of course. Isaac had said they were friends, but he’d heard the question. Did Isaac love his friend?Yes. Damn it.Isaac was handsome and he’d waited too long to decide how he felt about him. Isaac deserved to be happy.Do I?

Len swam another lap at the main pool in the swim facility, then surfaced. Despite his best attempts, he’d never gotten Isaac out of his mind and couldn’t forget how Isaac had said he liked him. The age gap weighed on Len. Could he date a man nearly the same age as his son? Wouldn’t Isaac get tired of him sooner than later?

“Len.” Steve Baker-Moore swam up to him. “You’ve done a crazy number of laps. Why don’t you take a break?” He tipped his head. “The better question would be,whoare you running from?”

Len gripped the edge of the pool. He liked Steve. The guy had his head screwed on straight and was in a committed relationship with a solid man. Farin was a good guy too. He’d helped Steve raise Steve’s sister and had a happy family—the kind of family Len had had with Keye and wanted again. If Steve hadn’t been involved and Aiden hadn’t met Matt, he might have encouraged Aiden to date Steve.

“Well?” Steve climbed out of the pool. He sprayed water droplets all over. He sat on the edge and kicked his legs in the rippling water. “What’s on your mind?”

“Farin’s older than you, isn’t he?” Len asked.

“Only by a year or so,” Steve said. “I like to tease him about being an old man, though. It’s our stupid joke. He’s the ancient one and I’m not. Genie likes to get his goat with it. Why? Do you have your eye on someone?” He grinned. “I noticed you’re here in Cedarwood frequently. I’m going to assume you’re avoiding someone and working out your frustration. Whoever the guy is, he must be hot.”

Len pinched the bridge of his nose.Hot. Gossip.Damn it.He wasn’t a kid and shouldn’t be acting so immature. He was probably twice Steve’s age at least.

“He’s cute then.” Steve shook his head. “Whoever he is, you’re caught up.”

“I am not.”Liar.“I’m deciding if I want to get back into the dating pool. I’m so old compared to most of the guys at the nightclubs, and I don’t know if it’s worth it.”

“Old, eh?” Steve folded his arms. “You don’t act your age. Besides, if the guy really likes you, then the years you’ve been on the earth won’t matter.”

Steve wasn’t helping, but then Len hadn’t given his friend the full story. Did he want to tell Steve everything? Not really. He prided himself on keeping his business private. Except now when he needed help or at least someone else’s advice.

Steve shrugged. “Do what you want, but I have the feeling you’ve already got your eye on someone. I say get out there and try. It might work, and if it doesn’t, hopefully he’s a good lay and it’ll be hot.”

---