Page 24 of Silver Fox in Cedarwood

The dog perked up and darted away from Isaac to Len. He barked until Len moved out of the way.

“I thought you’d gotten lost,” Len said. “I see Stan found Cissy.”

“He does like her.” He stepped into the townhome and brushed Len’s chest as he passed. His arm tingled.Damn.“I, uh, had to take a shower.”To take the edge off.“I smelled like the office. Plus I wanted to change.”

“I like.” Len closed the door, then swept his gaze over Isaac. “I have to admit, I wasn’t sure you’d show.”

“Why?” He unclipped Stan from his leash. The dog chased Cissy.

“I was a dick the other day. Then today I go and change my mind. I teased you without realizing it.”

“Sometimes you need the chance to come around.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. Every cell in his body urged him to snag Len in an embrace, but he held back.

“I suppose.” Len gestured to the kitchen. “I’ve got mocktails mixed. Sangria. I knew you had to work tomorrow and figured you wouldn’t want the booze in your system. Aiden says I’m not supposed to drink anyway, but I have a beer from time to time.” He offered Isaac a goblet. “Enjoy.”

“So it’s juice cocktails?” He sipped the dark juice. Whatever was in it tasted good.

“Yeah.”

“Perfect.” He grinned. Len had thought of everything. Isaac wondered if he had condoms and lube in the other room too…just in case.

“I’m volunteering at the library tomorrow, and I can’t read to the little ones if I’m hungover.” Len laughed. He’d shaved and combed his hair back. The crinkles around his eyes weren’t so deep, and red infused his cheeks.

“True.” Isaac clinked glasses with Len. “Here’s to working and reading with a clear head.” Because God knew his brain wasn’t clear right now. All he could think about was getting time alone with Len. Naked time with Len sounded good too. He swept his gaze over Len. The shirt clung to his upper body and showed off the muscles in his arms. The shorts were a tad on the baggy side and gave him a surfer look. Isaac licked his lips. Len swam and probably looked hot as hell in those trunks. What was he hiding under the baggy shorts?

“Cheers.” Len sipped the juice. “Make yourself at home. The dogs already have.” He nodded to an oversized dog pillow. Cissy was stretched out on the pillow, and Stan had tucked himself in against her belly.

Isaac sat on the couch and placed his glass on the side table. God help him—if he wasn’t careful, he’d spill the juice on the sofa. Wouldn’t that make a great impression? He noticed photos of Aiden and Matt on the mantel. A guy he didn’t know was with Len in many of the pictures.Another friend of Aiden’s?He looked a tad old for Aiden. The guy could be one of Len’s exes, but he wasn’t Ross. A twinge of jealousy started in the pit of Isaac’s belly. Not only did he want the kind of relationship that Aiden and Matt probably had, he also wasn’t fond of seeing Len with anyone else. Len had a past, but that didn’t mean Isaac wanted to see it. Was he jealous?A little.

Len put his glass down. “I see you noticed Keye.”

“Who?”

“Keye. He was my first husband.” Len left the sofa long enough to retrieve one of the pictures. “I guess he’s my only husband, but since I was married to Aiden’s mom, it’s my second marriage.” He shrugged. “We had a good time together, Keye and I. I miss him.”

“What happened?” He didn’t want to know and hadn’t ever asked Aiden about his father. But now he felt obligated. He stole glances at the photo. Len and Keye looked too happy together. Too perfect. He bit back a groan. Yes, he was definitely jealous.

“AIDS. He had the virus before we met, but I didn’t contract it. He had the disease under control until he didn’t. We were monogamous, and every three months I got tested in case he passed it to me. It relieved him when I came back negative.” Len caressed the edge of the frame. “He helped me raise Aiden. He was a good man and I miss him.”

“I’m sure.” He hated himself for the streak of dislike aimed at Keye. Len’s husband was handsome and perfect-looking. “He seems nice. Aiden never really talked about him.”

“Aiden wouldn’t. He prefers to be private.” Len’s smile wobbled. “Keye told me when he neared the end of his life that he wanted me to keep living. I was supposed to find someone new. I’m guessing Ross wasn’t who he had in mind. He was a bad decision made from loneliness.”

Isaac nodded. He’d hated Ross from the second he’d met him. “He was bossy, I’ll give you that, but we all make mistakes.”

“He was sneaky too. He didn’t want to tell Aiden I was in the hospital or the ICU after the TIA. I certainly learned my lesson.” Len finished his juice. “I know what kind of man I want to avoid now.”

Isaac frowned. “Why’d he leave Aiden in the dark?”

“He didn’t like Aiden. The feeling was mutual, and I know Matt told him off at least once.”

“Good.” Someone had needed to give Ross a piece of their mind. The guy hadn’t helped Len recover at all—not with his horrible attitude.

Len smiled and put the photo of Keye down. He slid Isaac’s hand into his. “You don’t look well. Is that the green-eyed monster I detect? Or are you allergic to my sangria?”

“Maybe I’m a tad jealous.” Embarrassed was more like it. He’d been caught. He met Len’s gaze. “Although I liked Aiden, there was something about you… I never could look away. That’s probably why Aiden and I stayed friends. We weren’t love material.” He exhaled and clutched his glass. Getting those words out helped to calm him.

“He’s perceptive.”

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