Page 29 of Silver Fox in Cedarwood

“Keye?”

“He came after my marriage to my ex-wife. The situation with her was contentious because she hated my being gay. Keye understood.” Len shook his head and stacked his silverware on his plate. “But that chapter of my life is closed.”

“Understood.” Everyone had things they wished to never discuss again.

“I was a different man back then. So angry and confused. But I got Aiden out of the marriage, so it was okay.” Len nudged his empty plate away. “I’ll have to do a ton of laps in the pool, but this was so good.”

“I’ll have to run a little more.” Isaac chuckled and finished his dinner. “It’s been delicious, so I’m not complaining. Thank you.”

“Welcome.” Len stood. “I forgot to pour the wine. Shoot. I should’ve served it when we ate.”

Isaac collected the empty plates. “It’s fine. I’m good with water now and wine when we’re done.” He picked up the empty glasses. “We can have wine during the movie.”

“Good idea.”

He glanced down at the dogs. Cissy and Stan had curled up on the gigantic dog pillow. Neither slept, but they were both watching them. Isaac grinned. “We have an audience.”

“Oh yeah. She knows everything I do and follows me everywhere.” Len headed into the kitchen. “She needs to know what I’m doing.”

“So does Stan.” He helped place the plates and silver in the dishwasher.

“See? You get it.” Len added the pan and plastic cutting board to the dishwasher. “It’s nice because I’m not lonely, but not when I want to shower. She doesn’t understand I can use the restroom or shower on my own.”

“Stan’s afraid of the water. He was hell when I tried to bathe him.” He shuddered as he thought about the disastrous attempt to bathe his dog. “We got water everywhere but on him.”

“Aww.” Len finished loading the dishwasher. “I’ll turn this on when we’re done. Do you like the red I put on the table? Would you rather white?”

“Red.” He didn’t care what they drank. He’d take whatever Len gave him.

Len returned to the dining room table with the corkscrew. He opened the wine and paused. “We’re supposed to savor this. I got this bottle in New York. I haven’t tried this brand, but I’m told it’s supposed to be good. I thought I’d wait until a special occasion. You’re special.” He offered up the bottle. “Want to smell it?”

“Pour. I don’t need to be fancy.” He held both wineglasses. He appreciated wine, but not enough right now to waste minutes on it.

“Then okay.” Len finished pouring the wine. He placed the bottle on the table, then clinked glasses with Isaac. “To us.”

“To a new relationship turning into something lasting,” Isaac said. “Sorry. I want this so much.” His cheeks heated.

“I want it too, so we’ll go slow and figure things out. I’m where I want to be,” Len said.

Isaac sipped the wine. The tart taste exploded on his tongue. He’d only had a little bit, but his head swam.Can’t be from the wine. From Len? Probably.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Len put his glass on the table, then slid his hands over Isaac’s chest. “I never thought this would happen.”

“Me, either.” He kissed Len. The taste of the wine remained on his tongue. He swallowed Len’s groan. Who needed wine right now anyway?

Len threaded his arms around Isaac. He deepened the kiss and brushed his nose along Isaac’s. He rubbed the bulge in his jeans against the one in Isaac’s trousers.

He broke the kiss and panted. “I need you.” He dragged Len to the living room and abandoned his wineglass on the side table.

“The scene of our initial crime,” Len murmured.

“Not to me.” He snagged Len in his embrace again. “It’s the start of us.”

“And now we continue.”

“Yes.” He nipped Len’s bottom lip.

“Not in the living room,” Len said. “Come with me.” He checked the lock on the front door, then headed through the house to the back.

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