Free Isaiah by Bailey Bradford Page A

took a drink.
    “Nasty. I hate cold coffee.” He set the cup down. “I’m okay with kids. I never really thought about it, but I get fluttery here”—he touched his chest—“when I think about it now, so I’m thinking that’s a shitload of fear and anticipation. I want to be a good dad, like mine. He’s pretty awesome.”
    Bae shoved down the wistfulness that the claim stirred in him. “Mine is—well, the focus is now on reproducing.” He pointed at Isaiah. “Stop growling. It’s the way things are done in the lepe. I don’t know if they’ll ever change, but I can’t be a part of their plan to repopulate our species, especially since you vetoed me being a sperm donor.”
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    ISAIAH
    Bailey Bradford
    49

    “We’ll talk about it tonight.” Isaiah took his cup over to the sink and rinsed it out. “I know you have to work, but if you see anyone suspicious, or feel like you’re being stalked, watched, anything—”
    “I’ll call you,” Bae assured him, relieved Isaiah wasn’t going to insist on babysitting him. “I’m glad you trust me to take care of myself.”
    “I know enough about you to understand you wouldn’t tolerate coddling.”
    Bae arched a brow. “Coddling? Really? How old are you?”
    “Twenty-six,” Isaiah answered, “and yes, coddling. My grandma can be blamed for that word, but really, it fits. If I told you I wanted to spend every minute with you to make sure you weren’t hurt you’d be pissed.”
    “Duh.” Bae chugged his coffee—he didn’t care if it was cold or ice cubes, he’d drink it.
    He was beginning to feel somewhat human again. “You wouldn’t like it, either, if the situations were reversed.”
    “Nope, I surely wouldn’t, but”—Isaiah swooped Bae into his arms—“I’m still gonna worry, and I hope maybe you’ll have some sympathy for me and will check in to let me know everything’s fine. And maybe that you miss me, a little.”
    Bae laughed at the puppy dog eyes Isaiah turned on him. “I think I can do that.”

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    ISAIAH
    Bailey Bradford
    50

Chapter Six

    Bae was a great teacher, patient with the kids and not condescending like some adults could be. Isaiah was impressed, and even if they hadn’t been mates, he’d have been enchanted by Bae.
    As he watched Bae show Archie, a young man barely into his teens, how to properly clean a dog’s ears, he was impressed all over again with the man. He wasn’t the only one, either. He’d bet half the people in the room were crushing on Bae, kids and adults included.
    Bae seemed utterly unaware of how gorgeous he was, and when he smiled, more than one person sighed breathily.
    Isaiah tugged at his shirttail, ensuring it hung past his groin. He was relieved that it did since he’d had a boner from the time he’d got there. It sucked, because he knew there was going to be dinner and a lot of talking—which wasn’t bad, but he was going to be miserably hard during all of it.
    Well, probably not when Bae talked about his lepe, family, whichever. There was no way he could be the least bit turned on if there was a discussion about the whole sick breeding programme thing. Bae had said they shipped people in and out to participate. God, Isaiah had felt ill every time he thought about the whole thing, and sure enough he wasn’t so horny any more.
    “That’s all until next Thursday,” Bae said, his tenor rousing Isaiah from his brooding.
    Bae talked with the kids for a few minutes then Sandy came and took the leash.
    “Thank you for cleaning Missy’s ears.” She beamed at Bae. “This kind of volunteer work is beneficial in more ways than one.”
    “Wait until you get the bill,” Bae rebounded with. Sandy laughed and turned to wave at Isaiah. “Why am I not surprised to see you here, Isaiah?” She smirked and Isaiah just knew he was as red as a stop sign. “I am taking it there’s going to be several broken hearts here at the