Craig and Mitchell have been friends for years, but each of them reached a point where that camaraderie became ... more. Mitchell’s kept his feelings close to his chest. So has Craig, but now that they’ve graduated from UMKC, he knows it’s his last chance to show Mitchell they’re meant to be before their careers take them to opposite sides of the country.<br><br>He insists they can’t leave Missouri behind without one last adventure. Mitchell agrees to a road trip to visit all the touristy spots and say goodbye to their home state.<br><br>As they spend their days and nights together, buried feelings rise to the surface and hope blossoms. When their journey ends with a dance beneath the Branson stars, will they find love and a future together at the end of the road?

Gateway to Love

“I still can’t believe you signed a couple of autographs.”


Craig shrugged. “They’ll figure it out if they look up Mark Twain’s ancestors. But either way, it gave them a thrill.” It’d given him a thrill but for an entirely different reason. He felt a little bad about deceiving those nice people, but holding Mitchell close had been more exciting than he’d ever dared hope. Later, after they’d walked the town, bought more souvenirs, and visited a few other places, he was still at half-mast. He was looking forward to getting to the motel where he could hide in the bathroom and take care of the problem. A little less than two hours until they were in St. Louis. He’d make it. It might kill him, but he’d make it.3


It was dark by the time they found a hotel in St. Louis. They’d originally wanted to just find a cheap motel, but when they saw a Drury Pear Tree Inn, they decided to stop. It had an indoor pool and whirlpool, so they grabbed their bags and headed inside to check in.


Chapter 9