Wade Dwyer's life is turned upside down when his father dies and he learns he must marry or he and his siblings will lose the ranch. One last jab of the knife from his father. On top of that, his father's only friend knows about the stipulation and is determined to own the property by any means necessary.<br><br>He's facing the very real possibility of being the reason his family loses their home when his brother's best friend, Lance Matthews, offers to walk down the aisle with him. A faux marriage to the man he's loved for years is a torture he isn't sure he can endure.<br><br>Can he keep the ranch ... and the man of his dreams, too?

The Twisted Oak

“Hey, you. How’s my girl?” he murmured. She nuzzled him in return and Wade grinned. “You’re itching to get out of here, too, aren’t you?”


As if she understood, she nodded again.


“All right. Let me get you ready.” Even though he spoke quietly, Wade’s deep voice resonated in the massive barn, carrying to Lance. Wade made his way to the small area where the tack hung. By the time he’d removed everything he needed and started back, Lance had reached the stall


Wade’s golden brown eyes widened in surprise. “Lance? What’s going on?”


Lance’s gut flipped at the sight of Wade. He couldn’t help letting his gaze travel down the man’s body. He wore a dark jacket over a gray Henley, tucked into his painted-on jeans, and God, the way that denim hugged his thighs made Lance’s mouth water. A day’s worth of stubble shadowed his face and damned if he didn’t stand there and flick his tongue across his lower lip as Lance watched. Lance swallowed hard and finally met his gaze.


Chapter 21