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

Morning came far too early and Lance waved his hand over his face, trying to brush away the sunshine. At the sound of Wade’s chuckle, he opened one eye and found his husband staring down at him, his own honey brown eyes twinkling.


Christmas! He bolted upright time. “What time is it?”


“Almost nine A.M. We slept in a little, but it isChristmas, Lance. We’re allowed to sleep in. Especially after last night.”


“No. I mean, yes, I know that. I just…your present is in the bunkhouse. I told Charlie I’d be by muchearlier than this.” He climbed out of bed, grabbed clothes, and headed into the bathroom as Wade watched him with interest, but kept quiet.


Within a few minutes, Lance headed into the hall. “I’ll be back,” He hurried down the stairs to the mudroom, where he threw on his coat and boots before making his way through the snow to the bunkhouse. When Charlie answered after just one knock, he felt terrible.


Chapter 88