Chapter 73
Their driver pulled up to the entrance of a large red barn and they climbed out. A small fenced area to the side held precut trees leaning against wooden rails and several people milling around poked at them. The scent of pine filled the air. Lance hadn’t been too sure what to expect, but the place seemed stark to him. Not holiday-ish at all.
“Mike said to find him inside the barn,” Wade told him.
As soon as Lance entered, he felt as if he’d stepped into a movie where Christmas had exploded. Garlands of fresh greenery hung from high above, adorned with multiple red bows and a slew of shiny red and green glass ornaments. A decorated tree just inside the door towered over everyone, while home baked goods, ornaments, gift items, and candles covered every available table and countertop. The back wall featured wreaths, while the right side displayed stockings, tree skirts, lights, and various décor items. “Wow,” he said under his breath.
“I know. Not really at all what I pictured. I was just thinking about the trees.”
Interesting that Wade thought about the trees and Lance had been expecting Christmas décor.
A large man, well over six feet tall, lumbered over and grabbed Wade’s hand in a hard shake. “Wade!”
“Hey! Great to see you Mike.” His eyes swept the room. “This is incredible.”
“Honestly, you need to keep this kind of thing in mind. You can make money on a tree farm, but add in everything else they need to have a classic old-fashioned Christmas, and that’s where you’ll make the money.” His eyes landed on Lance.
“Oh, Mike, sorry. This is my…husband, Lance.”
Mike’s eyebrows rose. “You got married? What the hell?” He offered his hand and Lance took it, nearly wincing at the man’s strength. “Nice to meet you, Lance. Why don’t you guys follow me back to my office?” He nodded toward the back corner.
They followed Mike as he stopped and straightened things out while passing displays. It was clear he took pride in his business.
They entered a small office, with two wooden chairs set in front of a large, vintage wooden desk. They sat as Mike grabbed a manila folder from a drawer.
“Well, when you mentioned you were interested in starting a tree farm, I pulled together some figures for you, as well as the best vendors I’ve found.” He handed the file to Wade.
Lance smiled at Wade’s exuberance as the men discussed what it took to run a tree farm, types of trees, methods of advertising, and so many topics it eventually became white noise to Lance. He wanted to support Wade and really soak up as much information as possible, but his mind began to wander as they launched into a discussion over soil.
The night before had been a dream come true for Lance, and he was still riding high on endorphins. It wasn’t just that it had been great sex. What he’d shared with Wade was something new. The connection was something he’d never felt with another man. The intensity had overwhelmed him. How did someone prepare for that kind of emotion? Even though he’d loved Wade for years, he’d never expected wave after wave of intensity to flood his soul.
He glanced at Wade, lost in discussion with Mike. God, he really loved that man. It didn’t matter they’d hardly spent time together for the last few years. At least not until this marriage. In the beginning, when Lance was younger, he’d fought his feelings for Wade. They were so strong, even back then, that he’d been frightened of them. That kiss in Wade’s bedroom had knocked him over and he’d always wished he’d had the guts to admit his feelings back then.
Although, in many ways, he was grateful he hadn’t done so. Lance hadn’t been ready for commitment in those days. He’d been young and na?ve and still finding who he was. He’d grown over the years. The experiences he’d lived through in college and law school had helped him become a stronger man. Shown him what life was about. And of course, he’d sown some wild oats.
But Wade had always been in the back of his mind. He’d always hoped they could reconnect. Unfortunately, he rarely saw him but he’d been able to keep up with Wade’s life through his brother. Casey was always bragging about Wade, and the handful of times Lance had been able to actually see and talk to him, even for just a moment, his heart had pounded in his chest as if he’d run a marathon.
Some people might think he was romanticizing things, that there was no way he could love someone for so long without spending time with them. But he wasn’t looking at things through rose-colored glasses. He knew they still needed to learn more about each other, to get to know each other’s idiosyncrasies, each other’s likes and dislikes. But he wasn’t a na?ve boy anymore and he knew love wasn’t just a feeling—it was a commitment. You were either “all in” or a relationship wouldn’t work.