Chapter 92
Wade choked up as tears sprang to his eyes. That was the most romantic thing he’d ever heard. “I ruined Christmas,” he blurted.
Everyone looked at him, but for once, he didn’t care. His eyes were on Lance. “I’m so sorry.”
Lance traced Wade’s jaw with his finger. “You could never ruin anything.”
“I did. I…I hid your present in the barn.”
Lance’s eyes widened as he realized what Wade was telling him. “I have you, don’t I?”
Wade swallowed hard and nodded.
“Then that’s all I need, Wade. Haven’t you figured out by now how I feel?”
Wade drew a long, shaky breath.
“Take off your ring,” Lance prodded.
He raised an eyebrow, but obeyed as Lance pulled his off also.
“Look inside.”
Wade furrowed his forehead but held the ring up to his face and squinted. He rotated it a little until he saw something etched into the band. “It’s engraved?”
“They both are. They’re identical.”
“W.D. plus…L.M? You had that engraved on our rings? For a fake marriage?” His heart roared in his ears as he stared into Lance’s gorgeous aquamarine eyes.
Lance smiled. “It was never a fake marriage to me, Wade. Never.”
“Put the ring back on,” Wade said, his voice gruff. After they’d both slipped the rings on their fingers, Wade grabbed Lance’s hand and pulled him out of the room so fast, Lance nearly tripped over Jake, sitting on the floor.
Allyson laughed, a happy sound that followed them into the kitchen. Wade knew it was rude to just leave like this, but it was urgent. He had to do this right then.
“Grab your coat, we’re going for a drive,” Wade said, knowing he was coming off bossy. “Please,” he added.
Lance smiled, got his coat, and followed Wade out the back door, where Wade once again tugged him along, snow dusting up around their boots.
When they arrived at the old pickup everyone used to drive out on the property, Wade opened the passenger door for Lance and waited for him to get in and settled.
“Do I get to know where we’re going?” Lance asked when Wade got in and started the truck
Wade grinned. “You’ll know.”
Yes. Lance would know soon. He would know everything soon.
They drove in silence, the snow crunching under the tires. The clear blue sky reminded him of the pool he’d swum in as a child and he wondered what you’d call that color. Maybe he’d Google it like he’d Googled Lance’s eyes. Sunlight glinted off the bright white snow and Wade shielded his eyes until the twisted oak appeared on the horizon.
“We’re going to your tree?”
Wade took Lance’s hand. “It’s not mytree, Lance. But it does know all my secrets.” He pulled to a stop just a few feet from it.
“Is it going to share your secrets?” Lance teased and squeezed Wade’s hand.
“Actually, yes.” Wade grinned. “Come on, let’s go.”
Lance looked at Wade like he was crazy, but he climbed out and met Wade in front of the truck. Wade guided him to the other side of the tree.
Once again, Wade grasped Lance’s hand and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. His heart was hammering in his chest. He’d never expected to be here with Lance. Not like this. Not in a million years.
“What’s going on?”
“Sorry. Just…thinking.”
“About?”
“About the way my life has changed in just a few short weeks. About the way Dwyer Ranch has changed. For the better. So much has happened and I have so much to say and I don’t even know where to start.”
Lance waited, the cold air reddening his cheeks, his aquamarine eyes focused on him.
Wade shrugged, pulling his hands from Lance’s. “I’m probably going to mess this up. I don’t know how to be romantic and I never know exactly what to say.”
Lance placed his hands on Wade’s chest. “All you need to do is say what’s in your heart, Wade. I’m right here.”
Wade swallowed hard and dove in. “When I realized I didn’t have anything to give you for Christmas, I panicked. I didn’t want to ruin our first Christmas together. And then you showed me the engravings in our rings and I knew I didhave something to give you. Something to share only with you.” He cupped Lance’s cheek and stroked his skin with his thumb. “I want there to be an endless number of Christmases together, Lance. Of birthdays and celebrations. Of Thanksgivings. Of simple nights together spent reading in bed. I want to open our Christmas Tree Farm. Together. I want to always have you in my life.”
“Why?”
Lance’s quiet question startled him. “Why?”
“Yes, Wade. Why do you want those things?”
His throat tightened for a second until he looked into Lance’s eyes. Suddenly it was so simple to say. “Because I love you, Lance Matthews. I’ve always loved you.”
Lance’s eyes welled up and he leaned into Wade’s hand. “I love you, too, Wade.”
Wade pressed his lips to Lance’s, then pulled him in for a hug. After a moment, he stepped back, crouching to roll over the big stone. “This is why I brought you here, Lance.”
Lance squatted next to Wade and peered at the carvings. W.D. + L.M. He gasped, then laughed. “It’s the same thing I had etched on our rings! When did you do this?”
Wade grinned, warmth spreading through him. “When I was a teenager. When I first knew I loved you. The twisted oak kept my secret until I was ready to reveal it.”
They stood, their eyes still locked. “Some secrets are meant to be shared,” he whispered before he pulled Lance close. A strong wind swept through the tree, shaking the branches, and dusting the men with snow.
Wade grinned and wiped the snow from Lance’s hair. “Merry Christmas, Lance.”
“Merry Christmas.”
As Wade softly kissed his husband, he knew in his heart this was only the beginning and he couldn’t wait to see what the future held.