The Twisted Oak

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

Wade

Wade was fuming as he started his GMC Sierra and pulled away from the cemetery, maneuvering onto the dirt road leading back to the house. Landon had chosen to ride with Casey and Allyson, so he was alone with this thoughts.

He rolled down the window and let the wind blast in to cool his heated skin. What the hell was going on? Surely his father hadn’t agreed to a sale with Mr. Randle. He’d been a hard man, filled with hatred, but would he really do that to his sons? To Casey? And what f*****g clause? Was that what Lance had alluded to when he said there were things to discuss?

Lance. His skin prickled at the thought of that man. He hadn’t expected him to be at the service, although if he’d been thinking clearly, he should have. Wade had spent years carefully avoiding him. It was easy, of course, while he was away at college, but since moving back it had taken a lot of work on his part to dodge him. Since Lance was Casey’s closest friend, the chance Wade could run into him at the house was always high.

Just get the f**k over him, i***t!

He chuckled wryly to himself. If only it was that easy. He’d tried for years. At least he’d distanced himself enough—or hardened his heart enough—that he didn’t trip all over his words the few times he’d been around Lance.

Wade suspected Casey knew of his crush on Lance years ago, but they’d never talked about it. There wasn’t any reason, really, since Lance was straight. His brother, knowing how he felt about Lance, wouldn’t have changed anything. Besides, Wade would never ask Casey to stop being friends with anyone just for him—no matter how humiliated he’d been that night years ago. It hadn’t been Casey’s fault. And really, when he let himself think about it and admit the truth to himself, it hadn’t been Lance’s fault, either.

Looking at things from the outside, some people likely thought it odd that Lance and Casey were such good friends since they followed such different paths as adults. Casey had never gone to college, choosing instead to learn everything he could about running the ranch. It was always assumed that he would take it over some day. On the other hand, Lance had gone away to school—all the way to KU in Lawrence, Kansas. When he’d graduated, he’d moved on to law school, then returned to Ruby, Wyoming. He’d started working for a small, local office—Addison Law—but his boss had died within the year, so Lance had made the bold move to start his own practice—with a partner, Ash—rather than find another group to work for. Since Addison Law closed down, a lot of their clients followed Lance, which helped get his firm off the ground.

Even through all those years, Lance and Casey had a solid friendship that wouldn’t be shaken—they were like brothers. As a child, Wade had even been jealous of the bond they’d shared.

The Dwyer home came into view where the road crested, and he slowed down to take it all in. Coming home always made him feel like things would work out. That all was right in the world. As long as he’d stayed out of his father’s way, home had been a happy place for him. Being around his brothers, working the ranch, it all felt so right. No matter how much he had feared his father when he was younger, this place had always been home and his brothers were his family. So was Lorna. Kenneth Dwyer had merely been a ghost that haunted the ranch. Angry, unwilling to bend or compromise in anything, he’d never shown affection toward Wade.

And, oh, how he’d wanted that growing up. Approval from his father. A hug. Someone to tell him things would be better when his favorite horse died. But he’d finally grown to understand his father couldn’t be that man. He didn’t have it in him.

Casey may be only three years older, but he had stepped up to the plate years ago. In many ways, his older brother had raised him. When Lorna had been hired, she’d done her best to fill the void for him and Landon, too, and he’d be forever grateful.

A few rays of sunshine filtered down from the steely clouds, bathing his home in a golden hue. The massive three-story log-cabin-style home stretched across the grounds, peppered with windows, including floor-to-ceiling in the front that spanned both floors. There was over six-thousand square feet of living space, enough for everyone to have their own space. With the mountains as a backdrop, Wade couldn’t imagine a better place to live.

He pulled into the large drive and winced when he saw Lance and his date walking to the front door. It still seemed odd that Lance brought a date to a funeral, but Wade wasn’t in the mood to think about Lance being with a beautiful woman. After parking, he closed his eyes and fought the urge to head to the barn, saddle his bay, and make a run for it. Knowing the rain was coming was probably the only thing preventing him from doing just that. He rubbed his eyes and forced himself to climb out of the truck and head inside. It was time to be sociable and greet mourners and he was going to hate every second of it.

When he opened the door, he was greeted with a sea of conflicting emotions. He’d never been comfortable around large groups and finding one in his home was disconcerting, even though he’d known it was going to happen. Usually, walking through the large carved wooden door into their spacious living room brought him peace. Not this day. Still, he was glad the service was done and he wasn’t at the cemetery anymore.

His eyes swept the hordes of people and he inwardly cringed. They were everywhere. Crowded together on the massive brown leather couches near the enormous stone fireplace, standing in groups by windows, and seated on the various chairs throughout the space. One glance at the hardwood floors and he knew Lorna wasn’t going to be happy. Dirty footprints were everywhere, but coming directly from the cemetery, it wasn’t surprising.

Removing his hat, he tried to make his way through the maze of people, nodding at those who tried to speak to him. He had only one goal—to reach the kitchen. But when Lance stepped in front of him, he froze.

“Wade.”

His heart stuttered and his skin heated. Even after all these years, he was still overwhelmed in the presence of Lance. He took a shaky breath and nodded stiffly. “Lance.”

Their eyes met and Wade couldn’t look away. It was like Lance could see everything in him, and try as he might, Wade couldn’t hide his emotions from him. He took in Lance’s beautiful aquamarine eyes, the long lashes, the arched golden eyebrows, and let his gaze travel down the face that had haunted his dreams for years. The angular jawline and nose, the light blond stubble beginning to show, and the perfect lips he’d ached to kiss for as long as he’d known he was attracted to men. Wade licked his dry lips and watched as Lance’s cheeks pinked, the blush spreading quickly down his neck and disappearing under his shirt collar. Wade’s mind flashed on what Lance would look like under him, naked, chest flushed, writhing with passion.

Lance cleared his throat and Wade realized he’d just been caught lusting over him. His cheeks heated as he swallowed hard and gritted his jaw, looking past Lance’s shoulder down the hall.

“Listen, I just want to tell you…how sorry I am, Wade.” He wrapped his fingers around Wade’s wrist.

Wade pulled back like he’d been burned, breaking free of his grasp. He raised his eyes to Lance’s. “Thank you,” he said, his voice rough. “I-I need to…to talk to Lorna.”

“Sure. Okay,” Lance murmured and stepped aside, sympathetic eyes still on Wade’s face.

Wade pushed past him without another word, focusing on the various pictures from his childhood hanging on the wall and trying hard to slow his heart rate. He was acting like the smitten teenager he used to be, not the confident adult he was.

Lorna stood at the marble-topped island that took up much of the kitchen area, fussing over the many serving platters piled high with mini sandwiches, deviled eggs, crackers, perfectly cut vegetables with a variety of dips, and sliced breads and rolls, as well as a massive casserole dish full of Wade’s favorite scalloped potatoes. All were ready to be taken to the buffet tables set up in the dining room.

“Wade, I’m so glad you’re here,” she said with a smile as she rounded the island and clasped his cheeks. He leaned down for the kiss he knew was coming and smiled when she wiped away any lipstick from his cheek she may have left. It was her usual way of greeting him—nothing out of the ordinary—and yet, today it comforted him more than usual.

“How about I take those out,” he offered.

“Thanks, honey. I’ve already got plates, napkins, and silverware out there.” She stopped, her eyes tearing a little, and she brushed them away. “How are you doing?”

Wade shrugged. What could he say? There was no love lost between him and his father, but it was still hard. Milton Randle had pissed him off, and of course, Lance had shown up, evoking feelings he’d thought he had under control. How was he? “Okay,” he lied.

She clucked her tongue and stared at him, her pale blue eyes narrowing before she finally shook her head and sighed. “You’re not telling me the truth, but I get it.” She straightened and swept her arm across the platters of food. “Okay. Let’s get this crowd fed and then out of the house so I can clean that damn floor.”