Cattle Valley Mistletoe Read online

  “Mmm hmm.” Casey turned his head and licked at Hal’s nipple. “For me, too.”

  Yawning again, Casey was pulled tighter to Hal’s chest. “Rest, we’ll figure it out later,” Hal said, his deep voice vibrating against Casey’s ear where it rested on Hal’s chest.

  Nodding his head, Casey drifted off.

  Standing at the stove, Hal felt eyes on him a second before arms wrapped around his waist.

  “You shouldn’t have let me sleep so long,” Casey said, placing soft, open-mouthed kisses across Hal’s naked back.

  “You looked so comfortable I hated to leave you, but I thought you’d need to eat something.” Hal gestured toward the skillet. “I hope you like scrambled eggs. Isaac said you’re stomach needed to take it easy for a few more days.”

  “I’ll gladly eat anything you put in front of me, I’m starving. Someone gave me a pretty thorough workout all night.”

  Hal turned off the burner and slid the eggs onto two plates. Popping a couple of pieces of bread into the toaster, he turned around and faced Casey. “We never did get a chance to talk.” He closed the distance, taking Casey’s mouth in a short but deep kiss.

  “I know, and you have to leave to go to work,” Casey said, nestling his head against Hal’s chest.

  Skimming his hands down Casey’s lean back, Hal cupped his man’s fine little ass. “Yeah, but I won’t be late getting home. I’m making a trip into Sheridan to pick up the tile.”

  “I could go.” Casey looked up at him.

  “You’re supposed to be resting. It’s bad enough I kept you up all night.” Hal didn’t want to admit that he’d love Casey to ride beside him all day.

  “It’s sitting in a truck not exactly manual labour,” Casey grinned. “Please let me come?”

  Chuckling, it was plain they were both thinking of the previous night and Casey’s loud pleading. “Let me go into town and do a few things, then I’ll swing by and pick you up.”

  Casey looked at Hal for a few seconds. Hal knew Casey wanted a look at the reception hall, but he was keeping all of that a surprise. “Won’t it be out of your way to come all the way back here?”

  “Nope, I know a shortcut.” He kissed Casey again. “Let’s eat before our breakfast gets cold.”

  Chapter Eight

  Pulling into the building supply store, Hal looked over at Casey. “You coming in?”

  “Sure.” Casey smiled and hopped out of the truck. Grinning, Hal followed that cute little ass inside the store.

  Deciding to have a little fun, Hal walked up to the nearest clerk. “Hi, we’re here to pick up the boxes of black and red floor tiles I ordered for Cattle Valley Community Church.”

  Casey coughed and grabbed Hal’s arm. With a straight face, Hal looked over. “You okay?”

  Shaking his head, Casey narrowed his eyes. “Grey with little blue flecks. It’s what I showed you from the catalogue.”

  “Oh, well I must’ve made a mistake. Would the black and red look so bad, though?”

  “Yeah, I think so. I planned to paint the walls a pretty sky blue to match the floor, and…”

  Hal decided to give Casey a break. “I was just kidding. Geez, loosen up.” He grinned.

  “Very funny. You nearly gave me a heart attack.” Casey punched Hal in the arm. Even though he could barely feel it through his thick winter coat, Hal quickly grabbed his arm and howled in pain.

  Evidently their playful activities weren’t having the same effect on the clerk who rolled his eyes and walked off. “Well,” Casey said. Straightening, he walked to the customer service counter and waited. When a young woman smiled at him, Casey smiled back. “We’re here to pick up some floor tiles. We asked one of your associates, but apparently he finds little humour in his job.”

  Hal had never seen this side of Casey. He stood back and watched as Casey handled the girl with ease. He was charming yet still business minded as he turned to Hal and asked for the order form. When the cashier tried to charge him more than the agreed upon price, Casey showed her the paper, making sure she saw that it was for a church. Hal had to chuckle when he told the woman she needed to watch who she tried to cheat because some took it a little more seriously than others. Of course Casey made a show of pointing toward the sky before putting his finger over his lips.

  By the time they got into the truck, Hal was shaking his head. Not only had they come away with the tiles for the price agreed upon, but the manager had thrown in the tile adhesive as a donation to the church. “That was something,” Hal said. “You should have gone into business. You’re good with money.”

  Casey looked sideways at Hal. “Don’t you think it takes business skills to run a church?”

  Hal didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t meant to insult Casey, but he’d thought only of the spiritual side of Casey’s vocation. “I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I guess I haven’t given your job enough thought to make a statement like that.”

  Casey sighed, “We still have a lot to talk about.”

  Hal knew Casey was right, but they’d been having such a perfect day. He wasn’t sure how Casey would take the news of Hal’s fall from grace. Reaching out, he pulled Casey next to him. “Later, okay? Can we just enjoy this for now?”

  Casey nodded and moulded himself to Hal’s side. “Buckle up,” Hal reminded him. “I don’t want to take any chances with you.” He waited for Casey to comply before pulling out of the parking lot. “So,” Hal began, “why don’t you tell me about your family.”

  “My family? Well, they’re pretty normal I’d say. Dad works for the city, Mom’s a homemaker. I have an older brother and an older sister, both married with kids.” Casey shrugged. “Normal.”

  “You’re from Kansas City, right?” Hal got onto a straightaway and put his hand on Casey’s thigh. He was tempted to do some exploring, but he wanted to learn more about Casey while he could.

  Casey shook his head. “Just south, a town a little bigger than Cattle Valley. What about you?”

  Hal felt tightness settle into his chest. He didn’t like to think about where he was from, so he went with the story he told everyone. Was that wrong? He wanted to be honest with Casey and knew the time would come soon enough, but for now… “I did most my growing up in Wyoming.”

  “Do your folks still live around here?” Casey asked, rubbing the soft skin between Hal’s fingers.

  It took Hal several seconds to answer. “No, I never knew my father, and my mother died when I was eight.”

  Casey interlocked his fingers with Hal’s. “I’m sorry.”

  Hal squeezed Casey’s hand letting him know it was okay. “It was a long time ago. I was raised by my mother’s cousin, Ada and her husband, Dave.”

  “Do you still see them?”

  “Occasionally, at funerals and stuff.” Hal pointed toward the back of the truck. “I think I’ll drop you off and run into town. I don’t really need to get started today, but the adhesive should be kept warm.”

  Soft lips landed on his cheek. “Are you trying to change the subject?”

  Hal sighed, “Yeah, for now. I just…I’m not ready.” He turned his head and gave Casey a quick kiss.

  “Do you have time for a quickie before you head back to town?” Casey ran his free hand over Hal’s fly.

  Groaning, Hal spread his legs to give his growing cock more room. “Once I get inside with you, I won’t want to leave again. I’d better take care of things before coming home.”

  “Ya know, if the roads weren’t snow covered, I’d be sucking you off right now.” Casey ran his tongue up Hal’s jaw.

  Hal moaned. “I’m tempted to pull the truck over and let you do just that.” That reminded him of something. “Hey, Case, would you be interested in getting tested tomorrow? I mean, you can trust me if we do. I won’t step out on you or anything.” He looked over at Casey and felt stupid.

  Giving Hal’s cock another grope, Casey purred in his ear. “I had Isaac run one right after you told me you were fallin
g for me. I’m clean by the way. I was embarrassed to tell you I wanted us to be together exclusively.”

  “Why would you be embarrassed?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never done exclusive, and I wasn’t sure that’s what you wanted. I’ve never had a relationship.” Casey shook his head. “It just seemed kind of dreamy to me, like I was being silly to want you all to myself.”

  Hal pulled into his drive and put the truck into park. Turning to Casey, he lifted the smaller man and set him on his lap. “I don’t share. I’ve never had what I consider a relationship before, but when I’m with someone I don’t stray. This is my first time being in love, and I can guarantee you I won’t think kindly to another man even looking your way.” He narrowed his eyes. “If that’s acceptable, I’ll stop into the clinic before coming home tonight.”

  With rounded eyes, Casey nodded. “I don’t think you have to worry about anyone in town giving me a second look. I seem to be almost invisible to them.” Suddenly, a smile broke out on Casey’s face. “You really think you’re in love with me?”

  “Well, like I said, I’ve never been in love, but yeah. If love means thinking about you all day and dreaming of you every night. Feeling like I’ve been kicked in the gut at the thought of something happening to you.” Hal ran his tongue over Casey’s lips. “Wanting nothing more than to wake up with you every morning.”

  Casey wiggled back and forth against Hal’s growing erection. “What happens at night?” he asked with heat in his eyes.

  “At night, we curl up naked in front of the fire. Talk about our day, before I carry you off to the bedroom to fuck your brains out.” Hal grinned.

  Casey started, “Well, aren’t you a smooth talker.” He thrust his tongue into Hal’s mouth and moaned. “That sounds like the perfect way to spend every evening for the rest of my life.”

  Hal watched as Casey’s bright eyes clouded. “Let’s not dream anymore until we talk. We both know the things we need to work through aren’t minor, and if I’m going to have my heart broken…” Casey didn’t finish the sentence.

  “Fuck it,” Hal said putting the truck in gear. “I’ll park the truck in the garage.” He gave Casey another kiss before moving him back to the seat beside him. “The last thing I wanted was to get you upset again. I’m done working for the day. Right now and always, you’re more important.”

  Hal hit the garage remote and pulled in. Lifting Casey out of the truck, he carried him into the kitchen. “Why don’t you go put some sweats on while I make us some hot chocolate and build a fire? I won’t leave the house until we get things settled between us.”

  Casey stood looking at him for several moments. “Are you mad at me?”

  Hal realised his voice had gone brusque. He ran a hand over his face and shook his head. “No, baby, I’m mad at myself. Instead of just talking to you about my hang-ups, I’ve made you feel insecure. It’s me who’s insecure. I’m afraid once you know everything you’ll change your mind about loving me.”

  Taking two steps Casey wrapped his arms around Hal. “Whether or not we can work out our relationship has nothing to do with me loving you. I’ll always love you, Halden.”

  Letting out a breath, Hal hugged Casey as tight as he dared. Smacking that cute ass, he kissed Casey’s forehead. “Go get changed and I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Slipping on a pair of well-worn dark grey sweats, Casey sat on the bed. He knew he needed to prepare himself for this conversation, but he didn’t know how to start. He’d felt the tension in Hal’s body earlier when he’d asked about Hal’s family. Something told Casey Hal’s problem with God revolved around the death of his mother.

  Deciding to go without a shirt, Casey pulled the blanket off the end of the bed and carried it to the living room. Two cups of instant cocoa sat on the coffee table as Hal worked to get a fire going.

  Taking the time to appreciate the view of Hal’s butt in a black pair of boxer-briefs, Casey smiled. “I like your comfy clothes more than mine,” he said, coming further into the room.

  Hal looked over his shoulder and grinned. “Feel free to take off whatever you want. No need to stand on ceremony on my account.” Putting the fire-grate in place, Hal stood and turned toward him. “Grab those pillows off the couch and come over here.”

  Tossing the pillows onto the floor, Casey pushed his sweats down and off. Wearing nothing but a smile, Casey carried the blanket in front of him. “I thought we might get cold.”

  Hal’s gaze was riveted to Casey’s crotch. “I’m heating up just fine,” Hal said, pushing his underwear down his thighs.

  Casey was the first to stretch out on the rug. He held the blanket up. “Will you cover me up?”

  Grinning, Hal squatted, straddling Casey’s feet. “I’ll cover you.” He kissed his way up Casey’s legs, stopping for a quick taste of Casey’s awakening cock. By the time Hal reached his mouth, Casey was hard and wanting.

  Wrapping his legs around Hal’s torso, he pulled the bigger man down for a kiss. The warm depths of Hal’s chocolate flavoured mouth had Casey panting in no time. “Love you,” he whispered, breaking the kiss.

  Casey threaded his fingers through Hal’s hair, knowing it was time to get this over with. “Would you like me to start?”

  Hal shook his head and moved to lie beside Casey. Resting his head on Hal’s chest, Casey waited. After a few long moments, Hal began. “My mom got pregnant when she was nineteen. She’d left home with a guy—I assume he was my father—right after graduation. When she became pregnant, dear old dad took off. She turned to the church and they took her in, supported her. After I was born, they helped her find a little room in a boarding house. By this time, mom was totally immersed in the teachings of the church and the Reverend Marshall.” Hal stopped talking, and Casey could tell he was sorting through a lifetime of buried pain.

  “When I was eight, she got sick. To this day I don’t know what from, but the Reverend Marshall told her to pray. Mom spent everyday in the church on her knees. When she got to the point that she was too sick, she sent me in her place, telling me if I prayed hard enough she’d live. I…tried…”

  Casey tightened his hold on Hal’s torso. He knew Hal’s mother had died, and now he knew how. “Shhh, that’s enough for now.” Casey wasn’t sure what to say. How a boy could be placed in that position by people who were supposed to love and protect him, Casey didn’t understand. A realisation struck him, and he looked up at Hal. “You’re not an atheist are you?”

  “Huh?” Hal asked, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

  “It’s not that you don’t believe in God, it’s that you’re angry with him.” Casey quickly worked through the last few days. “When I was throwing up and refused to go to the doctor, were you mad at God or the fact that I was refusing medical help?”

  Hal just looked at him, and Casey could see the wheels turning. “What are you trying to say, Case?”

  Casey took a deep breath. He knew it wouldn’t be easy for Hal to hear what he was about to say, it may even drive a wedge between them. “God didn’t let you down when your mom was dying, she did. But a little eight-year-old boy can’t hate his dead mother, so you turned that anger in another direction. You told me that you wouldn’t let me die just because I was too stubborn to go to the clinic that day. I think over time you’ve realised that your mom should have gone to the hospital and not the church.”

  “God and the Reverend Marshall let her die then tried to blame me,” Hal said, pulling away enough to get up and walk toward the fireplace.

  Watching Hal put a few more logs on the fire, Casey blew out a breath. He didn’t know who the hell this Reverend Marshall was, but Casey felt like finding him and kicking his butt. “You know now that your mother should’ve gotten medical treatment, don’t you?”

  Bracing his hands against the mantle, Hal looked down into the fire. “Yeah.”

  “Do you know that even though I’m also a reverend, I’m nothing like Marshall?”

 
“I know Casey the man, but I’ve never heard Reverend Sharp address a congregation of followers.” Hal turned to look at Casey but didn’t move from his spot.

  Casey stood and walked toward Hal. Standing in front of him, he looked up. “You see, that’s the difference. I don’t have followers. I have fellow worshipers. Every man and woman in my church has their own mind. They don’t blindly follow me and my teachings. We gather together on Sundays to praise and give thanks to the Lord, it’s just easier when one man is sharing the teachings. It doesn’t make me any better than they are.”

  Hal placed a kiss on Casey’s lips. “If you don’t mind, I’d like some time to myself. I think I’ll go for a drive.” Hal pulled away and started gathering his clothes.

  “Would you rather I left? This is your home after all.”

  “No.” Hal shook his head. He zipped his jeans and walked back over to Casey. “My feelings for you haven’t changed. I just need to have this out with God in private. I’ll be home later.”

  He didn’t want Hal to leave, but he knew if he tried to stop him, it would prolong Hal’s agony. Hal was right, he needed to get things straightened out, but Casey felt it had more to do with feelings toward his mother rather than God. That was for Hal to figure out though.

  “I love you. Drive safe and come back to me.”

  “I’ll always come back to you,” Hal said. Casey watched him slip on his boots and coat before walking out to the garage. Hearing the big door open and then close, Casey walked to the window and watched Hal drive slowly away from the house. He just hoped the eight-year-old still trapped inside Hal could finally find peace.

  Chapter Nine

  As Hal drove through the countryside, he realised his tank was getting low. Deciding he could use some gas and hopefully a quick cheer-up from his best friend, he pulled into Gill’s. Looking at the clock, he decided to gas up and see if Gill wanted to grab a bite to eat.