by Ali Parker
"Absolutely. Is Jake up yet?" Kari got up from her spot beside Jake's father on the porch swing. It was cold outside, but they'd installed heaters around the porch. It was bliss.
"Yeah. He's eating breakfast and catching up with his brothers." She chuckled. "Those boys are as rowdy as you were when you were younger, honey."
Jake's dad glanced up from his Bible. "Oh yeah? We should beat it out of them."
Kari chuckled. "Can I watch?"
"Heck yes. You need to know how to get your own boys to behave." He smiled at her. "Thanks for visiting with me."
"Anytime." Her cheeks burned. He was beyond precious. Seemingly such a good man. He reminded her of Jake, or maybe it was the other way around.
"All right, you flirt." Jake's mom moved over to push at the Bible on his father's lap and slipped into his arms, surprising Kari a little. "We're going shopping for a little while. You get the boys to help you with those large trees out back that have fallen on the road?"
"All right. I can do it myself though." He glanced up and gave her a look that didn't last too long.
Kari laughed and walked toward the kitchen as Clint raced out and moved around her. "Sorry, Kari! The ape is after me."
She chuckled and walked in to find Jake and Landon talking in the kitchen. She had a chance to meet both of Jake's brothers earlier that morning while he was still sleeping. She'd joined Jake's mom in the kitchen to make breakfast and the two of them were still up from the night before.
"Hey." She paused. "Am I interrupting?"
Jake closed the door he'd opened and smiled. "No. I was just coming to find you. Sorry you had to meet these hoodlums without me."
"I kinda like them." She reached for him as he walked across the kitchen and pulled her firmly against him. "I wanted to wake you up this morning, but you looked so peaceful sleeping."
"Cause you took good care of me last night." He leaned down to kiss her and chuckled as his lips pressed against hers, making for an awkward kiss.
The sound of Landon gagging behind them being the source of the laugh.
"You guys are gross." He walked by them, popping Jake on the back.
"I like it when you're gross like this." Kari kissed him again and moved back. "I'm going to grab my coat. Your mom is ready to go shopping."
"You sure you're okay going? I don't think she would mind if you told her that you're tired, baby. Or that you wanted to rest today."
Kari crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a look. "You're just trying to get out of working with your dad, aren't you?"
"Me? Never." His cute little smirk told a different story.
"Well, go help your dad and I'll give you a Christmas present early tonight." She moved to stand in front of him and cupped his package tightly. "Something you can't refuse."
His licked his lips and nodded. "Keep touching me like that and Christmas isn't going to be the only thing that comes early around here."
She laughed and kissed him once more before walking toward the bedroom. She glanced back to find him following her.
"What?" He smiled. "I gotta get my boots and my coat too."
"No messing around, mister. Your mom is waiting on me." She walked in and turned as he picked her up and tackled her to the bed.
"My mom isn't waiting on anyone. She's in my dad's lap. It's her favorite place in the whole world."
“God, your parents are so damn cute." Kari reached up and brushed her fingers through his hair as he teased her mouth with sweet kisses.
"They're still in love after all of these years. That's all I want for us."
"Me too. Now, get up before you get me into trouble."
"I'm already in trouble this morning. Join me on the dark side." He ground against her, forcing her legs open.
The firm press of his thick body against hers felt almost too good. "No dark side for me."
He rolled his hips and tucked his face against her neck as she moaned softly.
"You like the dark side. I can sense it all over you."
"The only thing all over me is you. Get up." She wiggled under him as the sound of his mother's voice rose up from down the hall.
"Kari? You ready, dear?"
"Yes," Kari called out, trying to sound like she didn't have a two hundred and twenty-pound football player lying on top of her. "Get up. Seriously."
He moved back, pouting. "Fine, but just know this is not how I want to spend my Christmas Eve."
"Help your dad and we'll snuggle up tonight."
"All right. I guess." He reached out and ran his hand down the side of her face. "We have the Christmas Eve service my family always goes to, so be prepared for that."
"My family goes to one too in New York. It's majestic. I love going." Kari smiled as sadness raced through her.
"What's wrong?" Jake's expression tightened. "Something I said?"
"No. I just realized that I wouldn't be with my mom or Marc tonight." She shrugged, trying not to let the sadness grow. "I'll call them. It will be fine."
"We can fly back." Jake ran his hands over her shoulders, the look on his handsome face telling her that he was quite serious.
"No." She chuckled. "I'm fine. I'll call them tonight and tomorrow. It's good for Mom to spend some time with Lisa and Marc. He's a bundle of laughs this time of year, and Lisa can't stand her own family. It will be good for all of them."
"We'll spend next Christmas with them. We'll just go back and forth each year until we have babies. Then we're staying home and everyone can come to us."
"You've got this planned out, don't you?" She reached up and cupped his face. "I love you so much. Don't ever leave me. Don't hurt me. Okay?"
"Never. Not in a million years. Not for anything." He wrapped her up tight and pressed his lips to the side of her neck, kissing his way up to her ear. "You're stuck, baby doll. Really stuck."
She tucked herself against him, grateful for being stuck with a man like him. There was no one better in all the world. She was sure of it.
***
"Did you have fun with Mom today?" Jake glanced over at her as he helped get stuff out of the back of the car.
"Yeah. We went everywhere." Kari lifted her hand to her mouth as she yawned. "I'm tired."
"She was a trooper, son. I love her already." His mom walked past them and grabbed a handful of bags.
"Where all did you guys go?" He reached over and plucked the bags from his mom and picked up a few more.
"The mall, the grocery store and that little art store that I love so much." His mom beamed. Having Kari there gave her an outlet to do girly things and have different conversations than she was probably used to. Jake was grateful for Kari letting his mom into her heart. It was obvious his pretty girl had done just that.
"Did you like the art store?" Jake carried the bags as Kari walked languidly beside him.
"Yeah. It was dreamy."
He chuckled. "Dreamy?"
"Just little and quaint. Fun." She walked into the kitchen as Clint and Landon glanced up from the kitchen table. "Get up and help your brother get the stuff from your mom's car."
"Dayum." Landon stood up. "All right, sis. Jeez. Keep your panties on."
"Or don't?" Clint wagged his eyebrows and groaned loudly as Jake popped him in the back of the head.
"Don't egg them on. They're horrible." He set the stuff down and reached for Kari. "Go splash some water on your face, beautiful. We're headed to church in a few minutes. You guys were out all day."
"Good idea." She smiled and pulled him in for a soft kiss. "I was kidding with your brothers."
"Oh, I know. They do too. They love it." He nipped at her. "Hurry up so I can snuggle you in the backseat on the way into town."
"I might fall asleep." She pulled from him and walked down the hall as the heaviness of being busy all day weighed on her.
"That's all right too. I'll hold you while you rest."
Something told her that Jake would always hold her, no matter where they were
headed or what was up against them.
Maybe she should propose to him? Did women do that?
She laughed loudly and walked into the bedroom. Most women might not, but she knew without a doubt that Lisa would.
She wasn’t Lisa though…
Chapter 13
Jake
"I think you wore her out," Jake whispered against Kari's hair as they drove toward the church. His mom and dad were in the front seat, and his brothers in the truck behind them. With Kari tucked against him, everything seemed right.
"She's a great girl." Jake's mom glanced back toward the backseat and smiled. "I love her already."
Jake chuckled. "I knew you guys would."
"Where are her parents? She has to be missing them tonight." Jake's father reached up and adjusted the rearview mirror.
"I don't know about her father, but her mom is in New York. They were divorced when Kari was in high school or something. We haven't talked much about it, but her mom is a sweetheart. I met her earlier this week."
"New York, hm? A bunch of city girls this time?"
Jake chuckled at his father's teasing. He'd grown up talking about marrying a nice country girl who could make biscuits like his mother. Seemed so foreign now, but it was irrelevant. Kari was everything a man could want, and far more than Jake felt he deserved.
"Leave him alone." His mother reached over and patted his father's chest. "He's happy, and something tells me that we wouldn't have to work too hard on Kari to get both of them here eventually."
"I wish." His father moved the mirror back up. "Mom and I miss you, son."
"I know. I miss you both too."
Kari shifted in his arms and let out a soft sigh. "Where are we?"
"We're almost to the church, baby." He kissed the side of her head and moved back as she sat up.
"Oh, good. I'm sorry. I must have passed out." She lifted her hands in the air and twisted to stretch.
The smile that lifted his lips reached his eyes and felt good. He ran his hand down her side as she yawned.
"I was telling Mom that she wore you out today." He slid his hand down her thigh as she turned and leaned against him again.
"I had so much fun." She glanced up at him with a smile on her beautiful face.
"We did, didn't we?" He could hear the smile in his mother's voice too. She'd wanted a girl so bad, but kept having boys. Some part of Jake was thrilled about that. He wasn't sure how any of them would have fared with a sister in the mix. Poor girl would never get a date.
"Absolutely." Kari kissed his arm and turned her eyes up toward him. "I need to call my mom and Marc. Will we have a few minutes before the service?"
"Yeah, about fifteen minutes from what I can tell. There's a small porch on the back of the church with swings and seats. We can go out there, unless you want some privacy?"
"No. You can come with me." Her eyes moved across his face. "You're so handsome. Why in the world would you want a plain girl like me?"
"Keeps me grounded." He tried to keep a straight face, but cracked up as she moved back with a soft yelp.
"No, you didn't." She gave him a cheeky grin and chuckled low in her chest.
Damn she was hot.
He reached out and slid his hand into her hair, cupping her head and squeezing softly. "You know I'm teasing you. I'm just the hired hand around here. Someone to bat off the men as they try to get close to you. I've got nothing on you, baby."
"You two are far too precious for your own good." Jake's mom turned her head and swooned at them.
"Mom. Really?" Jake released Kari and rolled his eyes playfully only to get swatted by both his mom and his girl.
"Behave!" His mother barked playfully.
"Dad? You really going to let them take me out like this?" Jake moved up and gripped his father's shoulders as they pulled into the church parking lot.
"I'm a smart man, son. I know which side my bread is buttered on. I'll always side with your momma."
Jake released his father and rolled his eyes. There wasn't a time in his childhood that he could remember his father not joining his mother's side. They were forever supportive of each other. Jake glanced over at Kari, wanting that relationship with her so damn bad, and knowing that it was possible.
"What?" she whispered as she moved close and pressed her soft lips to the side of his neck. "What does that look on your face mean?"
"I gotta go to the bathroom." He chuckled as she popped him. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her in tight for a quick peck on the lips. "I just want what my folks have. I think for the first time ever... it might be possible."
"Stop necking in the backseat and get out. We're here." Jake's father pulled them from the moment.
"Necking? Ewww..." Jake got out of the car and gave his girl a warm smile over the top of the hood. "Let's walk around to the back. If we go through the church to the back, we'll never make it. I haven't been here in four years."
He'd come for Bethany's mom's funeral, but they were Baptist and attended the other big church in town.
"Sounds good." Kari slipped her hand into his and wrapped her free hand around his arm, tucking herself tightly against him.
He glanced down as a wicked smile raced across his mouth. "Keep pressing your breasts to me like that, and we won't be in the back of the church, but in the back of the car."
"Necking?" She smiled and tugged him toward the side of the church, putting some distance between them, which was needed. He was quickly getting turned on just by her nearness. The woman had too much power over him.
He laughed and pulled her toward him to help her avoid a hole in the ground she didn't see. They hopped up on the back porch and Jake ran his hands down her arms.
"I'm going to go shake hands with the old guys at the end of the porch. Call your mom and tell her I said hi." He bent down and kissed her once before walking toward the pillar of smoke coming up from the far side of the porch. It was the designated smoking section of the church, and there were a handful of guys taking advantage of it.
"Jake Isaac. How are you, son?" One of the older guys turned and extended his hand. "You still up in New England, son?"
"A Yankee now, hm, boy?" Another one moved in for his handshake.
"Not sure you can take the country out of the boy, Mr. Jackson." Jake shook hands as the guys gave him hell. He shot the shit with them for a few minutes until Kari moved toward him.
"Who's this pretty thing?" Mr. Jackson moved up and extended his hand. "Please don't tell me you're dating this rascal."
"I am." Kari smirked and shook the older man's hand. "He's quite the catch."
The guys laughed, and Jake shook his head, trying to ignore the heat of embarrassment rising in his chest.
"That he is. He's a good boy. All the Isaac kids are." The older man reached up and patted Jake on the chest. "Get in there before your mom sends your dad looking for you."
"I'm not ten anymore, Mr. Jackson." Jake laughed and wrapped his arm around Kari before turning them to walk into the church.
The old guys dove into stories from when Jake was ten as they walked off. It would quickly turn into how old everyone was getting and how the world was going to hell in a hand-basket. Then the weather.
Nothing had changed.
He pressed his hand to the small of Kari's back as they walked into the church. "We're going to have to say hi to a million people. Just get ready."
"I don't mind." She lifted her chin and smiled back at him. "I like this. A lot."
"Oh, yeah? You're the only one." He caught eyes with Landon, who was entertaining a group of women around Mom's age. He had a smile that was contagious. Why him and Jessica weren't together was a complete mystery. They were made for each other, but good luck trying to get either of them past the hurdle of opening up about their feelings for each other.
He was missing out - big time. Jake made a mental note to talk to him about it again before the holidays were over. His brother deserved happiness, not the shallow
whorish relationships he kept diving into over and over and over again.
Chapter 14
Kari
Kari woke before the sun rose the next morning. She stretched and reached for Jake, wrapping herself around him in the dark. They had on pjs, which sucked, but seemed necessary for sleeping over at his mom's house.
He pulled her on top of him and kissed her a few times before running his strong hands down her back and massaging her rear. "Make love to me."
She moaned and sat up to pull her shirt off. His hands were all over her before she could toss the thing back to the ground. Morning sex had to be the best. Everything was warm and snuggly.
"God, you feel good," she whispered roughly and rolled her hips, rubbing herself against him.
"Shorts off," he barked, his voice thick with sleep.
"So bossy." She got up and walked toward the window, opening the curtains before pulling her shorts over her legs.
"I'm a coach. We coach people. It's part of the job." He worked himself out of his shorts and reached for her as she moved to the edge of the bed. "So beautiful, Kari."
"I'm all yours." She climbed back into the bed and yelped as he turned them and pressed his thick chest to hers, his mouth just below her breasts.
"You always will be." He moved down between her thighs, his lips soft, tongue warm and wet as he teased her. "Merry Christmas, baby."
"Merry Christmas." She groaned as he pressed his mouth to her center and pulled her legs up a little to give him better access. Pleasure raced across her nerve endings, warmth filling every part of her.
"Best present ever." He rolled his tongue through her folds before sucking her clit into his mouth, his tongue flicking at the sensitive bud over and over.
Kari reached down and gripped the sheets as Jake pressed a thick finger inside of her tight body. "I'm not going to last long," she panted. It was too good, too right to have him take care of her in such an intimate way.
"Good. Let go and relax, baby." He moved back down, picking up the pace and taking her over the edge of orgasm within seconds.
