Kari"I love how beautiful everything is when it's covered in snow." Kari snuggled up in her seat and kept her eyes on the road passing them by outside of her window."It reminds me of the holidays." Jake reached out and rubbed his hand down her arm. "I'm so excited for you to meet my folks. My brothers, not so much, but my mom and dad are really good people. They have a relationship like I hope we have.""How so?" She turned her face toward him, letting herself dive into the dreaminess of their relationship. His dark hair was a little wet from his shower, and he was freshly shaved. She'd never seen a more handsome man in her life, and having him belong to her was a bit overwhelming at times.He smiled over at her and the world seemed right. "They just love each other. A lot. They were junior high sweethearts and it's funny, after all these years, they're still as giggly and playful as they were back then.""How do you know how they were back then?" Kari smiled and lifted his hand to
JakeJake moved up behind Kari after getting their bags from the trunk. Something was nagging at him as they walked up the overgrown brush towards Ms. Martin's house. The house was old and far too rundown for someone to enjoy living in it."Kari." He reached up and gripped her shoulder, stopping her."Yeah?" She glanced back, a smile on her beautiful face. "What's wrong?" She turned to face him."What does your mom do for a living?" He moved his attention down from the house to rest on his girl. The list of projects on fixing the place up were already running through his mind."She's a nurse, but my dad left her with a lot of debt. The place is in bad shape on the outside, but the inside is nice. I promise.""We need to do something about this. I know New York is expensive, but we need to get her a new place or maybe just come up here for the week after New Year’s and do a major overhaul." He ran his hand down the side of her face. "I'll get everyone to help out. This isn't okay."Her
Kari"I really like that ornament up there. At the top of the tree." Kari's mother glanced over at her as her eyes grew wide. She was seeing someone. She had to be. Kari hadn't seen her so alive, so full of joy... ever."Okay. Let me get someone." Kari glanced around as Jake walked back toward them."What's up? You need something?" Jake's eyes moved across her face, and her heart swelled in her chest. If only her mom could find someone like Jake. Life would be complete. The fact that her man wanted to help her mom with the house meant the world to her. She hadn't mentioned it or asked him for help. He'd offered it, and by the determination on his face, he was serious about seeing it through."Yeah. Mom wants that little Christmas tree ornament on the top of the tree." Kari turned and pointed to it."I can get it for you." Jake moved and reached up to pluck it off the top of the tree. The movement caused his shirt and jacket to lift. A thin strip of his back was on display at the botto
Kari"I liked him." Jake lay in the bed, his body bare from the waist up. He had his hands tucked behind his head, his eyes on Kari.She glanced over her shoulder as she stood in her panties and her bra. "I did too. He was nice. A gentleman.""To us. You could tell that he was totally into your mom." Jake rolled onto his side, the movement causing the thick muscles of his chest and arms to flex.Kari groaned and turned back to the dresser, removing her earrings and working on her bra. "God, you're hot.""Get over here and let me use my hotness to make you sweaty." He smiled as she turned and pulled her panties down, almost tripping on the way to the bed.He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into the comfort of her twin-sized bed before trapping her beneath him. He laughed softly. "You're so beautiful.""I'm clumsy." She reached up and touched the side of his face as he wiggled his way down between her thighs."I don't care what you are. You're mine." He moved down and brushed h
JakeTwo Days LaterSpending time with Kari's mom gave Jake the last little push he needed. He'd be asking her to marry him for sure. The ring sat on his dresser, open for him to stare at as he pulled various items out of his dresser. His parents were picking them up at the airport that afternoon, and he and Kari had decided to spend the night before at their own places.She wanted a girls’ night with Lisa and Sicily, and he was happy to have a night to think things through. Asking her to marry him back in Texas seemed like the perfect answer, but like he'd told Marc a few days before... she would want to be around their friends and her brother to help celebrate. Her mom had agreed to a surprise visit, which Jake would be paying for. He didn't mind at all."Speaking of," he grumbled as he turned and walked back into his tiny living room to grab his phone. He pressed the button to call Marc and dropped down on the couch."What's up, bro?""Hey." Jake ran his fingers through his hair an
Kari"Mom, this is Kari. Dad." Jake had his hand on Kari's back as they moved up toward his parents in the baggage claim."Finally." His mother moved forward and pulled Kari into a hug. "Jake's been talking about you for the last nine months.""And I can see why." His father smiled down at Kari. "You're just beautiful.""All right. Stop embarrassing her." Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulders."Where are your brothers?" She glanced up at him as nerves tore through her. Meeting new people was the pits, even people that would soon be family."They'll be at the house, I'm sure." Jake glanced behind him, the movement accentuating the thick muscles in his neck. Kari's tummy tightened in anticipation of pressing her lips to it. "Momma. Are the guys at the house yet?""You know Kade isn't going to make it home this Christmas." Jake's father's voice was deep, commanding.Kari wasn't sure what to think of him yet, but Jake's mother had a sweet disposition. She was a cute woman with dark ha
Kari"Where are your brothers? They don’t come to these things?" Kari sat beside Jake in an old Ford pick-up truck as they drove toward the next town over. The hayride sounded fun, but she wanted a chance to meet the rest of Jake's family before they left for the evening."They're out seeing their friends, baby. We'll see them later tonight or tomorrow morning. Mom isn't going to let us run around town after tonight. Let's go hang out with some of my old friends and then we'll be with my family the rest of the weekend." He reached over and gripped her hand, tugging. "Move closer. These old trucks are good for snuggling up. There's a lap belt here in the middle you can use."She unbuckled and moved over. "I like this. It could be good for a nap.""A nap?" He smiled."Yeah. I could lay my head in your lap and curl up." She licked at the side of her mouth and moved up beside him before gripping his thigh tightly."You put your head in my lap and there isn't going to be much sleeping." He
Jake"Wow, man. She's breathtaking." Tyler's eyes moved toward Kari as she walked over to grab another beer after the hayride. Some of the girls from high school had fallen in love with her too over the short evening. They were surrounding her as they all walked toward the beer tent."Yeah. I didn't think I would ever get over Bethany, but Kari put a stop to that shit so fast it still makes my head spin." He rubbed his left shoulder as the same old ache resurrected.Tyler turned back to study him. "I'm glad to hear that. I keep looking for Olivia everywhere I go. I heard she was in New York and it's driving me crazy knowing she's probably on the floor below me or something fucked up like that.""She's not with someone?" Jake lifted his eyebrow. Olivia and Tyler's story was heartbreaking, one that kept his best friend bent over where women were concerned."I don't know." He lifted his half-empty beer bottle to his lips. "I guess I could find out, but a part of me doesn't want to know.
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
DrakeDrake woke up the next morning before Sicily, realizing it was Christmas and he had everything he needed. He rolled onto his side and reached out, brushing his hand down her back as gratefulness washed over him in suffocating waves.D and Michael Carrington had gone to great lengths to help him restart his life. They'd helped fake his death in a warehouse explosion, put on the funeral and D had played the part beautifully through the event. It was horrifying to think he let his brother go through that shit, but D wouldn't have had it any other way.Drake rolled out of bed, his heart aching in his chest. He'd been wrong the night before. He and Sicily couldn't just look away from D and Izzy's bullshit situation. Where he wasn't sure he could get involved in the syndicate again, he could browbeat his brother into being a man and taking Izzy as his woman. There was no other girl for Demetri.After ordering a huge Christmas morning breakfast, Drake wrapped up in an extra blanket, sl
Sicily"That was fun tonight." Sicily squeezed Drake's hand as they walked toward Kadia in downtown New York. The sign lit up the night, taking attention from anyone who passed by. It was magnificent, the largest club she'd seen."Yeah. I had a good time," he glanced down at her, "and I was serious about what I said. We can go back and join your family after we spend a little bit of time with D and Izzy. I doubt they’re staying long. We just wanted to see each other, and it's safer if we do it in the middle of a large crowd."The line was wrapped around the building, people huddling together and singing Christmas songs with all sorts of odd costumes for the event that night. Sicily smiled and snuggled closer to Drake as they walked to the front of the line."The line is back there, man. Go get in it." A sexy bouncer with a great smile and beautiful aqua-colored eyes barked at them. She let her eyes move down to his name tag, wondering who he was for some reason. Had she seem him befor
DrakeDrake let his eyes run across Sicily as she stood in front of the mirror in the hotel bedroom and turned slowly, checking herself out."You look amazing."She walked toward him as he fiddled with his tie, taking over and working on it for him."My brothers never could get a tie on right. The last time I did this for someone, it was at Momma’s funeral." Her hands shook a little. "I did it multiple times that day."He reached up and ran his hands over her hips, enjoying the soft silky black material of her dress. "I'm really good at it. I just wanted you closer."She laughed as a tear ran down her nose. "I'm sorry.""Don't be sorry." He stood and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head as he brushed her hair back. "You can be sensitive over your mom anytime you want, for as long as you want. I'm right here to hold you up."She nodded and pressed her face to his chest. "I just have so many memories of Christmas Eve with her. My chest hurts so bad it feels like acid is ea
Sicily"What did you do while I was shopping?" Sicily stood beside Drake later that afternoon as he loaded up the truck with her packages."I was taking a nap honestly." He put the last of them in the truck and gave her a look. "What in the world did you get?""Presents for all of our friends and something for you." She shrugged and walked around the truck, getting in on her side.He got in and buckled up as the scent of his cologne filled her nose. She breathed in deeper and let out an appreciative growl.Drake chuckled. "What was that for?""You smell good.""Stop diverting. You shouldn't have gotten all those gifts, baby.""Why not? We didn't fly. We'll just put them all in the back seat when we go back home, right?""It's not about where to put them on the ride home, Sis. It's about you spending your hard-earned money on gifts for us. We don't need anything, at least I don't. I have you, baby. That's more than enough." He pulled out his wallet. "Let me give you some money so you c
Sicily"You sure you don't want to come with me?" Sicily forced a pout on her face. She knew without a doubt that Drake would do anything she wanted him to, but shopping was too much. Having some time with her brother and sister for the afternoon would be fun for her, but most likely a drag of sorts. Especially seeing that the brother going was Johnny."I’m sure, beautiful girl." He pulled up to her mother's house. "I'll catch up with you this afternoon.""Will you take me out to see my momma’s grave before we have to get ready for dinner and church?" She leaned over and touched the side of his handsome face. Butterflies danced in her stomach, which seemed silly, but she hoped that he would always have such a strong pull on her."Of course I will." He leaned in and kissed her softly before deepening it a little. She opened herself up, letting him in as he rolled his tongue past her, dominating the kiss in a way that made her blood boil."Behave." She pulled back and smiled."You're th
DrakeThe night was filled with him and Sicily taking turns to explore each other. By the end of it, he was weak, exhausted and completely infatuated with the beautiful woman tucked against him. Not ever being able to sleep well, he was shocked when he woke the next morning to the smell of bacon and the sound of Sicily talking.He jolted up in the bed, worried that he had missed something. "Baby?""Right here." She opened the various trays sitting on the counter by the TV. "I ordered room service because I didn't want to get dressed yet. Besides, it's snowing like crazy out there."He dropped back down and ran his hand over his chest, watching her as she moved around in a large fluffy white robe. She looked adorable. Sexy."Mine," he grumbled and pulled the covers up. "You know that? You're mine.""I know, you gorilla. You made that more than obvious last night." She nibbled on a piece of bacon and walked over to sit down on the edge of the bed. "You want some?""Of course I do." He r
Sicily"Wow. This place is...""Fancy?" Drake asked as he pulled out her chair. "I heard they have the best steaks in New York.""Something tells me that you're probably right." Sicily sat down, feeling way underdressed for the steakhouse Drake had brought her to. He had on a sports coat over his jeans and white polo, and looked like a million bucks. The best thing in her suitcase was a plain white skirt and a blue sweater with winter boots. She felt cute, but that didn't seem like enough."Evening, folks. Glad to have you in the city and here with us tonight for dinner. May I make some suggestions?" The server wore a white pressed shirt, black slacks and a tux jacket.Sicily sat quietly as Drake encouraged the guy to give his spiel. Once he was done, Drake ordered their drinks and an appetizer. He moved his seat closer to hers and draped his arm over the back of her chair. "You look amazing.""You're just being sweet." She smiled and worked to get her napkin in her lap, not wanting t