by Ali Parker
"Nice to meet you. Hopefully one day we can do it in person."
"I'd like that." Kade turned his attention back to Landon, his tone not changing. "Where's your girl, man?"
Kari got up and walked toward Jake, wanting to ask a million questions, but saving them. Maybe he was simply sad from not getting to come home for the holidays. Maybe something happened on the battlefield recently and it changed his life.
"You all right?" Jake wrapped his strong arm around Kari as they walked out of the house and down a long path that led to a big red barn in the back part of the property.
She shivered and wrapped her arm around herself, snuggling against him. "Yeah, just trying to figure out why your brothers aren’t married or dating."
"They’re jaded, baby. Just like I was." He kissed the top of her head. "They need to find a good woman like you and see what they're missing."
"Maybe our relationship will show them that they're missing something." She glanced up at him and tried not to fall as they walked the rocky path away from the house. "Clint and Landon still seem full of life though."
"Yeah, they don't let much get them down." He averted his eyes from her.
"And what about Kade? He didn't seem alive when we spoke. When most people would have smiled at something Landon or I said, he didn't budge. It was like he was frozen."
"He's seen a lot on the battlefield, baby. He's a hard man, but he always has been. I don't know if he believes in love, to be honest with you."
"What do you mean?" Kari pulled him to a stop and forced him to face her. "Who doesn't believe in love?"
"Someone that's lost it, I guess." He shrugged, looking far more noncommittal than she'd ever seen him look.
She ran her hands down his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Baby."
"What?" He glanced down, his expression pained.
"What happened to him? Unless you don't want to talk about it, then I'll just let it go."
"He married his high school sweetheart." Jake shrugged as his eyes glazed over as if a memory were dragging him far away. "He wasn't always this cold. He's using it as a defense mechanism."
"Most people do. What happened with his wife? Is she not around anymore?" Kari shuddered to think that the story could get much worse than cheating or divorce. Maybe she should have left it alone.
"She got MS in high school, but you couldn't tell." He took a shaky breath. "She was a lot like you. Bubbly, and of course my mom and dad loved her to pieces. We all did."
"Did?" Kari swallowed hard. Shit.
"Yeah. She started going downhill because of the disease about a year after Kade and her graduated and got married. She um... she died on Christmas Eve the year after they got married, so about seven years ago. It was my junior year. Worst fucking holiday ever. We're still getting over it, but I think that's why Kade doesn't come home often. Too many memories to haunt him."
"Oh, my God." She moved back and rubbed her chest as the image of Kade moved in front of her mind's eye. He was so cold, so lost, so destroyed by losing love. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
Jake reached out and pulled her close, pressing his cheek against her head. "It's part of the deal, you learning about me and me learning about you. I'd give anything to get my brother back, but it's just not going to happen."
"Of course it is." She pulled back and looked up into his eyes, her heart skipping a beat at the depth of emotion she found. "He's going to meet another woman and she's going to save him. That's how love works."
"Maybe." He leaned down and brushed his lips by hers. "If I could pull all my Christmas wishes together, I'd give them all away forever for my brother to really live again."
"He will. I know he will." She snuggled against Jake, feeling the weight of his pain and realizing that she wanted to share it with him. They would help Kade if he didn't help himself. No one deserved the future he'd resigned himself to. No one.
Chapter 17
Jake
Three Days Later
"Thanks for meeting up with me, man." Tyler smiled across the table at the little diner on the corner of the square in town.
"Of course, man. Kari was going to come with me, but some of my mother's sisters came into town last night. They're going shopping today. Antiquing. Should be fun seeing that Kari has no clue what the hell that is." Jake shook his head, not at all worried about his woman. She fit in perfectly with his family, even better than Bethany had, and she'd grown up down the road from him.
Tyler chuckled. "I'm glad you found her, man. I wasn't sure if you were going to get over that shit with Bethany."
"Me either." He picked up his coffee. "Kari didn't give me much of a choice. But enough about me. Tell me what's going on. You and Luke's firm is doing well?"
He ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Yeah. It's busting at the seams. Luke is supposed to be looking for a senior-level investment manager, but he's too busy scoring new accounts. I swear I'm going to fucking kill him if he adds one more customer to my roster. It's too full as is."
"Wait." Jake put his cup down and sat back. "I thought it was a good thing to get new customers."
"It is when you can support them. We have a hands-on business, so every customer, or client really, has a personal adviser. I'm picking up most of the clients while we're training the right staff to take over some of the accounts. I'm sleeping at the fucking office."
"You've been here for a few days though. How did you get away?"
"Threatened to quit." He gave Jake a cheeky grin. "Honestly, I was praying to run into Olivia, but it hasn't happened."
"Look her up, Ty. It can't be that hard to find her." Jake picked up his fork and worked to cut his pancakes. "You're not going to look though, are you?"
"Nope." Tyler picked up a piece of bacon and shoved it in his mouth. "She kicked me in the nuts the night after we lost our virginity together. I'd be a damn glutton for punishment if I really tried to find her."
"You were kids. You both made mistakes." Jake rolled his eyes. The story between Tyler and Olivia was a completely different tale depending on who you asked. Something got jacked up in the communication between them their senior year, and all hell broke loose. Shit happened. Tyler needed to get over it, but it was a six-year-old wound, and he was obviously still suffering. It wasn't happening.
"Anyway. I haven't run into her, so I'm thinking I'll start looking when I get back to New York."
"For Olivia? I'm lost." Jake ran his hand down his face.
"No, for someone to date. Shit. Keep up." Tyler chuckled and leaned back, wiping his mouth on a napkin. "You're just up in Maine, hm? We need to get together."
"I agree. It's a four-hour drive, but I'm not sure you have any time to spare."
"True. We'd be better off seeing each other back here." His attention shifted up to the waitress. “We’ll make it work. Surely you come to New York from time to time.”
Jake didn’t respond as the waitress approached. He and Kari could hook up with Ty on a trip to see Kari’s mother for sure. Why the hell hadn’t I thought of that before?
"More coffee, sweetness?" The older woman gave them a warm smile.
"No, I'm good. I'll pick up the tab though. One ticket." Tyler winked at Jake, but his expression tightened as he glanced back toward Jake. "Dude. Bethany just walked in. Have you seen her this Christmas?"
"Aw, fuck. No." Jake turned and stood up, plastering a fake smile on his lips as the beautiful blond walked toward him with a smile on her face.
He half-expected to feel the deep pain of rejection and loss he always felt when he saw her, but nothing... he didn't feel a damn thing.
Interesting.
"Jake." She reached for him, but he extended his hand instead.
"Good to see you, Bethany. Your dad doing all right? I've been praying for you guys." He shook her hand and ignored the awkwardness between them over him denying her a hug.
"He's hanging in there." She shook his hand and shrugged.
"Is that Tyler?"
"Sure is." Tyler got up and moved around Jake, pulling Bethany into a hug. "How are you? Sorry about your momma."
"I'm okay. It's been a rough Christmas, but we're making our way through it." Bethany's big blue eyes moved back over to Jake. "I wish you would have told me you were here. My family would have loved to see you. How much longer are you staying?"
"I'm leaving this afternoon. Flight is at five. Kari wanted to be back in time to enjoy New Year’s with our friends in Maine." He slipped his hands into his jeans pockets.
Bethany flinched. "Oh. Wow. I didn't realize you brought her with you."
"Yep. She's with Mom and some of my aunts shopping today." He glanced over at Tyler. "You ready to hit the road?"
"Yeah. You go ahead. I'll pick up the tab and call you later." Tyler turned and reached for him, pulling Jake into a warm hug. "Don't be a stranger, man. I miss you."
"Me too." Jake patted his back, nodded at Bethany and walked toward the door. It was a good damn thing Kari hadn't been with him. She would have been ill running into his first love. His only love before Kari. Funny how different his relationship with Kari felt though. It was fulfilling, leaving him complete and excited about the future. His dad was right. The relationship with Bethany had been more about convenience.
What a shitty reason to fall in love.
The idea of Kade stepping into that same type of relationship next scared Jake enough that he decided to have a conversation with his staunch older brother. Soon.
***
"I hate that you guys are leaving." Jake's mother’s eyes filled with tears as they stood outside of the airport. She reached out and brushed her hands down Jake's chest. "Promise me that you'll call me when you get home and are safe."
"We will." Jake glanced over at Kari as the pretty girl moved into his father's arms.
"Thank you for the best Christmas ever." Kari smiled up at his dad.
"Same here, kiddo. Ask that boy where your damn ring is." His father glanced over at him. "Make sure you put a ring on this one fast. She's the full package deal. You're a lucky man. Don't mess it up."
Jake chuckled as his mom moved over to hug Kari. "We're all lucky. I had such a good time with you. Give your mother a hug for me and tell her that she has to come with you guys next time you come down, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am." Kari nodded and hugged Jake's mother before moving back and taking the hand he extended toward her.
"All right, guys. Love you with all my heart. We'll see you in the spring unless you get a wild hair and want to come up to Maine. It's snowing big time. You might like it."
"Nope. I'm too old for that kinda cold." Jake's dad moved over and pulled his mom into a side hug. "We love being right here. You kids come back soon though, okay?"
"Yes, sir." Jake turned and pulled Kari closer to him so he could wrap an arm around her. He dragged their luggage behind him with his free hand and tried not to let the sadness of leaving his folks sit too heavily on him.
"Thank you for this. It was a great Christmas. I love your family so much. I'm going to fit in perfectly."
He chuckled. "You already do, sweetheart."
"Your father is right, you know." She pulled away from him, walking toward the women's restroom.
"How so?" He stopped as his heart thundered in his chest. The beautiful creature in front of him was his. Forever if he wanted it, and he so did.
She paused and glanced back. "You need to give me my damn ring."
He laughed and she did too before disappearing around the corner.
She'd get her ring in a few days. Excitement bubbled inside of him at the thought of making the moment perfect. For that... he would need help.
Luckily enough, he knew the perfect crowd for the job.
Chapter 18
Kari
The flight was delayed a little, so they didn't get home until three in the morning. Kari begged Jake to spend the night with her, though he much preferred them stay together out at his house. Getting up around her friends weirded him out for some reason.
She woke before him and turned on her side, smiling. He was beautiful, lying beside her on his stomach, his dark hair tousled and lips so damn kissable.
Reaching over, she ran her fingers down the side of his face. How did she ever get so lucky? Life with him was going to be fully alive, feeling and experiencing so much more than she thought possible.
Now if her mother and brother could find the same type of relationships, everything would be great.
"Speaking of," she whispered softly and rolled over, carefully getting out of the bed and pulling on her robe. Marc was most likely rolled up with Lisa, but she hadn't talked to her mom in a few days. The conversation outside of the church on Christmas Eve was almost too short for her liking.
She walked out into the hallway, and closed the door behind her. It was almost nine, but everyone would most likely still be asleep. Sicily's little compact car wasn't out front the night before, which meant she was most likely over at Drake's place near the edge of town. Kari had very little doubt that as Sicily and Drake got more serious, that Sis would end up moving in with him, leaving Kari and Lisa with the big white house.
Some part of her wanted to have an honest conversation with Lisa about finding another place to live so she and Jake could move in together, but it wasn't fair. Marc would be out of school and hopefully in Maine by May the next year if everything worked out. Kari could hold on until then.
She found her phone and walked to the kitchen, making herself a quick cup of coffee before walking down the hall to the back door. She slipped on a pair of big furry slippers that had to belong to her brother. No one else would wear something so ugly.
She laughed at the thought and walked outside as the winter wind blew around her. Thick pockets of snow covered the ground, but the porch wasn't too bad. Marc had to have shoveled it off the night before.
Kari brushed off the bench seat below her, pulled her robe close and sat down. She took a quick sip of her coffee and called her mom.
"Kari? Is everything okay, baby?" Her mother sounded far too worried.
"Hey, Mom. I just wanted to call to check in. I got up before everyone else and figured it would be a good time to check up on you. You doing okay?"
Her mom sighed. "Yes. You worried me. I can't remember the last time you or Marc called before noon."
"I remember." Kari snorted and picked up her coffee. "Marc was seventeen and he was at the police station. He called at six that morning in November years ago. Remember that?"
Her mom laughed softly. "I do remember it."
A deep voice sounded softly in the phone. "Who's that, baby?"
Kari stiffened and glanced around. "Mom? Who was that?"
"Charles, sweetheart. He came over for coffee and hot rolls this morning."
"Whose hot rolls?" Kari felt overly protective all of a sudden. Her mother just started dating this guy. Had he spent the night? She tried to pull back the need to throw a million questions at her mom and simply listen.
"Kari. Really?" Her mom's voice was filled with joy. "He came over this morning, honey. We've just decided to try dating."
"Oh. All right." Kari turned as the door opened behind her. Marc walked out and gave her a look.
"Are those my slippers?"
Kari laughed. "I'll let you go, Mom. Just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you. Call me later, okay?"
"You bet. Love you, baby."
Kari dropped the call and swatted at her brother as he bent over and tried to take the shoes off of her feet. "Stop it. My feet will be cold."
"I'm barefooted." He stole one and put it on the ground, trying hard to keep both his feet on it as he shivered.
"For shit's sake." Kari got up and gave him a look. "Now we're both going to catch our deaths."
"Shouldn't have stolen my shoe." Marc reached over and picked the shoe up before running back toward the house. "Now whatcha gonna do?"
"Ki
ll you." She tossed the contents of the coffee over the side of the porch and tried to hop to the door. After almost slipping and busting her ass four times, she finally decided to make a run for it.
Marc held the door open, popping her in the side of the head with his snowy slipper as she got into the house. "That's what you get."
"Oh, hell no." She turned and slipped her hands under his t-shirt, tickling him with frosty fingers as he screamed like a girl.
Jake walked out into the hall, looking like a fireman ready to put out a fire. "What the fuck?"
"Marc thought he was going to get one over on me. Nope." Kari moved back and flung the snowy shoe in her hand at her brother before turning and making her way down the hall to Jake.
"Oh, it's on." Marc barreled after her, and she yelped and ran into the bedroom.
"Jake! Protect me."
"What do I get for it?" He glanced over his shoulder as he gripped Marc by the shirt and muscled him back down the hallway, both of them laughing and grunting as they fought against each other.
"Impossible." She dropped down into the bed and pulled the covers around her. It was freezing in the house and outside. Where New England was a beautiful place to live, it was far too cold for her liking.
Maybe Jake was right. Maybe going back to Texas to build their house and raise their family was something she should consider.
She'd miss her mom and Marc, but they could come visit.
"Hey. Where's my prize?" Jake bounded into the bed behind her.
She laughed and turned to pull him down into a string of kisses. "Me. Your prize is me. Is that enough, you jaded thing?"
"It's more than enough." He tugged at her robe. "It's cold out here. Let me in so I can take some of your warmth."
"How far in are we talking?" She ran her fingers through his dark hair and teased him.
"All the way, baby." He nipped at her lips. "Deep. Real deep."
She groaned as he made his way into her robe and reminded her why she was more than willing to give up anything and everything to be his.