Page 384 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
He jerked and almost fell into the tree, his yelp funny. "Damn, baby." His cheeks burned pink as he glanced over at her mom. "I'm so sorry. I rarely-"
"It's not a big deal." Her mom glanced over at her and lifted her eyebrow. "You need to keep your hands to yourself. He could have tackled the damn tree."
Kari snorted and shook her head. "You're just cussing to make him feel better."
"And?" Her mom snagged the ornament from Jake and walked back into the belly of the store.
"I like her." Jake wrapped an arm around Kari's shoulders. "She reminds me of a well-behaved you."
"Well-behaved? I'm a good girl, mister."
"Maybe you were." He wrapped her up tightly and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. "How on earth did she birth someone like your brother?"
"No clue. We all have our crosses to bear?" Kari laughed and pushed up to press her lips to his. The kiss was soft and tentative at first, but quickly moved into something more passionate.
Jake ground against her hips and tightened his hold on her. "Careful, pretty girl. I'm ready to ravage every inch of you as it is."
"It's the coat, right?" She wagged her eyebrows, wanting to be playful with him.
"It's you." He kissed her again and jerked back as her mother cleared her throat right beside them. "Sorry, Ms. Martin."
Kari's mom laughed. "It's fine. I was just kidding." Her eyes averted, which was out of character.
"What's up, Mom? You look like you're hiding something." Kari reached out and touched her mom's shoulders. "Talk to us."
"So, I have someone I want you to meet."
"I knew it!" Kari chuckled. "Who is he?"
"How did you know?" Kari's mom glanced up, her eyes a little wide.
"Hello. I'm your daughter. I knew something was up. Spill." Kari put her hands on her hips. Her mom and her had half-raised each other. Her father was into big business when she was little, and her mom had her pretty young. They took turns playing momma.
"All right, well, his name is Charles and he's a surgeon at the hospital." She shrugged. "He's a really nice guy, but he's almost too nice."
"Too nice?" Jake moved up behind them as they turned to walk toward the exit. "Is there a thing as too nice?"
"Yes." Kari and her mom glanced back at him and answered in tandem before moving back toward the conversation with each other.
"How is he too nice?" Kari slipped her arm into her mom’s.
"We've been seeing each other for a few weeks and we haven't even kissed." She sighed.
"Yeah, I'm going to go check out the sports store down that way. I'll have my phone with me. Call me when you're ready to go." Jake moved up and kissed Kari's cheek before disappearing into a crowd of people.
She laughed softly before turning back to her mom. "So kiss him."
"I can't do that." Her mom ran her hand over her dark hair and let out a soft sigh. "I'm not young and dumb anymore. I can't get away with that."
"What? Of course you can. Age has nothing to do with it. Take a chance, Mom. What do you have to lose?"
"Nothing, I guess." She reached out and touched the side of Kari's face. "You seem so healthy and happy. Jake is a good man?"
"The best. I couldn't imagine life without him." Kari cupped her hand over her mom's. "Invite Charles to dinner with us."
"Really?" Her mom pulled her hand back and took out her phone as snowflakes started to fall from the sky around them.
"Yes. I want to meet him. It would be nice for me and Jake to check him out before you make your moves on him." Kari wagged her eyebrows as her mother gave her a stern look.
