Page 393 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"Right here, baby." She glanced back at Kari. "Did Jake tell you that he can play the piano like an angel?"
"Mom. Jeez." He ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head. "It's been a long time. I don't play like I used to."
"You play?" Kari walked toward him, turned on by the idea of him being musically inclined.
His eyebrow lifted as he reached out and slid his strong hands around her hips, gripping tightly. "What's that look for?"
"Do you play the piano?" she mumbled and moved in a little closer.
"Does it turn you on that I do?" He leaned down and hovered just above her lips, teasing her.
"I'm going to leave you two alone if you don't stop." His mother laughed. "Now, get over here and put your ornaments on the tree."
"Stop acting up, Jake. I'll get my belt after you," his father barked from the kitchen before laughing loudly.
Jake chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Come on. I'll play you a song after we do this."
"Please..." she tried not to pant. Why was it so attractive that a big buff guy like Jake played the piano? She couldn't put her finger on it, but it left her hot and bothered for sure.
"Here you go." His mother handed him a little coach ornament and handed Kari a photographer one. "Jake said you loved to take pictures."
"This is so sweet." Kari lifted it toward her face, studying it. "Where did you get it?"
"I didn't get it."
Kari glanced up. "I don't understand."
"She made it. She's been making them for years." Jake's father walked into the living room and pulled Jake's mom against him, wrapping his arms around the top of her shoulders. "She's quite the artist."
Jake put up his ornament on the tree and smiled over at her. "I told you she would have something special for you."
"I love it. It's beautiful." Kari offered them a warm smile and moved toward the tree, lifting up on her toes to put her ornament next to Jake’s. She turned to face him and smiled. "You get your talent from your mom."
"He sure does. Night kids."
"Night, Momma." Jake touched the side of Kari’s face and smiled. "I had a good time tonight. You made me feel like I was eighteen again."
"Oh yeah? Play me a song and I'm thinking we're going to see if you have the stamina of an eighteen year old." She ran her hands up his chest, pressing in softly as his eyes widened a little.
"That big of a deal, hm?" He licked at his lips.
"Yeah. I'm not sure why, but I love the thought of you having a softer side."
He chuckled. "Let's not go that far." Pulling back, he turned and walked to the piano to pull out the bench and sit down. He glanced over his shoulder. "Sit down. Take a load off, and tell me what you want to hear."
"What are my choices?" She sat down on the chair closest to her and moved to the edge of it. This was a side of Jake she didn't even realize existed.
"How about a Christmas carol?" He turned his back to her, his jacket hiding the thick swell of muscle she'd memorized with her fingers over the course of many nights beneath him.
"I'd love that." She leaned back and crossed her legs as he started to play, White Christmas.
She let out a slow breath as he finished and turned to face her. "Wow. I don't know what to say. That was beautiful. My heart is racing."
He laughed and got up, turning to face the tree. "Good. Mom forced me to learn to play, though I gave it up about three years ago when all hell broke loose."
"We need a piano in our house." She got up and moved up behind him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face to his back. "I want you to play all the time."
"Yeah. And I'll teach our little man to play. It's a good talent for melting the ladies’ hearts." He turned in her arms and brushed her hair back. "Thank you for loving me."
