Page 397 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"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."
