Page 399 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
Jake chuckled at his father's teasing. He'd grown up talking about marrying a nice country girl who could make biscuits like his mother. Seemed so foreign now, but it was irrelevant. Kari was everything a man could want, and far more than Jake felt he deserved.
"Leave him alone." His mother reached over and patted his father's chest. "He's happy, and something tells me that we wouldn't have to work too hard on Kari to get both of them here eventually."
"I wish." His father moved the mirror back up. "Mom and I miss you, son."
"I know. I miss you both too."
Kari shifted in his arms and let out a soft sigh. "Where are we?"
"We're almost to the church, baby." He kissed the side of her head and moved back as she sat up.
"Oh, good. I'm sorry. I must have passed out." She lifted her hands in the air and twisted to stretch.
The smile that lifted his lips reached his eyes and felt good. He ran his hand down her side as she yawned.
"I was telling Mom that she wore you out today." He slid his hand down her thigh as she turned and leaned against him again.
"I had so much fun." She glanced up at him with a smile on her beautiful face.
"We did, didn't we?" He could hear the smile in his mother's voice too. She'd wanted a girl so bad, but kept having boys. Some part of Jake was thrilled about that. He wasn't sure how any of them would have fared with a sister in the mix. Poor girl would never get a date.
"Absolutely." Kari kissed his arm and turned her eyes up toward him. "I need to call my mom and Marc. Will we have a few minutes before the service?"
"Yeah, about fifteen minutes from what I can tell. There's a small porch on the back of the church with swings and seats. We can go out there, unless you want some privacy?"
"No. You can come with me." Her eyes moved across his face. "You're so handsome. Why in the world would you want a plain girl like me?"
"Keeps me grounded." He tried to keep a straight face, but cracked up as she moved back with a soft yelp.
"No, you didn't." She gave him a cheeky grin and chuckled low in her chest.
Damn she was hot.
He reached out and slid his hand into her hair, cupping her head and squeezing softly. "You know I'm teasing you. I'm just the hired hand around here. Someone to bat off the men as they try to get close to you. I've got nothing on you, baby."
"You two are far too precious for your own good." Jake's mom turned her head and swooned at them.
"Mom. Really?" Jake released Kari and rolled his eyes playfully only to get swatted by both his mom and his girl.
"Behave!" His mother barked playfully.
"Dad? You really going to let them take me out like this?" Jake moved up and gripped his father's shoulders as they pulled into the church parking lot.
"I'm a smart man, son. I know which side my bread is buttered on. I'll always side with your momma."
Jake released his father and rolled his eyes. There wasn't a time in his childhood that he could remember his father not joining his mother's side. They were forever supportive of each other. Jake glanced over at Kari, wanting that relationship with her so damn bad, and knowing that it was possible.
"What?" she whispered as she moved close and pressed her soft lips to the side of his neck. "What does that look on your face mean?"
"I gotta go to the bathroom." He chuckled as she popped him. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her in tight for a quick peck on the lips. "I just want what my folks have. I think for the first time ever... it might be possible."
"Stop necking in the backseat and get out. We're here." Jake's father pulled them from the moment.
"Necking? Ewww..." Jake got out of the car and gave his girl a warm smile over the top of the hood. "Let's walk around to the back. If we go through the church to the back, we'll never make it. I haven't been here in four years."
He'd come for Bethany's mom's funeral, but they were Baptist and attended the other big church in town.
"Sounds good." Kari slipped her hand into his and wrapped her free hand around his arm, tucking herself tightly against him.
