Page 387 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"Jail?" Kari's eyes widened a little.
Jake chuckled. "My father was good friends with the sheriff. We only stayed long enough to scare us shitless. It wasn't like they could keep underage kids overnight."
"For egging a house?" Her smile reached her eyes, drawing him in deeper.
"Yeah. It's a different world where I'm from." He leaned back and closed his eyes. "I miss it a lot sometimes."
"Then we should keep an open mind about going back more often then. Maybe even move there eventually?"
He glanced over at her, a little surprised by her openness to even have the conversation. "Really? I figured you wanted to stay in Maine with Lisa and Sicily."
"I wasn't supposed to move to Maine. I was going to live in New York because it's where I grew up. Moving never really seemed like an option." She shrugged. "But if you want to consider Texas, then I'd be open to talk about it."
Warmth spread throughout him, leaving his heart racing at the possibilities. His mom and dad helping Jake and Kari raise their babies? His brothers and aunts and uncles being part of their events coming up? It was too much to hope for.
He tried to play it cool, but probably didn't pull it off very well. "Sounds great. Something to talk about in the future for sure."
"Good." She tightened her grip on his hand. "I hate flying. This part is horrible."
"It's okay, baby." He sat up and leaned over, pulling a small black pouch from his bag and handing it to her. "I brought this with me. I thought you might want to put it on Momma's tree while we're home. We can take it back when we leave and put it on your tree. But I don't know... I like the idea of it on my mother's tree too."
She took it and released his hand, her attention fully on the pouch as she opened it and smiled. Her eyes filled with tears as she pulled the little ornament out and lifted it toward her face.
"I hate to admit this, but I thought I lost this thing." She brushed her thumb over it.
Jake had bought it for her on one of their first dates, just a token of love on his part. It represented her artistic side, a side of her that he wanted to see blossom. She had a dream to be an artist or a photographer, maybe both, but she'd done like most people. She settled and became a reporter, though she didn't enjoy it much.
"I grabbed it from your room about a week ago and put it in a pile of stuff I knew I wanted to bring to Texas with us." He reached over and touched the side of her face softly. "I love you. I told you once that I wanted you to live your dreams, and I'll say it again. You haven't even started trying to. Why?"
"I don't know." She put the little ornament back in the bag and tucked it into her purse. "I bought a sketch pad and some colored pencils for the trip, but then left them at home. I just don't want to open myself up to dreaming about it. I have a good job at the post and-"
"And it's not what you want for your future, so stop pursuing it."
She turned her attention back toward him. "Are you happy with coaching? Is that what you want for your future?"
"Yep. That, you and a house full of babies." He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth as she gave him a sexy grin.
"I don't know about having a bunch of kids, but we can certainly practice making them."
"Practice makes perfect." He pulled her over for a long kiss.
For the first time on the three-hour flight, he was grateful that the older man on the other side of Kari was snoring. What was once an annoyance was a blessing all of a sudden.
CHAPTER 8
KARI
"Mom, this is Kari. Dad." Jake had his hand on Kari's back as they moved up toward his parents in the baggage claim.
"Finally." His mother moved forward and pulled Kari into a hug. "Jake's been talking about you for the last nine months."
"And I can see why." His father smiled down at Kari. "You're just beautiful."
"All right. Stop embarrassing her." Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Where are your brothers?" She glanced up at him as nerves tore through her. Meeting new people was the pits, even people that would soon be family.
"They'll be at the house, I'm sure." Jake glanced behind him, the movement accentuating the thick muscles in his neck. Kari's tummy tightened in anticipation of pressing her lips to it. "Momma. Are the guys at the house yet?"
