Page 396 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"The girls go nuts over it. I walked into the bathroom last night and two girls were sucking him off." Landon laughed. "I was almost proud of the little shit."
Jake felt the blood drain from his face. "Holy shit. Here?"
"No, man. He knows better than that shit. It was up at Kinsley's bar. You remember David Dawson? He plays up there now."
"Really? David was a good friend of mine."
"Yeah. He's a cool cat." Landon turned his attention back to the window. "Jess is killing me, man. She's worthy of a great man and she's just dating creeps."
"That's your fault." Jake reached for the door. He'd had that same conversation a million times with Landon. Jessica deserved him, but he couldn't man up and tell her. They were friends, but friends with detriment.
"How so?"
"You're letting her look for her prince when he's standing right beside her."
"I'm not good enough for her, Jake. You don't know some of the shit I've done."
"Right." Jake pulled the door open. "And I could care less what you've done. She wouldn't either. You just don't see what we see, man. You will. One day."
CHAPTER 12
KARI
"You ready to go to town?" Jake's mom walked out on the porch with a cup of coffee in her hand.
"Absolutely. Is Jake up yet?" Kari got up from her spot beside Jake's father on the porch swing. It was cold outside, but they'd installed heaters around the porch. It was bliss.
"Yeah. He's eating breakfast and catching up with his brothers." She chuckled. "Those boys are as rowdy as you were when you were younger, honey."
Jake's dad glanced up from his Bible. "Oh yeah? We should beat it out of them."
Kari chuckled. "Can I watch?"
"Heck yes. You need to know how to get your own boys to behave." He smiled at her. "Thanks for visiting with me."
"Anytime." Her cheeks burned. He was beyond precious. Seemingly such a good man. He reminded her of Jake, or maybe it was the other way around.
"All right, you flirt." Jake's mom moved over to push at the Bible on his father's lap and slipped into his arms, surprising Kari a little. "We're going shopping for a little while. You get the boys to help you with those large trees out back that have fallen on the road?"
"All right. I can do it myself though." He glanced up and gave her a look that didn't last too long.
Kari laughed and walked toward the kitchen as Clint raced out and moved around her. "Sorry, Kari! The ape is after me."
She chuckled and walked in to find Jake and Landon talking in the kitchen. She had a chance to meet both of Jake's brothers earlier that morning while he was still sleeping. She'd joined Jake's mom in the kitchen to make breakfast and the two of them were still up from the night before.
"Hey." She paused. "Am I interrupting?"
Jake closed the door he'd opened and smiled. "No. I was just coming to find you. Sorry you had to meet these hoodlums without me."
"I kinda like them." She reached for him as he walked across the kitchen and pulled her firmly against him. "I wanted to wake you up this morning, but you looked so peaceful sleeping."
"Cause you took good care of me last night." He leaned down to kiss her and chuckled as his lips pressed against hers, making for an awkward kiss.
The sound of Landon gagging behind them being the source of the laugh.
"You guys are gross." He walked by them, popping Jake on the back.
"I like it when you're gross like this." Kari kissed him again and moved back. "I'm going to grab my coat. Your mom is ready to go shopping."
