The Christmas He Loved Her (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake 2)

While she’d spent the last year and a half worrying about him, he’d been doing God knows what with Lily St. Clare. Of the Boston St. Clares. He cared about this woman, and for him to bring her back to Crystal Lake for a family holiday, well, that meant he cared for her a whole hell of a lot.

She glared at him, hoping he could see the anger she felt inside. He’d chosen Lily St. Clare over his family.

Over me.

The thought was selfish and snuck in quicker than she could blink it away.

Jake leaned close, his breath a warm whisper against her cheek, though the steel in his voice was as cold and hard as an arctic blast. “Don’t be a bitch. She’s not what you think.”

“How would you know what I think?” Raine grabbed his hand, wanting to pull him aside and tell him exactly what was on her mind, but all conscious thought fled. The only thing that settled inside her brain was how warm he felt and how rough the pads of his fingers were. Heat poured into her like lava rippling over the side of a volcano.

It was the kind of heat that made you dizzy. The kind that made you crazy.

She yanked her hand from his as if she’d been burned, her body trembling, her breath caught in her throat.

Jake’s face whitened. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get in your face…” Jake’s voice trailed off as he stared down at her. He ran his fingers through the waves that curled near his collar. “Shit, Raine. I…”

“I’m good,” she said tersely. “Let’s eat.”

She pushed past him, escaped to the dining room, and slid into the seat beside Steven, with Gloria to her right, only too aware of the empty chair at the end of the table. Her eyes rested on it for a moment, and then she focused on one of the biggest centerpieces she’d ever seen. It was a cornucopia filled with fresh flowers, gourds, and baby pumpkins, yet it was nearly lost among the huge assortment of food.

God, there was so much food. The smell nauseated her and Raine quickly topped up her wineglass, ignoring the little voice inside her head—the one that said slow the hell down. She was staring down the barrel of the Thanksgiving from hell, and if a little extra fortification was needed, then so be it.

Because Lord knows, it was.

Gloria kept trying to make small talk, all the while piling more food onto Raine’s plate as if she weren’t going to notice. Across the table, Lily studied her covertly from her spot beside Jake, and Raine wasn’t sure what made her more anxious—Lily’s all-knowing gaze or Jake’s dark, brooding glare.

The next hour passed in a haze of conversation that Raine would never remember. Steven and Marnie were gracious as usual, making polite small talk with Lily while including Gloria as much as they could. But Jake was quiet, his dark eyes never far from Raine, and she tried like hell to ignore him.

Just as she tried to ignore the empty chair at the end of the table. It was a huge reminder that she didn’t belong to anyone anymore.

She was well on her way to finishing her third glass of wine—or maybe it was her fourth—when Marnie asked for her help in the kitchen. Something about the pumpkin pie and the triple-chocolate trifle, and Raine was only too happy to oblige. Anything to get away from her mother and the blond Barbie…and Jake.

She just wished her stomach would stop rolling and that Marnie would turn down the heat. It was hot…so, so hot. She grabbed a cloth, ran it under the cold water, and then pressed it against her forehead. Her hair was damp, the short length of it curling madly against her neck.

She must look lik

e a wilted flower.

“Raine,” Marnie whispered as if afraid anyone would hear her.

Raine exhaled slowly and turned from the sink. “Yes?” Her heart raced and it took more than a little effort for her to remain still…to keep her head up and not wobble on her four-inch Pradas. Damn, she knew better. She was a lightweight when it came to wine.

Marnie snuck a look into the dining room and clasped her hands together. “I need to ask you a favor.”

Raine dabbed the wet cloth against her throat, not caring that large drops fell down the top of her dress, staining the silk. She leaned back against the sink and concentrated. “A favor? Sure,” she said carefully, her tongue thick. “Anything, Marnie.”

“Isn’t it wonderful to have Jake back with us?”

Raine nodded. “Peachy.” The room spun a little bit, but she gripped the edge of the counter and managed to stay upright.

Marnie gave her a strange look. “Are you all right?”

“Never been better.” She hiccupped and pressed the cloth against her cheeks once more.

“You just looked a little peaked, dear.”

Raine didn’t say anything, mostly because she was concentrating on her stomach.