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

There was a pause and he knew she was thinking of a way out. His mother had filled him in on how Raine had become somewhat of a shut-in, and though he got it—he understood the need to be alone—it wasn’t healthy. If he could help her get through this, then maybe he could help himself.

Who the hell was he kidding? Jake was beyond help. His demons were bastards that wouldn’t let go, but maybe Raine would be different. Maybe Raine would make it through to the other side in one piece.

“I’ll see you at the arena.” He pocketed his cell and headed for his Jeep.

***

“Raine Edwards, in the flesh. Wow, I heard there was a sighting last week

, at the Coach House, of all places, but I didn’t believe it.”

Raine squeezed her eyes shut and bit her bottom lip. She had just entered the arena ten seconds ago and already she regretted her decision to come.

You can do this.

She pasted the fakest smile that she could muster onto her face and turned around.

Rebecca Stringer-Hayes stood a few feet away, her model-thin frame sheathed in soft brown leather with fur trim and pencil-straight jeans in a dark indigo. Knee-high brown leather boots—again, trimmed in fur—completed the smart ensemble.

“It’s so good to see you!” Rebecca said with an equally fake smile in place, her platinum blond hair falling to just past her shoulders. Rebecca’s eyes glittered as she shoved a long piece behind her shoulder. “I see having Jake back has brought you out of your shell.”

Raine’s facade cracked a little bit and it took a lot to keep her shit together. Rebecca Stringer had always pushed her buttons. A few years older than Raine, Stringer was a spoiled, selfish bitch.

And that was being nice, as far as Raine was concerned.

“So…” Rebecca moved toward Raine, her steps smooth like a dancer’s. “What the hell is up with Jake and Lily St. Clare?” She winked and leaned closer as if she were Raine’s best friend and confidant. “I heard they’re about to get engaged. Is that true?”

She didn’t wait for Raine to reply but plowed forward, running her mouth as if she were competing in the Olympics. “Oh my God, can you imagine? Crystal Lake is, like, the new in place for celebrities. Of course Cain has pretty much left us in the dust, but still, this could be great for our little town, don’t you think? Maybe they’ll do another reality show.”

Raine’s nails dug into the soft skin of her palms and she waited a moment, still trying to keep her shit from falling all over the place and very much aware that a good number of the people in the arena lobby were watching her and Rebecca.

“I don’t know, Rebecca. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed at Raine’s insolent tone.

“He’s right behind you.”

Thank God.

Raine had delayed coming into town when she found out Jake would be late. Hell no, that was a lie. She’d almost said screw it and stayed in, but the thought of Jake facing the curious—though well-meaning—townspeople alone had been enough to make her get her butt into her car and drive into Crystal Lake.

Her timing was good, though she would have considered it a win if she’d at least managed to avoid Rebecca altogether.

Jake nodded to Mrs. Avery, the florist, and stopped just to Raine’s left. She glanced up quickly and her heart squeezed a bit. The man was exhausted. Fatigue lines crept along his eyes and the expression inside them hurt her something fierce. He wasn’t just exhausted. He was haunted.

And even though she was still holding on to a truckload of anger where he was concerned—anger over the way he’d abandoned his family. Anger over the way he’d left her alone to deal with the most heartbreaking year of her life.

She couldn’t deny her feelings for him. Jake Edwards was her family.

Though if she was honest, he was more than that. Always had been. He was connected to her in a way no one else had ever been, not even her husband, Jesse. The problem was that the two of them clashed more than they got along, and she knew it would take a bit for them to get over the last year and a half.

But they would get there. They had to. There was no other choice.

Jake put his hand at Raine’s back and smiled at Rebecca. “Hey, it’s been a while. How’s Bradley doing these days?”

Rebecca licked her lips, and Raine scowled at the obvious sex-bomb ploy. The woman had more Botox and collagen than a freaking Hollywood starlet, and while she supposed Rebecca was still considered hot, there was something insanely wrong about putting that crap into your face when you were in your early thirties.

Fifty? Maybe. Sixty? Hell, yeah. No judging. There was nothing wrong with firming up a bit if you wanted to, but why mess with nature when you were still so young? She’d look like a freak by the time she was sixty.