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

If her mother was out there, she was going to let her have it.

Raine peeked outside from the window, and her stomach rolled over. Shit!

She whirled around just as Jake rose to his feet—all six feet, four inches of his hard, naked self on display.

“Oh my God, Jake. You’ve got to get upstairs.”

He frowned. “What? Why, what’s—”

Another round of banging rumbled from outside, and this time a voice cut through. “Raine? Honey, are you all right? We’re starting to get a little worried out here.”

Raine’s eyes widened to comical proportions, and a sliver of irritation ran through her as a slow grin spread across Jake’s face. He scratched the stubble under his chin. “That sounds a lot like—”

“Yes!” she whispered hoarsely. “It’s Mrs. Lancaster, and she’s not alone. Pastor Lancaster is out there with her.” Raine jumped over the sofa and grabbed the pink blanket. “Now get your ass upstairs, and don’t you dare come down until they’re gone.”

His grin widened. “I distinctly remember you saying at some point last night…maybe after you did that amazing move with your—”

She growled like an animal and slapped him on the chest. “Get going.”

Jake grabbed the blanket and saluted her. “I’m just saying that you were all gung ho about not giving a damn what anyone thought about our…” He dipped low as the banging continued and kissed the corner of her mouth. His tongue slid up near her ear, and she shivered violently as he murmured, “…about our situation.”

“Yeah, that’s true, but I don’t feel like explaining to our pastor and his wife that we’ve just spent the night having all sorts of kinky sex just yet, thank you very much.” She sniffed the air and alarm bells rang. “Oh my God, what if they can smell it?”

Jake laughed and trotted to the stairs leading to the loft as Mrs. Lancaster bellowed, “Raine, are you in there?”

He paused at the top of the stairs, his smile breaking her heart all over again. God, she loved him.

“I wouldn’t get too bent out of shape, sweet cheeks. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster have seven kids. So, you know, they’ve done it at least seven—”

She scowled and cut him off. “Well I don’t need them to know we did it seven times last night.”

“Seven?” His grin widened. “I thought it was at least eight.”

She turned in a huff and smoothed her hair as she ran to the door and opened it.

“Mrs. Lancaster.” She nodded to the woman and smiled at her husband. “Pastor.”

Mrs. Lancaster was bundled in a red and black checkered wool coat with knitted purple hat, pink scarf, and knee-high black patent-leather boots. The woman was either color-blind or didn’t give a rat’s ass about fashion. Raine had always believed it was the latter.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Mrs. Lancaster said, her concerned face relaxing as she took in Raine, her eyes moving from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. “My dear, you look wonderful.”

Uh, really?

Raine’s hands automatically went to her hair, smoothing the ends a bit before she crossed her arms over her chest as the early morning chill attacked her skin. She knew she looked like she’d just rolled out of bed, but hey, she’d take the compliment.

“Oh, thanks. I got a good night’s sleep—”

Was that a snort?

She kept her smile in place but moved a bit so that she blocked any view of inside as she continued. “Despite the fact that there was a lot of snoring.”

“Snoring?”

Another snort.

“Yep.” She smiled and shrugged. “Gibson.”

“Oh.” Mrs. Lancaster smiled. “Your puppy.”