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

She swallowed, her eyes still lowered, and glanced to the side.

She saw a pair of boots. Big boots. Big, leather, man boots. They were wet, and snow still clung to the tops of them along with bits of brown grass and dirt.

And they were pointed straight at her.

Jake.

Did she say his name out loud?

The world fell away then. All of it. The church. The parishioners. The kids. The baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph too.

Slowly she looked up and her heart turned over. Jake’s hair was a disheveled mess, his jaw was darkened with at least two days’ worth of beard, and tiny lines around his eyes showed just how tired he was. But it was what was inside them that had her heart beating like mad. Her face was so hot, she felt scorched.

“I told you I was coming for you,” he said roughly.

Raine nodded, the cell still clutched into her hand. “You did.”

“I love you,” he said and fell to his knee so that his face was level with hers. “I’m not giving you up.”

“Okay,” she breathed.

“We’ll work through this.”

His mouth was a whisper away, and she nodded. Or maybe she spoke. Or maybe she did nothing at all. Her mind was such a mess that she had no clue, and when his large hand cupped her chin and his mouth slid over hers, she could do nothing but lean into the man who was everything to her.

Before she knew what was happening, Jake slipped his arms behind her neck and under her legs, lifting her up and crushing her to his chest.

He smelled like winter. Like pine and fresh air. Raine closed her eyes, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she relaxed. He felt like home.

“Hey Edwards, we’re in the middle of something here, do you mind?” Cain grinned at them from the stage, and Raine’s face went about ten shades darker than it already was when the laughter and whispers grew louder.

Shit. She was bundled up in Jake’s arms at the front of St. Paul’s during Christmas Eve service with practically the entire town looking on.

Jake turned and she glanced out at the congregation from beneath lowered lashes. Every single face was turned their way.

He took a step and paused, cranking his neck until he spied his parents. “I don’t think we’ll be stopping by later, Dad.”

Steven cleared his throat. “Thanks for letting me know, son.”

“Merry Christmas, Mom.”

“You’re going to leave in the middle of the service?” Marnie asked.

Oh God. Raine’s face flamed about three shades past crimson, especially when she caught sight of Lori Jonesberg’s sly grin.

“I was thinking about it,” Jake answered. “I don’t need to be in church to give thanks.”

Raine began to squirm, but his hold tightened.

“No,” Marnie said softly. “I don’t suppose you do.”

“Well, if you’re going to leave, Edwards, you best get going, because you’re holding things up.” Cain’s mirth was felt by all, and several rounds of giggles erupted.

And then they were striding out of the church with every single eye on them until they disappeared from view and Cain’s rich voice broke out in song.

Jake’s Jeep was parked in front, and she slid into the passenger side, her body shaking from nerves and the cold. There wasn’t one word spoken between them as he drove through the deserted streets of Crystal Lake, though his free hand clutched hers and she held on tightly, not letting go until they pulled into Wyndham Place and then into the driveway that belonged to the stone cottage.

Jake was out of the Jeep in an instant and had her door flung open before she managed to grab hold of the handle. She slid to her feet, and moments later they were inside the cottage. Raine had left the tree lights on, and the warm glow cast shadows in the corners. Gibson was asleep, and for a moment she stared at the puppy, unsure of what to say or do.