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

He bent low and whispered, “Babe, we can do this every single night, if you want.”

“Promise?”

His heart turned over as he pulled her in closer. He didn’t answer.

He didn’t have to. Their love was that strong.

Acknowledgments

As always, writing a book is a solitary thing and I love that my cat, Gibby, and my gorgeous retriever, Shelby, kept me company while writing this book. Whether it was at four in the morning or nine in the evening, they were always there, watching, so thanks for that.

I wrote most of this book in the summer, which was weird considering it was a Christmas book, but there was something cool about writing winter scenes while parked on the dock at a cottage in Muskoka. Thanks to my family and friends, for not forgetting about me even though I wasn’t there half the time. You guys know I love you!

As always, a book doesn’t just happen on its own. Much thanks to Sourcebooks publicity team, their sales team, the art department, and to my editor Leah Hultenschmidt. You guys are wonderful and professional to work with!

Lastly, thanks to my readers, especially the ones who take the time to write. I always love hearing from you, so please don’t stop!

Look for the next book in Juliana Stone’s acclaimed Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series

Coming April 2014

Coming home is the only way to heal his heart

Mackenzie Draper thought he had everything he ever wanted, but he knew he needed to head back home one last time to conquer the demons from his past. For Lily St. Clare, the charming small town she just moved to is a haven. Big cities only want to eat you up and spit you out. Neither Mac nor Lily was expecting to stay very long…until the day they found each other, and one amazingly red-hot night followed. But old wounds almost always leave a mark, and Mac’s scars run deeper than most. With her flirty charm, Lily could be exactly what he needs—if he’s willing to give love one more chance.

And in case you missed it, read on for an excerpt from

the first book in the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series

No

w available from Juliana Stone and

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Chapter 1

Cain Black hadn’t been home in ten years.

At the age of twenty he’d packed his guitar—a beat-up Gibson Les Paul—said his good-byes, and left. Always a rebel, he’d had no trouble disappointing half the town, and as for the other half? Hell, they’d expected it of him.

Cain Black—the star quarterback who’d had the arrogance to turn his nose up at a full ride to Michigan State University. The nerve, some said, after everything the town had done to support him and his mother. He’d left for Los Angeles one hot summer night in July and hadn’t looked back until now, and—truthfully—he’d rather be anyplace other than Crystal Lake.

He ran fingers through the thick waves atop his head and cracked his neck in an effort to relieve the tension that stretched across his shoulders. Damn, but his muscles were tight, his legs stiff. He placed a booted foot on the top step of the Edwardses’ porch and paused. He’d been traveling for hours and would just about kill for a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, except he was fairly certain it would knock him on his ass. He was dead tired and knew he’d either crash hard or catch his second wind.

He smoothed his hair, trying to tame the waves a bit. It wasn’t as long as it used to be, barely touched his shoulders these days. With the earrings and the nose ring long gone, he was almost respectable.

Or, at the very least, as close to some kind of respectability as he was ever going to get.

He glanced at his forearm. The edge of an elaborate tattoo peeked out from under the hem of his sleeve. It was the only thing left over from his hell-raising days, and that was way before LA Ink and Kat Von D had brought tattoos into the mainstream.

Now everyone and their mother had one.

Cain blew out hot air, tugged his shirtsleeve down a bit more, and glanced around. It was surreal, standing here after all this time. How many nights had he and the boys hung out, shooting the shit and dreaming of a future that would rock their reality?

He shook his head, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Too many nights to count.

His thoughts darkened, and he clenched his teeth tightly as the reason for his return hit him in the gut. Not everyone’s future had turned out as planned. The unimaginable had happened, and it was a sobering reality check.