Forever's Embrace (Forever In Luck Series Book 2) by J. Darling Page B

said quietly, “Don’t listen to them.”
    Then
Nik started in again, his voice a high falsetto, “Oooh, Jake, you hunk of
burning love, you ain’t nothing but a hound dog. I just love it when you shake
your maracas.” Then he let out some squeaky kissing noises.
    Kris
and Nik busted out laughing.
    Jules
was mortified. He did not just say that, did he? Their dad was in the room!
Jules turned from Jake and glared at Nik.
    “Hey
Jules, that ain’t your happy face,” Nik said, amused. “Kris, look. Look at
her.”
    Nate
and Linnie walked in just as Jules reached over and pinched the back of Nik’s
arm, hard, with all her strength.
    “OWWW!
Damn, Jules, I was just kidding.” Nik howled and whined, rubbing his arm
vigorously. “Shit that hurts.”
    “Suck
it up, you wuss,” Jake said, laughing with glee.
    Linnie
gasped, and Jules looked up irritated, then responded sternly, “Your brother is
teasing inappropriately.”
    Glaring
at Nik, Linnie offered somewhat apologetically, “Well, welcome to the family, I
did tell you they’d take you under their wing. That’s typical behavior for
him.”
    “Oh
sure, now you tell me it was a warning. I’m going to quit listening to you. It
just gets me into trouble every time.”
    They
all laughed. Then Jules hopped up and gave Linnie a big hug goodbye, trying not
to cry. It didn’t work. They both cried, and when they were done and their
goodbyes said, Jules snuck downstairs because she needed some time to rest and
compose herself.
    Lying
there in Jake’s bed after having nodded off for a while, she thought about
everything that had happened in the last few days, and couldn’t help the smile
that pulled at her lips. He’d kissed her! Last night would forever be burned in
her mind, and it had been nothing short of sensational. The wedding, the
dancing, the ride home, the northern lights, being held in his strong arms, then
that magnificent kiss. WOW! She thought she’d died and gone to heaven it was so
wonderful.
    He
was enchanting, and she hadn’t wanted it to end. When she’d said she’d never
seen anything more beautiful than the northern lights, and he said he had, she
didn’t know how to take it at first, but after thinking about it, she was
fairly certain he’d meant her. Her heart danced. He was a romantic! Hopping out
of bed, eager to see if he was there, she went to his dresser and looked at his
watch. Two o’clock in the afternoon. Well, if nothing else, the Bear’s were
going up against the Patriot’s in an hour and she’d watch the game.
    Walking
into the kitchen, she stopped dead in her tracks. Jake was standing there
looking out the window as he drank from a cup. Holy lussekatter buns, did he
look delicious. He must’ve just come in from outside, because he was wearing
these snug and rugged, brown canvas bibs, that held his shape all the way up to
his broad chest. The cut and design accentuated his strong arms covered by plaid
flannel sleeves, rolled at the cuff, revealing the long underwear he had
underneath. He was taller than ever in his thick soled work boots, and his
cheeks were rosy from the cold. Darned if she didn’t have the urge to run over
there and throw herself in his arms. Flushing at the thought, she stepped
closer.
    Smiling
when he saw her, he said, “Hey sleepyhead, you get some rest?”
    Nodding
and smiling back, she answered, “Slept, showered, and mostly packed.”
    “What
time does your flight leave?” he asked, leaning against the counter and
crossing his feet at the ankles.
    “I
need to be at the airport no later than four in the morning, my flight leaves
at five fifteen, lands at six forty-five, then I’ll catch a cab home, drop off
my stuff, and head to work.”
    “You
mean you’re here one more night?” he said, more than he asked.
    “Well,
yeah, kind of. Linnie said it wouldn’t be a problem when I booked the flight,
but now that she’s not here… I should probably call and see if I can get a
flight