JakeThey pulled up to the small bistro and Jake got out of the truck, his body aching, his palms starting to sweat. Damned if she wasn't as straightforward as he was, and here he thought she was shy or at least a bit introverted. Hadn't she said she was introverted? No, he was making that up, right? He opened her door, moving back as she stepped out, the perfect fit of her jeans on her nice sized rear not helping at all.He reached for her hand, wrapping his around hers and walking toward the restaurant. Friends didn't hold hands, but he figured their ruse to try and take things slow was a joke in the making. He hadn't felt physical chemistry with someone like this ever. He and Bethany had been together since they were kids, so the passion wasn't explosive, but more an adolescent curiosity that morphed into something comfortable. He figured this burning desire with Kari would start to fade a little too, which would be great. It was killing him from the inside out. He couldn't go spor

Kari"Congratulations, coach." Kari reached over and rubbed his large shoulder, Jake turning and pulling her into a hug in the middle of the crowd. He lifted her off her feet as the crowd around them went wild. Bar Harbor had been crowned champions of the northeastern high school basketball conference, and Jake as their coach got a standing accolade. He set her down and she laughed, the smile on her face almost hurting as she enjoyed his victory alongside him.Things started to settle, Jake taking her hand and moving them out of the gym. He turned to wave at a few of the boys that called after him. Squeezing his hand, she moved in closer to his side."Damn that was fun." He laughed and held the door open for her."Winning always is.""Nah... I mean it is, but playing is the fun part. Seeing what you're capable of no matter what odds are stacked against you." He looked down at her and tugged her closer. "Let's go change and head downtown. I want to show you some of the little shops and

KariSmall shops lined the cobblestone road, Kari walking slowly with Jake, her hand in his and her mind on their next steps. He stopped and pointed to a Christmas store, a smile spreading across his lips."Let's go in here. It's my mom's favorite shop.""Christmas in the middle of spring?"He laughed and held the door open, the smell of cinnamon and pine trees filling her senses as she walked in, Jake close behind her."My mom would have it be Christmas year round if she could." He moved toward the ornaments room, stopping to look through them. "She always picks out an ornament for each of us each year, and then gets one for her and my father, and one for the whole Isaac family."Kari moved up beside him, her eyes scanning the colorful objects, some of them dancing and singing. She reached out and picked up a paint brush, the painting attached to it a view of the ocean."Beautiful," she whispered and put it back. "We didn't really celebrate Christmas much."He pointed to the little o

KariThe night had been like nothing she'd ever experienced before, her body sore and sated beyond belief. Soft light filtered through the room as she rubbed Jake's chest, her body tucked against the side of his, her legs wrapped around his. He was sound asleep, the subtle rise and fall of his chest the only way of knowing he was alive and well. His face was tilted toward her, his long eyelashes resting on his high cheekbones.Her heart swelled in her chest, the man beside her scorching her with his passion. He'd spent hours learning what made her come unglued. He did things she'd never even known possible, the memory of them causing her to groan softly. To lose him would be the end of her. She squeezed her eyes close tightly and fought back a wave of nausea at the deep feeling of loss that rolled over her.Surely this time things would work out - they had to. It was her turn.Kari lay there for a few more minutes before slipping out of his grasp and going to take a long, hot shower.

JakeThey all hushed after Kari turned on music using her phone, their paint brushes coating the wall in a muted teal. Jake stayed close to Kari, making small talk here and there, loving the concentration on her face as she painted. He looked up as Drake walked in, the closest friend in Bar Harbor he’d made at the small gym where he’d spent many nights trying to purge the memories of Bethany from his mind.“Someone call for a help?” Drake stopped at the door, his hands on his hips as he looked around.Jake moved to extend his hand to him. “Hey, buddy. Thanks for coming.” He turned and pointed to Kari. “This is my girlfriend, Kari. Her friends Sicily and Lisa.”Lisa smiled and waved flirtatiously, forever a redhead. Sicily stared a bit longer than she might have realized. Jake moved Drake over to the pile of supplies and picked up a brush.“We’re just doing the base coat now. Pick a place to get rolling and let’s go. We’ll try and do two coats before we break for the day.”Drake took t