Free A Perfect Bride For Christmas by Dyann Love Barr Page A

the contents of her mug into the sink. “I’m out of here.”
    Uh-oh. Zoe knew she’d stepped in it big time.
    “Wait.” She put down her cup and stepped in
    front of Cherri. “I apologize.” She ran her hand through her short hair. “Look, the girls asked me some questions I don’t know how to answer. Their Aunt Brenda made some remarks at the funeral.
    Macy wondered if Alex might be their father. I
    mean, how do four-year-olds know enough to connect Alex’s looks with theirs, or anything? Lord, I’m making a mess of this. See why the knives seemed so inviting when I came in?”
    Cherri shook her head and guided Zoe back to
    the table. “Maybe we need to put a lock on the
    Animal Planet. Sex was a hot topic today.”
    “Their Aunt Brenda is getting an earful
    tomorrow. I want to get her before she starts her daily intake of ‘tonic’.”
    “So tell me all about your Baby Daddy.”
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    Zoe buried her head in her hands and started
    the long, sordid tale of her few hours as Alex King’s bride.

    ****
Alex banged his pen against his desk as he
    waited for Keeley Jacobs to come to the phone. He’d waited until near the close of business Pacific Time before attempting the call. He didn’t like waiting.
    She might be a busy architect, but given the late hour, he damn well knew she wanted to make a
    point. Okay, let her.
    The minutes that passed on hold gave him time
    to think about Zoe’s children—correct that, his children.
    He liked the way the one introduced as Michaela seemed to bea take-no-prisoners girl and met him square in the eye. She’d probably mow down anyone who tried to hurt her mother or sisters. Mia’s
    shyness made him feel protective, to hold her the way Zoe had. And Macy, something about that kid connected with him on a gut level. She challenged him with a glare. The look said she didn’t trust him a bit. He’d have to convince her of his sincerity.
    Hell, he had to convince Zoe. How could he
    regain her friendship when he said such
    unforgivable things to her?. Why had he turned into such hateful toad?
    He rubbed the bump on his nose, his finger
    lowering to touch his mouth. Then there was The Kiss. Even now, he got hard thinking about it, the way she tasted—delicious, deep and dark with a hint of barbeque sauce. Maybe the barbeque sauce made him want to devour her right there in the middle of her shop.
    No, it was all Zoe. How could he ever have
    forgotten her? Why had it taken five years to find out he craved her like the brisket she had cooking in the oven?
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    He touched the small indentation in his left ear, letting a fierceness overtake him that he’d never felt before. All other emotions paled before the instant love and the need to protect what belonged to him.
    Sydney would say he’d regressed into some macho caveman—he didn’t give a rat’s ass what she
    thought at this moment. Those girls were his.
    A small nudge of guilt poked at him.
    How did Sydney fit into this new, unexpected
    twist to his life? He still planned to marry her in less than two weeks and yet, he felt restless, as if she had become irrelevant. What about the children?
    Sydney made her feelings known when it came to
    the subject of kids. He’d planned to slowly talk her into the idea of children, but to have three thrust on her would be too traumatic.
    Now, he understood how his mother felt about
    Keeley Jacobs. She’d said Keeley was a part of her husband. She couldn’t turn her back on her. How would Dad feel if she were to kick his flesh and blood out of the family without first trying to make
    contact, to include her?
    No matter what the woman said, he would try to
    keep that in mind. How would he feel if someone did the same to his children, if they refused to
    acknowledge them? The ache in his chest grew. Did Dad know about Keeley? The thought his father
    would throw away an unwanted child squeezed at
    Alex’s heart.
    “This is Keeley