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

Jacobs.”
    “Hello, Ms. Jacobs. This is Alex King. I’m calling on behalf of Amelia King, my mother.”
    A moment of silence followed before she replied.
    “I expected this call. Please tell Mrs. King that I want the sale of the land and house to go through as soon as possible. There is a business proposition I’m investigating, and I need the capital.”
    His brothers would have a cow, or in Clint’s case 64
    A Perfect Bride for Christmas

    a horse. The woman wanted money, pure and
    simple. But Mom was adamant about meeting
    Keeley Jacobs so he’d give it his best shot and pour on the King charm. “I never had a big sister before, so this is a little awkward.”
    “I’m not your big sister .”
    He could feel the ice all the way from San
    Francisco. He held his breath, counted to ten.
    “Technically, you are. You have a family here in Missouri. Mother and the rest of the family would like you to attend my wedding on Christmas Eve, and she would like you to stay for Christmas.” That might bea lie but it would serve the purpose. He’d explain to Mom and his brothers later.
    “Is this a joke?” The suspicion came through
    loud and clear.
    Alex knew he’d made a mess of this, so he might as well go all the way. “Mom really wants to meet with you, get to know you. She’s worried you would refuse.”
    “You probably think I’ll see dear old Mom and
    forget about my portion of the estate.” Her
    accusation hit the mark.
    “Come for the wedding and Christmas. We can
    discuss the business end after the holidays. Give us a chance to get acquainted, and we’ll work out the particulars once you’re here. No one will keep you from what you deserve. You are a member of the family.”
    There was a long pause.
    “Are you still there?”
    “Yes, yes, I’m here.”. Keeley’s voice lost its
    harshness. “Let me check my calendar, and I’ll get back with you.”
    “Good, good, that’s all I can ask. I really hope you’ll make it to the wedding.”
    “Thank you for the invitation.” This time she
    sounded sincere. “Good-bye, Mr. King.”
    65
    Dyann Love Barr

    “It’s Alex. I’m your youngest brother. I’ll be in touch.” He hit the end button on his cell phone. Now, all he had to explain his crazy plan to the rest of the family. Keeley Jacobs would be one tough cookie to crack, and if anyone could get through to the woman, it would be his mother.
    Amelia King was a force to be reckoned with, a
    F4 tornado if came down to it, and he’d inherited a bit of that tenaciousness. He and his brothers
    weren’t about to let Keeley Jacobs throw his mother out of her home. If it came down to a buyout, he’d foot the bill, and his mother wouldn’t know a damn thing about it.
    A knock sounded on his door, and Tommy
    walked through. “I wanted to see how things were going with you. Did you ever get the probate issue settled?”
    Alex leaned back in his chair and closed his
    eyes. “I’m working on it. There’s something else.” He had to confide in someone. Not his mother, nor his brothers, not yet. Tommy already knew the
    gruesome details of his rushed wedding and quickie annulment. He’d glossed over the worst of it for his family’s sake, not even his brothers knew the
    identity of the woman. He’d only told them it was a stupid act of a drunken man.
    Tommy sat down in the chair opposite Alex and
    put his feet on Alex’s desk. “What’s that?”
    “I saw Zoe Hillman today, or rather yesterday,
    as well.”
    “Oh.” Tommy tried to sound nonchalant. “How
    did that happen? And how is our Zoe Pie?”
    Alex’s eyes popped open on a shimmer of anger.
    “Don’t ever fucking call her that again.” He gave Tommy’s feet a hard shove off his desk.
    Tommy’s feet hit the floor, his hands up in
    surrender. “Whoa. Sorry, man. What brought that on? It never bothered you before.”
    66
    A Perfect Bride for Christmas

    “Well, five years ago, I was a stupid ass. Just like you.”
    “Hey, hey.”