A Perfect Bride For Christmas by Dyann Love Barr Read Free Book Online

hot kitchen. Between that and three kids, she didn’t have time to fuss with her hair.
    “Yes.”
    Alex frowned down at her. “Do I know you? I’m
    sure we’ve met before.”
    Ah, here it comes. Let’s have a little fun.
    Alex liked to flirt so she gave him slow, sweet smile. “If we have, I’m sure you’d remember.” If he couldn’t figure it out, she wouldn’t enlighten him.
    Zoe walked through the door and peered over her shoulder at him. Oh yes, she knew Alex all too well.
    He’d wrack his brain until he figured it out, it would drive him crazy. She turned back to face him.”You don’t strike me as the sort of man who forgets
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    A Perfect Bride for Christmas

    women.”
    Her comment made him blink in surprise.
    “Come this way.” He caught up with Zoe and walked beside her, frowning as if he scrolled through a metal Rolodex. “My mother is in the living room, discussing the reception with my fiancée.”
    The inside of the house was as elegant and
    picture perfect as the outside. Zoe had seen rooms like this in magazines. However, everything gave off a homey feel that made one want to sink into the overstuffed chairs and take a load off. Amelia sat on the couch in front of a large coffee table spread with papers and catalogs. Another woman, tall, blonde, and slim as a reed, stood by the fireplace, holding up a white kitten in her hands. The cat squirmed and tried to climb her arm, catching its tiny claws in the woman’s expensive sweater.
    This had to be Alex’s bride.
    “Oh, Amelia, they are the cutest little things.”
    She pulled the kitten away and held it up, giving it a gentle shake. “No you don’t.” Her brilliant smile lit up her beautiful face. “I don’t know how you can make them stay out in the cold garage like that.”
    She gave a pretty pout and turned towards Alex.
    “You have to tell your mother to bring the kittens inside.”
    “No, Sydney, they’re mousers, and they are
    plenty warm where they’re at.” He lead Zoe towards his mother. “Ms. Bennett is here to discuss the reception, so I’ll leave you ladies to it. Mom, I’m going into the den to look over these papers again, maybe make a few phone calls.”
    “Remember what I said.”
    “I won’t do anything without consulting you.” He gave a little wave and left the three of them alone.
    “Ms. Bennett, this is Sydney Stanford, my son’s fiancée.” Amelia cocked her head to one side as if expecting Zoe to respond. Not for the world would 39
    Dyann Love Barr

    Zoe so much as blink an eye.
    Sydney put the kitten on the floor and held out her hand in welcome. “I keep trying to tell Amelia that there’s no need for her to go to all this trouble, but she won’t listen. I’m sure you’re a fabulous caterer, in a homespun sort of way, but I’m very particular about food quality.”
    “My company won several awards earlier this
    year.”
    The moment their hands touched, Zoe knew she
    would never like Sydney Stanford. She actually felt sorry for the Alex—Sydney’s character went as deep as a lake in the Sahara. Mix in a good dose of
    stubborn, along with a sense of entitlement, and it made for a bad combination. Clearly, things went her way, or no way at all.
    “I’ve heard nothing but good things about your
    food,” Amelia interjected. “Zoe’s exactly who I want to do the job, Sydney. Shall we get down to the particulars?”
    Sydney pouted but sat in a rose chair next to the couch.
    The fight would be to the finish, but Zoe put her money on Amelia.
    Maybe she’d made a snap judgment. Maybe
    Sydney had a good side, and if she were honest, maybe a small part of her still had some unresolved issues with Alex. Right now, those issues were
    sitting at home having an after preschool snack.
    One thing became clear as the meeting
    progressed—no way in hell would she ever let
    Sydney Stanford anywhere near her children.

    ****
Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose. He tried to
    concentrate on the screen of his