A Perfect Bride For Christmas (32 page)

“I haven’t made any decisions yet.”

“I’m sure you’ll do what you think is right.”

Mom’s gaze settled on Keeley. “I still can’t get over how much you look like Frank. He would’ve been so proud of you.”

As Keeley relaxed under his mother’s smile,

Alex let out a sigh of relief. Everything would be all right between the two women.

“I need to run into town. There’s a few things I need to check on at the office.” He leaned down to kiss his mother again. “Play nice,” he whispered into her ear. He glanced up at Keeley. “When do you need to go back to the hotel?”

“Before supper, around six.”

“I’ll get here around five. That’ll give us plenty of time if the roads slick up. I’m sure Clint and Heath will show up before then.”

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“We’ll be fine, Alex. Go run your errands.” His mother waved him off. “I need to talk to Keeley alone.”

“Sydney, why don’t you come with me? We can

stop by your loft.” This would give him the perfect opportunity to pull the plug on the wedding.

“No.” Sydney shook her head. “I already told

you. I have a migraine coming on. I think I’ll go upstairs and lie down.”

“Whatever.” The word came out harsher than he

intended.

Keeley stared at Sydney and started to get to

her feet. “Maybe I should leave.”

“No, no,” his mother motioned her to sit and cast a dubious glance at Sydney. “Sydney has a lot of migraines. Don’t you, dear?”

Sydney jumped up, her face red with anger. “All of you—”

Alex laid his arm around her shoulder, pulled

her close, and led her upstairs. “Don’t go there, Syd.

You won’t like what happens. I told you Mom has claws.”

Sydney paled. “I love you, Alex. All I want is for you to love me.”

Alex scrubbed his hands over his face. “Then

why are you making it so damned difficult?”

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The next morning no one showed up for

breakfast. Clint was at Jesse’s checking his mare, or rather, checking out Jesse. Alex let out a snigger as his nose led him to the stove.

Poor Clint. He went around like he’d been pole-

axed half the time. Didn’t anyone else catch those glances Jesse gave him when she thought no one

noticed? Good grief, he thought as he got a plate out of the cabinet, they might as well admit they were sleeping together. His brother obviously didn’t have an ‘ick’ factor when it came to Jesse, but something ate
at Clint. And being Clint, he wouldn’t spill his guts to his baby brother.

Heath told everyone he and Nicolette were

working together on her drug rehabilitation

program, Renewed Hope. Or that was his story. Alex saw the heartache in Heath’s eyes, the way he

looked when he talked about Nicolette. The man was up to his eyeballs in love and sinking faster. But Heath wouldn’t move on Nicolette—not the wife of his best friend, even if his best friend had died.

Alex shook his head and opened the oven. Man,

the King brothers were a messed up bunch.

Mom had a pan of eggs and bacon in the oven

keeping warm, along with some biscuits. A Crockpot full of sausage gravy sat on the counter. Alex fixed a plate and poured a large ladle of gravy over a couple of biscuits, the smell driving him to take a bite on the way to the table.

The familiar taste of Mom’s cooking burst over

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his tongue. He sat down and turned at the sound of his mother coming through the kitchen door on her crutches.

“Stood too long on the foot, didn’t you?” He

smirked around a forkful of biscuits and gravy.

“Nanner, nanner, nanner.”

That earned him a light swat on the top of the

head as she clomped her way to the coffee maker.

Alex frowned. She had to be in a lot of pain to use the crutches.

He got up to help. “Sit down. I’ll pour you a cup.”

He pointed to the chair at the head of the table.

“Go.”

Mom stuck her tongue out at him, reminding

him of Jesse. “The weatherman was pumped up this morning about the storm system coming in. A happy weather man always means the Apocalypse is just around the corner.” She lowered herself into the chair, using the edge of the table to brace her way down. “Bill Taylor offered to drive Keeley back this morning. I told her to bring a bag just in case she got snowed in with us.”

“She was pretty quiet when I took her back to

her hotel.” Alex poured her coffee. “Do you want something to eat?”

“No.” Mom gave him a smug smile.
Cat ate the
canary
smug.

He put her cup in front of her and automatically pushed the sugar towards her. “Okay, what’s up?”

“I told Keeley I’d sell.” She leaned over to pick up a piece of toast from his plate and munched in slow dainty bites.

“What?” He plopped down into the red and

chrome chair with a thump. “You’d never sell this place.”

“Wrong, my son.” She reached over and patted

him on the cheek. “Gus Carlisle will snap it up in a heartbeat. He said as much—name my price.”

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“But he’ll tear down the house. You know he

wants the land to put in another subdivision out here.”

“Yup.” She snatched a piece of bacon and gave it a thoughtful chew. “I asked her how much she needs to start her business. I’ll multiply that amount times five. That way each of you boys and Keeley will have an equal share with something little left over for me well. “I think Gus will hand it over by the beginning of the year.”

Alex shoved his plate away. “I don’t want

anything, you know that. Clint, Heath, and I gave you quit claim deeds so it wouldn’t be an issue.” He took a long pull on his coffee. “If Dad hadn’t been so stubborn about a will, especially after his cancer scare, you wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“He didn’t know he would have a heart attack or that he had a daughter.”

“Mom, I tried to tell him—”

She held up her hand to silence him. “It’s over and done with. Now we have to come up with a

solution that’s fair to Keeley. She wants, no make that
needs
, money to follow her dream of opening her own firm. I think your father would be proud of her, if he were here.”

“Well, he’s not. He’d have rather pulled his

fingernails out with pliers than sell out, you know that Mom. I’ll give her money if it means saving the house.”

His mother leaned back in her chair after she’d filched a second piece of bacon.

“You keep your money. And don’t think I haven’t already figured out you’re doing something behind my back. It won’t come to that. If Keeley has any smarts, she’ll get on the internet and check out the sort of homes Gus builds.” Mom made a level motion with her hand, the bacon waving like a baton. “Nice 259

Dyann Love Barr

vanilla homes, done with a cookie cutter. Oh, a very nice, expensive cookie cutter, but they all have the same feel—bland, boxy, and boring. She’ll hate it.”

Alex narrowed his eyes at her and grabbed his

bacon back. “You madam, are pure evil. That will drive a stake through Keeley’s heart, and you know it.” “No, I’m trying to keep this family—which includes Keeley—together.”

“You really like her, don’t you?”

“What’s not to like? She’s Frank’s child.” For a second, his mother eye’s had a far way look tinged with sadness. “Yes, I
do
like her. She seems in need of love—a lot of love. We can give that to her.” She moved her eyes ceiling-ward. “Unlike your
perfect
bride
upstairs, Keeley’s tried to channel herself into something positive.”

Alex swiped his hand over his eyes.
Here it
came. The Big Mom Guns were coming out.

“Since I haven’t heard any screaming or family

heirlooms being hurled around, I suppose you

haven’t spoken to Sydney?”

His mother’s offhand question didn’t fool him

one bit. He eyed her warily. “As far as I know, she’s still upstairs. These migraines wipe her out, but I think she’s suspects I’m going to end the

engagement.”

“I almost feel sorry for her.”

“Why do you say that? She’s brought a lot of this on herself by being such a brat.” Anger and

impatience welled up inside his chest. “Sydney’s gone out of her way to be either rude or dismissive to Clint and Heath. She’s been disrespectful of your wishes, even though they were a little crazy.”

“Because it will still hurt.” His mother reached over to pat his hand “You know that from

experience. Alex, I’ve watched you grow so much over the last couple of weeks. You’re learning to be a 260

A Perfect Bride for Christmas

father and much, much more. I’m very proud of you.”

“That’s one reason I didn’t end it when she

showed up on your doorstep. I saw the panic in her eyes.” Alex leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, his head down. “This is going to be so hard.” He finally glanced up at her and heaved a sigh. “Mom, she used to be sweet and easy-going, but to tell you the truth, over the last couple of months, as the wedding drew closer, she’s grown paranoid and needy.”

“That’s not healthy, son.”

“I know.” Alex sighed. “I tried to make

allowances, but I found out that she’s been checking my phone calls, emails, and text messages. Now with Zoe and the kids, it’s gone off the scale. I can’t live like this.”

“You have to do the right thing. It’s not fair to either you or Sydney.” She leaned over and gave him a soft pat on the hand. “Grow a pair, sweetie.”

“Zoe already pointed out that I’d handed my

balls to Sydney.” He offered her the last piece of bacon on his plate. “I need to go upstairs and get them back.”

Alex left the kitchen and went up the stairs.

He’d put this off long enough. No more letting

Sydney run and hide.

How had everything spiraled out of control?

Right now, he couldn’t think. To be honest, he was doing good to remember to breathe. Life used to be so easy, fun, and uncomplicated. He didn’t usually let the world twist him into knots, but he had to figure out how to tuck and roll with this mess.

Where was a convenient black hole when he needed one? He knocked on Sydney’s door. “Sydney?”

No answer.

“Sydney, are you all right?”

Nothing.

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Okay, he’d finished playing the game her way.

He’d let her sulk long enough. She wanted him to come begging her to let him inside. He wished he could turn away, get out of the house, maybe go to gym and slip on a pair of gloves to pound the heavy bag until he couldn’t think.

No more stalling.

He knocked on the door. “Sydney, open this

door. I want to talk to you.”

Still nothing. This time he banged with his fists.

“I don’t want to talk. It always turns out bad

when we
talk
.” Her baby doll voice failed to cajole him this time.

“We’re going to talk if I have get a screwdriver and take the damn door it off the hinges. I’m not kidding around.”

The door opened the tiniest bit. She peeked out, her face pale and wan. Alex pushed past her and into the room.

Startled, Sydney scurried over to the bed. “I’m sorry if I screwed up.” A fat tear came up on cue and slid down her face as she sat on the edge of the bed.

She picked up one of the pillows to play with lace along the edge and peeked up at him from under her lashes. He could see the gears turning in her head.

“I’ve been so nervous around your family.

Everyone is so intimidating, especially your mother.”

She pushed the pillow away and got to her feet, walking towards him with slow little steps. “You forgive me, don’t you?” Her hand came to rest over his heart. “It won’t happen again, I promise.”

“It’s too late for that. You didn’t even try to get to know my family. But that’s not the reason I’m here.”

Sydney reached up, putting her arms around his

neck, with a smile on her tear stained cheeks. “Kiss me, Alex. Love me. I can make you want me—you

know it, don’t you?” Her hand snaked down to cup 262

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him, her fingers working in a familiar touch, trying to get a reaction.

He put his hand over hers and gently pulled it

away. She moved again, but his time his grip

tightened against her wrist to prevent her capturing him again. “Stop it,” he hissed, unable to hide his indifference to her fondling.

“Why won’t you kiss me?” Sydney’s hands

gripped the front of his sweater with a yank. “Please, baby, I can make you feel good.” She lifted her lips, nibbling the hollow of his neck. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Alex pried her fingers loose. “A lot of things have happened over the last couple of weeks. Things we need to deal with.” He let out a sigh. “Sydney, we can’t get married. I thought I could go through with it but I can’t.”

“It’s Zoe, isn’t it?” Sydney pressed one hand to her forehead, the other to her stomach. “You’ve been distant from the moment she butted into our lives with those kids of hers.”

“They are my children as well.”

“This is her fault.” Sydney’s face turned red, her eyes dripped tears as she beat against his chest.

“She used them to drive a wedge between us. I told her to stay out of our lives but she wouldn’t. This is all her fault.”

Alex grabbed her hands. “I can’t deny she and

the girls have changed things. Sydney, it’s more than that. I’ve discovered, although I did love you, it wasn’t enough to build a marriage on. I need more.”

Sydney backed away from him, “No. No. You

don’t understand.” She paced the room, her arms and hands frantically waving in the air. “We’re having the wedding as planned. The country club called and said everything is ready for the wedding and reception. Mother and Daddy gave us a Paris honeymoon, remember?” Her words rushed out in a 263