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from the show room. He knew because she’d tricked him into a shopping trip in the guise of an afternoon tryst. Instead of smoking cigarettes after sex, Sydney liked to shop.
    He had to learn to love shopping if he expected to get laid very often.
    “Virginia said you were busy, but I told her you expected me. We have an appointment to go out to Hollyfield to meet your mother about the wedding plans, or did you forget?” Sydney plopped down on his lap in a cloud of perfume. She gave her butt a little shimmy.
    “I didn’t forget. But you’re making it hard to get out of this chair.”
    His body had the natural response to her
    closeness. The wicked smile on her face gave her away. She knew exactly what she was doing as she wriggled against his erection. Alex looked over at the leather couch with longing. The woman would kill him if this kept up much longer. He could feel a stop at Dolce & Gabbana coming on.
    31
    Dyann Love Barr

    “Huh-unh. None of that.” Her tongue dipped just beyond the rim of his lips, tasting him, teasing him.
    She leaned back and tapped the end of his nose with her finger. “We have plans, wedding plans, mister, and I want to see your mother again. There has to be some way I can convince her to have the reception at the country club.”
    “An irresistible force meets an immovable object, and I’m smack in the middle. No thanks. The
    reception is at the house. It’s big enough, unless you sent out another batch of invitations.”
    A guilty look flickered in Sydney’s blue eyes for the space of a heartbeat. She plastered a smile on her face, one she used to get things to go her way.
    “Just let me talk to her, and I’m sure she’ll feel much better about it. I mean she won’t have to do any of the work.”
    Irritation wriggled around in his brain and into the beginnings of a headache that settled behind his eyes. He loved Sydney, he really did. It’s just times like this made him wonder if he was doing the right thing for both of them. The great sex usually
    balanced out his misgivings. Sydney had all the qualifications he desired in the perfect woman.
    Sophisticated, she had enough money of her own
    that nothing she bought fazed him. She ran in the right social circles, and beautiful to the max—slim and blond, just the way he liked his women. Not to mention her father, Lyle Stanford, hinted at a big promotion after the wedding. After seven years here, Alex would become a senior partner. All of his hard work and effort paid off.
    Or had it?
    For an instant, Zoe Hillman popped into his
    thoughts. That had been a colossal mistake, but no one could doubt her heart. He still grieved for their lost friendship. The day he heard she married some guy in St. Louis, he felt relieved. However, a void 32
    A Perfect Bride for Christmas

    that no one else ever quite came close to filling followed. Alex guessed in some way he did love Zoe.
    Her smile lit up her fantastic eyes; her sense of humor always eased the days when nothing went
    right. If only she hadn’t gone along with Tommy that night five years ago.
    Over the years, bits and pieces of the memory of his wedding night resurfaced. It shamed him to say he couldn’t remember a time when he’d made such passionate love to a woman. To Zoe Hillman of all people. She gave of herself, holding nothing back.
    Even Sydney came in second. And Sydney was
    hot. “Hello, baby. Where did you go?” Sydney’s voice filtered through his wayward thoughts. He shook his head to clear it both of Zoe’s memory and answer Sydney’s earlier remark.
    “No, she’s already hired a caterer to handle the details. You can try to talk her out of it, but today isn’t the best time. Why don’t you plan on another day? Mom and I have some business to discuss, and she may not be up to talking wedding plans.”
    “No. I’m coming with you. Besides,” she purred
    into his ear. “I have a surprise for you when we get back.”
    “I like your kind of surprises.”