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cringed. He didn’t like to think of his father 35
    Dyann Love Barr

    having sex with his mother, let alone with some stranger. The talk of condoms in the same
    conversation about his parents creeped him out.
    “We’ll ask for a DNA test to prove paternity.”
    Mom’s face paled. Her eyes burned bright. “Of
    course, we will. I wouldn’t expect anything else. If she’s Frank’s child, and I say if, I want to meet her face to face. Let her tell me why she why wants me to sell the farm. Is she angry at Frank or does she simply want money?”
    A surge of anger toward this unknown sister
    butted with Alex. “That’s not going to happen. I have enough to pay her whatever she wants.”
    “No you won’t. Let me think this through.” She
    paced the floor, hands on her hips. “Let me contact her.” “No.” Alex jumped to his feet. “As your attorney, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “Don’t you no me, Alexander Franklin King.”
    “Yes, ma’am. As your attorney, let me make the
    call.”
    “I forgave your father a long time ago, in fact, I’m sure we conceived Clint that Christmas Eve.”
    “Ah, God, Mom. I don’t want to hear this.”
    “Get over it.” His mother stopped midstride.
    There it was, hard steel under the peaches and
    cream exterior. “Maybe this woman wants more
    than property or money. If that’s the total sum of what she feels will make up for not having a father, well, we’ll cross that bridge and so on.”
    36
    A Perfect Bride for Christmas

Chapter Five
    Hollyfield was a true Painted Lady. It loomed,
    large and sprawling, with wraparound verandas,
    rattan chairs, as well as gingerbread generously sprinkled over the house’s façade. A rounded turret graced the right side of the house, while the left sported a gazebo. Zoe loved it on sight.
    Zoe got out of her van. She walked up and down
    the drive so she could take it all in. White paint covered the majority of the house while a deep rose and turquoise accented the individual details. The grounds, even in the depths of winter, were neatly manicured.
    The kids would go nuts with all this space to run and play in. One day, she vowed, she would have a house like this.
    Zoe tightened her tan wool coat against the chill.
    The early afternoon sun scooted behind fast moving clouds, leaving the rest of the world to deal with the gloom and cold. She hurried around a large black SUV sitting in the drive and headed towards the porch as a gust of wind added its bite to the dropping temperatures.
    Bright lights glowed behind the lace curtains as she mounted the steps and rang the bell. Instead of the stately Westminster chimes she’d expected, the first strains of Somewhere Over The Rainbow greeted her. The silliness of the song made her smile. She stamped her feet to get rid of the snow.
    The door opened.
    Alex stood there with a smile on his face and not 37
    Dyann Love Barr

    a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. Five years hadn’t changed him, except for the crook in his nose.
    Somehow, it suited him. It made him less than perfect. Heat suffused her face as she remembered the long ago day she broke it.
    That was then, this was now. Zoe pulled in a
    steadying breath and smiled.
    “Well, hello.” The welcome in Alex’s voice held a question as well as appreciation. He slathered on the Alex King charm as thick as ever. How many women had he used it on since she’d whacked him in the nose?
    “Hello. I’m expected. Classic Kitchen? I’m the
    caterer for the wedding reception.”
    “Oh, yes.” He opened the door wider and
    motioned her in. “You must be Ms. Bennett.”
    Zoe smiled and waited.
    Still no recognition.
    Had she changed that much? Sure, she’d lost
    about a hundred and fifty pounds, but she was still the same Zoe. Maybe he’d have known her if she still had long hair. Now she had it styled in a short do with wispy spikes all around, along with a few blond highlights. Keeping it short made it easier to
    manage in a