A Mom for Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page B

care if he did, but he’d been raised never to strike a woman. Whether or not she deserved it.
    Which was when he heard the little gasp from behind him. Probably why Dedra had jumped him in the first place.
    Could this moment get any worse?
    He got his answer when Dedra finally let go of him only to cup his face between her palms and mash her mouth to his.
    “Excuse me?” Sadira sounded pissed. Like, royally. “If you two are done making out in the living room, maybe we need to have a little discussion.”
    Instead of backing down, Dedra didn’t even spare Sadira a glance. A carnivorous smile curled her lips as she stroked Sebastian’s cheek. “I’ve missed you so much, Sebastian. I’m so glad to finally be home.”
    Unable to stand her close proximity a moment longer, Sebastian finally reined in his temper enough to push her away. Wiping the back of his hand over his mouth, he grated, “What the fuck, Dedra?”
    She smiled brightly, unperturbed by his tone or harsh language. “I’m home just in time for Christmas! Where are the girls?”
    “Away,” he snapped. “Why are you here? You left, had divorce papers delivered, and didn’t even say goodbye to your daughters. What do you want now?” Even as he spoke, he moved to be close to Sadira. He needed her presence to sooth him as much as he needed to make sure she didn’t bolt on him. Figuring she was probably about to, he lunged for her arm and pulled her against his side.
    “Everyone makes mistakes, Sebastian.” Dedra shrugged. Fucking shrugged ! As if what she’d done was of no consequence. “I brought gifts for the girls,” she said, smiling, still not acknowledging Sadira was even in the room.
    “Then you can take them back,” Sebastian snapped. “I want you gone.”
    “Sebastian?” She had a confused look on her face. Apparently, she was the same Dedra she’d always been. Anything she didn’t want to discuss, she simply ignored.
    “You sent me divorce papers by your lawyer. Delivered on Christmas Day. Relinquished all rights to your children effective the same day. Now you just waltz back in here expecting to be part of our lives again?”
    “Well, you did promise ‘until death do us part.’“
    Sebastian only thought his anger had reached a boiling point. With those words, red covered his vision. He was started to lunge for Dedra, to shove her out of the house and to hell with not hurting her, but Sadira tugged him back. It was only then he realized their positions were reversed, with Sadira holding his arm, holding him back.
    “Get. Out.” Never had he been this angry. How had this day turned so drastically?
    “Not until I see my daughters,” Dedra countered. Instead of playing coy and feigning ignorance at Sebastian’s animosity, she now looked vicious. A woman willing to do anything to get what she wanted.
    “Over my dead body,” Sebastian roared. “You’ve already made one Christmas hell for them. You can damned well go fuck yourself!”
    Sebastian had no idea what had come over him. He never talked like this, especially not to women. At least not except during sex. This was… He was not letting this woman near his girls. Not until they’d healed from the last time. If they wanted to see her then, he’d support them and be with them. But not now. Not so close to Christmas when they finally had something to look forward to.
    “All right, that’s enough!” Sadira stepped between them. “You”—she pointed to Sebastian—“go get dressed. Dedra, you and I need to have a little talk while Sebastian collects himself.”
    Dedra looked down her nose at Sadira, making Sebastian want to rethink his policy on not hurting his ex-wife. How dare the woman think she could come in here and insult Sadira!
    “Not a word, Sebastian,” Sadira interrupted his thoughts, raising one arm in a “talk to the hand” gesture. “Go.”
    “You know I can’t.” Everything inside him rebelled at leaving Sadira’s side.
    “I’m a big