Marrying Mr. Right Read Online Free Page B

wouldn’t trip on the hem and followed her back to the dressing room.
    Missy watched Vinnie swallow hard. “I’m not ready for this,” he muttered. “Wasn’t she sixteen yesterday?”
    As melancholy for past times ripped through her, Missy took another sip of the now warm soda. “It seems like that, but she’s a grown woman.”
    Over the next hour and a half, Cara tried on a plethora of gowns, but nothing pleased her. This one was too fussy. The next featured an open back that plunged all the way down to her butt. At that one, Vinnie groaned under his breath. Silently, Missy agreed, but applauded his sense to keep quiet.
    “So how are things at the shop?” he asked during one interminable lull in the process.
    “Busy. Very busy.”
    “Busy is good.”
    Missy frowned. “Since when?”
    She scolded herself for the sarcasm-laced question. But seriously, when they were still together, he’d made it a practice to complain about how much time she spent at the shop.
    When his eyes, dark as night, captured hers, her stomach did a flip flop. Would she ever not get this tingly feeling when he was around? Would she ever become immune to his charm?
    “I owe you an apology, Miss. You were right about many things.”
    Man, she was so screwed.
    ****
    From Vinnie, an apology was the same as taking a bullet to the heart. “I’ve been busy building my business. I even joined the Chamber of Commerce.”
    Missy told herself to stop being so judgmental. They were legally separated. He didn’t have to please her and she didn’t have to approve of what he was up to. Just get through each day.
    Vinnie chuckled. “Don’t look so shocked. People can change. Anyway, those monthly meetings have increased business for me and I’ve had to hire more help.”
    Increased business? Hiring help? He hadn’t changed. He’d morphed into a completely different man. In the past, business came to Vinnie in small increments. Having done the bare minimum to get by had been enough. Now he went out and found clients? Like a vacuum sucking up dirt? It was all too much for her to absorb.
    The silence between them dissolved when Cara entered wearing the gown of all gowns. Eggshell in color, the bodice featured satin covered buttons that went all the way down, past her delicate waist, and sported a cathedral train comprised of multiple layers of lush satin. Other than the lace sleeves, the only embellishments on the dress were iridescent pearls scattered across the bodice.
    Eyes burning, Missy reached into her pocket. Damn. Hadn’t Val said to pack lots of tissues? In this gown, Cara looked like a bride. Her daughter’s eyes met hers and Missy couldn’t help the tears sliding down her cheeks. Vinnie handed her a white handkerchief. Missy dabbed her wet cheeks. “You look...gorgeous.”
    Cara turned to study her reflection in the mirror from every angle. “I feel regal and grown up. I’d like this to be the one, but I’m not sure. It’s a little more than what I thought we’d spend.” She turned toward her father. “Daddy? What do you think?”
    Missy saw Vinnie’s throat working overtime. He pulled another handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose. “Cost isn’t a concern,” he croaked. “If this is the dress you want, it’s yours.”
    A huge smile covered Cara’s face. “Are you sure?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Mom?”
    Missy nodded.
    Their daughter squealed like a teenager. “Thank you both, so much.”
    Vinnie nodded and Missy blew Cara a kiss before she lifted the hem of the dress and almost skipped back into the dressing room.
    “That dress costs six thousand dollars,” Missy hissed.
    “Do you have the heart to tell her it’s too expensive?”
    She blew out a deep breath. She hadn’t. The look of delight on Cara’s face was worth the price. “No.”
    “I’ve been putting extra money away. I had a feeling she and Dan would get married this year.” His eyes met hers. “They’re the same age as us when we were