Montana Skies (You, Me and the Kids) (Harlequin Superromance, No 1395) Read Online Free Page A

herself.
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    J ONAS KNOCKED on Caroline’s bedroom door and waited until she said he could enter. She’d already showered and now wore a T-shirt and gym shorts, her long red hair pulled back in a ribbon.
    â€œDidn’t we wash your pjs?”
    She shrugged. “They’re getting too small.”
    Already? When he added that comment to what he’d noticed earlier in the evening, he knew he’d been given the perfect opening to discuss…things.
    â€œI, uh, talked with your grandma before she left about taking you shopping.” He cleared his throat, the sound emerging louder than he’d intended. “For some new under—uh…things.”
    â€œDad, you didn’t! ”
    He walked over to stare out the window, easily able to imagine Caroline’s face blazing with embarrassment, much like his probably was at the moment. “She’ll do fine.”
    â€œShe likes old stuff. Can’t I go by myself?”
    â€œYou’re too young.”
    â€œI’m almost fourteen!”
    Like he didn’t know that? Wasn’t reminded of it every time he looked at her and remembered the moment she’d been placed in his arms mere seconds after she was born? “If your mother were here—”
    â€œBut she’s not.” Caroline stomped over to her dresser, her head down. “And I am old enough. There’s a store by the grocery now, and they have stuff like that. Couldn’t you wait in the car while I went in? That would work, wouldn’t it?”
    He’d forgotten about the little shop that opened up a year ago, The Blooming something. But what did his daughter know about shopping for bras? What did he know about it?
    Jonas ran a hand roughly over his face. “I thought since you and Marilyn had to go look for a dress, you could get some things then.”
    â€œGrandma will order one before we ever get a chance to go shopping. She thinks if she buys things, I have to wear them.” She grabbed a handful of CDs and pulled one from the middle. “Dad, you know how she is, she wants me to wear pink! I’ll never get a dress I like.” CDin hand, she stomped back across the room, and the bed squeaked when she flopped on it.
    â€œWhatever you get will look great.”
    â€œUh-huh. You don’t have to wear it and look like a redheaded bag of cotton candy. Everybody knows red hair and pink dresses only work for movie stars.”
    He rubbed the muscles in his neck in a poor attempt to ease the tension. The teenage melodrama was getting to him. “Look online for a few dresses you like and then send her some suggestions. Your Grandpa Dave can print them off at work and give them to her.”
    â€œWhy can’t we do that with the other stuff? Just order something?”
    â€œYou’ll need to try things on, sweetheart. To, um…get the right size.” Jonas felt his face heat again and cursed silently. There were some things dads weren’t meant to discuss with their daughters. That’s where mothers came in. Knowing your little girl was growing up and having to follow the process firsthand through underwear sizes was just cruel.
    â€œBut if it’s wrong, we could send it back and order something else.”
    â€œWhat about the shipping charges? Sweetheart, the answer’s no.” He glanced over his shoulder at her. Disappointment clouded her face, and he sighed. Against his better judgment, he thought of a compromise. “I guess if you really want to go to that store by yourself, I could call and ask one of the saleswomen to help you.”
    She covered her face with her hands. “That’s even worse! ”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œ Because! Everybody knows about Mom leaving usand if you call for help and I go in to buy that stuff, they’ll give me those funny looks people give us sometimes.”
    He knew exactly which looks she meant. Pity, curiosity. Thoughtless scorn that