Read Online Home at Rose Cottage by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online

troubled little girl. Melanie had picked up on that even before Mike had hinted at it. The tantrum at the end of a long day wasn’t that unusual, but there’d been plenty of other signs, including the way Mike tiptoed around his daughter as if he’d do just about anything to avoid an outburst. Naturally Jessie, being a smart kid, had caught on to that, and she knew just how to play him and his single-dad guilt.
    Despite all the problems, Melanie couldn’t help being charmed by the six-year-old. She hadn’t been around many children, but she’d discovered today that she loved the way Jessie’s mind worked, the way her imagination knew no bounds. It was also a boon to her wounded pride to have the little girl regard her with undisguised adoration.
    Of course, Melanie warned herself, it wasn’t healthy to get too attached or to allow Jessie to become tooattached to her. This was a one-time outing, not the start of something.
    Still, she couldn’t help liking the way Jessie snuggled against her as they sat on the floor in the children’s section of the bookstore and pored over the selections.
    “I like this one best,” Jessie said, after they’d looked at a dozen or more choices. “Are you sure I can have it?”
    “Absolutely. It’s a present,” Melanie said.
    Jessie studied her worriedly. “You and my daddy are friends, right?”
    “Yes,” Melanie said, not sure why that was relevant.
    “Then it’s okay,” Jessie concluded happily. “I couldn’t take it if you were a stranger.”
    Ah! “No, you couldn’t,” Melanie agreed. “But we can check with your dad, if that would make you feel better.”
    Jessie eyed the book with longing. “He might say no,” she said hesitantly.
    “Leave your father to me,” Melanie told her with a confidence she had no right to feel. She’d taken a lot for granted today. The mere fact that she’d insisted on bringing Jessie to the bookstore to avert a tantrum was probably more interference than some would have tolerated. But after an initial show of reluctance, Mike had actually looked relieved. She had a hunch he’d been at his wit’s end with Jessie for some time now.
    Suddenly Jessie jumped up and bolted, clutching the book. “Daddy, look at the present Melanie’s getting me!”
    Melanie gazed up into Mike’s turbulent eyes and guessed that she’d overstepped. “It’s just a book. And she read me the first page all by herself, so I thought she deserved it.”
    His gaze faltered at that. He hunkered down in front of Jessie. “You read the whole first page?”
    “Uh-huh. Want to hear?”
    “Absolutely.”
    She plopped right down on the floor in the middle of the aisle and opened the book on her lap. “Chadwick,” she began, then looked at her father. “Remember him, Daddy? He’s the crab.”
    Mike grinned, pride shining in his eyes. “I remember.”
    Jessie went on to read an entire sentence, slowly but without a single mistake. She gazed up at Mike. “Is that right?”
    His smile spread. “Absolutely perfect. I guess the book is yours, but I’m buying it.” He pulled some money from his pocket and gave it to her. “You take it up front where I can see you and pay for it.”
    “Okay,” Jessie said happily and ran off.
    “I would have bought it,” Melanie told him. “I’m the one who made the deal with her.”
    “I know, but it’s better this way.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I don’t want her to start to count on you.”
    “It’s a book, Mike, not a commitment.”
    He regarded her with troubled eyes. “Not to Jessie. Don’t make promises to her, Melanie. Not when you’re leaving.”
    Suddenly she understood. “You’re comparing me to her mother.”
    His expression turned dark. “You’re nothing like Linda,” he said bitterly. “But you will leave. You’ve told me that yourself. I have to protect her from that kind of disappointment. Kids tend to think abandonmentis all about them, no matter how often you tell them