Read Online Montana Skies (You, Me and the Kids) (Harlequin Superromance, No 1395) by Kay Stockham - Free Book Online

other things for brief periods of time.
    Tonight she’d noticed the library was directly across the street from the diner. And three nights a week they didn’t close until nine o’clock. She didn’t like leaving Skylar unattended in a public place, but considering North Star held the equivalent population of the local mall back home, she figured a few hours in the library with her next door would be fine.
    Rissa slowed to a stop outside Jake and Maura’s newly built house. The lights were on in the kitchen, and inside she saw her daughter’s dark head and pale skin. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Was she putting too much pressure on Skylar to make amendsfor the thousand dollars? Maybe she should let the credit card thing drop?
    No. Skylar had done wrong. She needed to be held accountable and work off the expensive charge, at least a large portion of it. Skylar was just lucky she hadn’t reported the card stolen.
    And the belly button ring?
    She collapsed against the seat with a groan. Like it or not, she wasn’t her military father who would’ve walked up to her and yanked it out by force.
    â€œStop worrying. Maura said that Skylar has been great with the kids.”
    Rissa started and glanced out her lowered window to see Grace walking toward her car. “What are you doing out here so late?”
    The other woman laughed, the sound sheepish. “Maura called earlier to say she was working on a new dessert for our special guest and after thinking about it the last couple hours, I decided maybe I should taste-test it. What can I say, the chocolate is calling me.”
    Rissa laughed and shut off the engine. “Count me in,” she said, getting out of the vehicle.
    Grace’s gaze narrowed on her face. “You look tired, Rissa. You can only burn the candle at both ends for so long. Trust me. I know you need the cash, but remember to take care of yourself. It’s been a hard year for you, and a person can only do so much.”
    They fell into step side by side but when they reached the porch, Rissa paused.
    â€œSomething wrong?” Grace asked.
    Rissa shook her head, watching Skylar through the window. Jake had walked into the room and handed Skylar a bottle, keeping another for himself. He pluckedone of his sons into his arms and settled into a nearby chair, but Skylar sat there and her bemused expression slowly turned into a coaxing, gentle one replete with a fleeting smile when her charge spied the bottle and rolled onto his knees to crawl to her.
    â€œSee? She’s coming around. Kids are great judges of character, and Lexi already thinks the world of her—the boys, too. Grief takes time, but she’s getting better. Right there’s the proof.”
    â€œTell that to the school officials,” she muttered drearily. “And the town. They’ve already condemned her. It’s all over town how some vampire girl is beating up poor innocent victims.”
    â€œThey’ll forget once she settles down.”
    â€œMaybe.” She brushed her hair away from her face, but the night breeze blew it right back again. “Grace…yesterday Maura mentioned you’ve taken quite a few classes to get your psychology degree?”
    â€œI have, but not to practice or anything. They give me a better understanding of my patients and…I’m training to begin a women’s support group for domestic violence and victims of violent crimes. This area doesn’t have one.”
    â€œWow. That’s wonderful. I’ve volunteered to help out here and there with different causes, but never with something like that. I wouldn’t know what to say, and I know I wouldn’t know what to do if I was ever faced with that kind of situation.”
    Grace smiled, her gaze not quite meeting hers. “Yeah, well, time has proven to me that we’re stronger than we think. With the right support system people can do more than