Falling For Zoe (The Camerons of Tide's Way #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

about what I wear.” Ava drummed her fingers on her thigh and smirked at him as if he were an imbecile.
    “You have no idea what goes on in a young man’s head, do you? You probably think what you’ve got on is more modest than that bathing suit your mother bought you, and Travis has seen you in that, so what’s the big deal. Well, I’ll tell you what the big deal is. There’s nothing even remotely modest about that outfit. Any normal young man sees a blouse with half the buttons undone and a lot of cleavage showing, and all he can think about is how long it will take him to get all the buttons undone. Never mind that outrageous excuse for a skirt!
    “Travis will have a boner that neither of you will be able to ignore the moment you show up. That’s what happens to teenage boys when girls tease them with their bodies.” The words were harshly graphic, and Jake knew it, but he didn’t know how else to get his point across. Ava needed a mother to explain this stuff. He felt so totally inadequate to the task.
    A flicker of doubt crossed his daughter’s face before she looked down. When she looked up again, a look of resignation registered on her features. “So, I can’t go?”
    Jake rolled his shoulders uncomfortably. If he had his way, he’d shut her up in her room until she turned twenty-one. But if he said no to a picnic in the park, he’d just give her a reason to sneak out behind his back. Like Marsha had so often done.
    “You can go on your picnic. If you change your clothes and wipe that makeup off your face.”
    Astonishment showed in Ava’s face.
    “And you need to tell me where you’re going and when you plan to be home.”
    “We’re going to Tibby Creek Park, and I’ll be home before dark.” Ava rushed toward him and threw her arms around his neck. “Thanks, Daddy.”
    Jake returned her embrace. His little girl was growing up way too fast, and it scared the daylights out of him. At least this tryst would be in broad daylight in a public park. “Better go change. Travis is probably wondering if you’re still coming.”
    Ava gave him a peck on the cheek, then turned and hurried up the stairs. Jake felt like he’d dodged a bullet and wasn’t quite sure how he’d managed it.
    He was still standing by her bike when Ava returned five minutes later, her face clean and young looking. She wore shorts that covered about the same territory as the skirt, but were far less provocative. Her jersey was cute rather than sexy, and the boots had been replaced with sneakers. Jake breathed a sigh of relief.
    He crossed his arms and watched her mount the bike. “Before dark. I don’t need to worry about you getting run down by a careless driver either.” Or getting hot and heavy in some shadowed out-of-the-way place where anything can happen .
    “I promise, Daddy.” And she was off, her slender legs pumping hard to make up for lost time.
    Jake watched until she turned the corner and disappeared. Letting go was so hard. Ava had already had to deal with her mother’s abandonment, and he wanted to shield her from any more blows life might deal out. But she was growing up, and he was beginning to realize he couldn’t always protect her. Some things she would have to learn on her own, and he’d just have to stand by ready to catch her when she fell. But it was hard. A lot harder than he’d ever imagined it would be. He suspected Marsha would have applauded Ava’s choice of clothing. Then he wondered what Zoe might have said.

Chapter 7
    WHEN THE MERRY jingle began, Zoe was unpacking linens and stacking them in the narrow closet in her bathroom. Startled by the unfamiliar sound, it took her a moment to realize it was her front doorbell. She shoved the stack of facecloths into a bare spot on the shelf and hurried down the stairs with the dogs at her heels.
    Zoe shushed Scotch’s barking and pulled the door open, half expecting to see one of the girls from next door and half hoping it would be Jake instead.