Cross My Heart by Abigail Strom Read Free Book Online

Claire loved the idea of teaching him about music. He told her the plan over breakfast and her eyes lit up.
    “That’s an awesome idea. Jenna is so cool.” She gulped down her orange juice and set the empty glass on the table. “Of course,” she added nonchalantly, “I know the real reason you suggested it.”
    “The real reason?”
    “Uh huh. I saw the way you looked at Jenna last night.”
    He took a sip of coffee. “I didn’t look at her any special way.”
    His daughter rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You totally have the hots for her.”
    “That’s ridiculous.”
    “No, it’s not.”
    “Claire....”
    “Fine,” Claire said, sighing with exaggerated patience. “Whatever you say.”
    He should have been suspicious at how quickly she gave up, but he was too grateful for the reprieve to care. Claire finished the last bite of her omelet and carried her plate to the sink.
    “There she is now,” Claire said, looking out the kitchen window. “It looks like she’s been out for a run...she’s wearing spandex shorts and a tank top.”
    Michael was on his feet before he realized it, going to stand beside his daughter. He looked out the window but didn’t see Jenna. “Where is she? I don’t—”
    Too late, he realized what had happened. He glanced down at Claire and saw she was grinning at him.
    “I can’t believe I fell for that.”
    “Come on, Dad, just admit you have a crush on Jenna. I promise I won’t give you a hard time.”
    “Oh, sure,” he said. He went back to the kitchen table and sat down again, pouring himself a fresh cup of coffee.
    Claire cleared the table without being asked, and started to wash the dishes.
    Their conversation might be embarrassing, but the upside was that she was talking to him voluntarily...and even doing chores voluntarily. That was worth a little humiliation, right?
    Although he had to set her straight before she got her hopes up.
    “Look, Claire...Jenna’s not interested in a relationship right now. So don’t get any ideas, okay?”
    “How do you know she’s not interested?”
    “Because she said so.”
    Claire spun around to stare at him, her hands dripping soapy water. “You asked her? What did you say? What did she say? Exact words, Dad.”
    He sighed. “I asked if she was seeing anyone. She said no, and that she’s not planning to while she’s here. Because she’s only staying for the summer.”
    Claire looked disappointed. “She is?”
    “Yeah, she is,” Michael said gently. “She’s starting a job in L.A. after her tour. I guess she doesn’t like Iowa any better than you do.”
    Claire turned back to the sink. “Iowa’s not so bad,” she said, her back to him. “Maybe if you gave her a reason to stay, she—”
    “Stop right there. Whatever romantic notions are floating around in your brain, let them go. Nothing’s going to happen between Jenna and me.”
    Claire was quiet for a minute, scrubbing the omelet pan before she rinsed it clean and set it in the dish drain. Then she turned around. “Summer’s not over yet,” she said. “You’ve got enough time to convince her to stay.”
    Something inside him tightened. “Yeah, right. Because I’m so good at convincing women to stay.”
    As soon as the words were out of his mouth he wished he could take them back. They sounded bitter, and while he’d been thinking of Angela and his ex-girlfriend, Denise, it occurred to him that Claire might think he was talking about her.
    But her expression was sympathetic. “Oh, Dad,” she said.
    That made him smile. How bad did things have to be for a self-involved teenager to feel sorry for you?
    “Hey, don’t worry about me. I like my carefree bachelor lifestyle.”
    Claire rolled her eyes. “Uh huh. I’m sure you’re out partying every night.” She wiped her damp hands on the front of her jeans. “Jenna would be perfect for you. She could loosen you up, and—”
    “Claire, stop. You need to let this go.”
    Now she looked stubborn, an