He sensed Melissa’s presence before he felt her slip up to the rail beside him. He glanced down and felt the sharp tug of desire flare to life all over again, proving the very point he’d just made to himself.
She had pulled on one of his shirts, which fell to midthigh, leaving her long, slender legs revealed. She’d cuffed the sleeves halfway up her arms. The sun turned her tousled hair to strands of fire. She looked part innocent waif, part sexy siren.
“It should never have happened,” she said, meeting his gaze, her expression troubled.
“I don’t—I won’t—regret it.” He studied her intently. “You do, though, don’t you?”
“Only because it complicates everything,” she said, echoing his own thoughts. “I want so badly to think clearly about all of this, to make the right choices this time. When you touch me, my brain goes on the blink. I’m all sensation and emotion and nostalgia.”
“Stay here with me tonight,” Cody blurted impulsively, suddenly wanting to seize the opportunity to force a resolution to their standoff. “Sharon Lynn will be fine with Daddy. Maritza will be there to help him look after her.”
A wistful smile played around her mouth. “Haven’t you heard a word I was saying?”
“All of them. I was just thinking, though, that we’re both stubborn, strong people. Surely we could sit down and discuss all of this rationally and reach a sensible conclusion.”
“Here?” she said doubtfully. “Within a few feet of that bed in there? Within a few feet of each other, for that matter?”
She was shaking her head before the last words were out of her mouth. “Forget it, Cody. It would never work. Besides, this isn’t something we can resolve in a few hours or even a few days.”
He sighed heavily. “So what do we do?”
“We give it time.” Her expression turned rueful. “Preferably in very public places.”
Cody wasn’t wild about her solution. Now that he’d made up his mind to make the commitment he should have made two years earlier, Melissa’s insistence on a delay was exasperating. He also feared that a decision reached on cold logic alone might not work in his favor. He wanted the heat of their passion on his side.
Of course, he reminded himself, their chemistry didn’t necessarily confine itself to suitable locations. It could flare up just about anywhere, anytime, with the right look, the right caress. And there was something to be said for deliberately, provocatively stirring it up, when fulfillment was absolutely out of the question.
Yes, indeed, he decided with a renewed sense of anticipation, he could make things between himself and Melissa hotter than a day in the sweltering Texas sun. He could make it his business to drive her wild.
The plan had only one drawback that he could think of—it was very likely to drive him to distraction at the same time.
“Okay, you win,” he said eventually, pleased when he noted the faint hint of disappointment in her eyes. A less diplomatic man might have reminded her to be careful what she wished for. Getting her way obviously wasn’t quite as satisfying as she’d expected.
“Let’s get dressed and see what’s happening up at the main house,” he said, deliberately making it sound as if they’d just shared something no more personal than a handshake. “Sharon Lynn’s probably awake by now. You shower first. I’ll clean up the tools I left outside.”
Melissa nodded at the bland suggestion and turned toward the house with unmistakable reluctance. Cody grinned at the dejected slope of her shoulders.
“Hey, Melissa,” he called softly.
She glanced back at him over her shoulder, her expression uncertain.
“I’ll be thinking about you in that shower,” he taunted. “All wet and slippery and naked.”
Color flared in her cheeks. The sparkle returned to her eyes. A pleased smile tugged at her lips as she turned and sashayed into the house with a deliberate sway of her hips.
Oh, my, yes, he thought as he watched her go. This was going to get downright fascinating.
* * *
If there was a decidedly knowing gleam in Harlan’s eyes when they eventually returned to the main house, Melissa pretended to ignore it. What worried her more was that he might be getting ideas after their long absence that she and Cody had spent the time wisely and worked things out. Harlan believed strongly in family. He clearly wanted them to resolve things in a way that kept them all together. Despite what he’d said earlier about taking all the time she needed, hearing that they had not settled a thing would surely disappoint him.
“I think we’d best be getting back into town,” Melissa announced within minutes.
“What’s your hurry?” Harlan asked at once. “There’s plenty of room here, if you want to stay the night. I’m rattling around in this big old place all by myself. It would be a pleasure to have company.”
Melissa couldn’t help thinking of another very recent invitation to stay at White Pines, one she had firmly declined. Her gaze caught Cody’s and picked up on the gleam of anticipation in his eyes as he awaited her answer to his father’s plea. She felt the web of Adams charm being woven snugly around her.
“No,” she said, breaking free for now. “Another time.”
She scooped up her daughter. “Time to get home, pumpkin.”
Sharon Lynn promptly tried to squirm free, holding her arms out plaintively toward her grandfather. “Da?”
“You can come to see Granddaddy again very soon,” Melissa promised, forcing herself not to see the equally wistful expression in Harlan’s eyes as she refused to relinquish her daughter.
Harlan leaned down and kissed them both. “You’re welcome here anytime,” he told her. “Both of you. Don’t stand on ceremony. Come whenever you have some time.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Cody offered, falling into step beside her. “Don’t wait up for me, Daddy. I might spend some time in town tonight.”
Melissa didn’t have to glance back to know that
