“So, we meet again,” Sherry said, slipping her left arm onto Cody’s shoulder.

“You should’ve danced with me first,” he muttered.

“Why?” She wasn’t sure she approved of his tone or his attitude. Mayor Bowie certainly couldn’t be seen as competition!

“If you had, you would’ve spared me a lecture from my daughter. She seems to be doing research on romance, and apparently I’ve committed several blunders. According to Heather, my tactics aren’t sophisticated enough.” He made a wry grimace.

Sherry couldn’t help noticing that they were doing little more than shuffling their feet, while other couples whirled around them. Cody seemed to notice it, too, and exhaled sharply.

“That’s another thing,” he said. “My own daughter suggested I take dance lessons.” He snorted. “Me, as if I have time for that kind of nonsense. Listen, if you want to date a man who’s good at this, you better know right now it isn’t me.”

Sherry had already figured that out for herself, not that it mattered. Cody sighed again.

“Is something else bothering you?” Sherry asked.

“Yes,” he admitted grudgingly. “You feel good in my arms. I’m probably breaking some romance code by telling you that. Darned if I know what a man’s supposed to say and what he isn’t.”

Sherry closed her eyes. “That was very sweet.”

Cody was silent for the next few minutes. “What about you?” he asked gruffly.

Sherry pulled back enough so he could read the question in her eyes. His own were dark and troubled.

“It’d help if you told me the same thing,” he said. “That you…like being with me, too.” He shook his head. “I’ve got to tell you, I feel silly.”

“I do enjoy being with you.”

He didn’t seem to hear. “I feel like I’m on display for everyone to inspect.”

“Why’s that?”

He looked away, but not before she saw his frown. “Let me just say that kissing you in public didn’t improve the situation. It was the most asinine thing I’ve ever done in my life. I made a fool of myself in front of the entire town.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” she whispered, close to his ear. “I liked it.”

“That’s the problem,” he grunted. “So did I. You know what I think? This is all Heather’s doing. It started with that crazy project of hers. I swear the kid’s going to ruin me.”

“Heather’s project?”

“Forget I said that.”

“Why are you so angry? Is it because I danced with the mayor?”

“Good heavens, no. This has nothing to do with that.”

“Then what does it have to do with?”

“You,” he grumbled.

Dolly Parton’s tremulous tones were coming out of the speakers now. It was a fast-paced number, not that Cody noticed. He didn’t alter his footwork, but continued his laborious two-step.

“Cody, maybe we should sit down.”

“We can’t.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because the minute we do, someone else is gonna ask you to dance, and I can’t allow that.”

She stared up at him, more confused by the moment. “Why not? Cody, you’re being ridiculous.”