“Congratulations.” Sherry stood, with folded tissues between her toes, and tightened the belt on her robe.

“Then you’re all through with your business stuff?” Heather asked.

“I’m finished.”

“That’s even better! You’ll join us for dinner, right? You don’t mind if Dad comes, do you, Sherry?”

Cody’s eyes connected with Sherry’s and his smile was slightly cocky, as if to suggest the ball was in her court.

“Of course I don’t mind.” There wasn’t anything else she could say.

“You’ll wear your slinky new dress,” Heather said. “Dad.” She turned to her father. “Your eyeballs are going to pop out of your head when you see Sherry in it.”

Cody’s gaze was on his daughter when he spoke. “It’s too late for that. They popped out of my head the first time I saw her.”

CHAPTER SIX

Sherry wasn’t sure why she felt so nervous. Maybe it had something to do with her new outfit. She suspected it was a mistake to wear that particular dress with this particular man.

She styled her glossy brown hair carefully, arranging it on top of her head with dangling wisps at her temples and neck. She wished she could tame her heart just as easily. She tried not to place any importance on this evening out, tried to convince herself it was just a meal with friends. That was all they were. Friends. The promise of more had been wiped away. Yet none of her strategies were succeeding; they hadn’t even come close to succeeding. She was falling in love with this no-nonsense cattleman, despite the fact that there wasn’t a romantic bone in his body.

When they’d finished dressing, the three of them met in the suite’s living room. Sherry endured—and, at the same time, thrilled to—Cody’s scrutiny. The dress was sleeveless with a dropped waist and a skirt that flared out at her knees in a triple layer of sleek ruffles. The high-heeled black sandals were the perfect complement.

“Doesn’t she look like a million bucks?” Heather asked.

Without taking his eyes from Sherry, Cody nodded. “Very nice.”

“Heather, too,” Sherry said.

Cody seemed chagrined that she’d had to remind him to compliment his daughter. His eyes widened with appreciation as he gazed at Heather.

“Wow,” he murmured. “Why…you seem all grown-up.”

“I’m nearly thirteen, you know, and that means I’m almost a woman.”

“You certainly look like one in that pretty dress.” The glance he flashed at Sherry was filled with surprised gratitude. He seemed to be asking how she’d managed to convince his daughter to buy something other than jeans and cowboy boots.

Seeing Cody in a smart sports jacket with a pale blue shirt and a string tie had a curious effect on Sherry. She couldn’t look at him and not be stirred. As much as she hated to admit it, he was a handsome man. When they’d first met, she’d been struck by the strength and authority she sensed in him. Those same traits were more prominent than ever now.