Luckily Sherry had remembered to bring a book with her and decided to sit on the couch and bury herself in it. Although Cody sat at the table, busy with his own affairs, Sherry had never been more conscious of him. Agreeing to the suite had been a mistake. She should’ve insisted on two rooms—on different floors.

“Would you like some coffee?” Cody’s question cut into the silence.

“No, thanks.” If it wasn’t so early, she’d make her excuses and go to bed too, but it would look ridiculous to turn in at nine-thirty.

Unexpectedly Cody released a beleaguered sigh. “All right,” he said. “Shall we air this once and for all and be done with it?”

“Air what?” she asked, innocently.

“What’s happening between us.”

“I wasn’t aware that anything was…now.”

He closed his briefcase with a deliberate lack of haste, then stood and walked over to the sofa. He sat down on the opposite end, as far from her as he could get and still be on the same piece of furniture. “I’ve had more than a week to give your rejection of my proposal consideration.”

Sherry spoke softly. “I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

He tilted his head and a hopeful expression appeared on his face. “You mean you’ve changed your mind and decided to marry me?”

“No.” She didn’t like to be so blunt, but it seemed the only way to reach Cody. “I regret saying I’d rather eat fried rattlesnake.”

“Oh.” His shoulders slumped. “I should’ve known it wouldn’t be that easy.” He grabbed a pen and pad. “I’d like to know exactly what you find so objectionable about me.”

“Nothing. You’re honest, hardworking, trustworthy. My grandmother, if she were alive, would call you a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy, and I’d agree with her. It would be very easy to fall in love with you, Cody. Sometimes I think I already have, and that terrifies me.”

“Why?” He sounded sincere.

“Because you don’t love me.”

His face fell. “I like you. I’m attracted to you. That’s a lot more than many other couples start out with.”

“Love frightens you, doesn’t it? You lost Heather’s mother, and you’ve guarded your heart ever since.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He stood and walked to the window, shoving his hands in his pants pockets and staring out at the night. His back was to her, but that didn’t prevent Sherry from hearing the pain in his voice. “Karen died ten years ago. I hardly even remember what she looked like anymore.” He turned to look at her. “That’s the problem with you women. You read a few magazine articles and romance novels and then think you’re experts on relationships.”

“You loved her, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did, and I grieved when she died.”

“You didn’t remarry,” she told him quietly, afraid of agitating him further.

“I didn’t have the time, and to be truthful, my life was full enough without letting a woman dominate my time. That’s why I want to set the record straight right now. I’m not about to let a wife put a collar around my neck and lead me around like a puppy.”