The bench squeaked in the quiet that followed.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said,” he finally muttered. “About romance.”

“Oh?”

“To my way of thinking, it’s not necessary.”

Sherry frowned. “So you’ve said.” Countless times, but reminding him of that would have sounded petty and argumentative. The moment was peaceful, and she didn’t want to ruin it. “Tell me what you want and I’ll do it,” he said decisively.

“You want a list?”

“That’d help. I’m no good at this sort of thing, and I’m going to need a few instructions.”

Sherry turned to look at him. She pressed her hand to his cheek. “That’s really very sweet, Cody. I’m touched.”

“If that’s the only way I can convince you to marry me, then what the heck, I’ll do it. Just tell me what you want, so I don’t waste a lot of time.”

“I…I hate to disappoint you, but giving you instructions would defeat the purpose. It has to come from your heart, Cody.” She moved her hand to his chest and held it there. “Otherwise it wouldn’t be sincere.”

A frown quickly snapped into place. “You want me to do a few mushy things to prove I’m sincere, but you aren’t willing to tell me what they are?”

“You make it sound silly.”

“As far as I’m concerned, it is. Asking you to marry me is as sincere as I can get. And if that isn’t good enough—”

Their peace was about to be destroyed, and Sherry was unwilling to let it happen. So she acted impulsively and stopped him the only way she knew would work.

She kissed him.

The instant her mouth covered his, she felt his anger melt away. His kiss was both tender and fierce. His breath was warm, his lips hot and eager, and the kiss left her trembling.

Then he began kissing her neck, from her chin to her shoulder. As always happened when he touched her, Sherry felt like Dorothy caught up in the tornado, spinning out of control before landing in a magical land. When he raised his head from hers, she immediately missed him. Missed his warmth, his passion, his closeness.

Cody started to say something, then changed his mind. He raised his finger to her face and brushed it down her cheek. “I have to go.”

She wanted him to stay, but wouldn’t ask it of him.

“The guys are waiting for me. They’re counting on me.”

“It’s all right, Cody.”

He stood and thrust his hands in his jeans pockets, as if to stop himself from reaching for her again. That thought helped lighten the melancholy she experienced at his leaving.

“It was good to see you again,” he said stiffly.

“Good to see you, too,” she returned just as stiffly.

He hesitated on the top step and turned back to face her. “Uh, you’re sure you don’t want to give me a few tips on, uh, romance?”

“I’m confident you aren’t going to need them. Follow your heart, Cody, and I promise you it’ll lead directly to mine.”