“Good, because he frightens me, too. We met that first day I arrived in town, and my life hasn’t been the same since.”

Ellie patted Sherry’s hand. “Tell me, what’s all this about you insisting on romance? I overheard Cody talking to Luke yesterday afternoon. I wish I could’ve recorded the conversation, because it was quite funny. Luke was advising Cody on a variety of ways to—” she made quotation marks with her fingers “—win your heart.”

Sherry rolled her eyes. “That’s the thing. Cody already has my heart. He just doesn’t know what to do with it.”

“Give him time,” Ellie said. “Cody’s smarter than he looks.”

A little later, Sherry helped her friend with the dinner preparations. Christina Lynn awoke from her nap and gleefully “helped” Sherry arrange the silverware around the table. A few minutes before five, Luke returned home, looking hot and dusty. He kissed his wife and daughter, showered and joined them for dinner.

They sat around the big kitchen table and after the blessing, Luke handed Sherry the bowl of mashed potatoes. He said, “So Cody came to see you last night.” He cast a triumphant smile at his wife. His cocky grin implied that if Sherry and Cody were married anytime soon, he’d take the credit.

“Honey,” Ellie said brightly, “Luke was nearly arrested for disturbing the peace. And from what Sherry told me, Cody blames you.”

“Me? I wasn’t the one out there making a first-class fool of myself.”

“True, but you were the one who suggested he do it.”

“That shouldn’t make any difference.” Luke ladled gravy over his meat and potatoes before reaching for the green beans. “As long as Sherry thought it was romantic, it shouldn’t matter.” He glanced at Sherry and nodded as if to accept her gratitude.

“Well, yes, it was, uh—”

“Romantic,” Luke supplied, looking hopeful.

“It was…romantic, yes. Sort of.”

“It was ridiculous,” Ellie inserted.

“A man’s willing to do ridiculous things for a woman if that’s what she wants.”

“I don’t, and I never said I did,” Sherry was quick to inform him. “It bothers me that Cody would think I wanted him to do anything so…”

“Asinine,” Ellie said.

“Exactly.”

Luke was grinning from ear to ear. “Isn’t love grand?”

“No, it isn’t,” a male voice boomed from the doorway. Cody stood on the other side of the screen. He swung it open and stepped inside, eyeing Luke as if he was a traitor who ought to be dragged before a firing squad.

“Cody!” Ellie greeted him warmly. “Join us for dinner?”

“No, thanks, I just ate. I came over to have a little talk with Luke. I didn’t realize you had company.”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll leave,” Sherry offered.

“Don’t,” Ellie whispered.

Cody’s gaze swung to Sherry and it seemed to bore into her very soul. He was angry; she could feel it.

“Come in and have a coffee at least,” Ellie said, picking up the pot and pouring him a cup. Cody moved farther into the kitchen and sat down at the table grudgingly.