“Maybe I’m not the one who needs an intermediary,” Melissa suggested, observing their reactions intently.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mabel snapped. She shot a venomous look at the pharmacist. “Neither does he, for that matter.”

“I know what I know,” Eli countered. “Besides, we’re not talking about you and me now. We’re talking about Melissa and Cody.”

“I’d rather talk about the two of you,” Melissa said hurriedly, dying to know the whole story of two people who’d worked together as far back as she could recall without giving away so much as a hint that there was anything personal between them.

“No,” Mabel and Eli chorused.

Melissa winced. “Okay, okay. We’ll make a pact. You stay out of my personal life and I’ll stay out of yours.”

Mabel gave an obviously reluctant nod. Melissa waited for Eli to concur, but instead he muttered, “Too late. Yours just walked in the door.”

Melissa’s gaze shot to the front of the drugstore. Sure enough, Cody was striding in her direction, a glint of pure determination in his eyes.

“Go away,” she said before he could settle himself on one of the stools.

“Is that any way to greet a paying customer?” he inquired.

He slapped a twenty on the counter. At the rate he was throwing them around, he was going to go broke.

“I’m not leaving until I’ve spent every last dime of that or you and I have talked,” he announced. “You pick.”

Melissa poured him a cup of coffee, snatched the twenty and tucked it in her pocket. “The coffee’s on me. I’ll consider the twenty a tip for services rendered.”

Flags of angry color rose in Cody’s cheeks. His grip on his coffee cup tightened, turning his knuckles white. “There’s a name for taking money for that, darlin’.”

Mabel sputtered and backed off her stool so fast it was still spinning a full minute after she’d gone. Melissa had a hunch she wasn’t all that far, though, more than likely not even out of earshot.

“How dare you!” Melissa snapped.

“You started this round, not me,” he said tightly. “Care to back up and start over?”

“We can’t back up that many years,” she retorted.

Cody visibly restrained his temper. Melissa watched as he drew in several calming breaths, even as his heated gaze remained locked on her. Her blood practically sizzled under that look. No matter how furious he made her, she still seemed to want him. It was damned provoking.

“Believe it or not, I came in here to apologize,” he said eventually, his voice low.

“What’s to apologize for? Just because you didn’t mention that you were involved with another woman—a woman who apparently traveled quite some distance to be with you—that doesn’t mean you owe me an apology.”