She shook her head, fighting the urge to grab that tempting little box and claim not only the ring inside, but the future Cody had obviously mapped out for them. This reaction of his to discovering he was a father wasn’t even remotely what she had expected. Obviously he wasn’t thinking clearly. He hadn’t wanted to marry her two years ago. She was faintly insulted that it had taken a baby to drag a proposal out of him.

Actually, it wasn’t even a proposal. It was another of those orders she hated so much. Issuing edicts was something he had learned at Harlan Adams’s knee. Considering how he’d rebelled against his father, she would have thought he’d be more sensitive to the crummy habit.

“No,” she said flatly, meeting his gaze evenly. She was very proud of herself for getting the word out, for keeping her voice and her resolve steady.

He blinked and stared. “No what?”

She drew in a deep breath and, before she could change her mind, blurted, “I will not touch that box and I will not marry you.”

A red flush climbed up his neck. “Of course you will,” he said just as emphatically. “Don’t be stubborn, Melissa. It’s the sensible thing to do.”

“Sensible,” she repeated in a low, lethal tone. “I do not intend to get married because it is sensible!”

She stood and jerked on her coat, then moved to pick up Sharon Lynn. Cody held his daughter out of her reach.

“Sit back down and let’s talk about this,” he ordered. “You’re causing a scene.”

“I don’t care,” she said emphatically, though she didn’t dare look around to see just how many people were fascinated by their argument. “There is absolutely nothing to discuss.”

“Please,” he said, sounding slightly more meek.

Since when had Cody cared about scenes? Melissa regarded him suspiciously, but she did sit on the edge of the seat. She did not remove her coat.

“How about another soft drink?” he coaxed.

“Cody!”

“Okay, okay.” He leaned toward her intently. “Maybe I didn’t go about this quite right.”

“I’ll say.”

He reached awkwardly around his sleeping daughter and picked up the velvet box. He flipped it open to display an impressive emerald surrounded by diamonds. Melissa fought to pretend that the ring didn’t just about take her breath away. The size of the ring and the sparkle of those stones were not important. A marriage based on obligation was the real point here. She wouldn’t have it.

“It reminded me of your eyes,” Cody said. He grinned. “The way they are right now, when they’re shooting off sparks.”