Melissa’s resolve wavered. A little voice in her head gathered steam, repeating no, no, no so loudly she couldn’t ignore it. Hadn’t she told herself just a few hours earlier that she’d always been too easy on Cody? Hadn’t she made a fool of herself over and over again by giving in if he so much as smiled at her?

And hadn’t she learned that she could take care of herself? She no longer liked the idea of relying on anyone, either financially or, even more importantly, for her happiness.

“You’re wasting your time,” she told him emphatically before her resolve could falter. “The ring is beautiful. You’re a fine man. I’m thrilled that you want to be a part of Sharon Lynn’s life. But I will not marry you.”

He looked absolutely dumbfounded. If the conversation hadn’t been quite so difficult for her, too, she might have smiled at his flabbergasted reaction.

“Why?” he demanded, staring at her, indignation radiating from every pore.

“Because I will not get married for all the wrong reasons.”

“What wrong reasons? We have a child. I intend to be a father to her.”

“That’s fine. It doesn’t mean you have to be a husband to me. I’m doing just fine on my own. You were apparently doing so fine on your own that you saw no need to come back for almost two years.”

“That’s it, isn’t it?” His gaze narrowed. “You’re just doing this to get even because I left town and you had to face being pregnant all alone.”

Melissa regarded him sadly. “No, Cody, I am not trying to get even. I’m just trying not to compound one mistake by making another.”

He seemed thoroughly taken aback by the realization that anyone—and most especially the woman who’d always adored him—would consider marrying him to be a mistake. Obviously his ego hadn’t suffered any during their separation. It was as solid as ever.

She reached across the table and patted his hand. “It’s nothing personal.”

He stared at her. “How can you say that? I think it’s pretty damned personal.”

“Once you’ve had time to think it over, you’ll see that I’m right,” she assured him. “Obligation is a terrible basis for a marriage.”

This time when she stood and reached for Sharon Lynn, he didn’t resist. He pocketed the ring and stepped out of the booth. “I’ll take you home,” he said, his voice flat.

Melissa directed him to the small house she’d been renting for the past year, since about a month after Sharon Lynn’s birth. Cody showed no inclination to get out of the pickup, so she let herself out. She hesitated for a moment with the door still open.

“I’m sorry, Cody. I really am.”