“I hope to hell you two settle this quick,” the pharmacist said. “It’s costing me a fortune in broken glasses.”

“Don’t worry, Eli,” Cody consoled him. “I’ll settle up with you.” He fixed his unrelenting gaze on Melissa and added, “I always accept my responsibilities.”

“Oh, stuff a rag in it,” Melissa retorted, stripping off her apron and opening the cash register to shove in the twenty she’d pocketed. “Eli, I’m leaving. Mr. Adams has already paid his check. Keep the change.”

She made it as far as the sidewalk, still shrugging into her coat, when Cody caught up with her. If her refusal to kowtow to his wishes for a second time had ruffled his feathers, he wasn’t letting it show. He fell into step beside her, his expression perfectly innocent.

“Going to pick up the baby?”

Actually Melissa had no idea where she was going. She’d been so anxious to get away from Cody that she’d walked out of the drugstore without the kind of plan she should have had. It was an unfortunate sign of weakness, one she couldn’t allow him to detect.

“No, actually, I have things to do.”

“Like what? I’ll help.”

“No, thanks. I can handle it.”

“Come on, Me...liss...a,” he coaxed, planting himself on the sidewalk in front of her, legs spread. He rocked back on the heels of his cowboy boots and peered at her from beneath the brim of his hat. It was a look that invited a woman to swoon. She ought to know. She’d done it often enough, flat-out making a fool of herself over him.

“Would spending a little time with me be so awful?” he inquired.

Awful? That wasn’t the word she would have chosen. Dangerous, maybe. Stupid. Risky. There was a whole string of applicable words and none of them had anything to do with awful.

“I’d rather not,” she said politely.

“Bet I can change your mind,” he countered, grinning at her.

She scowled at him as he advanced on her step by step. “Don’t try.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. The temptation is pretty great. Your mouth is all pouty. Very kissable,” he assessed, his gaze hot on her. He took yet another step closer, crowding her. “Your cheeks are pink. Just about the color of rose petals and twice as soft. It’s all hard to resist.”

As he spoke, her lips burned as if he’d kissed them. Her cheeks flamed, turning to what she was sure must be a deeper shade. Damn, it didn’t seem to matter if he actually touched her or not. Her body reacted predictably just to the provocative suggestion.

“Go away,” she ordered in a voice that was entirely too breathless.

His expression solemn, he shook his head. “I can’t do that, Me...liss...a.”

She sighed. “Why not?” she demanded far too plaintively.