The plan had only one drawback that he could think of—it was very likely to drive him to distraction at the same time.

“Okay, you win,” he said eventually, pleased when he noted the faint hint of disappointment in her eyes. A less diplomatic man might have reminded her to be careful what she wished for. Getting her way obviously wasn’t quite as satisfying as she’d expected.

“Let’s get dressed and see what’s happening up at the main house,” he said, deliberately making it sound as if they’d just shared something no more personal than a handshake. “Sharon Lynn’s probably awake by now. You shower first. I’ll clean up the tools I left outside.”

Melissa nodded at the bland suggestion and turned toward the house with unmistakable reluctance. Cody grinned at the dejected slope of her shoulders.

“Hey, Melissa,” he called softly.

She glanced back at him over her shoulder, her expression uncertain.

“I’ll be thinking about you in that shower,” he taunted. “All wet and slippery and naked.”

Color flared in her cheeks. The sparkle returned to her eyes. A pleased smile tugged at her lips as she turned and sashayed into the house with a deliberate sway of her hips.

Oh, my, yes, he thought as he watched her go. This was going to get downright fascinating.

If there was a decidedly knowing gleam in Harlan’s eyes when they eventually returned to the main house, Melissa pretended to ignore it. What worried her more was that he might be getting ideas after their long absence that she and Cody had spent the time wisely and worked things out. Harlan believed strongly in family. He clearly wanted them to resolve things in a way that kept them all together. Despite what he’d said earlier about taking all the time she needed, hearing that they had not settled a thing would surely disappoint him.

“I think we’d best be getting back into town,” Melissa announced within minutes.

“What’s your hurry?” Harlan asked at once. “There’s plenty of room here, if you want to stay the night. I’m rattling around in this big old place all by myself. It would be a pleasure to have company.”

Melissa couldn’t help thinking of another very recent invitation to stay at White Pines, one she had firmly declined. Her gaze caught Cody’s and picked up on the gleam of anticipation in his eyes as he awaited her answer to his father’s plea. She felt the web of Adams charm being woven snugly around her.

“No,” she said, breaking free for now. “Another time.”

She scooped up her daughter. “Time to get home, pumpkin.”

Sharon Lynn promptly tried to squirm free, holding her arms out plaintively toward her grandfather. “Da?”