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satisfaction. With every stretch, the cropped T-shirt she wore kept riding up to bare an intriguing inch or so of a midriff so perfect that it could make a man weep. Her long dark hair with its shimmering red highlights had been scooped up in a saucy ponytail that made her look a dozen years younger than the twenty-seven he knew she was.
    And, to his very sincere regret, she made him every bit as hard now as she had as a teenager. He squirmed in a wasted effort to get more comfortable on the vinyl-covered stool.
    When she finally turned back, she plunked his milk shake onto the counter with such force half of it sloshed out of the tall glass. Apparently she wasn’t entirely immune to him, either, and she wasn’t one bit happier about the discovery.
    She grabbed up a dishrag and began scrubbing the opposite side of the counter, her back to him. Given the energy she devoted to the task, the surface was either very dirty or she was avoiding him.
    â€œSo, how’ve you been?” Cody inquired, managing the nonchalant tone with supreme effort.
    â€œFine,” she said tersely, not even glancing around.
    He frowned. Why the hell was she acting like the injured party here? She was the one who’d cheated on him. Getting her to meet him halfway became an irresistible challenge.
    â€œHow are you, Cody? It’s been a long time,” he coached.
    She turned and glared. “Why are you here?” she demanded instead.
    He could have shot back a glib retort, but he didn’t. He actually gave the question some thought. He considered the teasing he’d gotten from Jordan and Luke. He considered his own undeniable curiosity. He even considered the size of his ego, which had found being cheated on damned hard to take. The bottom line was, he had no idea what had drawn him across the street and into the drugstore.
    â€œI don’t know,” he finally admitted.
    Apparently it was the right answer because her lush, kissable mouth curved into a smile for the first time since she’d spotted him at the counter.
    â€œYou mean to tell me that there’s something that actually stymies the brilliant, confident Cody Adams?”
    He nodded slowly. “It surprises the dickens out of me, too.”
    She leaned back against the counter, her elbows propped behind her. It was a stance that drew attention to her figure, though Cody doubted she was aware of it.
    â€œYou planning on sticking around?” she asked.
    â€œA few more days, just till Daddy’s got his feet back under him again.” It was the same response he’d given everyone who’d asked. Now that he was right here with Melissa in front of him, though, he wondered if she might not be the one person who could change his mind.
    At the mention of his father, her expression immediately filled with concern. “It must be horrible for him.”
    â€œIt is.”
    â€œAnd the rest of you?”
    â€œWe’re doing okay. Mostly we’re worried about Daddy. He adored Mother. It’s going to be lonely as hell for him with her gone.”
    â€œI’m surprised you’re not staying, then.”
    He shook his head. “There’s nothing for me here anymore,” he said automatically, refusing to concede that he had evidence to the contrary in the tightening of his groin at the first sight of her.
    She actually blanched at his harsh words. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking shaken. “What about White Pines? You always loved it. You were building your whole future around running that ranch.”
    She was right about that. He’d fought tooth and nail to get Harlan to trust him with the running of the ranch. He’d spent his spare time building his own house on the property just to make the point that, unlike Luke or Jordan, he never intended to leave. Then in a matter of seconds after catching Melissa with Brian, he’d thrown it all away.
    Now, rather than addressing his longing