Page 70 of The Re-Proposal

It feels like I’m getting a warm, Cody-scented hug.

For a moment…

Just a moment…

My defenses are eviscerated and I allow myself to soak in the comfort of having a piece of him touching my skin.

Then I remember that I’m supposed to be keeping him atarm’s length,not pretending those figurative arms are around me.

Snap out of it. He’s an uptight Count Dracula with the personality of a bull. He’ll do anything to get what he wants. You can’t make it easy for him.

I stiffen, my fingers moving toward the lapels of the jacket so I can slide it off me.

“Keep it on.” His fingers cover mine. They’re warm, swallowing my hand whole.

A surge of heat slams into me.

It doesn’t matter how innocent Cody’s touches are. Once his skin gets anywhere near mine, my body goes wild.

Get a grip, Clarissa. He’s your ex, and he left you standing alone in front of Elvis. You will not fall for him again.

I clear my throat and force the jacket off. Shoving it at him, I say, “I’ll just roll up the window.”

He accepts the jacket, a twinkle in his eye. “You’re in a mood today.”

“You don’t know my moods anymore.”

“It’s hard to misinterpret a scowl that dark.”

“Funny.” I roll my eyes.

Apparently, Cody lives for the thrill because he can’t help poking at a bear. “Nice shoes.”

I whip my head up and our eyes lock. Linger.

Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?

“I’m glad you wore them, Ris,” Cody says.

I clear my throat and glance down at the delicate pumps with the transparent sides and 3D butterflies. I want to pretend that I don’t care and fancy shoes don’t make a difference, but I can’t. Just stepping out of my house in these made me feel like a woman on a mission. A woman out to change the world.

“I wore them for Mimi’s sake, not yours. She put in a lot of effort and it would be rude to her and her staff if I didn’t.”

“Of course.”

“I told her to thankwhoeverarranged it.” I stare straight ahead, not giving him the satisfaction of thinking I’m going to fawn over him because he bought me a department store in a truck.

“He doesn’t need thanks,” Cody says.

“What does he need then?”

“You.”

My eyelashes flutter.

Cody’s not wearing a smile to soften the words. His face is earnest, implicitly stern. As if the balance of the world hangs on my response.

Oh.

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