Single salesclerk Anabel Sims yearns to become a devoted wife and mother, but bemoans the social restrictions forced upon women during courtship.  While discussing the matter at a soda fountain with her girl friend, Julie Howard, Anabel sees Dr.  Madison W.  Brown and is immediately taken with him.  By coincidence, Anabel meets Madison again when he comes to buy baby booties at Sanford's, the department store where she works.

After determining that Madison is a doctor and unmarried, Anabel shows up at his office claiming to be ill, unaware that he is a pediatrician.  Although Madison, a confirmed bachelor, discourages her interest in him, Anabel determines to trap the doctor and begins researching his life in detail.  Feeling that the only way to win Madison is to make him jealous, Anabel poses as her employer Roger Sanford's secretary and makes a reservation under his name at Pierre's, a restaurant she knows Madison frequents.

In an expensive gown she has borrowed from Sanford's dress department, Anabel then coaxes Madison to join her at Roger's table and pretends that she is waiting for her rich lover.  Madison is not fooled, however, and demands to know why she is chasing him.  After the quick-thinking Anabel claims that she is merely using him to make Roger jealous, Roger unexpectedly arrives.  To her relief, Roger, who is an old college friend of Madison's, pretends to know Anabel, and she confesses her entire scheme to him.  Roger, a notorious playboy, assumes that Anabel's confession is a ruse to attract him and takes her home.

The next day, Anabel, who has been demoted for rejecting Roger's advances, spies Madison on the street and kisses Roger, who also happens to be walking by, to make him jealous.  Madison is unimpressed, but the kiss is captured on film by a photographer and makes headlines the next morning.  While Roger accuses Anabel of trying to blackmail him, she condemns him as a womanizer.  Later, she is offered a free car from an insurance salesman, who is eager to capitalize on her supposed relation to the store tycoon.

Using the situation to her advantage, Anabel finagles a rent-free month in a model house by insinuating that Roger might invest in the development.  Madison then hears from his barber, masseur and the clerk who sells him tobacco that, despite the rumors, Anabel is really in love with another man.  Seeing through her latest ploy, Madison finds Anabel at the soda fountain and informs her that her maneuvers are failing.  Undaunted, Anabel shows up at a lecture given by Madison and, in front of a supportive, all-female crowd, condemns him for selfishly resisting marriage.

When his hostile reaction to Anabel's words causes some of his patients to cancel their appointments, a fed-up Madison calls Anabel and arranges to have dinner with her.  Although Anabel lovingly prepares Madison's favorite foods, the equally determined Madison tells her that he does not love her and advises her to go back home to Joe, her hometown sweetheart.  Anabel is crushed by Madison's defiant rejection and is unprepared for Roger's sudden renewed interest in her.  Roger, a three-time divorcé, proposes to Anabel, claiming that her reaction to Madison's rejection has kindled a competitive flame in him.  Still dazed, Anabel turns down the proposal, but invites the lovestruck Roger for dinner.  Julie then tells Madison that Anabel is running to Roger "on the rebound" and advises him to intervene before Anabel makes a foolish mistake.

Although suspicious, Madison shows up at Anabel's and confronts Roger about his "intentions." Before long, Joe suddenly arrives at the house, announcing that he and Anabel are soon marrying.  Madison at first rejoices at the news, but later tells Anabel that she should marry Joe only if she truly loves him.  After announcing to sincere bumpkin Joe that Anabel pursued him relentlessly, Madison surprises himself by proposing to her.  Seeing Anabel's obvious love for the doctor, Joe bids the couple a noble goodbye.  As soon as he is out the door, however, Madison reveals that he knows that "Joe" is really radio performer Harry Proctor and praises Anabel for her ingenuity.  He then welcomes the minister whom Anabel had summoned in anticipation of her success and sits down to discuss their wedding plans.