A Decent Proposal (2 page)

“I want the four of us to go out to dinner.”

“Four?” Her stomach dropped.

“Loretta and me. You and Burke.”

“I don't know, Dad. He's...busy,” she said lamely.

“Everyone is but he's managed to find the time to date you.” Her father's voice had an edge of suspicion. “And everyone has to eat. So we'll double-date. Unless you're lying to your old man.”

It was hard not to flinch. There probably wasn't a place in hell low enough for her. Still, she was doing the wrong thing for the right reason and that had to count for something.

“Really, Dad. You raised me better than that.” This bad was all on her.

She cared about her father's happiness. He'd spent so many years being sad and alone and he wasn't getting any younger. He deserved happiness and she wouldn't be the one who stood in his way. If she had to scheme to make sure it happened, by God she would.

The guy had seemed really easygoing and she was giving him a free oil change. What could it hurt to ask?

“I'll check with Burke and see what I can set up.”

* * *

“I'll call again tomorrow, son.” Burke held the cell phone to his ear, not sure why he was prolonging this.

“Okay.” His child's familiar, formal tone was the polar opposite of enthusiastic.

“If you need anything, you know how to get in touch.”

“Yeah.” There was a long silence, then Liam said, “I have homework.”

“Right.” He probably wasn't the only father on the planet whose kid would rather do homework than talk to him, but it sure felt that way. “I love you. 'Bye, son.”

“'Bye.”

Feeling guilty and inadequate, Burke hit the end-call button on his cell phone. He never knew what to say to his son and heard in the kid's voice how much he was let down whenever they talked. Not calling would save them both the ordeal of an awkward conversation, but unlike his own father he wouldn't take the easy way out. So he would be in touch every day while he was away from home.

His ex-wife was no better. During divorce negotiations she'd put up zero fight when he wanted physical custody. Now she lived in Paris and he had the best housekeeper in Chicago. Most of the time that made it okay for him not to be there. At least that's what he told himself. Today he didn't quite buy it. Meeting Sydney McKnight and her father, Tom, might account for that.

He found himself envying their obviously close relationship. She had gone above and beyond to convince her dad to move on with his life. That was loyalty, a happy by-product of a father who'd been a positive influence on his daughter. Burke couldn't help wondering if twenty years from now Liam would go to that much trouble for him.

Normally he didn't feel lonely on a business trip but today was different. In a lot of ways. He was sitting on a stool in the Blackwater Lake Lodge bar. There were a couple of businessmen, two women who'd stopped in for a drink after work and several couples having a predinner cocktail. He was nursing a beer while he waited for Sydney to personally deliver his car.

She'd contacted him and offered; now he found himself looking forward to seeing her again. Stereotyping probably described his attitude, but he'd never expected to see a woman so beautiful, sexy and smart working in a garage.

And speaking of beautiful women, there was one who'd just come around the corner from the lobby and waved when she saw him. Her last name was McKnight, too, but Camille was married to Sydney's brother, Ben. Burke considered her a friend and she knew about his bad-relationship karma. That's probably why she'd never told him about her husband's sister.

She stopped beside him and they hugged. “Hi.”

“Hello, Mrs. McKnight. Marriage looks good on you.” In spite of his dark mood it was impossible not to smile in the presence of a woman glowing the way this one was. “You're positively radiant.”

“Thank you, kind sir.” She put her hand on his arm. “Love does that to a person. You should try it sometime.”

“Been there, done that. It didn't work out.”

She wrinkled her nose. “That wasn't love. Brenda was selfish and self-absorbed. Probably still is.”

“Almost certainly,” he agreed.

The Holden and Halliday families had been friends for years and partners in various business ventures, including a small stake in the project he was here to work on.

“How's Liam?” she asked. “He's how old now?”

“Eight. Getting big.”

“You must miss him when you have to be away on business,” Cam said.

Burke nodded ruefully. “It's not easy.”

“The time goes by so quickly.” She sighed. “My little girl is growing so fast.”

“That's right. You're a mom now.” He grinned. “Motherhood agrees with you. How old is...” He didn't know the child's name and shrugged apologetically.

“Amanda—Ben and I call her Mandy. She's fifteen months. You have to meet her while you're here.”

“I'd like that—”

A flash of red coming around the corner caught his eye and he did a double take. The blazer belonged to Sydney McKnight and she wore it over a white silk blouse tucked into jeans that fit her like a second skin. High heels made her legs look a lot longer than he knew they were. She was pretty in her work clothes and stunning in the sophisticated outfit.

Camille followed his gaze. “Ah, my sister-in-law. Wow, she really cleans up well. But then she always dresses like a fashion model when she's not at the garage. She looks fabulous.”

Burke had noticed. Earlier her hair had been pulled into a sassy ponytail but now it fell like dark silk past her shoulders. Layers framed her small face and highlighted her big, brown eyes. She could be in
Car
and
Driver
magazine or grace the cover of
Glamour
or
Cosmopolitan
.

Sydney saw the two of them and looked surprised for a moment before heading in their direction. She stopped in front of them.

“Cam, it's nice to see you.” She leaned in for a quick hug. Then she looked at him. “So, you've met my sister-in-law?”

“Actually we've known each other for years,” he explained. “As a matter of fact, the Hallidays have invested in my resort.”

Sydney blinked. “You own the development company?”

“With my cousin, yes.” Her surprised expression was genuine. “Why?”

“You just said your company owned the land.”

“We do,” he said.

“I just thought you were on the payroll, not the guy who signed the paychecks for everyone.” Syd glanced at Cam, who nodded a confirmation. “Be sure to share with my father that you know this guy. He had your back today.”

“Oh?” Cam said.

“That's right,” Burke agreed. “I brought my car into the garage for an oil change and he gave me the third degree about the new project followed by a subtle warning that it better not put the lodge out of business.”

“I'll be sure and tell Tom not to worry. He's so thoughtful. I'm so happy he finally found someone, and the mayor is a good woman.” Cam looked first at Burke, then her gaze rested on Sydney. “Is this a coincidence you two meeting here?”

Sydney dangled a ring of keys on the end of her finger. “Like Burke said, he brought his car in for an oil change and I'm delivering it now.”

“And I appreciate the service.”

“Happy to oblige.”

“So everyone is happy.” Cam grinned at both of them then released a regretful sigh as she checked the watch on her wrist. “I'd love to stay and chat but I really need to get home to Ben and the baby.”

“Give them both a hug for me,” Sydney said.

“I will.” She looked at Burke. “We'll put a date on the calendar soon for dinner so you can meet my husband and Mandy.”

“I look forward to it,” he said.

Cam smiled, then turned and walked out of the bar, leaving him alone with Sydney. Their gazes locked and he felt something squeeze tight inside him. He wasn't sure what it meant but knew she'd completed her errand and would leave if he didn't come up with a reason for her to stay. And he really wanted her to stay.

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked. “It's the least I can do. What with you going out of your way to bring my car back here to the lodge.”

“I'd like that.” She gracefully slid onto the bar stool beside his. Without hesitation she said, “Chardonnay, please.”

Burke signaled the bartender and asked her to open the best white she had. He toyed with the empty beer bottle in front of him. “I can't decide if this delivery system of yours is good customer service or you just wanted to drive my car.”

“Both. And for the record it's a really nice car,” she said, grinning. Then the amusement faded and she couldn't quite meet his gaze, which was different from the uniquely direct woman he'd met this morning.

“You look very chic.”

She glanced down. “Thanks. Are you surprised?”

“Because you make your living working on cars?” He thought for a moment and decided to be completely honest. “You're a beautiful woman, Sydney. I was surprised from the very first moment I saw you this morning.”

“What a lovely thing to say. And I appreciate it.” Her smile was a little shy, but also...nervous? “Because there's something I'd like to ask. A really big favor—”

“Your drinks.” The twentysomething blonde waitress put down a small, square napkin, a wineglass and another beer in front of him. She picked up the empty bottle and said, “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Will do. Thanks,” Burke said. He held up his beer. “To new friends.”

Sydney touched her glass to his bottle. “Friends.”

She was definitely nervous about something. Then her words sank in. Favor. Something to ask. “What's up?”

“This is harder than I thought.”

“Just spit it out,” he advised. “That's usually best.”

She took a long drink of Chardonnay, then set the glass down and looked him straight in the eye. “Nothing ventured...”

“Now I'm really curious.” His impression of her from their first meeting was of a confident, forthright woman so this hesitation struck him as out of character. “The worst that can happen is I'll say no.”

“Actually that's not the worst. And saying yes would not be the smartest answer.”

“Come on, Syd.” Shortening her name came easily and naturally, but he didn't have time to wonder why that was. “Just tell me what's on your mind.”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “I really need you to go out with me on a date.”

Chapter Two

“Y
ou probably think I'm a gold-digging stalker.”

“Why would I?” Burke was more curious and intrigued than anything else.

“Today at the garage you said your company owns the property on the hill that's going to be developed. As in the way people say my company is doing a hostile takeover but I just work for them and do what I'm told. As in a highly placed executive or something. It didn't cross my mind that you
owned
the company. I had no idea you were in the same league with Camille's family. The one where billionaires come to play.”

“Surprise.”

Sitting on the bar stool, she angled her body toward him. “And I hit on you!”

“It happens.”

“I just bet it does.” There was humor in her dark eyes.

Usually getting hit on turned him off. Sydney McKnight had the opposite effect. Color him shocked by this unexpected reaction to a small-town girl.

“Seriously, Burke, I wasn't hitting on you. Not exactly. Not you...you. Any single man who was in the right age group and happened to drive up at that moment would have done just as well.”

“Way to let the air out of my ego balloon.” He took a sip of his beer.

“I'm not being mean. Just honest.”

“I like that about you, the honesty part.” And so many other things. Like the graceful arch of her dark eyebrows. The way her full lips curved up as if she found something secretly amusing. And the intelligence sparkling in her eyes.

“The thing is, Burke—and I don't mean this in an offensive way—but what you think of me isn't my biggest problem.”

He rested his elbow on the edge of the bar and half turned toward her. “That would imply that you might be in a bit of a predicament.”

“That would be accurate.”

“I see.”

When he moved his leg, her knee bumped his thigh and it felt oddly intimate for a bar setting. More people had wandered in for drinks but it seemed as if he and Sydney were alone. He found himself wishing they were.

“Did I hurt your feelings, when I insinuated that your opinion of me isn't important? That certainly wasn't my intention.”

“Not at all. Do I look like my feelings are hurt?”

She sipped her white wine and studied him. “I don't know you well enough to make that determination. There was just an odd expression on your face.”

Hmm, she was very perceptive. He'd have to watch himself around her. “I assure you my feelings are just fine. So tell me about your problem.”

“Well it's like this. My father is a little skeptical about our relationship.”

Burke laughed. “Can you blame him? It does feel suspiciously like a scenario from a TV sitcom.”

“I don't know what came over me.” She sighed and shook her head. “You have no reason to believe this but I swear I've never done anything like that in my life. Accosting a strange man and pulling him into my situation.”

“
Accost
is sort of a strong word.”

She grinned. “I mean this in the nicest possible way, but you're very good at going with the flow. Lying without really telling an untruth.”

“Thank you, I think.”

“Seriously, it was very generous of you not to rat me out on the spot.”

“I'm a generous guy.”

“Why didn't you, by the way? Tell my dad I was crazy, I mean.”

That was a very good question and one he didn't really have an answer for. “Chalk it up to curiosity about what you were up to.”

She nodded, then looked down and toyed with her cocktail napkin. “The thing is...” Her gaze lifted, meeting his. “Dad wants proof that we're actually dating.”

“You mean like photographs with a time and date stamp? Movie-ticket stubs? Eyewitness accounts?”

“If only.” She sighed. “He wants to go out to dinner. A double date. You and me. Dad and Loretta—Mayor Goodson.” She held up a hand to stop any protest and went on quickly. “Just think about it. I swear this isn't a scheme to snag a wealthy husband, but I can see where you might think that.”

Normally that's exactly what he would think, followed quickly by the thought that it was a wasted effort. He would never get married again. Once was enough, and he'd learned he wasn't a very good husband. The best thing to come out of the relationship was his son, but he wasn't a very good father, either.

“I appreciate you hearing me out, Burke.” She finished the wine in her glass. “I love my father very much and would do anything to see that he's happy.”

“He's lucky to have a daughter like you.”

Frustration tightened her delicate features. “If he was really lucky, he'd have a daughter who was settled and he wouldn't have to worry about her. I think I'm a big disappointment to him.”

“I sincerely doubt that. And take it from me—settling down with the wrong person is a bigger problem than being alone.”

“Sounds like the voice of experience talking.” She studied him for a moment, then said, “But you don't have to tell me about it. That's personal, and on a need-to-know basis. I don't need to know.”

“There's not much to tell and if you really wanted the information it would be easy to do an online search.” He tapped his fingers on the bar. “Most people go into marriage believing it's the right thing and I'm no exception. It wasn't right. Things didn't work and we got a divorce. Completely amicable and civilized. Including dealing with the custody of our son.”

“You have a child.” It wasn't a question.

“Yes.” His fingers tightened on his beer bottle.

When he didn't say more, she nodded. “You know, I have this ridiculous urge to say I'm sorry. But it sounds like you're okay with everything.”

“I am.” Except for the fact that his son would always carry the scar of coming from a broken home and a mother who showed no interest in him.

“Anyway, think it over. My cell number is on the card I gave you.” She picked up her small purse from the bar and slid the strap onto her shoulder. “Give me a call and let me know if you're in for round two of this covert operation.”

“You're leaving?”

“Yes. I've taken up enough of your time.”

No, she hadn't taken up nearly enough, he thought. “But you dropped off my car. How are you going to get home?”

“I'll call Dad. Thanks for listening, Burke.” She slid to the edge of the bar chair, getting ready to go.

“Wait.” He put his hand over hers to stop her. “I have a question.”

“Okay. Shoot.” Her gaze lowered to where he was touching her, but she didn't pull away.

“I can't help thinking that every unattached guy in town would want to go out with you. Wouldn't you be better off with one of them?”

“I had one of them.” Her eyes darkened for a moment before she smiled, an expression with just the barest hint of bitterness. “It didn't work out. Ancient history.” She slid off the stool. “The fact is, you're the guy who had the bad luck to pull into McKnight Auto Repair at just that moment. I shot my mouth off and you went along with it. Now you're either in or you're not.”

“And what if I'm not?”

“My father will not propose to the woman he loves and live happily ever after. If you're okay with ruining his life...” A teasing smile turned up the corners of her full mouth. “No guilt.”

“Right. Guilt doesn't motivate me.” Unless Liam was the one using it. “But count me in.”

“Really?” A bright smile lit up her whole face. “You're sure?”

“Yes. I would love to have dinner with your father and the mayor. And you, of course.”

“Oh, Burke. I could kiss you.”

“Feel free,” he said generously.

“Right. You don't really mean that.”

Yes, he really did. “I'm happy to help.”

“I don't know why you're willing to go along with this but I'm grateful. Seriously, thanks.”

“You're welcome.”

Oddly enough it had been an easy decision. The simple answer was that he'd agreed because she asked and he wanted to see her again. Granted, he could have asked her out, but he'd already have had a black mark against him because of turning down her request. Now she owed him.

She leaned against the bar, a thoughtful look on her face. “I've never done anything like this before, but I know my father. He'll ask questions. In fact he already did. We're going to need a cover story. How we met. How long we've been dating. That sort of thing.”

“It makes sense to be prepared.”

“So we should get together soon and discuss it.”

“What about right now?” he suggested.

Her eyes widened. “You don't waste time, do you?”

“No time like the present. Have you already had dinner?”

She shook her head. “Why?”

“Do you have a date?” If not, there was a very real possibility that she'd changed into the red blazer, skinny jeans and heels just for him. Probably wanted to look her best while making her case. Still, he really hoped she wasn't meeting another guy.

She gave him an ironic look. “Seriously? If I was going out with someone, I wouldn't have asked you to participate in this crazy scheme.”

“Crazy? I don't know, it's a decent proposal.” He shrugged. “So you're free. Have dinner with me. What about the restaurant here at the lodge? It's pretty good.”

“The best in town.” But she shook her head. “Too intimate.”

So she didn't want to be alone with him. “Oh?”

“Something more public. People should see us together.” She snapped her fingers. “The Grizzly Bear Diner would be perfect.”

“I know the place. Both charming. And romantic.”

“You're either being a smart-ass or a snob.”

“Heaven forbid.”

“You haven't been there yet?” she asked.

“No, I have.”

He signaled the bartender and when she handed the bill to him, he took care of it. Then he settled his hand at the small of her back and said, “Let the adventure begin.”

* * *

Sydney sat in the passenger seat beside Burke as he expertly drove the expensive sports car from Blackwater Lake Lodge to the Grizzly Bear Diner on Main Street. She wasn't sure what she itched to get her hands on more—the steering wheel of the hot car, again, or the man holding it. She'd said she would have hit on any single man who happened to drive into McKnight's Automotive just then, but, wow, she couldn't imagine anyone more perfect.

She would be lying if she said him having money wasn't cool. But after talking in the bar, she was much more intrigued by his wit and sense of humor. There was a glint in his blue eyes that could be about mischief or something more sizzling and she didn't particularly care which.

“Here we are.” He pulled the car to a stop right in front of the diner.

“That's unusual.”

“What?”

She met his gaze. “Getting a spot out front. I guess since this is a weeknight and school just started up after the summer, it must be a slow night.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“Not really,” she said. “But more people would help spread the word to my dad that we're an item.”

He exited the driver's side and came around to open her door. Offering his hand to help her out, he said, “It doesn't look very crowded but we'll work with what we've got. Maximize resources.”

“Okay.”

When he locked the car and took her hand in his she was instantly stricken with a bad case of the tingles—from head to toe. Every nerve was on high alert and threatening to light up all her feminine hormones.

The buzz died when they walked inside and Syd recognized the new hostess, who just happened to be an old friend. Well, former friend. More of a frenemy. Violet Walker—actually it was Stewart now. The woman looked up from behind the wooden stand with the sign that said Please Wait To Be Seated. The automatic “welcome to the diner” smile froze on her face.

Still holding Syd's hand, Burke must have felt a reaction because he asked, “Something wrong?”

Other than the fact that she'd come face-to-face for the first time in years with her former bestie who'd stolen and married the man Syd had expected would propose to her?

“No,” she answered in a tight voice. “Everything's just peachy.”

They walked closer to the other woman and Syd said, “Hello, Violet.”

“Sydney. Hi.” The familiar blue eyes were filled with guilt.

“I didn't know you—and Charlie—were back.”

“Surprise.”

Syd was pretty much at her tolerance limit for surprises tonight. That didn't stop her from noticing that Violet's thick brunette hair was shorter, cut in an edgy bob that was very flattering.

“You look great, Syd.”

“So do you.”

That was no automatic response. Violet was curvier and it looked good on her. She'd always been too thin. If anything she was even prettier now than when she'd begged forgiveness for falling in love with Sydney's boyfriend.

Violet looked at the man still holding Syd's hand. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Holden.”

“It's Burke, remember?” His tone hinted that he'd said it more than once. But he'd said he knew the place, which probably meant he'd been here a few times.

“Right. You've been in here enough to know everyone's name.” The other woman's smile was strained. “Two for dinner?”

“Yes. A booth in the back if you have it.”

“Right this way.”

There weren't many people in the place, but all of them were long-time residents of Blackwater Lake who knew what had happened between the former best friends. As they walked clear to the back of the diner, Syd felt all of them looking, wondering, and decided a slow night had been a blessing in disguise. Not that news of her and Burke wouldn't spread, but it was easier to see Violet again in front of a smaller crowd.