A Decent Proposal (7 page)

“What do you say we put it behind us?”

“Are you sure?” There was hope in the other woman's eyes. “I think that would be wonderful, but can you forgive and forget?”

“No doubt about it. I already have.”

“That's really a load off my mind.” Violet's smile was genuine and relaxed now. “I'm so glad.”

“Me, too.” She studied her friend—maybe not best friends forever, but definitely friends again. “And I have to say that you look fantastic. You were always beautiful, but the whole maternal, wifely thing is working for you. What's your secret? You're positively glowing.”

“Funny you should phrase it like that.” She paused dramatically. “I'm going to have another baby.”

“Oh, my. Congratulations.” Syd honestly meant it, even though that pesky envy poked her again. “That's wonderful. Is Charlie happy about it?”

“Ecstatic.”

Lucky Violet, she thought.

Every life was filled with peaks and valleys, but this news seemed to make her own valley even deeper. It was off the map of reason, but when Burke had said unequivocally that his future did not have a place in it for more children, Syd had been disappointed on a level that made no sense.

Now the news of her friend's pregnancy made her disappointment even more acute.

There was an explanation for this reaction, but she didn't even want to think about it. She took his revelation as a warning to avoid trouble ahead. If the incident with Violet and Charlie had taught her anything it was that knowing the bad was better than getting blindsided.

* * *

After work Sydney walked into Bar None, Blackwater Lake's local drinking establishment. It was rugged and rustic, with dark beams overhead and a wood plank floor. Illumination came from lantern-shaped lights scattered throughout the place in booths and on tables. In the center of the room was the big, rectangular oak bar with brass foot rail. This was a weeknight so not many of the swivel stools were occupied, but a quick glance at the men and women told her none of them were the friend she was meeting.

She scanned the booths lining the exterior then spotted a woman waving. Maggie Potter was sitting at a bistro table in the far corner and Syd headed that way.

She hoisted herself up onto the chair across from her friend. “Hi.”

“Hey, yourself.” The pretty, dark-eyed brunette smiled.

“Sorry I'm late. Have you been here long?”

“Just a few minutes. Long enough to order our usual.”

White wine. This was a standing date for them and nine times out of ten a glass of Chardonnay was involved along with something to eat. The food was different from the diner, which was a more family-oriented place. Bar None had a happy-hour menu that suited Syd and Maggie, two single ladies on the town.

“So, where's that adorable little girl of yours tonight?”

A tender expression settled on Maggie's face. “She's staying with Uncle Brady and her soon-to-be-official Aunt Olivia. Just between you and me, I think they want to start a family soon and are practicing on Danielle.”

“Have they set a date?”

“No. All we get are a lot of maybe Christmas. Or Valentine's Day. I think it will be spur-of-the-moment. And small.”

“Sounds nice.”

Maggie nodded. “In the meantime I'm happy to let them dote on my little girl. I love Danielle more than anything, but I do so enjoy a break from her.”

Syd figured that was because her friend was both mother and father to the child. Maggie's husband had been a soldier and died in Afghanistan before his daughter was born.

She thought about Burke, a single father who thought he was doing a bad job of parenting. She didn't believe that. The reality was that sometimes kids got dealt a lousy hand but that didn't mean they couldn't thrive in spite of it.

Just then the owner of the establishment carried over two glasses of wine. Delanie Carlson was somewhere in her twenties, a curvy, blue-eyed redhead. She'd inherited Bar None when her father passed away last year. Syd knew that she'd gone through some rough times financially and was one of the Blackwater Lake business owners who would benefit from the resort being built. To make ends meet, she'd rented out rooms over the bar, but there was bound to be a spike in revenue during construction as well as when the visitor count jumped after opening.

“Here you go, ladies.” Delanie put a wineglass in front of each of them. “Are you ready to order or do you need another minute?”

Syd glanced at her unopened menu. “I haven't had a chance to look over the choices.”

Dee grinned. “It hasn't changed since last week. Or the week before that. Or—”

“Are you implying I should know it by heart?”

“
Implying
would be more diplomatic than saying straight out that surely you have it memorized by now. So I guess you could say I'm just implying.”

Syd laughed. “It's a good thing we're friends or I could take that the wrong way.”

“Okay. Enjoy the wine. I'll be back.”

Maggie watched the bar owner walk away, then said, “Speaking of friends...I heard you and Violet ran into each other at the park dedication. How did that go?”

“If it hadn't been civilized, you wouldn't have to ask.” She took a sip of her wine and savored the crisp, cold liquid. “Coincidentally, I saw her today at the shop. She brought her car in for service.”

Maggie's dark eyes widened. “Wow. Is there anything I should know?”

“We talked. She apologized, which wasn't necessary since she already did a long time ago. I just wasn't ready to listen then.” She shrugged. “They're happy and have a beautiful family.”

“And you're envious,” her friend commented.

“Not that she's with Charlie. Just that she has a husband and children.” Syd remembered the news. “And she's pregnant again. I'm happy for her. And I'm so over what happened.”

“So you're friends again?”

“I'd say so. Not like we were but—” Syd was distracted when the front door opened and Burke walked in. He glanced around as if looking for someone, then his gaze settled on her and he headed over.

“What a pleasant surprise. You didn't mention you'd be here tonight.” He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss.

“I didn't?”

She knew she hadn't because the information was on a need-to-know basis and he didn't need to know. He was playing the part of boyfriend to perfection and she couldn't help wondering why he was so good at deception. She needed to act like his girlfriend and found it far too easy to do that. And, gosh darn it, she wanted a much longer kiss than that paltry peck on the mouth. She felt as if her head was going to explode.

“I don't think we've met. Burke Holden,” he said to Maggie.

She shook his hand. “Maggie Potter. I own the ice cream parlor and the adjacent lunch counter with my business partner. I've heard you've been in and I'm sorry I missed you. I'm always in the office upstairs.”

Syd resisted the urge to shake her head to clear it. “Maggie and I get together here at Bar None about once a week for a girls' night.”

“I didn't mean to interrupt.”

“That's okay,” Maggie said. “It's nice to finally put a name and face together.”

And what a face he had, Syd wanted to say. If only he was shallow the way so many handsome men were, their understanding would be much less complicated.

“It's nice to meet you, Maggie.” He looked at the door when it opened and a man walked in. “Speaking of meeting...I'm here on business and he just walked in.”

“Don't let us keep you.” Syd made the mistake of looking into his deep blue eyes and felt as if she'd been sucked into a vortex. The problem was that she didn't know whether or not she wanted out.

“I wish you
could
keep me,” he said with feeling. “It would be a lot more fun. Even if I did crash a girls' night.” There was genuine regret in the look he gave Maggie. “I hope I'll see you again soon.”

“Me, too.”

“I'll call you, Syd.” And then he walked over and shook hands with the newcomer before settling in a booth on the other side of the bar.

She might not be able to see him, but Syd knew he was in the room. All his intensity just seemed to alter the molecular composition of air.

“So,” Maggie said. “Is he the reason you're over Violet stealing your boyfriend?”

“I was over it long before Burke came to town.”

“Okay,” her friend said. “Looked to me as if you like him a lot.”

“Really?” Syd met her friend's gaze. “What did I do?”

“Hard to put into words. Just a feeling.” Maggie looked thoughtful. “The best way to describe it is that you looked at Burke the way Olivia does my brother, Brady. And she's in love with him.”

Oh, dear God.
It didn't mean anything. Really, it was all about reacting to a good-looking man and had nothing to do with deeper feelings, she told herself.

She just hoped herself wasn't telling a lie.

“We're just good friends,” she explained.

“I hope so.” There was concern swirling in Maggie's eyes. “Because I've heard he's here to get the resort project going.”

“I'm not sure why that bothers you but I can see that it does.”

“I'm worried because his home is in Chicago. Or so I've been told.”

“That's true,” Sydney confirmed.

“Have you thought about what happens to you when he leaves Blackwater Lake to go back to his home base? I don't think it's a stretch to say that you're not open to relocating.”

True, Syd thought. Her family was here and so was her job. But it was more than that. Someday she would take over the business her father had built.

“We've talked a little.” That wasn't a complete lie. They did talk when together. Just not about where they were going from here because there was no
here
. “We just figure that things will work out when the time comes.”

That also wasn't a lie. In the beginning they'd talked about what would happen at the end. So, she was beginning to get the hang of telling half truths. Her father would be so proud.

“Please don't think I'm prying. I just don't want to see you hurt again,” Maggie said.

“I understand.” And she did. But enough about her. “So how's the business expansion working for you?”

“Good.” Maggie sipped her wine. “I'm planning to run an ad in the paper to rent out my two upstairs bedrooms to pay for it.”

Syd picked up her wineglass and took a sip, then asked, “Why?”

“I have a business loan and need to put away all the money I can. Just in case.”

“But your brother owns a very successful technology company. Call it a wild guess, but wouldn't he help you out if necessary?”

“Yes. But I wouldn't ask or take anything from him.” Her friend's dark eyes grew darker, a sign she was thinking about the husband she'd lost far too soon. “It's something I need to do on my own. For Danny. When we got married it was clear that my brother was on his way and would be incredibly successful. Danny was always trying to prove himself. He wouldn't have wanted me to take Brady's help.”

“And renting the rooms?”

“Everyone knows when construction starts on the resort there will be a shortage of places to live. I already have someone lined up, an older woman I know who lost her husband, too. And anyone else who expresses interest in the other room for rent can be checked out. I've already talked to Sheriff Fletcher about that.” She shrugged. “There's an outside entrance, which makes the upstairs more separate. I'll provide breakfast and dinner. It's all worked out. It's very trendy and can be really lucrative.”

Syd recalled what Burke had said about the scarcity of places to stay here in Blackwater Lake. There was a lot of potential for profit. And when it came to the husband Maggie had lost, Syd had learned that there was no changing Maggie's mind once it was made up.

“I'm sure it will work out great,” she said.

Just then Delanie came over and it was time to put in their orders. While her friend chatted with the bar owner, Syd heard Burke's laugh from the other side of the room.

At some point she wouldn't have the opportunity to run in to him anywhere in Blackwater Lake because he would be gone. His leaving eventually was what made him perfect for this assignment. The fact that he lived somewhere else would be a convenient excuse for an amicable breakup. Before that happened, hopefully her father would feel comfortable enough about his daughter's future to marry Loretta. And when the time was right, Syd would end her charade with Burke.

The sooner the better—because far too often she looked at him and started thinking, what if they really had something? The problem was that
something
opened the door to everything and that was the foundation for pain and disappointment.

Wondering what might have been came with no risk and she was good with that.

Chapter Seven

B
urke wasn't a spontaneous guy. So, by definition, buying a bouquet of flowers and heading to a woman's house without calling first to ask her to dinner was something he didn't do.

Except he was doing it.

He was almost to Sydney's house with flowers and planned to ask her to dinner. A fancy dinner at Fireside. It wasn't clear whether the high altitude and lack of oxygen here in the Montana mountains was causing this uncharacteristic behavior, or if there was something else going on. Whatever was responsible didn't matter. When the idea had popped into his mind, he couldn't shake it loose no matter how hard he tried. And he'd definitely tried.

He turned the car into her driveway and parked in front of the house. It was a modest-sized beige craftsman-style with a porch, two dormers and chocolate-brown shutters framing the windows. The two vehicles there belonged to Syd and her dad, which meant they were both home. So far, so good.

He grabbed the cellophane-wrapped bouquet resting on the passenger seat, hoping she hadn't started dinner yet. If so, he planned to charm her into putting it away for tomorrow. After exiting the car, he walked to the front door and rang the bell.

Almost immediately Tom McKnight answered, car keys in hand. Apparently he was on his way out. Looking at the flowers he said, “For me? You shouldn't have.”

“If I'd known you were a bouquet kind of guy, I'd have brought two. But these are for Sydney.”

“Nice move.” Tom nodded approvingly. “I'm on my way to Loretta's and I think I'm going to take a play from your book. Where'd you get these?”

“The grocery store on Main Street. Although I'm told there won't be any soon. In the fall and winter it's a challenge to stock them.”

“Thanks for the tip.” Her father met his gaze. “Syd didn't say anything. Did she know you were coming?”

“No. I wanted to surprise her. Take her to dinner.”

Again the man nodded his approval. “As the ladies would say, you're not just another pretty face, Holden. You've got style. But don't keep her out too late.”

“Yes, sir.”

“'Bye, Syd. Don't expect me back tonight. And Burke is here,” he called over his shoulder before walking to his truck.

Moments later Syd stood in the doorway and was staring at the flowers as if they were an especially big, hairy spider. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

“With flowers?” Her tone said that was a breach of contract.

“Yes.” He noted her skeptical expression. “Unless it's illegal in Montana for a guy to surprise a girl with flowers.”

“It's definitely a surprise.”

For him, too. This wasn't going quite the way he'd thought it would. “In case it's not clear, these are for you.”

“Thanks.” She took the bouquet he offered but held it as if she expected something to jump out and bite her.

“What's wrong?”

“That's what I'd like to know.”

“Does there have to be a crisis for me to bring flowers and ask you to put on that little black dress so I can take you to dinner?”

“Yeah. Kind of. Our agreement isn't about bouquets and surprises—” She stopped and her eyes widened as if a light went on. “Oh, I get it. Nice move.”

That's the second time a McKnight had said those words to him but he had a sneaking suspicion each of them meant something different.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

“Oh. Sure.” She stepped back as he entered, then closed the door behind him.

“So,” he said, “what is it you think I'm doing?”

“This ‘surprise' is all about convincing Dad that we're a couple.”

“Actually, I—”

“It's a great idea, Burke. And it worked better than you probably even expected.”

“How so?” He certainly hadn't expected this but he wouldn't call it better.

“You surprise me with flowers and dinner in front of Dad. Color him impressed. But he's on his way to Loretta's and won't be back tonight.” She beamed as if that's all there was to it.

“And?” he prompted.

“Dad bought the act completely. He thinks you walk on water and you don't even have to take me out.”

Burke didn't know whether to shake her or kiss her. But since it appeared that she was trying to get out of spending time with him, he figured the best move was to do none of the above.

“What if I want to take you out?”

She blinked up at him as if that question came from out of nowhere. “Then I would have to say that comes under the heading of changing the rules. Seriously, I really appreciate your help. But I think we can consider this date number two.” Apparently she noticed his frown because she added, “I'm just trying to make this as easy as possible for you.”

That attitude in a woman was refreshing. His ex had always seemed to make things as hard as possible. Except with their son. She'd wanted no part of the responsibility of raising a child. In its own way, that was hard, too. Not for him, but for Liam.

“I'm not sure we should be counting dates,” he finally said. “Things should unfold organically.”

“That word.
Organic.
What does it mean? Why can't people just say natural?” The wary look was back. “We agreed to a certain number of times going out. Why shouldn't we count?”

“Because I really want to take you to dinner.”

“Again I have to ask—why?”

That was the big question and he didn't have a really good answer. The truth was that ever since running in to her at Bar None last night, he couldn't stop thinking about her. He'd wanted to kiss her. Technically he had done that, but it wasn't the way he really wanted to kiss her. Since he couldn't get her off his mind, it followed that he wanted to see her tonight. If he had to put a finer point on this he'd chalk it up to loneliness, to living in a hotel without the comforts of home or family. That was as complicated as he was willing to get.

“I don't like eating alone.” He slid his fingers into the pockets of his suit pants. “Look at it as doing me a favor.”

“And I can't go like this?” She was weakening.

He inspected her yellow T-shirt, thin and worn in the most interesting places just like her jeans, and bare feet with hot-pink painted toenails. A need that had nothing to do with food tightened inside him. He would give almost anything to get her out of those clothes until all she had on was the sexy polish on her toes.

He cleared his throat. “As fetching as you look, your outfit is more appropriate for the diner than Fireside.”

“Really? You want to spring for a nice dinner?”

“Yes.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he put a finger to her lips to stop the words. “Don't ask me why.”

“I wasn't going to.”

“Yes, you were.” He turned her toward the stairs. “Now go change. I'm starving.”

“And I'm getting the most expensive meal on the menu,” she said over her shoulder as she hurried up the stairs.

And worth every penny,
he thought.

While waiting for her to change, he stared out the front window and savored his triumph. He was looking forward to spending the evening with a beautiful woman. There was something to be said for overcoming a challenge, but the truth was he wouldn't have taken no for an answer.

He hadn't had to work this hard for a date since he was a teenager, and probably not even then. For some reason he felt more satisfaction from wearing down Syd than he'd ever felt with any other woman.

* * *

Syd looked across the candlelit table at Burke. She was having a wonderful time since agreeing to come here. But flowers? A surprise dinner invitation from her pretend boyfriend? Who could blame her for being skittish? This...thing...between her and Burke Holden was feeling less like an agreement and more like
dating
.

At the moment she couldn't find the will to care what it was called. She'd made good on her vow to order the most expensive item on the menu. Actually Burke had asked if she liked steak and lobster. When she'd said yes, he told the waiter she would have that. It was too much food so she'd scarfed down the lobster and the steak was going to be tomorrow's lunch. Now she was rocking a lovely wine glow and sharing a piece of the best chocolate cake in Montana with the handsome man who'd brought her here.

And how cute was he?

A question she had no desire to answer because it opened the door to stuff she would rather not think about. Preferably ever.

“I'll be sure to let Uncle John know how nice you're being to me,” she teased. “We could take a selfie and text it to him.”

“No, we can't.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you're a stick-in-the-mud?”

“I've been called worse,” he said.

“Tell me.”

He shook his head. “It's not something I'm comfortable repeating in polite company.”

“Who said I was polite?” she responded.

“Maybe not, but you're a woman.”

The way his voice dropped and got all husky on that word put a hitch in her breathing. His eyes took on an expression that was focused and intense, making her wonder what he would do if they were alone. And speaking of alone, she had a question.

“So you don't like eating by yourself?”

“I prefer company.” The corner of his mouth curved up.

She dragged her fork through the thick chocolate icing, then looked at him. “Realistically you could have talked almost anyone in Blackwater Lake into going to dinner with you. But you brought me flowers and showed up without warning to surprise me. Why?”

“I'm particular about dinner companions. How would it look if I brought another woman here?” He met her gaze. “We haven't accomplished our mission yet.”

“I guess, based on our original agreement, I just don't understand why you would go to so much trouble,” she said.

“Okay, let me explain.” He set down his fork and met her gaze. “I like you, Sydney. Sooner or later I would have asked you out if you hadn't hit on me first.”

“I didn't hit on you,” she protested. “You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If Phil the plumber had driven up at that moment I'd have hit on—” She stopped and cleared her throat. “I mean, I would have asked for his help with my problem.”

“Maybe.” His tone said he didn't believe that for a minute. “The fact is we did meet. And I agreed to your proposal. Although I don't think the ruse is necessary.”

Aha, he had a purpose. The flowers and surprise were about sweetening the deal. “So you think I should tell my dad the truth? You want out of the agreement because you don't want to see me?”

“Not at all. I agreed to help move your father along in the courting process. Although I don't think the ruse is necessary to accomplish that objective.”

“Why not?”

“Because your father will get where he needs to be when it feels right to him. And not because you are or are not in a committed relationship of your own.”

“Then why are you helping me?” she asked.

“I very much want to see you. That's what the flowers and surprise were all about.”

“You want to date me?”

“Yes.”

On a scale of one to ten this was a fifteen on the surprise scale. “Why?”

His expression was ironic, as if to say “you really don't know?”

“Because I want to get to know you better. You're a beautiful and interesting woman.”

“Wow.” This was a first for her and she didn't know what to say to that.

“I like you. I'm attracted to you.”

Translation: he wanted to sleep with her. She let that idea kick around for a few seconds and realized she had no opposition to that scenario.

“Okay.”

“But I feel the necessity to be completely honest. I'm not the kind of guy your father wants for you.”

“And you know this...how?”

“I meant what I said that night in your brother's backyard. I've been married and don't plan to do it again. There won't be more children. The only commitment I can make is to be Liam's father and do what's best for him.”

“That's as it should be,” she agreed.

“So, what do you say?”

“I don't remember the question,” she lied.

“Are you okay with us going out? Having fun. No strings, no promises?”

She was much more comfortable with pretending to have fun with him, but had to admit she always had fun with him and that had nothing to do with their deal. That reaction was unexpected although maybe she should have expected something considering how strong her attraction had been to him from the beginning.

“Syd?”

She looked up. “Can I think about it?”

“Of course.” He reached across the table and rested his hand over hers. “And whatever your answer is, I will keep my word in regard to our agreement.”

“That's very decent of you.”

“I'm a decent guy.”

His sudden grin would melt the heart of any woman who was still breathing and Syd was no exception. How was she supposed to resist that?

The intensity was starting to close in on her. “You call yourself decent? In spite of the worst unrepeatable things people have said about you?”

“They were just frustrated.”

He lifted a hand to signal the waiter for the check. When it was taken care of, they left the restaurant and walked outside to his car.

“It's a beautiful night.” Syd took a deep breath, pulling the cool, clean mountain air into her lungs. “I love this time of year. Soaking up the good weather for as long as possible.”

“Does the cold get to you? Chicago winters are pretty intense, too.”

“No.” She thought about the question. “I guess I'm used to subzero temperatures from time to time.”