A Decent Proposal. Teresa Southwick
romantic,” he commented. “That works.”
“Sure does. It’s the explanation I got from my dad about why he kept his romance with Mayor Goodson under wraps. A lot longer than what you and I are talking about.” She was still irked about his secrecy. This small charade with Burke might be a little bit about payback. And her comment that she was made of sterner stuff wasn’t just hot air. She could have handled the news about his new relationship. “I’m too old for him to give me the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ line.”
They discussed things and tossed questions back and forth until he held up his hands in surrender. “I feel as if I should be taking notes.”
“You’re right.” She nodded. “Kiss rule.”
“Excuse me?” One eyebrow rose questioningly. The look in his blue eyes turned a little sharper, a little sexier and a lot interested.
“K-I-S-S. Keep it simple, stupid.”
“Ah.” His gaze never left hers and the intensity level escalated.
“You were thinking something else?”
“Yes. And before you judge, remember this is logical.”
“Enlighten me,” she said drily.
“We may be forced into kissing. After all this—you and me as a couple—needs to be convincing.”
Their burgers were delivered, breaking the sensuous spell. But all through dinner she had a hard time not staring at his mouth and wondering what his lips would feel like against her own. Was he a good kisser? She would put money on it.
Sydney found she was looking forward to “dating” Burke Holden and was intrigued at the prospect of kissing him.
Two days after his strategy session with Sydney at the diner, Burke was sitting in the five-star restaurant at Blackwater Lake Lodge nursing a Scotch while waiting for her to join him with her father and the mayor. He was watching when Tom McKnight and Mayor Loretta Goodson walked in with a stunning, dark-haired woman wearing a little black dress. He recognized Sydney, but...holy shoot, it felt as if all the blood drained from his head and proceeded to points south of his belt. Fortunately muscle memory and manners took over so he was able to not embarrass himself and politely stand up as the trio approached.
Burke held out his hand to the older man and said, “It’s good to see you again, sir.”
“Likewise.” Tom McKnight looked at the older woman beside him. “I think you already know Loretta?”
“We’ve had a number of meetings about the resort.” Burke shook her hand. “Madam Mayor, it’s always a pleasure.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Burke.” Loretta Goodson was a very attractive brunette and probably looked a whole lot younger than she actually was. All those meetings had proved that she was a tough negotiator who cared deeply about her town.
Syd smiled up at him. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” He slid his arm loosely around her waist and bent to kiss her cheek. It wasn’t the way he really wanted to kiss her for the first time, but appropriate for the situation. “Why don’t we all sit.”
“Good idea,” Syd agreed.
The Fireside Restaurant service was impeccable and tonight was no exception. When the newcomers were seated, their waiter appeared to take drink orders, then promised to give them time before bringing over dinner menus.
“So, where did you two meet?” Tom didn’t waste any time and had come right to the point.
Since the man was looking directly at him Burke fielded the question. “I’m something of a movie buff and when you’re alone in a new town it’s an entertaining place to kill a couple of hours.”
“Syd likes movies, too.” Fortunately her dad jumped to the implied conclusion. “But how is it you managed to keep secret the fact that you’re seeing my daughter?”
“Come on, Dad,” Syd admonished. “Isn’t that a little like the pot calling the kettle black?”
“She has a point, Tom.” Loretta’s voice was quiet but firm. “We’ve been seeing each other for months. I know some of that was about protecting your children, but part of it was about keeping it just for us.”
Burke looked at Syd who had an “I told you so” expression in her eyes. She’d definitely called that one.
The waiter brought their drinks, then came back with menus when Burke gave him the signal. It was quiet at the table as everyone scrutinized the choices. He’d eaten here enough in the last few weeks to know what he wanted and would much rather have looked Sydney over. Tonight she’d pulled her hair off her face and back into a messy side bun, leaving her neck bare.
The urge to taste her skin just below her ear was very powerful and if the two of them were alone at a quiet table in the shadows, that’s exactly what he would have done. The strong attraction he felt certainly helped to pull off the pretense of having an interest in her because it really wasn’t a pretense.
He was interested.
When everyone was ready the waiter took their orders. As it happened, he and Sydney chose almost the same things. Fireside chopped salad, although she asked for it without blue cheese crumbles. Filet mignon, medium rare. Baked potato with sour cream, butter and chives on the side.
Syd gave him a look that was half saucy, half surprised. “You have good taste.”
Tom’s expression was still just this side of skeptical. “He hasn’t brought you here before?”
“If he had, you would have known about it,” his daughter reminded him. “Camille owns the place and is normally the soul of discretion when it comes to lodge guests. But family is a different matter entirely. She couldn’t keep something like that from you.”
“It’s a good quality in a daughter-in-law.” Tom leveled his gaze at Burke as if to say he’d better have equally good qualities.
“Toast.” Loretta raised her glass of white wine. “To new beginnings and happy endings.”
They all touched glasses then took a sip of their respective drinks. When he glanced at Syd, he noticed a guilty look on her face and questioned whether or not he would have recognized the expression if he wasn’t in on this scheme of hers. It made him wonder about her growing up and who better to ask than her father.
“What was Sydney like when she was a little girl?”
The older man looked fondly at his daughter. “Stubborn. Determined to get her way. She didn’t like dolls the way other little girls did, but that could be from having two older brothers.” He grinned. “Of course, she had me wrapped around her little finger.”
“You did a wonderful job raising her,” Burke said and sincerely meant it.
“She raised herself.”
Loretta shook her head and put her hand on his arm. “You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit, Tom. I know how difficult that time was for you, suddenly losing your wife. Then you were thrown into the deep end of the pool with two young boys and an infant daughter to bring up by yourself, while running your own business. The McKnight kids didn’t get to be successful adults without your guidance and being a steady role model for them.”
“You’re making me blush.” He took Loretta’s hand in his own and smiled tenderly at her.
“I could go on torturing you,” she teased. “I know how you hate to have anyone singing your praises.”
Burke watched the older couple banter and laugh, comfortable with each other and clearly in love. From what Syd had said and Loretta