A Decent Proposal. Teresa Southwick

has been telling him to get a life, but he wouldn’t. Recently my older brother dropped by the house unexpectedly and found Dad in a compromising situation with the mayor. I can’t say more or the idea of him with a woman—doing stuff in bed—will be burned in my brain and require years of therapy. Long story short, for close to a year they’ve been secretly dating.”

      “Way to go, Tom.” There was an admiring expression on Burke’s face when he glanced at the office doorway.

      She laughed, then grew serious. “He’s found love again.”

      “Good for him. But what does that have to do with you?”

      “He wants to ask the mayor to marry him but won’t get on with it because of me. Both of my brothers have gone all white-picket-fence and settled down. Marriage, babies, the whole deal. Dad wants the same for me. Or at least to know I’m dating and moving somewhere in the vicinity of settling down.”

      “I see.”

      “You probably think I’m crazy, and who could blame you? You just had the bad luck to arrive as I was being grilled like raw hamburger. I’d just told him a big fat lie about going out with someone. He wanted to know who and there you were. I’m terribly sorry to have dragged you into the madcap McKnight family like this. But I really do appreciate what you did.”

      “Like I said, very intriguing.” He slid his hands into his pockets. “What are you going to do now?”

      “Nothing. He’s met you. That gives him a visual and he’ll propose to Loretta and they’ll get married.”

      “Won’t you need a date for the wedding?”

      “You’ll be conveniently out of town.” She smiled at him. “After all, you’re a very busy man. And at just the right time I’ll share the news that you and I have broken up.”

      “Hmm.” The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Will I have dumped you?”

      She laughed. “Not after you were so understanding. The least I can do is take the blame. Or it will just be one of those things that didn’t work out. No one’s fault.”

      “But I’ll be heartbroken,” he protested.

      “Something tells me you’ll find someone to make it better.”

      “I’ve heard of speed dating,” he said, shaking his head, “but this is the fastest relationship I’ve ever had.”

      “Aren’t you glad you were in the right place at the right time?” Wow, he really was smooth. Looks, charm and wit made him a triple threat. The single ladies of Blackwater Lake would be forming a line, but Syd wouldn’t be in it. She wasn’t interested in complicating her life. “And that reminds me—what brings you to McKnight Automotive?”

      “Oil change.”

      “Okay. It’s on the house.” When he opened his mouth to protest, she said, “I insist. I told you I’d make it worth your while.”

      “All right. Thanks.”

      “You helped me out of a jam so it’s the least I can do. Want to wait for it? We have a comfortable lounge with coffee, soft drinks and snacks.”

      “No, someone is picking me up.” At that moment, a big, black SUV pulled into the driveway and parked behind the sports car. “As a matter of fact, there’s my ride.”

      “Give me a number where I can reach you when it’s ready,” she said.

      Burke pulled a business card out of his wallet and handed it over. “Thanks, Sydney Marie McKnight.”

      “No—thank you.”

      Burke smiled, then walked to the passenger side of the car and got in. The vehicle drove out of the lot and she watched until the taillights disappeared down the street.

      Tom came out of the office. “Someone needs a tow out on Lakeview Drive. I’ll take care of it.”

      “Okay.”

      “Burke seems like a nice young man.”

      “He is.” It wasn’t every guy who would get sucked into a scenario like that and just go with it. Points to the handsome stranger.

      “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