A Decent Proposal. Teresa Southwick

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.

      Violet stopped at an empty booth. “How’s this?”

      “Perfect,” Burke responded.

      “Enjoy your dinner.” The words were professional and matched the smile on her face.

      When she was gone and they were seated across the table from each other, Burke asked, “So, want to tell me what that was all about?”

      “Not really, no.”

      He opened his mouth to ask more, but the diner owner walked over. Michelle Crawford, a brunette whose hair was streaked with silver, was somewhere in her fifties. Her brown eyes were filled with concern.

      “Hi,