A Decent Proposal (14 page)

She felt as if this was some kind of surreal board game and she'd just jumped to the end after skipping major steps in the process.

“What's wrong?” she finally asked.

“Nothing. It's all good.” He smiled at her as if that explained everything.

“I think I need just a little more information than that.”

“I've been thinking this over all night, but I can see where you'd need context.” He met her gaze with a “trust me” expression in his own eyes. “This makes really good sense.”

On what planet? she wanted to ask. With an effort she held back and tried not to make a judgment until hearing him out. “Explain it to me.”

“You like me—”

“What makes you so sure about that?” Right this minute she wasn't sure how she felt.

“Because you're not the kind of woman who goes to bed with a man unless she has feelings for him. Positive feelings. And believe me I know the difference.” His blue eyes darkened with intensity. “And Liam noticed it, too. He said you like me.”

“He did?” What was this? Junior high?

“Yes, he did.”

She knew she was bad at hiding her feelings but hadn't figured she was so obvious a kid would notice. She wasn't sure why this conversation and his proposal were putting her on the defensive, but his declaration made her want to push back. Except she couldn't deny she really liked him. That was the truth.

“Okay.”

“And I like you,” he added.

She had to take his word for that because he wasn't as obvious as she was. “Nice of you to say.”

“Liam likes you, too. And you're terrific with him.”

“He's a great kid.”

“See?” He beamed at her as if she was his star pupil. “We could be a family.”

That's what she'd always wanted. And her dad wanted it for her. It's what had made her approach Burke in the first place. But this was weird and was probably the reason he'd been acting differently last night.

“A few days ago we agreed to take it one day at a time.”

“And today I'm asking you to marry me.”

Skeptical and weird was not how she'd expected to feel when a man she cared very much about proposed to her. “What happened to change your mind? What's the rush, Burke? Are you going back to Chicago?”

“Eventually.”

“It's a cliché to say this is so sudden, but— This is so sudden. Why?”

His face took on a stubborn expression, not unlike his son when he didn't get what he wanted, when he wanted it and under the terms he requested.

“Why not?” he answered. “Think about what you'd have.”

This was beginning to sound like a business deal and a chill started in her stomach then spread slowly outward. “Spell it out for me.”

“First, there's a big house. Cars. I know you'd like that.” He thought for a moment. “You talked about traveling to some place warm in the winter.”

“Wow.”

“Hawaii. Florida.” He completely missed the underwhelming tone in her voice so when he went on she didn't interrupt. “Tahiti would work. Would you like to scuba dive? There's a reef on a small island in Micronesia that's supposed to be the best in the world for seeing manta rays.” He looked at her. “Have you been to Europe?”

“No.”

“I could take you there. It's spectacular. London. Paris. Rome. Venice. Florence. We could lease a private yacht and see them all.”

“And the only catch is that I have to marry you.”

His brows drew together. Frustration or annoyance? It wasn't clear. “I can take you away from all this...”

She remembered the night he'd surprised her with flowers and dinner. Such a romantic gesture it took her breath away. But it was also the night when he'd said he would never marry again. Followed by the statement that the only commitment he could make was to do what was best for his son.

This was a decent proposal, but it was coming from a place where it was best for Liam, which meant it would never work in the long term.

“If that's your best offer, you don't know me at all.”

There was a flash of something in his eyes and this time it was clearly anger. “We could be good together. You. Me. Liam—”

“No thank you, Burke.”

“Syd, think about this—”

“It's probably best if you go now.”

Since she was so easy to read, Syd turned away before he could see the expression in her eyes that would be a giveaway about how hard it was to turn him down. Without another word he left and she was alone. Alone with the realization that she'd said no because she was in love with him. Hell of a time to realize the truth of her feelings.

Now she understood why she'd been on the defensive when he made his case for marriage. He'd skipped the most important step.

The one where he told her he loved her.

Chapter Fourteen

S
yd was in no mood for a family get-together, but a girl didn't always get what she wanted. Thoughts of Burke Holden immediately came to mind along with the scene of his proposal here in her home just the day before. If she'd gotten her wish, he'd have asked her to marry him as if he really meant it. Not because she was his solution to a child-care problem.

Now she was standing in the kitchen with her dad, Loretta Goodson beside him, her brothers and their families gathered around the big, granite-topped island. They were all waiting.

Her father put his arm around the waist of the woman standing next to him. “I have an announcement to make.”

“You're pregnant,” Ben joked.

His pretty blonde wife, Camille, stared at him in mock horror. “You're a doctor. Remarks like that could start rumors that you skipped anatomy class.”

“I've heard that rumor.” His older brother, Alex, elbowed him. “There's another one currently circulating that he patched up a broken leg with Super Glue.”

“Why don't you guys just stuff a sock in it and let Dad speak,” Syd snapped. “Your daughters are more mature than you. I'd call you two-year-olds, but that would be an insult to toddlers.”

“Wow.” Alex looked at her, one eyebrow raised in surprise. “Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today.”

“That better not be a remark about this being that time of the month.” Even as Syd's anger shot into the stratosphere, she knew it was misplaced. Alex wasn't the man she wanted to verbally eviscerate.

“Why don't y'all quiet down and hear what your dad has to say.” There was something peacemakerish in Ellie McKnight's soothing Texas drawl. “And Alex, my love, apologize to your sister for that insensitive remark.”

“Whatever you want, sweetheart.” Alex leaned over and kissed his wife's cheek. “Syd, I'm sorry you're irritable and surly.”

“And I'm sorry you're a male chauvinist pig.” Somehow she managed to keep her tone teasing and everyone laughed.

“Okay, if you're all finished?” Tom looked around expectantly and everyone nodded. There were no more smart-aleck remarks. He took a deep breath. “I asked Loretta to marry me and she said yes.”

There was a moment of silence while the information sank in. No one was really surprised; they'd all known this was coming. And when the hush ended, whistles and words of congratulations started. It was clear that everyone approved. Then there was a lot of hugging and kissing.

Syd did her best to hide her romantic trouble. How ironic that her dalliance with Burke had started because of her determination to convince her dad he could and should move on with his life. The romantic pretense hadn't lasted long because she and Burke had a genuine connection and they never had to work at it. At least for her it was effortless. Her dad just made the announcement about getting married again and Syd couldn't let him know that she and Burke were not now—and never would be—a couple.

She looked around at her family. Her dad and his fiancée tenderly touching and kissing. Alex and Ellie, her arm through his, talking intimately. Ben swinging Cam into his arms for an impromptu dance around the kitchen. Her two little nieces exploring the only cupboard not child-proofed, pulling out the kid-friendly stuff inside as if they were getting away with something. It was crowded, loud, chaotic.

Syd had never felt more alone in her life.

If she didn't do something her dad would see there was a problem. “We need the right kind of liquor for a special toast. I'll run into town and see if I can get some champagne.”

“Not necessary.” Her father put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from leaving. “I stashed a couple of bottles in the garage refrigerator.”

“Then I'll go get it,” she offered.

“Let me,” Alex said. “You round up some glasses.”

“Okay.”

Too bad. A couple minutes in the solitude of the garage might have helped with an attitude adjustment. She'd been willing to go the extra mile to get her dad right where he was and didn't want to spoil this lovely memory with her bad mood. It was tough to be hearty when your heart was broken.

“We don't have champagne glasses,” she informed them. “Not even the plastic kind from New Year's Eve. Although it will offend my sister-in-law the hotel heiress's five-star sensibilities, I think wineglasses will work. I
propose
we do that.”

As intended, there were loud groans at her pun. Cam wrinkled her nose at the idea of champagne in the improper glass but conceded it was the best option. That didn't stop her from mumbling about a little warning and she could have arranged to borrow the right flutes from the lodge.

Ellie and Cam pitched in to help so that when Alex returned and popped the cork on the bottle, an eclectic group of glasses waited on the kitchen island. Seven to be exact. An odd number. Because Syd didn't have anyone.

As her vision blurred with tears, she was nudged aside while her brother poured the bubbly golden liquid. Then the glasses were handed out. The toddler girls got sippy cups with juice even though they were too little to understand what was happening around them.

“As the eldest son, I propose a toast,” Alex said. “To Dad and Loretta. Congratulations!”

Everyone sipped.

Then Ben cleared his throat. “As the second son, an heir and a spare,” he said, “way to go, Dad. Welcome to the family, Loretta.”

Loretta's eyes were suspiciously moist. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. It was important to Tom that you all approve, so I'm glad you do.”

“It was never Alex and Ben who worried me.”

Syd couldn't meet her father's gaze. He'd said something similar just before Burke had driven into the auto shop for the first time. The pain of that memory sliced clear to her soul and somehow she had to keep them all from seeing. It was her turn to propose a toast.

“Ben and Alex have memories of Dad with Mom, but I don't. To me there was always sadness in his eyes. Until Loretta.” She held up her glass. “To the woman who put a twinkle in my father's eyes. Thank you for making him smile again.”

Loretta hugged her, too moved to speak. There was a chorus of “aww” and then everyone drank.

When the excitement died down, the conversation turned to wedding plans. “This is going to be a short engagement. A week, maybe two,” her father said. “Just long enough to put together a simple ceremony at the church. Family and friends.”

“That would be pretty much the whole town of Blackwater Lake,” Alex pointed out.

“And we wouldn't have it any other way.” Loretta smiled up at the man she clearly adored. “As the mayor of this town, I have resources.”

“And she knows how to use them,” Tom said proudly. “This woman can delegate. But we're going to need everyone's help.”

“Anything you need, Dad.” Syd meant that with all her heart. After all, she'd propositioned a perfect stranger in order to move her father's romance along.

“I was hoping you'd say that.” Loretta met her gaze. “Because I'd like you to be my maid of honor.”

Syd's chest tightened as she reached out to hug the woman who would marry her father. “It would be my...honor.”

“Cam, Ellie, will you be co-matrons of honor?”

“Of course,” they both said at the same time.

While everyone was oohing and aahing over the engagement ring, Syd slipped quietly out the back door. She drew in a deep breath as the chill in the air cooled her face. The only light was what spilled from the kitchen. She'd never felt so much like she was on the outside with her nose pressed up against the window, wishing she had what everyone else did.

Finally all by herself, the tears she'd been fighting trickled down her cheeks. Her chest hurt from holding everything back and the realization dawned that in all her life she'd never been quite this miserable before.

She never heard the back door open, but suddenly strong arms came around her and pulled her into a comforting hug. Her father's familiar warmth wrapped around her.

“What's wrong, baby?”

The kindness and support just made her cry harder, but her dad silently held on until the sobs quieted.

“Oh, Daddy, you should go back in. I didn't want to spoil the celebration.”

“You're not spoiling anything.”

“I tried not to let anyone see how upset I am.”

“You're my girl.” He sighed. “I know you too well. When you snapped at Alex for making a joke, it was a dead giveaway. Usually you're the one leading the smart-aleck attack. You can't hide how you feel from your old man. Consider that a warning.”

“Understood.”

“Now,” he said, snuggling her a little closer, “tell me who made you cry.”

“Burke.” She sniffled. “He asked me to marry him.”

Tom gave her one last quick, hard hug before putting her away from him. Light from the window underscored his puzzled expression. “I'm sure there's a connection between the crying and the proposal, but for the life of me I can't figure it out. Do you want me to take him out back and beat the tar out of him because he
wants
to marry you?”

“Of course not.” She took a shuddering breath. “He told me once that he would never marry again. His wife was a selfish witch who doesn't want to be a wife and mother.”

“I'd say he chose poorly, but—”

She held up her hand. “And he also said that every decision he makes is based on what's best for his son. So the fact that he asked me to marry him really has nothing to do with me. With us.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“He never said he loved me—” An emotional lump in her throat blocked the rest of her words.

“I warned you not to get hurt, but I guess that's not something you can help.” Tom shook his head. “I'm really sorry, honey. It's likely you learned to be wary of love from me. And you should know that your mom would be very put out with me for teaching you that.”

“You didn't. It goes way back to when Charlie and Violet eloped.” She'd vowed not to get hurt again. The circumstances were different, but the result was the same. Her heart was crushed.

“The message your mom would stress is to take life in both hands and live every day as if it were your last.” He gently tapped her nose. “That's what you made me see when you concocted that ridiculous scheme to make me think you'd met the man you were going to marry.”

“Ironically he did ask. Even though it backfired on me, I stand by my decision to make you see that it's okay to be happy.”

“I appreciate that more than you'll ever know.”

She brushed away a tear that was rolling down her cheek. “I was afraid if you knew about Burke and me you'd call off the wedding. You're not, are you?”

Her dad shook his head. “That wouldn't fit with my new philosophy. I just want you to be as happy as I am.”

“I will be.” She gave him a quick hug. “And I want you to know that I don't need a man. I have my family and I know you guys are there for me.”

“Absolutely.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I have to get back. Do you need another minute by yourself?”

“Yeah. Thanks for understanding, Dad.”

“Anytime.”

After her meltdown at being the only single McKnight, Syd better understood her father's desire to see her settled. It seemed that for her, settled meant being by herself. What she'd had with Charlie wasn't a deep and lasting emotion; Burke had shown her the difference. She was in love with him and knew that losing him would hurt for the rest of her life.

As with her father, there would always be a sadness in her eyes.

* * *

Burke sat alone in a booth at the Grizzly Bear Diner and contemplated his half-eaten Papa Bear burger. The combo wasn't quite as appealing or exciting as the first time he'd ordered it, but everything had changed since then.

Liam was living with him, although tonight he was having dinner with his friend Todd. Burke had taken Syd to bed for amazingly nice sex. More important, the first Papa Bear burger experience had been before Syd fixed a hamburger for him at her house.

He was realizing that it was the company, not the food, that made everything taste better. And if the look on her face the last time he'd seen her was anything to go by, Burke wouldn't be getting another invitation to dinner at her house.

Maybe that was for the best. He'd hurt her and didn't want to do it again.

From his booth in the back he saw Mayor Goodson walk into the diner alone. She stopped at the hostess podium and chatted with Michelle Crawford, the diner owner, who was filling in for Violet Stewart. The two ladies were looking very serious about something, then the mayor smiled and lifted her left hand while Michelle thoroughly examined one of the fingers. The appraisal was followed by a hug.

Burke guessed that Loretta was showing off an engagement ring. If he was right, and he would put money on it, Tom McKnight had popped the question and his proposal had been accepted.

If Syd was here they could share a high five. Mission accomplished. But she wasn't here. Apparently Loretta was going to be, though. Michelle pointed in his direction and the mayor walked resolutely toward him.

“Hi, Burke.”

When she sat down across from him he decided they were apparently going to have a conversation.

He nodded. “Madam Mayor.”

“How are you?”

“Fine.” He looked at the diamond on her left ring finger. “It would appear that congratulations are in order.”

“Tom asked me to marry him.” She extended the hand and looked dreamily at the tangible proof of the engagement as if she still couldn't believe it was real. “We told the kids last night.”

By “the kids,” he was pretty sure she was referring to Alex, Ben and Syd, who had to be ecstatic about this turn of events. Her dad was finally moving forward with his life. If Burke had played any small part in the successful outcome, he was pleased. He would have been more pleased if Syd had personally passed along the news. He missed her.