Teresa Southwick - A Decent Proposal

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HER KNIGHT IN A SHINING AUTOSydney McKnight is looking for Mr. Convenient, not Mr. Right. Her dad insists that Syd be settled…so she asks the first guy she sees to act as her boyfriend. This gorgeous stranger is magnetic, but Sydney has sacrificed her heart before. She isn't about to give it away, even to a man who revs her engine like none other!Burke Holden is taken aback when Sydney requests he be her pretend paramour. After all, the single dad hasn't exactly been Mr. Romance since his ex left him and their son. But as he gets to know lovely Sydney, the bachelor might be willing to give love another shot. Will Sydney and Burke drive off into the sunset on their happily-ever-after…or will the past throw a wrench in their fairy-tale ending?

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“Who?”

She blinked up at her father. “What?”

“Who are you dating?”

Her gaze slid to the stranger and she thought maybe white knights did ride to the rescue. It was worth a shot. What could happen? Even if this backfired, maybe her dad would get the message that she was serious about convincing him to back off.

“Him.” She angled her head. “I’m going out with him.”

Before her father could turn and look, she was on her way over to the man. Stopping in front of him she looked up and said in a low voice, “I will forever be in your debt if you go with me on what’s about to happen. It’s a family thing.” She put a fair amount of pleading into her tone and her expression. “I’m begging you. And I’ll make it up to you. I swear.”

One corner of his mouth rose but with the sunglasses she couldn’t see his expression. Her father joined them and there wasn’t time for the stranger to respond.

“Sydney Marie McKnight, what in the world is going on? You’ve got some explaining to do.”

“This is my dad, Tom McKnight.” She slid her hand into the man’s large palm and smiled up at him. “Dad, this is... This is the man I’ve been going out with.” Dear God, she didn’t know his name! She was holding his hand and didn’t feel a wedding ring, so that was something.

The man she’d “been going out with” pushed the sunglasses to the top of his head. Amusement sparkled in his eyes. They were blue—a shade just on the other side of piercing and guaranteed to make a woman weak in the knees.

“Nice to meet you, sir.” He held out his right hand. “Burke Holden.”

Okay, then. The sports-car-driving, expensive-suit-wearing stranger didn’t plan to rat her out just yet.

Her father shook the man’s hand, but suspicion was written all over his face. “So you’re going out with my daughter.”

“That’s what she tells me.”

Very smooth, she thought. Quick, too. Fate would no doubt charge an exorbitant fee for putting a man with exactly the right skill set directly in her path. But that was a problem for another time.

“I haven’t seen you around Blackwater Lake.” Tom folded his arms over his chest.

“My company owns that property up on the mountain.” It wasn’t a direct response, just the insinuation that he’d been spending a lot of time here.

“Where the new resort is going to be.”

“Yes, sir.”

Syd liked the feel of her hand in the stranger’s since the contact made it much easier to play this part. “You know better than anyone, Dad, that Mayor Goodson has worked hard to promote expansion in Blackwater Lake. She’s determined to do it in a responsible, balanced way—not duplicating established businesses but attract new ones. And that will create the need for more services, jobs, build the tax base in a slow, steady, stable way. More people move to town and their cars need maintenance and repair.”

“Part of the resort deal includes building a small regional airport,” Burke explained. “There’s no point in expanding anything without giving folks transportation choices to get here more easily.”

“Makes sense.” Tom nodded. “So you’re not looking to put Blackwater Lake Lodge out of business? Because my daughter-in-law owns it.”

Her family did actually, but Syd decided to keep that thought to herself. Camille Halliday McKnight had married her doctor brother, Ben. In the beginning, she’d had her doubts about the heiress but Cam was the sweetest, most down-to-earth filthy rich person Syd had ever met. And her brother was happy, which was the most important thing.

“No, sir. My company is interested in building condominiums with retail space below. A mixed-use development. The project is big enough to bring in revenue to existing local businesses. Workers will need lodging and food. It’s a win for everyone.”

“Maybe.” Eyes narrowed, Tom looked down at her but directed the next question to Burke. “How long have you known my daughter?”

Oh, boy. Time to jump in and help. “Dad, have you ever met someone and right from the beginning you felt as if you’d known them your whole life?”

“No. And in case you’re wondering, I noticed you didn’t answer the question.”

“Look, Dad—” The sound of the office phone ringing interrupted.

“I’ll get it. But we’re not finished with this, Sydney.” Her father gave her a dad look then headed inside to answer the call.

When they were alone, Syd blew out a long breath. “Thanks for going along, Mr. Holden—”

“Burke, please. After all, we’re going out. I’m the guy you met and felt as if you’d known all your life.” His voice was teasing, his smile incredibly attractive. “So, do you want to tell me what that was all about?”

“Not really, but I owe you an explanation.” She gathered her thoughts. “Here goes. Twenty-five words or less. You’re obviously a busy man.”

“Yes, but this is the most intriguing thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“I doubt that, but okay. If you say so.” A man who looked like him probably had intriguing encounters with women every day. “My dad has been a widower for a long time, actually since the day I was born.”

“Your mother died in childbirth?” He looked shocked.

“Yes. And for years everyone 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?”

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