A Decent Proposal (8 page)

“You basically work outside,” he pointed out.

“I'm used to that, too.” She shrugged. “There are portable heaters for the service bay and ways to block out the most bitter cold. It helps that I love what I do.”

“And you're good at it.” He unlocked the car, opened the passenger door and guided her inside.

From the time she'd first expressed an interest in boys, her father had said she shouldn't go out with a guy who didn't open doors for a woman. He'd raised her brothers to do that and it seemed Burke had learned the lesson from someone. If she was doing a pro-and-con list to decide whether or not to take him up on his dating offer, being a gentleman would definitely go in the pro column. In fact everything about him was leading her to say yes. Before Burke, fun had been in very short supply.

He started the car and Syd paid attention to the sound of the engine, listening for a hesitation, miss or any sign of trouble. She heard none. That was disappointing because she would love an excuse to get her hands on the motor. It didn't take long to drive to her house and Burke stopped in the driveway behind her fuel-efficient compact car.

After turning off the ignition, he looked at her. “I think you should invite me in.”

“For a nightcap?”

“For anything you want. An invitation would be much appreciated.”

The innuendo raised tingles all over her body. “Would it now?”

I'm attracted to you
.

The memory of his words kicked up her heart rate and made her pulse dance in the most exciting possible way.

“Yes, it would. Your father's not coming home.”

If her dad hadn't announced his plans to the world she could have used his imminent return as an excuse. If she wanted one. But suddenly it was crystal clear that she wasn't ready for the evening to end.

“Would you like to come inside? For something?” Where in the world did that seductive tone come from?

“I thought you'd never ask.”

He opened his door then came around to hers. She put her palm in the hand he held out and he steadied her as she slid out of the passenger seat. Then he walked her to the front door and took her key to unlock it.

Inside, she flipped the switch on the wall to illuminate the room before putting her evening bag and to-go box on the small table just inside the door. After that she stepped out of her four-inch heels. She'd barely turned toward him when Burke had her in his arms. He tilted his head to the side and lowered his mouth to hers.

Sydney sighed at the softness of his lips. Relief poured through her that he was doing exactly what she wanted. She nestled closer to his tall, lean body and slid her hands beneath his suit coat, working up his back. His shirt was soft to the touch and his muscles bunched and contracted under her hands.

He traced her lips with his tongue and she opened to him, savoring the heat that exploded in her belly when he dipped inside. The sound of their escalated breathing filled the room and fueled her need.

Burke lifted his head and met her gaze, his eyes searching. “Are you ready to give me an answer to my question now?”

He'd said he wanted to get to know her better and this definitely qualified, so count her in. It also answered her question about what he would do if they were alone, and she couldn't deny her willingness to participate. She wasn't sure why she'd stalled because he'd had her at flowers and dinner.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Yes, you have an answer? Or yes, you want to spend time with me?”

“Both.”

She slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and lifted his suit coat, dragging it down his arms before dropping it on the floor. Then she reached up and unknotted his tie, pulling one end hand over hand until it was free of his collar. With a twist of his fingers he undid the button at his throat and Syd helped with the rest marching down the front of his shirt.

When she tried to repeat the maneuver used in taking off his coat, he captured her hands and kissed the knuckles of each before guiding them around his waist.

“My turn.” He reached behind her and slowly dragged down the zipper on her dress.

Cool air rushed in, caressing her skin. She wasn't wearing a bra and if this dress came off she would have on nothing but black lace panties. Anticipation was building inside and her blood rushed through her veins. Roared in her ears.

There was a distant sound and it took several moments to realize it was Burke's cell. He pulled her close and said, “Ignore that. It can wait.”

“Are you sure?” She looked up to see his expression. “It's just late enough not to be a good time for the phone to ring.”

He hesitated a moment longer, then yanked the device from his pocket. The frown turned angry when he looked at the caller ID and hit talk. “What is it, Dad?”

He listened for several moments, his expression growing darker by the second. Finally he said, “I'll be there tomorrow.”

Without another word he clicked off.

Syd struggled to clear her head and pull up the zipper on her dress. Something told her that whatever she'd agreed to by saying yes would have to wait. “What's wrong?”

“I have to go to Chicago.” He took another step away and dragged his fingers through his hair.

“Is your father all right?”

“Fine.” He practically snapped out the word. “It's Mary—the housekeeper. She's in the hospital. They're doing tests.”

Mary was the woman who'd been with him since his son was a baby and obviously the news worried him. But it wasn't just that. “Where is Liam? Who's taking care of him?”

“My father.” He didn't look happy about that. “I have to go.”

“Of course. This will be scary for him.”

He nodded grimly. “And staying with his grandfather isn't the best option. The old man isn't someone you can count on.”

Syd was surprised at the hostility in his tone but didn't ask. Mostly it was none of her business and this wasn't the time for probing questions. “What are you going to do?”

It was obvious that his mind was racing, clicking through possible scenarios to problem-solve the situation. “Work is crazy now. The time frame for the resort is tight. I can't afford to be gone.”

She remembered what he'd said about the boy's friends and activities being in Chicago. And that was why he'd opted not to bring him to Blackwater Lake, even for the end of summer. “Is there anyone else to take care of Liam?”

“No one I can think of. I would have to personally interview a replacement for Mary. But there's no time for that.” He met her gaze. “Unless there's something I haven't thought of, Liam will have to come back here with me.”

She could tell by the harried expression on his face that this wasn't the time to say that might not be such a bad thing.

Instead, she put her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. “I'm sorry this is happening.”

“Me, too.” He kissed the top of her head. “I apologize, but I have to go. Arrangements to make—”

“I understand.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Go do what you have to.”

“I'll call you.” He kissed her cheek, then let himself out the door.

Syd stared at it for a long time after he'd left and a number of things came to mind. Burke could have had his father put the boy on a plane to Montana. He hadn't and was personally going to get him. He could have had someone else interview a substitute housekeeper, but he wouldn't do that, either. To her way of thinking he'd handled this situation as a caring parent should.

And yet he didn't consider himself a good father. She was no shrink, but it was a good bet that core belief was rooted in his relationship with his own father. How she would love to hear that story and tell him he was very wrong about his parenting skills.

Chapter Eight

B
urke was tired.

The last couple of days had been hectic and his surly eight-year-old didn't help. There'd been no choice but to bring Liam back to Blackwater Lake. He couldn't leave the boy with his grandfather. It was bad enough that the man had already screwed him up. If anyone was going to screw up Liam, Burke would do it.

He glanced over at the boy, sitting on the leather sofa in his office. It was in the five-story building Brady O'Keefe had built to house his company. O'Keefe Technology had four floors and rented out number five to Burke. When his cousin Sloan arrived he would need work space and as the resort project kicked into full gear, they'd need a place to put a lot of employees. So while this floor was pretty empty now, very soon it would be activity central.

He looked over at Liam again and the fierce frown on the kid's face made him feel as if he'd been smacked with the guilty stick. Obviously the boy was unhappy, but Burke hadn't done this on purpose. How could he make his child understand the situation?

Before he went crazy trying to answer that question his intercom buzzed. He hit the talk button and said, “Yes, Lydia?”

“There's someone here to see you.”

“Thanks.” Without saying anything else, he clicked off.

Normally he would have asked who was there or had them sent in. The fact that he didn't told Burke two things. Number one: he was grateful for the interruption. Number two: he needed a break. The electricity in this room was so thick you could charge a car battery with it.

He stood and walked around his desk. “There's someone here to see me, Liam.”

“Yeah. I heard.”

“I'll be right back.”

The only response was a grunt; the kid didn't even look up from his handheld video game. Burke would have preferred he pick up the book sitting beside him but that was a battle for another day.

When he came out of his office, Lydia wasn't sitting at her desk.

“Sydney.” He could truthfully say he'd never been so glad to see anyone in his life. It felt like years since he'd nearly taken her to bed. God, he'd regretted having to leave her that night.

“Lydia said to tell you she'll be right back. She went to the ladies' room,” she said. “How are you?”

“Okay.”

She was so beautiful, even dressed for work as she was now, although his favorite was the little black dress that he'd almost taken off her. But there was something about just looking at her that made him feel refreshed.

He walked over and kissed her. They were alone if you didn't count his son in the other room. But he didn't care who was or wasn't watching. He kissed her like a starving man and felt as if he couldn't get enough. A little moan escaped her lips and the sound of it set him on fire. But this was a place of business.

Forcing himself to pull away, he smiled down at her. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard you were back.”

Her tone wasn't peeved or accusing, but he felt another slap with the guilty stick. “I'm sorry I didn't call. I know I promised, but it's been crazy—”

“I can imagine,” she interrupted. “It's okay. I was just passing by and thought I'd stop in and say hi. Unless you're too busy.”

“I am, but this is a good time for a break.”

Her gaze was assessing. “You look tired. What happened with Liam?”

“He's in my office.” He glanced past his executive assistant's desk to the partially opened door. “Mary is still in the hospital. She needs surgery.”

“I hope it's not serious.”

“When you're in your sixties any surgery is serious. The doctors say she'll be fine, but there will be recovery time.” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, recalling the conversation that pulled the rug out from under him. “Bottom line is she's retiring. Effective immediately.”

“Can she afford to?”

“I'll make sure of it. I owe her more than I can ever repay.”

There was concern in her dark eyes. “What are you going to do?”

“Long-term I'm not sure. Short-term, I have to enroll him in school. I've filled out all the forms for Blackwater Lake Elementary, but they need his records from Chicago before he can start. It will be a couple of days so he's with me until that gets squared away.”

“It must be nice to have him here.”

“Yes. And no.”

“How so?” she asked.

“He's been...difficult.” Mouthy. Disrespectful. Stubborn. Rebellious. Those adjectives would work, too.

“Change is never easy.” Her voice was soft, comforting. Consoling.

“I wish he didn't have to go through this. Liam is very close to Mary.”

“It's tough. Unfortunately this is the stuff that builds character. But you already understand that, don't you?”

“I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of being told that everything is going to change.”

“What happened?” Her eyes filled with sympathy.

“My mother got sick. Cancer. She died when I was a little older than Liam. It's hard for a kid to process something like this.” He met her gaze. “On top of worrying about Mary, he didn't want to leave his friends and activities. Especially sports.”

“There are organized sports for kids here in Blackwater Lake.”

“As he pointed out school has started and teams have already been formed. He's right about that, but the timing of this makes him even more resentful.”

“Give him time, Burke.”

She put her hand on his forearm, the part where his rolled-up shirt sleeve left the skin bare. The touch, slight though it was, reassuring as it was meant to be, still sent the blood rushing to points south of his belt. He wanted her naked in his arms. And this wasn't the time or place to be thinking things like that. But it seemed he had little control over her effect on him.

“I don't have much choice,” he said. “And in the meantime, I'm the only one he has to take his anger out on.”

“Just talk to him. He's pretty young and won't understand, but he'll always remember that you were there for him when he was going through a rough patch.”

The advice touched a nerve because that was his chief complaint about his own father. When his mom died, his dad seemed never to be home. Work was always more important than what was going on with Burke.

“Would you like to meet him? Unless you don't have time...”

“I'd love to.”

He thought her reaction was sincere and said, “Okay, then. Follow me.”

They walked over to the door and he pushed it open. “Hey, Liam, I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine.”

The boy glanced up, but the sullen expression didn't budge. There was only a small amount of satisfaction to be had from the fact that he wasn't the only target of his son's hostility.

“Liam, this is Sydney McKnight. Syd, my son, Liam.”

She walked over and sat down beside him. “It's nice to meet you, Liam. Your dad has told me a lot about you.”

“Yeah. Whatever.”

Burke felt the simmering anger tighten inside him. “That's rude, son. I know Mary didn't teach you that kind of behavior.”

“It's okay, Burke.” Syd stared at the boy until he looked straight at her. “How do you like Blackwater Lake?”

“It's small and there's nothing to do here.” He took a quick look around the office as if to say this was ground zero of boredom.

“It will be better when you start school,” she told him.

“School here is probably small and boring, too.” The childish tone was full to overflowing with contempt. “It doesn't matter anyway. I don't care.”

Burke figured he could take whatever the boy dished out, but Sydney didn't need this. “Liam—”

The child stood and headed for the door. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

When he was gone Burke blew out a long breath. “What a charmer.”

“He takes after you,” she teased.

“Wow, feel the love.” He slid her a wry glance. “Seriously, Syd, I'm sorry about that. He has issues with me but normally he's polite to strangers.”

“Don't worry about it. I'd be willing to bet that giant chip on his shoulder is all about being a scared kid whose whole world just turned upside down.”

“I'd be glad if you're right because I pretty much decided it had more to do with him hating me.”

“I'm sure that's not true,” she said.

Burke figured she was wrong about that. He'd gone through a phase of not liking his own father very much. After Burke let go of any expectations for the old man, he and Walker Holden had reached a state of benign coexistence. They tolerated each other when necessary. His expectations of the relationship with his own son were higher than that, but it looked as if that was doomed to failure.

“Fingers crossed that you're right and going to school will help. By the way, I had to put down an emergency contact number and I gave them yours. I hope you don't mind.”

“Not a problem. They probably won't need it but I'm happy to help if necessary. It's the way folks roll here in Blackwater Lake.” She actually looked as if she meant what she'd said.

“Thanks.” He glanced out to his assistant's desk. “Lydia's back. She's not going to like what I'm going to ask her to do.”

“What's that?”

“I have a meeting this afternoon. It has to be canceled and rescheduled.”

“Because of Liam. You can't take him with you?” she asked.

He shook his head. “A difficult eight-year-old would be a distraction. And I can't really blame him. If I had to listen to a bunch of grown-ups talking for hours, I'd be difficult, too.”

“See? You get where he's coming from.” She smiled at him, then stood and walked closer. “Your instincts are spot-on. You, sir, are your own worst critic.”

“No. I think Liam takes first place on that.”

She sighed. “My father always said it's in the rules and part of the job description that kids are going to give their parents a hard time.” She tapped her lip. “And speaking of Dad, I just had an idea.”

“About what?”

“How to not annoy your executive assistant.” She met his gaze. “Liam doesn't want to be cooped up here. How about if I take him to the garage with me?”

“But you have to work. I couldn't ask you to do that.”

“You didn't. I volunteered. And my dad won't mind. He always brought me there when I was a little girl. He managed to work with a child around.”

“I don't know.”

“We can find stuff to keep him busy, although, fair warning, he might get dirty.”

“I don't care about that,” he said.

“Then it's settled.” During the short silence her eyes narrowed. “Unless you don't trust me.”

“Of course I do. It just seems like an imposition.”

“I would tell you if it was. Or I'd have kept my mouth shut and not offered in the first place.”

Burke couldn't fault that reasoning and finally said, “Okay. Thanks. I don't know how I can repay you for this, but I really owe you.”

“I'll think of something.”

The saucy, suggestive look in her eyes heated his blood and threatened to fry his brain. He had some ideas that brought to mind twisted sheets and tangled legs, and fervently hoped what she thought of as payback would be along those lines.

* * *

“And who do we have here? Is this your young apprentice?”

Syd recognized her father's voice and the veiled reference to
Star Wars,
but was surprised that he'd managed to approach without her hearing. Looking down at Liam, who moved a little closer beside her, she figured that it was because she had a thing or two on her mind.

“Dad, this is Liam Holden, Burke's son. Liam, this is my father, Tom McKnight.”

The little boy held out his hand and solemnly said, “How do you do, Mr. McKnight. It's nice to meet you.”

“I didn't know Burke had a son.” Her dad leaned over and shook hands then gave her a look that said this level of good manners and courtesy wasn't normal for a kid his age. “You're very polite, son.”

“My dad told me I have to be.”

“He's right.” Her father nodded approvingly. “It sure helps smooth the way with people you meet.”

“I guess.” Liam lifted a thin shoulder.

“Welcome to Blackwater Lake, Liam. How do you like it so far?”

“Thank you, sir. And so far it's boring.”

“I guess your dad told you to be honest, too,” Tom said drily.

“Yes, sir.” Liam glanced up at her. “But it's a little better since Sydney came to see my dad.”

Tom looked at her, then the boy. “Ah.”

“I stopped by Burke's office and offered to bring Liam over here. He's been very helpful. Watching and handing me tools.” If the dirt stains on the front of his shirt and pants were anything to go by, the kid was having the time of his life.

Her father's eyebrows lifted. “You know only employees are allowed in the service bay.”

“That's why we're not in the service bay.” The car was just outside with her rolling toolbox beside it. “It's a beautiful day so I pulled it out here to do the tune-up.”

“I see.”

She met his gaze and felt a compulsion to defend her actions, not unlike when she'd been a teenager. “The housekeeper who cares for Liam has suddenly taken ill and Burke brought him back to Blackwater Lake. He was cooped up in his father's office and bored to tears.”

“I wasn't crying,” Liam explained. “I'm not a crybaby.”

“Of course you're not and I didn't mean to imply that. It's just an expression to explain how bored you actually were.”

“Really bored,” he said vehemently.

“Burke had a meeting this afternoon and he was going to cancel it. I figured helping out would be...helpful. Isn't that what folks here in Blackwater Lake do?”