A Decent Proposal

by Teresa Southwick

  “I also noticed that Liam seems to be settling in nicely.”

  “He’s...adjusting.” He appreciated the topic change and suspected she’d purposely steered the conversation in a more positive direction. “Better than I thought he would.”

  “Has it occurred to you that settling in wouldn’t have gone so well if you’re as bad a father as you seem to think?”

  “No, it never did. I think any credit goes to you, your dad and the school.”

  She shook her head in faux frustration. “For an intelligent man you’re not so smart about some stuff.”

  “Like what?”

  “You’re a single dad and Liam is a great kid. Work is demanding so others have to fill in, but he spends more time with you than anyone. Something positive you’re doing must be rubbing off on him.”

  Burke wasn’t completely convinced, but admitted, if only to himself, that there could be some truth in what she said.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “Starved.”

  He signaled the waiter to bring menus. “Then we should order.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  He planned to do as many courses as possible to keep her here. Saying goodbye after dinner with her always seemed to come too soon and he was never ready. Idly he wondered if that feeling would ever go away.

  * * *

  Syd was having a wonderful time and it felt as if they’d occupied the intimate corner table for two at Fireside for minutes instead of hours. Wine, salad, entrées, dessert and after-dinner drinks had been consumed and Burke was signing the check.

  But she wasn’t ready for the evening to end.

  He put the pen inside the leather holder with the bill, then looked at her. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes,” she lied.

  They stood and he waited for her to precede him to the exit. On the way he said good-night to the waiter, server, busboy and hostess, calling each one by their given name. Obviously he’d gotten to know them, but she supposed that happened when one lived in a hotel.

  He settled his hand at the small of her back and the contact touched off a chain reaction of nerve endings that sensitized every inch of her skin. She wanted to snuggle in closer but resisted. There was nothing more awkward than being obvious about wanting someone and getting the message that they didn’t share your feelings. Burke would have to make the first move.

  Just before stepping from the privacy of the long hallway into the lodge’s lobby, Burke stopped and looked down. “I had a really good time tonight.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Tomorrow is Saturday.”

  “You’re kidding.” She pretended shock and surprise. “Really? I had no idea.”

  “Let me rephrase.” He looked down for a moment, then met her gaze. “I don’t have to work. Do you?”

  “I do, as a matter of fact. Saturday is busy at the garage.” Syd’s heart beat a little faster as she had a hunch where he was going with this.

  “Oh. Then you don’t want to be out too late.”

  “A girl has to get her beauty rest,” she agreed.

  He put his palm flat on the wall beside her and moved closer, trapping her in the best possible way against his body. “If you were any more beautiful, that face would have to be registered as a lethal weapon with the sheriff’s office.”

  Her heart started to beat even faster as his look went from lazy to lusty in a nanosecond. “So...” She swallowed once. “Wild guess here...you don’t want to say good-night yet?”

  “You’re very perceptive.” He gently brushed the hair from her cheek, then traced his index finger along her jaw.

  “We should take a walk.” She glanced down at her feet. “Although I don’t know how far I’d get in these shoes.”

  “That depends on where you want to go.” His voice was a ragged whisper.

  Her heart skipped a beat, then kicked in again, hammering harder than ever. “I’d crawl on my hands and knees if necessary. Depending on the destination.”

  The corners of his mouth curved up as his gaze danced over her face. Then he lowered his head and kissed her. His lips were soft, warm, coaxing and caressing. Pressing his body even closer to hers, he let her know he wanted her.

  Tracing her lips with his tongue, he teased her mouth open then slipped inside. He tasted good, she thought, like wine and the chocolate cake they’d just shared. She didn’t consciously put her arms around his shoulders, but she suddenly realized they were there. In the blink of an eye she was incredibly turned on and it was a miracle she could think rationally enough to make a point.

  Against his mouth she whispered, “Someone is going to walk by and they might not say it out loud, but you can bet they’ll be thinking we should get a room.”

  His smile was wicked. “As luck would have it, I already have one.”

  “That is lucky.”

  He moved back a step, then grabbed her hand. “I don’t think we want to go through the lobby. Let’s take the back way.”

  She was trapped in a sensuous haze and let him lead her to an elevator in a more discreet location. He pushed the up button and almost immediately the doors opened. They got in and rode to the top floor of the lodge, where he pointed to the end of the hall and the double-door entry of his suite. It seemed far away, too far, but with him holding tightly to her hand, she matched her steps to his long stride. After inserting his key card, he opened the door and let her go inside first.

  Behind her there was the sound of a click and then the entryway’s overhead light went on. In front of her was a sitting area with a couch, chairs and tables. A flat-screen TV was mounted on the wall. On the far side of the room was a formal cherrywood dining table and six chairs.

  She turned to look up at Burke. “I’ve never been in a suite before.”

  “What do you think?”

  “Rich people really are different.”

  “Not that much.” He took her hand and they walked to the right, stopping at the double doors.

  He opened one to reveal a king-size bed, sitting area with a plush love seat and French doors leading to a balcony that overlooked the mountains. The only light was drifting in from the other room and that made erotic shadows in this one.

  “Be it ever so humble...” He took off his suit jacket and tossed it on the tufted, cream-colored bench at the foot of the bed. Then he loosened his silk tie, undid the button at his neck and slid it from under the starched collar of his white dress shirt.

  Burke removed her small evening bag from her fingers and gently put it by his coat. Then he looked down at her and said, “Where were we?”

  She stepped out of her heels and felt even shorter than usual when looking up at him. “I think this is where we left off.”

  Moving closer, she started undoing the buttons down the front of his shirt before tugging it from the waistband of his slacks. After spreading wide the sides, she rested her palms on the muscular contours of his chest. The dusting of hair tickled her fingers as she slid them down, exploring the feel of him to her heart’s content.

  When she reached his rib cage, just above his belt, she must have hit a very sensitive spot judging by his sharp intake of breath.

  Burke caught her wrist in a strong yet gentle grip. His breathing was harsh and uneven. “My turn.”

  There were no buttons on her top, so he gripped the chiffon and camisole together and pulled them up and off as she lifted her arms to assist.

  His gaze caught fire when he saw her black bra and he shook his head regretfully. “As much as I like the way you look, that has to come off.”

  Without a word, she turned her back and let him undo the clasp. His hands settled on her shoulders and brushed the satin straps down until the wispy garment fell at her feet. He circled an arm around her
and nestled her back against his front then used both hands to cup her bare breasts.

  He kissed his way down her neck and with thumb and forefinger toyed with her nipples. She tried to hold it in, but a moan slipped past her lips as the exquisite torture went on and on until she was sure she wouldn’t be able to stand it. While she was occupied by the intense pleasure of his touch, he reached down to her waistband to undo the button and lower the zipper of her slacks. The silky material slid easily down her legs and she stepped out of them.

  He splayed one big hand over her middle and slid the other down between her legs, cupping her there. His ragged breathing stirred the hair by her ear and his voice was even more ragged as he whispered to her what he wanted, what he yearned to do with her.

  The next thing she knew he’d yanked down the bed’s comforter and blanket and bared the sheets beneath. He scooped her up into his arms then settled her in the center of the big mattress. Not taking his eyes off her, he set a world record removing his clothes. The expression in his eyes turned dark and intense as she shimmied out of her black panties. Then he slid into bed beside her, reaching out and pulling her against his warm, bare skin.

  He brushed his wide palm over the indentation of her waist, over the swell of her hip, then flattened on her abdomen. This time when he caressed between her legs there was no wisp of lace blocking the touch. He rubbed a thumb over the bundle of feminine nerve endings and she believed it a very real possibility that she could go up in flames.

  Before she could tell him what she wanted, what she’d craved for so long, he reached into the nightstand and pulled something out. Through a lovely daze, she realized that he’d opened a condom and put it on. Then he gently eased her to her back, braced his forearms on either side of her to take most of his weight and slowly entered her.

  Feminine muscles wrapped around him and nerve endings wept at the glorious intrusion. She pulled her heels up higher on the bed, making the contact even more exquisite. Moments later, pleasure blasted through her in a nearly spontaneous explosion.

  Burke pushed into her one more time, then went still and groaned, finding his own release. For a long, lovely moment they just held on to each other as shock waves turned to ripples and their breathing slowed to something resembling normal. Truthfully, the meaning of normal had forever changed for her.

  He rested his forehead to hers. “That was...”

  “Nice,” she said.

  He lifted his head and even in the dim light his wry expression was visible. “You couldn’t think of a more enthusiastic adjective than nice?”

  “Awesome? Amazing? Spectacular? Great.” She shrugged and the hair on his chest rubbed her breasts, sending tingles up and down her spine. “They’re all clichés.”

  “What we just did rates a better description than nice,” he said.

  Sex with Burke Holden was so awesome and amazing that she would swear it rocked her soul. And that was a scary thought. She figured he wouldn’t appreciate knowing that and she didn’t want to make herself that vulnerable by saying it out loud.

  “Yes, it was better than nice,” she agreed.

  “Are you okay, Syd?”

  “Of course.” But she didn’t lift her gaze any higher than his collarbone.

  “I’ll be right back.” He rolled away and the bed dipped and rose as he left it. “Don’t move.”

  Her body felt boneless and she couldn’t move if she’d wanted to. Syd put her forearm over her eyes, but still sensed when a light went on nearby and heard running water. How she wished that she was better at hiding her feelings. She had wanted this almost from the first time she’d seen him drive into McKnight Automotive.

  And now she couldn’t shake the sensation that it had been a mistake because it had been so awesome, amazing, spectacular and great. But the last thing she wanted was to be that type of woman, the one who wanted it until she got it and then played hurt.

  Why couldn’t a girl know she was going to have second thoughts before jumping into the deep end of the pool?

  The light went off and seconds later Burke was back, pulling her into his arms. “Okay. Talk to me. What’s going on in that mind of yours? And please don’t say you’re fine, because I know you’re not.”

  It took several moments for her to figure out what she wanted to say and he let her take the time.

  “I guess I want you to know that casual sex isn’t what I do. One-night stands aren’t my thing.”

  He nodded his understanding. “And if I thought it was your thing, I wouldn’t be here.”

  She rested her cheek on his chest and settled her arm over his flat belly. “You wouldn’t?”

  “No.” He kissed the top of her head. “I like you, Syd. A lot.”

  “I feel the same about you.” Maybe more than like.

  “And that’s why I want to be completely honest with you.”

  “Oh?” This was where he said what she’d been thinking, that it was a mistake they shouldn’t make again. She braced herself.

  “I want you again.”

  “You do?” She wished it was possible to see his face, but he’d rested his chin on the top of her head.

  “Yes. And I hope you want me. This isn’t casual for me, but I also can’t make any promises.”

  “I don’t expect any.” She knew how he felt about commitment. He’d been completely up front about that.

  He raised up on an elbow and looked down, studying her. “Can we take this one day at a time? That’s the smart play.”

  “It is,” she agreed.

  God help her. She was far gone enough to take whatever he could give, but there was a part of her that longed for a promise of forever.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “This is fun, Dad.”

  Liam kicked the soccer ball somewhere in Burke’s general direction and he jogged over to get it. They were in Sydney’s backyard on a beautiful Sunday afternoon while she was inside cooking dinner for them.

  “It is fun.” Not in the same league as what he and Syd had done in his bed the other night. But it really wasn’t fair to compare the two. Bonding with his son was a blessing he honestly had never expected to have. Physically bonding with Syd had been mind-blowing.

  If he was being honest it was more than physical. There was a connection and it was more than he’d anticipated. He liked women; he dated. And he walked away. But there was something about Syd that he couldn’t put into words, qualities that drew him. Things that had nothing to do with what she looked like. Not a single woman he’d dated had come close to the wonder that was Sydney McKnight.

  It had bothered him a little when she didn’t push back on his declaration that he couldn’t make any promises. But then, she’d once expected promises from a guy and he’d made them to someone else. Still, that was a long time ago and he wondered what she wanted now.

  Liam stood across the yard, hands on hips. “Hey, Dad. You gonna kick the ball or stand there and think about it?”

  It was an interesting experience hearing your own words coming out of your child’s mouth. He hadn’t even been thinking about kicking the ball. Images of Syd in black bra and panties? Yes. Kicking the ball? No. His concentration was messed up because pretty much what he wanted to focus on was her. But that wasn’t fair to his son.

  “Okay, kid. Comin’ at you. Get ready. Think you can handle it?”

  The boy grinned. “No problem.”

  Burke kicked it pretty hard and Liam concentrated, judging the path, moving a little to his right. He stopped the ball with his foot, nudged it to the side, then sent it back.

  “You’re getting pretty good, son.”

  “Thanks. I’ve been practicing with Todd. He said maybe I could join his soccer team. The season’s already started, but there might be an opening. Do you think that would be okay? I
know we have to go back to Chicago, but I was thinking maybe in the meantime?”

  The kid was making a thorough case for it as if he expected to be turned down. “I don’t see why not. I’ll get the information from Todd’s parents and check in to it. Let’s see if we can make that happen.”

  “Cool.”

  The ball came to him and Burke stopped it with his foot, then picked it up. “We should probably have something to drink. Syd went to all the trouble to make lemonade and leave it out here for us.”

  “I am kind of thirsty.” Liam ran across the yard to the patio table holding a pitcher and two glasses.

  “Here you go.” Burke held out a full glass after pouring the sweet, cold liquid into it.

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  They sat down side by side in the padded chairs and guzzled lemonade.

  “This is pretty good stuff.” He watched his son drag his forearm across his mouth to blot the excess liquid. Then the boy seemed to realize what he’d done and glanced up, waiting to hear what he’d done wrong.

  Normally Burke would have called him on the breach of good manners, but two things stopped him. Number one: they were alone and this was a guy moment. No ladies present to be offended. And, number two: he didn’t want to spoil this father-son moment with a lecture that usually ended by saying Liam wasn’t being raised by wolves. There were teachable situations, but this wasn’t one of them.

  Syd was the one who’d made him see that you picked your battles. It was a parent’s responsibility to make sure his child knew what was and wasn’t acceptable in polite society. But the chances were pretty good that someday when he took a girl out for dinner Liam wouldn’t use his sleeve for a napkin. Or he would only do it once and get an advanced degree from the school of hard knocks.

  “Dad?”

  “What, son?”

  “I’m sorry I was such a dork when I first got here.”

  Burke couldn’t have been more surprised if an alien ship landed in the yard and an extraterrestrial said “take me to your leader.” Finally he was able to say, “Don’t worry about it. I understand. It was hard for you, leaving your friends and everything that’s familiar.”