A Decent Proposal by Teresa Southwick Read Free Book Online

attractive.
    â€œAre you ready to go, Syd?” her dad asked.
    â€œYou’re leaving?” Burke put his hand at the small of her back.
    â€œI rode into town with Dad and Loretta. So...” She shrugged.
    â€œStay for a nightcap.” His eyes had just the right amount of intensity for a smitten man who didn’t want to say good-night yet. “I’ll drive you home.”
    She wanted to protest that this wasn’t part of the plan, but that would blow their cover for sure. “You must be tired after a long day. I don’t want you to go out of your way.”
    â€œIf I can spend more time with you, driving you home is not going out of my way.” Now a definite challenge joined the intensity in his eyes.
    Syd wasn’t sure what game he was playing and was wary of jumping in with her “come and get me” high heels. She’d picked this particular dress on purpose, knowing it was a little dangerous. The point had been to prove that she’d been dressing for a man’s approval. This was an inconvenient time to realize it had done the job maybe a bit too well. When push came to shove she really had no choice.
    She gave him her most brilliant smile and said, “I would love to stay. You don’t mind, do you, Dad?”
    â€œOf course not. As long as you make it to work on time in the morning.”
    She kissed his cheek while her own was flushed with the implication that she’d spend the night with Burke. “I won’t be late tonight.”
    â€œBut don’t wait up,” Burke said. “When Syd and I start talking, we lose track of time.”
    â€œTake good care of my girl.” Her dad had that protective expression on his face.
    â€œI will, sir. Good night.”
    When the older couple was gone, Burke took her hand and tucked it into the bend of his elbow before turning toward the lodge bar, where she’d first met him to propose this unlikely collaboration. Somehow the situation had slipped from her control and having a drink could further fuzzy her faculties on top of what her attraction to him did. Instinct was telling her she should stay sharp.
    She looked up at Burke. “What about a walk instead?”
    â€œIn those shoes?” He took one step back and the corners of his mouth curved into a smile as he leisurely studied the four-inch pumps and her legs, all the way to where the hem of the dress stopped above her knees.
    She shivered at the male approval clearly etched on his face. “I’m tough. Have you ever heard that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in heels?”
    â€œI have actually. But I’m not quite sure what your point is since we’re not dancing.”
    Says who?
she thought.
    â€œI’m not quite sure I had one,” she admitted. “But as you probably know, there’s a lighted walking path on the lodge grounds with benches here and there. If my feet can’t take it, we can stop.”
    â€œA walk sounds good. It’s a beautiful evening.”
    Burke put his fingers over hers, trapping her hand on his arm as they walked out the rear exit. To anyone observing them, they were a couple. Body language to support the story.
    The evening air was cool, but not cold. As they strolled slowly down the cement path she noticed the moon peeking through the pine trees scattered over the grassy area.
    â€œDid you know there was a full moon tonight?” she asked.
    â€œNo.” He looked up. “But now that you mention it, this one is more beautiful than it is in Chicago.”
    â€œIt occurs to me that the stage is perfectly set for romance. It’s just a darn shame this is all going to waste on us.”
    â€œHow do you mean?”
    â€œWe’re just playing at it.”
    â€œThat’s the rumor,” he answered mysteriously.
    â€œAnd speaking of starting rumors...” She’d intended to express her gratitude for dinner the