A Decent Proposal by Teresa Southwick Read Free Book Online Page B

member of the staff was straightening the outdoor furniture.
    â€œSo we could be seen. It’s what a man dating a woman would do.”
    How silly was she to be even the tiniest bit disappointed to learn that he didn’t mean it? Later she would give herself a stern talking-to about how ridiculous her reaction was.
    â€œYes. And speaking of dating, we have to plan our next move. Your father’s remark about looking forward to getting to know me better was his way of letting us know he’s watching.”
    â€œI got that, too.”
    And she got something else from tonight. A warning that her control regarding Burke Holden was nothing but an illusion. He was a strong man, a powerful man accustomed to getting his own way. She’d dated guys and broken up with them and never looked back, but she had a sneaking suspicion that this could be different.
    That didn’t make her happy, but unfortunately she was stuck.

Chapter Four
    O n his way to the county buildings on the other side of Blackwater Lake, Burke drove past McKnight Auto and glanced over. Several cars were lined up waiting for service orders to be written up, but there was no sign of Sydney. He hadn’t realized how much he’d hoped for a glimpse of her until he didn’t get one. If she hadn’t approached him with her unorthodox proposal, would he have asked her out?
    On his part the attraction had been instantaneous so there was a better-than-even chance he would have. But after dinner with her father and the mayor the other night, it was crystal clear that if he’d followed his usual pattern of avoiding a woman he would have missed something...exciting? Special? Life-changing?
    Maybe all of the above. But whatever happened, this
thing
could never be permanent. When it came to his personal life,
permanent
and
forever
weren’t part of the vocabulary.
    He turned left onto Mountain Street and drove a couple of blocks. The city and county government offices were on the right. He knew where the mayor’s office was, having been there several times, and the construction-permits office was somewhere under the same roof.
    He parked in the rear lot and walked through the heavy glass doors into the lobby. There was a directory on the wall and Burke saw that the building inspector’s office number was located on the second floor. There was an elevator, but he found the stairs and headed up. Too many hours behind a desk could add weight to his midsection. He worked out daily at the lodge fitness center but never missed an opportunity to move more.
    When he was home, Liam frequently asked him to play ball, any kind. Baseball, football, soccer. Too often Burke had to say no because of work commitments. He wished he could delegate a lot of details and be home more, but he’d tried that a few times and there was no one he trusted enough. Things got missed, delays resulted and when that happened it cost the company millions. Burke was building an already successful business with his cousin Sloan and someday it would be Liam’s. He felt an obligation to leave it more profitable than he’d found it.
    Burke located the office and went inside. There was a waiting area with a couch, chairs and a coffee table. A high desk was situated on the left and he walked over. A blonde woman somewhere in her late thirties or early forties was standing there.
    â€œHi. I’m Burke Holden.”
    â€œSally Gardiner,” she said, introducing herself. “I’ve heard about you.”
    â€œReally?” He in no way meant to flirt, but what was a guy supposed to say to that? Just be friendly. “I hope it was positive.”
    â€œYou’re the fella who’s building that new resort up on the mountain. You’ve got a flashy red sports car. And you had dinner with Sydney McKnight and her dad and the mayor at the Fireside the other night.”
    â€œNews travels fast. And it’s all true,” he