Free A Decent Proposal by Teresa Southwick Page B

confidently and competently drove the car around the lake. From here it wasn’t far to her brother’s house. “This is a really beautiful area.”
    â€œI love it.” The words were simple but incredibly heartfelt. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
    She looked at the water, where late-afternoon sun turned it a brilliant blue. Closer to the shoreline, shadows from the mountains and trees crept slowly toward the middle of the lake. “My brother Alex builds custom homes around here. He built Ben and Cam’s and his own. Ellie, his wife, is an architect and drew up the plans.”
    â€œI’ll have to talk to him about that.”
    â€œWhat? Are you thinking of moving here?” That surprised her for a lot of reasons.
    â€œWhen the resort is booming, this area is going to be exclusive. Location, location. A second home would be a good investment.”
    For a moment she’d thought it might be personal, but not so much. He was a businessman, after all, and they had an agreement. There was nothing personal about that. Right now all she could worry about was getting through this family dinner unscathed.
    Burke made a right turn into the driveway of Ben and Cam’s home. He pulled to a stop beside her father’s truck. Alex’s car was there, too, which meant they were the last to arrive. Syd looked at the house and the bright lights coming from inside. There was a three-car garage and the front yard had an expanse of velvety green grass encircled by manicured bushes and flowers. They got out of the car and walked to the imposing double-door entry, where she pushed the doorbell.
    â€œHere goes nothing,” she muttered before the door was opened.
    Camille Halliday McKnight stood there with her warm welcoming smile. “Hi, you two. Glad you could join us, Burke. Come in.”
    â€œI’m grateful for the invitation. For a nomad like me restaurant food can get old.”
    â€œSyd...” Her sister-in-law’s voice had a chiding note in it. “Shame on you for not having him over to dinner at your house.”
    They hadn’t even been here a minute and she was busted already. If they were really dating she would have cooked for him. Cam’s remark caught her completely off guard and she couldn’t think of anything to say.
    â€œShe’s mentioned it.” Burke to the rescue with a loose interpretation of their understanding. “But I’ve been busy and we’ve been taking things slow. Didn’t want to go public with this too soon.”
    â€œLike father, like daughter,” Cam said, closing the door behind them. “I was completely surprised to find out your dad and the mayor had been secretly dating for a while.”
    â€œGo figure,” Syd said. “We McKnights are an unconventional bunch.”
    â€œCome and meet everyone,” Cam invited.
    She led them through the large, two-story entry with an overhead chandelier, then into the spacious family room with connecting kitchen. Loretta was setting the table and Alex’s wife was stirring something on the stove.
    She waved and said, “I’m Ellie. Nice to meet you, Burke.”
    â€œLikewise,” he said.
    Her eighteen-month-old daughter, Leah, was sitting on the family room floor with her nearly two-year-old cousin, Amanda. The two little girls were surrounded by toys.
    Alex and Ben stood with their father by the river-rock fireplace and all three turned to look at Sydney and Burke. She knew it wasn’t possible but felt as if
fraud
was tattooed across her forehead.
Never let them see you sweat,
she thought, then slid her hand into Burke’s and plastered a big smile on her face as they joined the group.
    â€œAlex, Ben, this is Burke Holden.” She watched as her brothers shook his hand, polite but suspicious.
    â€œSo you’re going out with my baby sister,” Alex said. He hadn’t lost the oldest-brother