A Decent Proposal Read Free

was giving him a free oil change. What could it hurt to ask?
    â€œI’ll check with Burke and see what I can set up.”
    * * *
    â€œI’ll call again tomorrow, son.” Burke held the cell phone to his ear, not sure why he was prolonging this.
    â€œOkay.” His child’s familiar, formal tone was the polar opposite of enthusiastic.
    â€œIf you need anything, you know how to get in touch.”
    â€œYeah.” There was a long silence, then Liam said, “I have homework.”
    â€œRight.” He probably wasn’t the only father on the planet whose kid would rather do homework than talk to him, but it sure felt that way. “I love you. ’Bye, son.”
    â€œâ€™Bye.”
    Feeling guilty and inadequate, Burke hit the end-call button on his cell phone. He never knew what to say to his son and heard in the kid’s voice how much he was let down whenever they talked. Not calling would save them both the ordeal of an awkward conversation, but unlike his own father he wouldn’t take the easy way out. So he would be in touch every day while he was away from home.
    His ex-wife was no better. During divorce negotiations she’d put up zero fight when he wanted physical custody. Now she lived in Paris and he had the best housekeeper in Chicago. Most of the time that made it okay for him not to be there. At least that’s what he told himself. Today he didn’t quite buy it. Meeting Sydney McKnight and her father, Tom, might account for that.
    He found himself envying their obviously close relationship. She had gone above and beyond to convince her dad to move on with his life. That was loyalty, a happy by-product of a father who’d been a positive influence on his daughter. Burke couldn’t help wondering if twenty years from now Liam would go to that much trouble for him.
    Normally he didn’t feel lonely on a business trip but today was different. In a lot of ways. He was sitting on a stool in the Blackwater Lake Lodge bar. There were a couple of businessmen, two women who’d stopped in for a drink after work and several couples having a predinner cocktail. He was nursing a beer while he waited for Sydney to personally deliver his car.
    She’d contacted him and offered; now he found himself looking forward to seeing her again. Stereotyping probably described his attitude, but he’d never expected to see a woman so beautiful, sexy and smart working in a garage.
    And speaking of beautiful women, there was one who’d just come around the corner from the lobby and waved when she saw him. Her last name was McKnight, too, but Camille was married to Sydney’s brother, Ben. Burke considered her a friend and she knew about his bad-relationship karma. That’s probably why she’d never told him about her husband’s sister.
    She stopped beside him and they hugged. “Hi.”
    â€œHello, Mrs. McKnight. Marriage looks good on you.” In spite of his dark mood it was impossible not to smile in the presence of a woman glowing the way this one was. “You’re positively radiant.”
    â€œThank you, kind sir.” She put her hand on his arm. “Love does that to a person. You should try it sometime.”
    â€œBeen there, done that. It didn’t work out.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “That wasn’t love. Brenda was selfish and self-absorbed. Probably still is.”
    â€œAlmost certainly,” he agreed.
    The Holden and Halliday families had been friends for years and partners in various business ventures, including a small stake in the project he was here to work on.
    â€œHow’s Liam?” she asked. “He’s how old now?”
    â€œEight. Getting big.”
    â€œYou must miss him when you have to be away on business,” Cam said.
    Burke nodded ruefully. “It’s not easy.”
    â€œThe time goes by so quickly.” She sighed. “My little girl is growing so