A Decent Proposal by Teresa Southwick Page B

commented.
    â€œNot that she’s with Charlie. Just that she has a husband and children.” Syd remembered the news. “And she’s pregnant again. I’m happy for her. And I’m so over what happened.”
    â€œSo you’re friends again?”
    â€œI’d say so. Not like we were but—” Syd was distracted when the front door opened and Burke walked in. He glanced around as if looking for someone, then his gaze settled on her and he headed over.
    â€œWhat a pleasant surprise. You didn’t mention you’d be here tonight.” He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss.
    â€œI didn’t?”
    She knew she hadn’t because the information was on a need-to-know basis and he didn’t need to know. He was playing the part of boyfriend to perfection and she couldn’t help wondering why he was so good at deception. She needed to act like his girlfriend and found it far too easy to do that. And, gosh darn it, she wanted a much longer kiss than that paltry peck on the mouth. She felt as if her head was going to explode.
    â€œI don’t think we’ve met. Burke Holden,” he said to Maggie.
    She shook his hand. “Maggie Potter. I own the ice cream parlor and the adjacent lunch counter with my business partner. I’ve heard you’ve been in and I’m sorry I missed you. I’m always in the office upstairs.”
    Syd resisted the urge to shake her head to clear it. “Maggie and I get together here at Bar None about once a week for a girls’ night.”
    â€œI didn’t mean to interrupt.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Maggie said. “It’s nice to finally put a name and face together.”
    And what a face he had, Syd wanted to say. If only he was shallow the way so many handsome men were, their understanding would be much less complicated.
    â€œIt’s nice to meet you, Maggie.” He looked at the door when it opened and a man walked in. “Speaking of meeting...I’m here on business and he just walked in.”
    â€œDon’t let us keep you.” Syd made the mistake of looking into his deep blue eyes and felt as if she’d been sucked into a vortex. The problem was that she didn’t know whether or not she wanted out.
    â€œI wish you
could
keep me,” he said with feeling. “It would be a lot more fun. Even if I did crash a girls’ night.” There was genuine regret in the look he gave Maggie. “I hope I’ll see you again soon.”
    â€œMe, too.”
    â€œI’ll call you, Syd.” And then he walked over and shook hands with the newcomer before settling in a booth on the other side of the bar.
    She might not be able to see him, but Syd knew he was in the room. All his intensity just seemed to alter the molecular composition of air.
    â€œSo,” Maggie said. “Is he the reason you’re over Violet stealing your boyfriend?”
    â€œI was over it long before Burke came to town.”
    â€œOkay,” her friend said. “Looked to me as if you like him a lot.”
    â€œReally?” Syd met her friend’s gaze. “What did I do?”
    â€œHard to put into words. Just a feeling.” Maggie looked thoughtful. “The best way to describe it is that you looked at Burke the way Olivia does my brother, Brady. And she’s in love with him.”
    Oh, dear God.
It didn’t mean anything. Really, it was all about reacting to a good-looking man and had nothing to do with deeper feelings, she told herself.
    She just hoped herself wasn’t telling a lie.
    â€œWe’re just good friends,” she explained.
    â€œI hope so.” There was concern swirling in Maggie’s eyes. “Because I’ve heard he’s here to get the resort project going.”
    â€œI’m not sure why that bothers you but I can see that it does.”
    â€œI’m worried because his home is in Chicago. Or so I’ve been