A Convenient Proposal(27)

Apparently, he had one of those on his hands right now. Under Arden Burke’s cool exterior burned a fierce fire. After so long alone, Griff had a pretty good inferno going, himself. Together, they could burn up the night. Many nights, he hoped.

With the dog locked away somewhere else.

As he punched his pillow into shape, though, Griff reminded himself to be careful. The lady wanted something from him—that’s why she’d come along. This wasn’t a friend doing him a favor. Arden wanted him to make a baby for her. Quid pro quo.

So getting too involved would leave him in the same place Zelda’s defection had. But he didn’t want another woman to miss, or a relationship to mourn. Good times, salvaged pride and an easy goodbye—surely that wasn’t too much to ask.

And if it was, he was tired enough that even his doubts couldn’t keep him awake tonight.



OVER BREAKFAST the next morning, Griff offered to take Arden into town. “I can show you off to the populace, in line with our agenda, and you can tour the booming metropolis of Sheridan, Georgia.”

“Can we walk?” She took a deep breath of crisp air when they stepped outside. “It’s a beautiful day, not too cold at all.”

He squinted, as if measuring the distance. “Depends on how long you want to walk. We’re about three miles from the middle of town.”

A glance down at the knee-high boots she’d bought just yesterday dampened her enthusiasm. “Um, maybe not this time.”

“So, we can drive the Jag. Or…” He lifted a questioning eyebrow.

“Or?”

“We could ride my bike.”

Arden took a quick breath, hardly daring to hope. “As in motorcycle?”

“As in Harley.”

She clapped her hands. “Oh, yes. Please?”

Griff pulled a ring of keys out of his pocket. “I hoped you’d say that.”

In a matter of minutes, she was straddling the motorcycle at his back, arms around his waist and the wind in her face. “This is glorious,” she called over his shoulder. “I’ve always wanted to ride a Harley.”

“Glad I could be your first,” he yelled back, with that mischievous, slanted grin she was beginning to look for.

Griff piloted them to the center of town and found a parking place along a tree-lined street with quaint storefronts on each side. At one end stood an impressive brick courthouse with white columns and a white steeple on top. At the other end, long stretches of lawn and huge, leafless trees surrounded the statue of a mounted soldier.

“Here we are,” Griff said, removing his own helmet and holding a hand out for hers. “Beautiful, anachronistic Sheridan, Georgia. Population eight thousand, give or take a few. Home to the last remnants of the antebellum South.”

“Lovely.” Arden noticed the live pine garlands swagged across front porches, the wreaths made of real magnolia leaves and holly sprigs, all of them tied with red bows. “I’m sure it’s wonderful at Christmas.”

“Of course. The different church choirs come together on Christmas Eve to sing carols on the courthouse lawn.” He motioned up and down the street. “Folks stroll around with hot cider and cookies, greeting their neighbors. It’s a scene straight out of—”

He broke off, then swore under his breath. “I don’t believe this. Not first thing.”

Arden looked around. “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t see anything dangerous, or unusual. Just a pair of women walking toward them on the sidewalk. Mother and daughter, judging from appearances, busy in conversation. Both of them were pretty blondes, well-dressed and with perfect makeup. They didn’t notice Griff until they almost ran into him.

The younger woman looked up at that moment. Her face went white and her jaw dropped. “Oh, my God,” she whispered.

“You know I hate it when you use that expression,” her mother said, still focused on a notepad in her hand. Then she, too, looked at Griff. Arden worried for a second that she might actually faint.

Griff nodded to the older woman. “Hello, Mrs. Talbot. Happy New Year.”

Then he took a deep breath and looked directly at the daughter. “I have somebody I’d like y’all to meet.” Reaching out, he drew Arden close to his side. “This is my new fiancée, Arden Burke.”

His arm felt like iron around her shoulders. “Arden, this is Mrs. Talbot. And my former fiancée, her daughter Zelda.”