âWho?â
Sydney blinked up at her father. âWhat?â
âWho are you dating?â
Her gaze slid to the stranger, and she thought maybe white knights did ride to the rescue. It was worth a shot. What could happen? Even if this backfired, maybe her dad would get the message that she was serious about convincing him to back off.
âHim.â She angled her head. âIâm going out with him.â
Before her father could turn and look, she was on her way over to the man. Stopping in front of him, she looked up and said in a low voice, âI will forever be in your debt if you go with me on whatâs about to happen. Itâs a family thing.â She put a fair amount of pleading into her tone and her expression. âIâm begging you. And Iâll make it up to you. I swear.â
The Bachelors of Blackwater Lake: They wonât be single for long!
Chapter One
Sydney McKnight knew there was no way a white knight would ride in on his stalwart steed and save her, but a girl could hope.
Needing a good save is what happens when first thing in the morning your father, who was also your boss, hits you with the âare you seeing anyone?â question. It was a sure bet this conversation wasnât headed anywhere she wanted to go.
Standing outside the office of McKnight Automotive, she glanced around for an escape, but short of making a run for it, there was no way out. Time to get the attention off herself and back where it belonged. On her father, who she and her brothers just found out had been seeing someone in secret. For months. And now Tom McKnight was looking to find out if his daughter would be in a committed relationship anytime soon so that he could take the next step in his own.
âDad, you didnât have to sneak around and date. The boys are fine with it.â
âIt wasnât Alex and Ben that concerned me, Syd. Itâs you.â He met her gaze and there was no looking away or mistaking his meaning. âI will always have a special place in my heart for your mother.â
Complications from childbirth had caused her motherâs death. Syd knew she wasnât to blame for it but that didnât stop a small stab of guilt. âFor years everyone has been telling you to get on with your life, Dad. Now we know you did, a while ago. With Mayor Goodson. Itâs about darn time and Iâm completely fine with it. Fly. Be free. Be happy.â
Her fatherâs expression tightened into a mask of stubborn resolve. âHow can I be happy until I know your personal life is in order?â
That was code for having a man. What her father didnât get was that first you had to want a man messing up your personal life and Syd didnât. This wasnât the first time theyâd had this conversation, but she was going to do her best to make it the last.
âDadââ She stopped and took a deep breath, tapping into her well of patience, which at this point was hitting rock-bottom. âI know you want to protect me, make sure Iâm okay. And itâs really sweet, but Iâm a big girl now.â
âI know you are, honey, but I canât help worrying about you. Sue me. I want you to be settled, safe and happy.â He ran his fingers through his thick silver hair. âMaybe itâs about me being emotionally unavailable to you after your mom died.â
Emotionally unavailable? âYouâve been watching TV talk shows again, havenât you?â she teased.
âMaybe.â His grin was fleeting.
âThereâs nothing to make up for, Dad. I understand. Losing your wife was a shock. Youâre a terrific father. The best. You did a great job. Alex, Ben and I turned out pretty awesome.â
âYouâll get no argument from me about that.â His blue eyes twinkled with paternal pride. âThe thing is, honey, your brothers are both married and have started their families.â
And she was still very single, which translated to all alone. He didnât say it, but the implication hung in the silence between them.
Over her fatherâs shoulder, Sydney saw an expensive, low-slung sports car growl to a crawl on Main Street in order to make the turn into McKnight Automotive. The beautiful, red, high-performance vehicle said something about the person driving it. For one thing, whoever it was didnât mind being noticed. A machine like that was an attention magnet. Her fingers itched to get a look at what was under the hoodâof the car.
Focus, Sydney, she thought. âAlex and Ben were lucky to find their wives, Dad. You wouldnât want me to marry in haste then find out it was a mistake, would you?â