“Because you’re one of them.”
“No. I’m not one of them. I’m the family bastard, remember!”
“You make it difficult to forget,” Katy said tightly.
Luke was quiet for a moment. “I wonder if Justine will have told the others that I intend to take the Pacific Rim as my fee for saving the collective Gilchrist ass.”
“I have no idea.”
Justine had indeed told the others. The hostility that greeted Katy and Luke when they walked into the suite was palpable.
Hayden and Maureen got right to the point as Mrs. Igorson served sherry.
“You’ve got a hell of a nerve, Luke,” Hayden growled. “I wonder what your father would have said.”
“My father would never have come back to do the job for you,” Luke said. “You know that as well as I do.”
“You have no business taking the most successful restaurant as a fee, Maureen declared, outraged. “This is a family business.”
“So Katy keeps reminding me.” Luke swirled the sherry in his glass and went to stand alone at the window.
He remained there, aloof and isolated, as the family members attacked. Justine, looking surprisingly strong and regal in a black and silver dinner dress, watched speculatively as one by one the others registered their protests.
“It’s not fair,” Eden said passionately. “It’s wrong. You don’t deserve to be taken back like this in the first place, and you certainly have no right to act like an outside paid consultant.”
“If you don’t like it, hire yourself another consultant.” Luke sipped his sherry and gazed out into the gathering shadows.
“This is all some kind of revenge for what happened to your parents thirty-seven years ago, isn’t it?” Darren narrowed his eyes. “Why don’t you admit it?”
Katy could stand it no longer. “For heaven’s sake, stop it, all of you,” she said crisply. “Luke has agreed to save Gilchrist, Inc. Give him a chance.”
The Gilchrists turned on her en masse, eyes glittering.
“From what Grandmother has told us,” Eden said, “he’s only here because you persuaded him to come back. Were you the one who offered him the Pacific Rim as a fee for services rendered?”
Katy’s fingers tightened around the stem of her sherry glass, but she kept her voice calm. “No, I did not. No one offered it to him. He simply announced he was going to take it as his fee. It was part of the deal he made with Justine.”
Maureen frowned. “Just where do you fit into all this anyway, Katy? I must say, you’re certainly moving in the inner circles these days. I thought you were supposed to be Justine’s personal assistant, but lately you’ve been acting more like a member of the family.”
Luke spoke coldly from the window. His voice sliced like a sword through the grumbling and muttering of the others. “That’s enough, Maureen. And that goes for the rest of you, too. Your claws are showing.”
Hayden frowned “What are you talking about?”
“I’m warning you that Katy is not fair game. She no longer works for Justine. She is now my personal assistant. That makes her my responsibility, and she answers to no one but me. Is that clear?”
The others—including Katy—stared at him in shock. It dawned on Katy that no one had thought it necessary to come to her rescue in years. She was the one who generally did the rescuing.
“But she’s always worked for Grandmother,” Darren finally muttered. “Ever since she joined the company.”
“Well, now she works for me.” Luke’s voice was dangerously soft. “That was also part of the deal I made with Justine.”
Silence gripped the room. Katy was aware of the speculation in the eyes of Eden and her mother. She had the feeling the two women were leaping to more conclusions.
“I believe we’re ready to sit down to dinner,” Justine said. She rose from her chair with an odd air of subtle triumph and accepted Hayden’s arm. “Shall we adjourn to the dining room?”
No one argued.
It was not the most pleasant evening Katy had passed in Gilchrist company. In fact, she decided, it probably ranked as one of the worst evenings of recent memory.
The family alternately attacked, retreated, regrouped and charged—again and again. Luke sat impassively through the siege and didn’t give an inch of ground. He looked bored most of the time.
Katy grew increasingly depressed until the meal finally came to a conclusion with thin wedges of cheese and a lemon mousse.
She cheered up slightly, however, when the others gathered in the living room for demitasse. Escape was at hand. As soon as the coffee was finished she would be able to leave.
Darren smiled at her with what might have been sympathy as the others fell into desultory conversation about the future of Gilchrist, Inc. He carried his gold-edged cup and saucer over to where she sat.
“You look like you could use a break.” Darren nodded toward the French doors. “What do you say we go out onto the balcony for a few minutes and get some fresh air?”
“All right.” Katy had always gotten along reasonably well with Darren and was grateful to him now for making a friendly gesture. She put down her cup and got to her feet.
Luke looked up from something he was saying to Hayden as Katy followed Darren out onto the balcony. She could feel his eyes watching her until she stepped out of sight through the glass-paned doors. The shiver of awareness that went through her was not caused entirely by the chilled evening air. She sensed that Luke was not pleased by her exit.
“Whew.” Darren made a show of mopping his brow. “Talk about dropping a bombshell on the family. Trust Justine to pull it off. I have to admit I never thought she’d get him here. Dad told me that when Uncle Thornton eloped with his secretary all those years ago, Grandmother said she never wanted to see Thornton, his floozy, or their son as long as she lived. Uncle Thornton is reputed to have said that was fine with him.”
Katy gripped the teak railing. “Justine must have been in a rage. I know she was terribly humiliated.”
“Did your mother ever forgive the Gilchrists?”
Katy smiled. “Eventually. She was quite happy with my father. They had a good marriage. Unfortunately, Dad was not the businessman my grandfather was.”
“Just as my father hasn’t got the genius for business that Justine has. Damn it, I wish Justine wouldn’t assume that the talent has dried up on our side of the family just because my father didn’t inherit it. Talent sometimes skips generations.” Darren’s hand clamped around the railing. “All I want her to do is give me a chance.”
“I know, Darren. I’m sorry. I’ve tried to talk to her about it, but she’s convinced herself that Luke is the only one who can take her place. That’s all she’s been able to think about lately.”
“Bastard. Walks right in through the front door and plucks the ripest fruit from the tree. I can’t believe it. How could Justine agree to turn the most successful restaurant over to him as a fee? We don’t need him that badly.”
“Justine thinks you do.”
“Shit.” Darren looked down at her with sudden intensity. “Look, Katy, I need to talk to you.”
“You are talking to me.”
“In private. I’ve got to discuss something important with you. I can’t do it here with the others in the next room. When can I see you?”
“Anytime, I guess. I’ll be in my office tomorrow at eight.”
Darren shook his head quickly. “No, not in your office. I’ll come by your place late tomorrow afternoon.”
Katy hesitated and then shrugged. “All right.”
“Thanks, Katy.” He leaned down to kiss her lightly on the cheek. “I appreciate it. You’ve always been a good friend of the family.”
There was no sound behind her, but Katy sensed a familiar presence standing in the open French doors. She turned
her head and saw Luke standing there. The lights of the living room blazed behind him, throwing his face into impenetrable shadow.
“Are you ready to leave?” Luke’s voice was expressionless.
“Yes.” Katy stepped forward in relief. “I’ll get my coat from Mrs. Igorson. Good night, Darren. See you tomorrow.”
“Right,” Darren said softly.
Luke glanced at Darren and then followed Katy back into the living room.
“I’m going to take Katy home,” Luke said to his grandmother.
“Of course.” Justine nodded at Katy. “It was a pleasure to have you with us, my dear. Say hello to young Matt for me.”
“I will. Good night, Justine.” Katy gave her a quick little peck on the cheek. She bade the others good night and moved to take her coat from Mrs. Igorson.
“Can’t blame you for skipping out early,” Mrs. Igorson grumbled. “Just wish I could leave, too. It’s not going to be what you’d call real cheerful around here after you two take off.”
“I hadn’t noticed it being real cheerful around here up until now,” Katy said dryly. “But then, I don’t suppose Gilchrists would know what to do with a lot of cheerfulness. See you later, Mrs. Igorson.”
Luke took Katy’s arm and led her out into the night. He said nothing as they got into the Jaguar and started back toward the cliff cottages.
“Well, that was certainly the fun and entertaining event I expected it to be.” Katy leaned her head back against the seat.
“Yeah, it was everything I expected, too.” Luke gazed straight ahead into the night as he drove. The light over the front door of his cottage was visible in the distance. “Come in and have a nightcap with me.”
Katy felt a tingle of uneasy excitement go through her. “Is that an order from boss to humble employee, or are you asking me politely?”
“I’m asking politely. Of course, if you refuse, I’ll probably make it an order. I feel like some company while I unwind. It’s been a long day and an even longer evening.”
“You’ve got Zeke for company.”
“Zeke is terrific in a lot of ways, but he’s not much of a conversationalist.” Luke parked the car in the drive of his small cottage.
“That’s what you want tonight? Conversation?” He removed the key from the ignition and turned to look at her. “What else would I want?”
Katy winced. “Darned if I know. Sure, I’ll come in for a nightcap. But I can’t stay long. Matt will be expecting me.”
“I know.”
Luke got out of the car and walked her to the front door. Zeke was sprawled on the rug in the front room. His bowl was beside him. He twitched an ear and opened one eye when Luke turned on a lamp, but he didn’t bother to move.
“Terrific watchdog,” Katy observed.
“Zeke knows when to get excited and when not to bother. I’m going to start a fire. It’s cold in here.” Luke took Katy’s coat and shrugged out of his black jacket. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned his collar as he moved to the fireplace. “The brandy’s in the kitchen,” he said as he went down on one knee and reached for kindling.
Katy decided that was a hint. “Check.”
She went into the kitchen and started opening cupboard doors until she found a bottle with an impressive French label. Gilchrists, even apparently nonindulgent Luke, showed good taste in this sort of thing. She poured the brandy into two glasses and carried them back out into the front room.
Luke already had a brisk fire going. When he turned toward her she saw the crisp, curling black hair in the opening of his shirt. Her hand trembled slightly when she set down the drinks.
“Thanks.” Luke uncoiled smoothly from the hearth and crossed the room to pick up one of the glasses.
“Okay, what do you want to talk about?” Katy forced herself to ask lightly as she sat down on the sofa. The full, flared skirts of her bright blue dress flowed over her legs.
“Hell, I don’t care. Anything. Pick a subject.” He sank down beside her, sprawled back against the cushions, and stretched his legs out in front of him.
Katy was startled by the unexpected air of weariness about him. She frowned in concern. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” He gazed into the flames. “I guess I’m just not accustomed to the happy warmth of family gatherings.”
Katy forgot about her nervousness in a rush of sympathy. This could not be easy for him, in spite of the cold, arrogant air he was affecting. “It’s going to take a while for your family to get used to you, too. They don’t seem to trust you for some reason.”
Luke’s mouth curved faintly. “Nobody ever called Gilchrists stupid.”
“You didn’t exactly go out of your way to reassure them about your intentions,” Katy reminded him gently.
“Why bother? My intentions aren’t all that honorable in the first place. I really am going to take the Pacific Rim, you know.”
Katy sat stiffly on the edge of the sofa. “Maybe you’ll change your mind.”
“Damn, but I love wide-eyed optimists. They say the cutest things.”
“Doesn’t it get a little tough playing the Bastard all the time?”
“The part comes naturally to me.”
“I see.” Katy crossed her legs and then quickly uncrossed them. She tucked one foot behind the other and pressed her knees tightly together.
“Relax,” Luke ordered quietly. “I’m not going to jump you.”
“I didn’t think you were.”
“Talk to me.”
“What about?” Katy could feel dampness under her arms. “Last quarter’s earnings?”
“Tell me about your big plans for the future.” Luke closed his eyes and rested his head on the cushion. “What are you going to do when you finally escape my clutches?”
Katy hesitated. “I told you. Open Pesto Presto, my specialty take-out restaurant.”
Luke’s lashes lifted slightly. “Why don’t you just stay with Gilchrist, Inc. if you like the restaurant business? You’d probably make more money. You can lose a bundle in your own business.”
“To be perfectly blunt, I’ve been taking orders from Gilchrists for years, and I’m tired of it. I want to be my own boss.” Katy watched the flames leap on the hearth and thought about all her dreams. “I want to be free. I want to make my own decisions. I want to create my own future.”
“One way or another, you’ve been tied down for a long time, haven’t you?”
“I love my brother more than anything else in this world. And Justine’s offer of a job when I was nineteen was a godsend. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. But now Matt is ready to go off on his own. In a couple of months he’ll be able to activate his trust fund. It’ll see him through college. And Justine finally has you to look after her precious Gilchrist, Inc.”
“So you figure you’re free to fly off into the wild blue yonder?”
“I’ll be able to spread my wings and take a few risks, yes.” Katy smiled to herself and relaxed back against the sofa. Thinking about her future always made her feel better. She took a sip of brandy and savored the warmth. “I know just what I want in my little restaurant.”
“Tell me about it.”
She was surprised by his interest, but more than willing to sink into her favorite daydream. “It will be first class all the way. Good location with an upscale, adventurous clientele. Maybe Bellevue or Edmonds or downtown Seattle. I’ll feature my own line of frozen and fresh pesto sauces and a full range of pasta.”
“Pasta, huh?”
“Pasta is the perfect modern food. It’s good for you, and it’s fast. All you have to do is boil it for a few minutes and put some sauce over the top. Pesto Presto will provide everything a person needs for a gourmet meal.”
“No kidding.”
“I’ll offer all sorts of little extras,” K
aty explained. “Oriental pastas made from buckwheat. Whole wheat pasta. Flavored pastas. And each of my private label pestos will be freshly made on the premises. Maybe I’ll even make the pasta on site.”
“You’re going to run this place all by yourself?”
“I’ll have to hire some staff, naturally.”
“Naturally. But you’re still going to be damn busy. You won’t have much time for a social life. Justine says you haven’t had much of one for the past few years. She figures you’re ready to spread your wings in that department, too.”
He had not even opened his eyes to look at her, but Katy realized his question had made her palms damp. What was the matter with her? She was turning into a nervous wreck. She put the brandy glass down quickly. “I’d be interested in a slightly more exciting social life,” she admitted cautiously. “If the right man came along, that is.”
“The right man? Have you got a profile on this guy?”
“Everyone has an image of what he or she wants in a mate.”
“Describe your perfect mate.”
She gave Luke an uncertain glance, but his eyes were still closed. She noticed that his lashes were inky black and quite thick, and that the firelight was creating deep shadows beneath his aristocratic cheekbones.
“Well,” she said slowly, “I guess my ideal man would be someone open and warm and gentle. Someone I could trust. Someone who’s capable of commitment. But most importantly, someone who can cook.”
“Cook?” Luke’s lashes shot up. “You want a man who can cook?”
“Certainly. There are bound to be times when he’ll have to help out in the kitchen at Pesto Presto.”
“Hell.” Luke looked annoyed. “You don’t ask for much, do you? You haven’t said anything about this perfect man’s abilities in bed. Or don’t you care about that side of things, so long as he’s sweet-natured and handy in the kitchen?”
“You started this conversation.” Katy glowered at him. “Now you’re deliberately trying to embarrass me.”
Luke leaned over her, forcing her deeper into the cushions. His shadowed gaze was brilliant with sensual threat. “You know what I think?”