Family Man

intentions.”
    “Huh?”
    “I'm not at all sure Katy's intentions toward me are honorable,” Luke said softly. “I'm not sure she wants to marry me.”
    “Oh, yeah, I know.” Matt looked relieved. “I just think you should ask her, that's all. She probably won't actually want to marry you. You're a Gilchrist, after all.”
    Luke set his back teeth. “It's not easy, you know.”
    “Being a Gilchrist? Yeah, I can understand that.” Matt brightened. “So you'll ask her?”
    “Yes.”
    “Okay.” Matt nodded, satisfied. “All right.” He apparently considered his mission accomplished. “Hey, you want to go down to the gym and work out? You could help me practice some of my throws.”
    “Sure, why not?” It was as good a way as any to relieve the tension seething in his gut, Luke thought.

    Katy saw Zeke watching her from inside Luke's cottage when she went past on her way to the beach. The big dog had his face pressed against the kitchen window, a somewhat awkward position given the fact that he had his dish clamped in his mouth. Zeke tracked her with an intent gaze, ears half cocked.
    Katy hesitated, aware that the dog was alone. Matt and Luke had left for the Dragon Bay Athletic Club an hour ago. She told herself the dog was not really lonely and that he would be just fine by himself for a while.
    Zeke continued to stare hopefully at her through the glass. He probably knew she was on her way down to the beach, she thought. Zeke loved to go down to the beach.
    “Okay, okay,” Katy muttered. She used the key Luke had given her and opened the cottage door.
    Zeke trotted out with his dish and headed straight for the cliff path.
    The dog hit the beach several yards ahead of Katy and dashed off to explore the exciting scents left behind in the wake of the outgoing tide. Katy followed slowly.
    She was in a strange mood today, she realized. Actually, she had been that way since returning from Seattle with Luke. Last night she had actually cried quietly in her bedroom. Thank heaven Matt had not heard her. He would have been concerned and would have asked her what was wrong.
    Katy knew she could not have supplied a clear answer. She could hardly tell Matt that she was in love with Luke and that there was very little future in loving him.
    Loving Luke was a monumentally stupid thing to do. But she had known from the first time she went to bed with him what the probable outcome was. If she was honest with herself, she had to admit she had sensed that outcome the first time she had met him.
    The best thing she could do was not look beyond the next few months. Take what was offered for as long as Luke was in Dragon Bay. Be prepared to have him walk away at the end of six months.
    Katy sighed. It was going to be hard. She was accustomed to long-term plans and commitments. She was accustomed to looking into the future.
    Luke was still recycling his own past.
    “Katy.”
    Katy turned in surprise at the sound of her name being called above the roar of the surf. Zeke glanced up from where he had his nose in the sand farther down the beach.
    “Fraser.” Katy smiled as Fraser Stanfield loped down the cliff path. “What on earth are you doing here?”
    “I came to say good-bye.” Fraser reached the beach and strode quickly toward her. “Didn't get much of a chance yesterday.”
    “I thought you were on your way to the airport.”
    Fraser gave her a grim smile. “Didn't you realize what was happening? Gilchrist was hustling me out of the building. He had just fired me.”
    Katy was speechless. “Fired you? I don't believe it. Why would he do such a thing?”
    “It was business.” Fraser's mouth twisted. “No hard feelings, you know?”
    “No, I don't know. What is this all about?”
    “Gilchrist was afraid I was too close to the inner circle of Gilchrist power. He saw me as a threat and decided to get rid of me.”
    “But the only reason you were close to the inner circle was because Justine asked you to help us hold things together.”
    “Hey, don't worry about it, Katy. I'm a big boy. I know how these games are played.”
    “But if what you say is true, it's horribly unfair.” Katy was stricken. “This is terrible. I'll speak to Luke right away. I won't allow him to fire you just because you were helping me keep tabs on things for Justine.”
    “Forget it, Katy. It's done. You'll never change Gilchrist's mind. We've both worked with Gilchrists long enough to know that they always get their own way