Family Man

been a brilliant business decision. It was the site on which she had later built the Pacific Rim. Not only had the restaurant been incredibly successful, but the land itself had skyrocketed in value as Seattle had come into its own in recent years.
    Another Gilchrist success.
    Luke had found several memos from Justine pertaining to the deal. They made it clear that before the old building could be torn down the handful of small businesses that occupied it had to be removed. Some leases were canceled, others were not renewed. The net result had been the closing of a small restaurant, a cleaning establishment, and a bookstore. The restaurant had been named the Atwood Café.
    Luke studied the screen, but a portion of his mind was on Katy. It was fortunate he could do two things at once, he thought, because a part of his mind was always on Katy lately.
    She consumed his full attention in his dreams and nibbled at his thoughts all day long, regardless of other distractions. Now that he could start to see a future again he could not envision it without her.
    The commotion in the outer office pulled Luke's attention away from the screen. He heard familiar voices issuing orders. His secretary wavered and fell under the Gilchrist charge.
    A moment later Luke's door opened. He looked up in resignation as Maureen, Hayden, Darren, and Eden stormed into his office. They took up positions around his desk as if it were a pentagram.
    “No wonder Katy thinks of us as a coven,” Luke muttered. He leaned back in his chair. “I take it this is not a social call?”
    “We've talked this over, Luke, and we've decided you should know our feelings on the matter,” Maureen announced.
    “What matter is that?” Luke asked politely.
    “Katy.” Eden drifted toward the window. She settled on the sill and adjusted the hem of her black wool skirt. “You're sleeping with her, Luke. We all know it. You told me yourself that you were involved with her.”
    “So?”
    “So we want you to know our feelings on the subject,” Maureen repeated.
    “Hell.” Luke tossed aside the gold pen. “Don't tell me you're all here to give me a lecture on how to conduct my love life. I'm not in the mood to listen to it.”
    Maureen glared at him. “This is important. None of us wants Katy hurt.”
    “She's right,” Darren said.
    “Since when did any of you start worrying about Katy?” Luke asked.
    Hayden frowned. “We've always been very aware of Katy. She's almost a part of the family. No one wants to see her hurt. She went through a bit of a rough patch back when Eden and Atwood were married. Don't want to see her go through something like that again.”
    “Thoughtful of you,” Luke observed.
    Eden's eyes flashed. “I never wanted to hurt Katy. But Nate and I—well, it was just one of those things.”
    “And Katy was just another road kill,” Luke said.
    Eden gave him a sharp look. “What's that supposed to mean?”
    “Forget it.” Luke eyed the handsome faces of his family. “If you came here to gang up on me and tell me to stop seeing Katy, you're wasting your time.”
    “Hell, we know that.” Darren moved one shoulder in an elegant shrug. “It's obvious you want her, even if you are all wrong for her.”
    “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Luke said dryly. Apparently no one considered him right for Katy. If he was honest, he had to admit he had not even considered himself right for her back at the beginning. It was a depressing thought.
    “The thing is,” Maureen put in, her voice grimly forceful, “we don't think you should lead her on. We don't want you to use her and then cast her aside.”
    “Is that right?” Luke cocked a brow. “What do you suggest I do?”
    “Marry her,” Hayden said succinctly.
    “What makes you think she'll have me?” Luke asked quietly.
    All four of them stared at him in amazement. It rarely occurred to Gilchrists that they could not have what they wanted. Not if they wanted it badly enough. And if they wanted something, they usually wanted it badly. Luke scowled at the thought. He was starting to make the same generalizations Katy made.
    “What in the world are you talking about?” Maureen demanded. “If you ask her to marry you, she'll marry you.”
    “Of course she will,” Hayden said. “She wouldn't be sleeping with you if she didn't love you. Katy wouldn't sleep with someone she didn't love.”
    Eden and Darren both nodded in agreement.
    “Ask her,” Darren said.
    “It's not