Family Man

going to be that easy,” Luke murmured.
    “Why not?” There was a militant gleam in Maureen's eye.
    “I can't cook,” Luke explained.
    If the four Gilchrists surrounding his desk had been amazed a minute earlier, they were all flabbergasted now.
    “What the hell's that supposed to mean?” Darren asked blankly. “What's cooking got to do with it?”
    “Katy told me once that the man she marries will have to be able to cook,” Luke said. “Have you ever known a Gilchrist who could cook?”
    They all looked at one another again.
    “Justine said that she would never cook after she got Gilchrist, Inc. to the point where she didn't have to be her own chef.” Hayden's gaze was reminiscent. “I remember how hard she worked in those early years. She slaved night and day in the kitchens of that first Gilchrist restaurant. Couldn't afford staff. Every night she fell into bed exhausted. Thornton and I grew up with the notion that cooking was a pretty dreadful thing.”
    “And you passed that idea on to your children.” Eden smiled wryly. “But it's not all that difficult. I've done it on occasion. You just open a box and add stuff, and then you stick it in the microwave.”
    “Salads are easy,” Maureen added helpfully. “You just wash off the lettuce and add some bottled dressing. You can get some interesting things like capers to sprinkle on the top. No problem.”
    “Some of the frozen entrées Gilchrist Gourmet makes are really good,” Darren offered. “Take'em out of the microwave box, put'em on a plate, and no one would know they aren't homemade.”
    “Katy would. And I'm not talking about that kind of cooking,” Luke said. “I'm talking about real cooking. Gourmet stuff.”
    “Unfortunately,” Hayden admitted, “none of us has ever had much interest in the subject.”
    “Katy's interested in it. Passionately interested,” Luke said.
    “So learn to cook,” Darren advised. “It can't be all that difficult. Prove to her you can do it, and then ask her to marry you.”
    “How do you suggest I go about learning to be a cordon bleu chef in a week?” Luke asked blandly.
    Eden frowned. “I don't see any problem. We've got a couple of dozen chefs on the payroll. We'll get one of them to teach you.”
    There was a general murmur of agreement. Everyone looked relieved.
    It was Luke's turn to gaze at the other members of the family in amazement. “You're serious, aren't you?”
    “I'll be perfectly frank with you,” Hayden said. “It would have been best if you had never started an affair with Katy. She's not your type, and you're definitely not hers. But since it's a fait accompli, we feel you should do the right thing by her.”
    They all glowered at Luke.
    “All right,” Luke said.
    They eyed him closely, obviously wary of such easy victory.
    “Soon,” Darren stipulated.
    “Soon,” Luke promised softly. “Very soon.”
    “I'll line up one of the Gilchrist chefs to give you instructions,” Eden said.

    Luke got the message summoning him to Justine's suite the next morning. He went downstairs to the first floor of the mansion and presented himself at the door.
    “Mrs. Gilchrist is very upset, and it's all your fault,” Mrs. Igorson announced as she opened the door.
    “Don't worry,” Luke said. “By the time I leave she'll probably be even more annoyed.”
    Justine was waiting for him in her favorite wingback throne. The gray light of a cloudy day dulled the silver in her hair but not the glitter in her green eyes. Justine was in fighting form, Luke noted. As he approached she seemed to stiffen with anger. Her shoulders were rigid beneath her black blouse.
    “What is this I hear about you asking Katy to marry you?” Justine snapped.
    “False gossip and malicious rumor,” Luke said mildly. He sat on the window seat and looked at Justine. “I haven't asked her yet.”
    “But you intend to ask her?”
    “If I can work up the courage.”
    Justine's mouth tightened. “Don't joke with me, Luke.”
    “It's no joke. There's a good chance she'll refuse. You know we Gilchrists have a hard time with rejection.”
    Justine's hand clenched on the arm of the chair. “Damn you, Luke, I told you I did not want her hurt.”
    “Everyone seems to be very concerned about me hurting Katy. I have to admit I'm a little surprised.”
    “What did you expect? Katy has been almost a daughter to me. I won't stand by and see you take advantage of her.”
    Luke studied the toes of his boots for a