Family Man

escape.
    “There's no need to wait for my decision,” she said coolly. “I'll stay on with the company.”
    It was Luke's turn to smile slowly in triumph. “Excellent.”
    “For a limited period of time,” Katy added calmly.
    Luke quirked a brow. “How limited?”
    Katy took a stab in the dark. “Three months.”
    Luke considered that. “I don't know if I'll have Gilchrist under control in three months. The job may take longer. No, I'm afraid I can't accept any limitations on your commitment. I need to know I can count on you for as long as it's necessary to do so.”
    “All right, four months,” Katy said quickly.
    “Nine.”
    “Six.”
    “Done,” Luke said a little too easily.
    Katy gritted her teeth. She was sure he would have settled for less if she had bargained more cautiously. “You certainly live up to your reputation, Mr. Gilchrist.”
    “Call me Luke. After all, we're going to be working closely together. Tell me, Katy, do you always make major career decisions without taking time to think them through?”
    Katy felt her face growing warm. “That was hardly a major decision. It was blackmail. If you'll excuse me, I have work to do.”
    Without waiting for a reply Katy swung around on her heel and walked swiftly out of the room.
    Mrs. Igorson was waiting in the hall. The housekeeper gave her a knowing look. “Lives up to his nickname, don't he?”
    “Yes, he does,” Katy muttered.
    Bastard .
    Then her natural optimism set in and Katy brightened. Six months was not all that bad, she consoled herself. It was not great, but she could survive it. She could spend the time researching locations and recipes for the small take-out business she intended to open.
    At least now she had a definite release date.
    Katy could hardly wait to mark her calendar so that she could start counting down the days to freedom.

CHAPTER

FOUR
    A charged silence filled the living room after the door closed behind Katy. Luke was aware of a curious sense of satisfaction. It wasn't easy winning battles with guardian angels. Virtue always had an unfair advantage.
    He almost smiled as he listened intently to the sound of Katy's footsteps retreating into the distance. He had her now. She was all his for the next six months. It was a heady thought, even though he was not at all certain just what he would do with her.
    “You upset her,” Justine said after a moment.
    “Did I?”
    “Yes. She's normally very calm. Quite unflappable. She's also extraordinarily cheerful most of the time.” Justine frowned thoughtfully as she picked up her cup of tea. “I've often wondered how she does it. It doesn't seem quite natural somehow. Nevertheless, she's rather a delight to have around, actually.”
    “Is that why you've kept her? Because she amuses you?”
    Justine did not take offense. “On the contrary, I believe it is she who finds us Gilchrists amusing. When she's not exasperated with us, that is. She needed a job. I gave her one. It's been a mutually beneficial arrangement. I don't know what I would have done without her, especially these past two years.”
    “I know she's Richard Quinnell's granddaughter.” Luke moved back to the window.
    “Yes. She's Richard's granddaughter. The resemblance is unmistakable. She got that brilliant red hair and those deep blue eyes from him. Her mother looked just like her at that age.”
    Luke frowned. “Justine…”
    “I'll never forget that day at the church when we all finally realized your father was not going to show up. Most brides would have collapsed in humiliation. Deborah Quinnell was so very brave about it all. She and her father insisted that everyone attend the reception. Richard said that as long as he'd paid for the food, someone was going to damn well eat it.”
    “Justine, let's get something straight. If this new association of ours is going to have a chance of working, there will have to be some ground rules. Number one is that we don't talk about the past. You and I are on opposite sides in that old war, and unless you want to refight it, I suggest you don't mention it.”
    Justine's mouth thinned. “I'm sure you're right. A very logical decision. But you can't blame me for wanting you to understand that there were two sides in the feud between your father and the rest of us. We were the ones who had to face the Quinnells that day at the church.”
    “And you were the one who called off the merger between Quinnell and Gilchrist right after the wedding. You