Family Man

dropped her spoon in alarm. “What do you mean? What's going on?”
    “Not all of the losses Gilchrist has suffered lately are due to the state of the economy and lack of leadership at the top. I think that in the case of two of the restaurants and Gilchrist Gourmet, someone at the management level has helped dig the holes they're in.”
    Katy was horrified. She leapt out of the chair. “Are you saying Gilchrist has been the victim of embezzlement or something?”
    “Or something. I'm not certain just what is going on yet.”
    “Good grief.” Katy stared at him. “Who would do a thing like that?”
    Luke gave her a mildly disgusted look. “Katy, I've got a news flash for you. There are a whole lot of people out there in the real world who leave their wings and halos at home when they go to work.”
    “Yes, I know. I'm not naïve. But Gilchrist, Inc. is not that large a company. If someone has been deliberately sabotaging the firm, it's probably someone I know personally.” Katy felt a little ill at that thought. “A friend.”
    “Probably.” Luke straightened away from the counter and put down his cup. “Could even be a member of the family.”
    “Good grief.” Katy sat down again. “You don't mean that.”
    “I told you, I don't know enough yet to say who's behind it. But the possibilities definitely include members of the family.”
    “It's outrageous even to suggest that family members might want to hurt the firm. That's the last thing they would do. Good Lord, I'm a more likely candidate than one of the family.”
    Luke smiled briefly. “For the record, you're the last person I'd suspect.”
    For some reason Katy felt warmed by that comment. She felt herself blush with pleasure. “I suppose I should be grateful you have some respect for my years of loyalty to Justine and the company,” she said gruffly.
    “The hell with your years of loyalty. You don't exactly have a poker face, Katy. You're as easy to read as a newspaper. Everything you're feeling is right there in your eyes. If you were involved in something shady, I'd know it.”
    The warmth she had been feeling turned to ice. “You make me sound like a five-year-old kid who couldn't organize a candy heist.”
    “I think you could organize it,” Luke said thoughtfully. “You've got the brains to do it. I just don't think you could lie about it later.”
    His condescending attitude was really beginning to annoy Katy. “You don't know me as well as you think you do.”
    That possibility did not appear to worry Luke. “We'll see. Don't mention this little matter to anyone until I get back. Not even Justine. I've got a few more questions I want answered before I make any general announcements.” He glanced once more at his watch. “I'd better get moving.”
    “So go. Nobody's stopping you.”
    “You're really pissed, aren't you?”
    “Yes, I am, as a matter of fact.”
    Luke nodded. “Right. Well, I apologize. Didn't mean to insult you by telling you I think you're basically honest. Hell. And you think men are complicated.” He walked to the door. “Zeke, stay here, boy. They've got food.”
    Zeke whined and sat down in the middle of the kitchen floor next to his bowl. His bushy tail thumped heavily as he watched Luke prepare to depart.
    Luke stopped in front of Katy. He caught her chin on the edge of his hand and tilted her face upward. “Whether you know it or not, we've made a bargain, Katy.”
    “A bargain?” Katy stilled. Her pulse was suddenly racing. Some part of her was afraid that if she moved she might fall off a cliff and sink into the bottomless green pools of his eyes.
    Luke smiled whimsically. “I'll explain it to you later. In the meantime, take care of my dog.” He bent his head and brushed his mouth lightly, possessively across Katy's startled lips.
    Then he was gone.
    Katy sat where she was for a long moment. She took several deep breaths to calm her disordered senses. When she thought she had herself under control again she turned to eye Zeke.
    “I don't want any trouble out of you,” Katy said firmly.
    Zeke focused intently on her half-full bowl of cereal.
    “What do I have to do? Bribe you?” Katy got up and dumped the remainder of her breakfast into the dog's bowl. “There. Take the food right out of my mouth. See if I care. I'm just the hired help around here.”
    Zeke downed the cereal and milk in one large gulp. Then he sprawled in the middle of the floor next to his bowl and promptly went to