Family Man

I'll feature my own line of frozen and fresh pesto sauces and a full range of pasta.”
    “Pasta, huh?”
    “Pasta is the perfect modern food. It's good for you, and it's fast. All you have to do is boil it for a few minutes and put some sauce over the top. Pesto Presto will provide everything a person needs for a gourmet meal.”
    “No kidding.”
    “I'll offer all sorts of little extras,” Katy explained. “Oriental pastas made from buckwheat. Whole wheat pasta. Flavored pastas. And each of my private label pestos will be freshly made on the premises. Maybe I'll even make the pasta on site.”
    “You're going to run this place all by yourself?”
    “I'll have to hire some staff, naturally.”
    “Naturally. But you're still going to be damn busy. You won't have much time for a social life. Justine says you haven't had much of one for the past few years. She figures you're ready to spread your wings in that department, too.”
    He had not even opened his eyes to look at her, but Katy realized his question had made her palms damp. What was the matter with her? She was turning into a nervous wreck. She put the brandy glass down quickly. “I'd be interested in a slightly more exciting social life,” she admitted cautiously. “If the right man came along, that is.”
    “The right man? Have you got a profile on this guy?”
    “Everyone has an image of what he or she wants in a mate.”
    “Describe your perfect mate.”
    She gave Luke an uncertain glance, but his eyes were still closed. She noticed that his lashes were inky black and quite thick, and that the firelight was creating deep shadows beneath his aristocratic cheekbones.
    “Well,” she said slowly, “I guess my ideal man would be someone open and warm and gentle. Someone I could trust. Someone who's capable of commitment. But most importantly, someone who can cook.”
    “ Cook ?” Luke's lashes shot up. “You want a man who can cook?”
    “Certainly. There are bound to be times when he'll have to help out in the kitchen at Pesto Presto.”
    “Hell.” Luke looked annoyed. “You don't ask for much, do you? You haven't said anything about this perfect man's abilities in bed. Or don't you care about that side of things, so long as he's sweet-natured and handy in the kitchen?”
    “You started this conversation.” Katy glowered at him. “Now you're deliberately trying to embarrass me.”
    Luke leaned over her, forcing her deeper into the cushions. His shadowed gaze was brilliant with sensual threat. “You know what I think?”
    “What?” She was breathless. Her pulse had kicked into high gear, and a deep heat was pooling in her lower body. She looked up into Luke's face and was transfixed. Sorcerer's eyes , she thought.
    “I think you've put sex a little too far down on your list.”
    “Is that right?”
    “Damn right. I think that if you have to choose between a man who can cook and one who can make love properly, you'd better pick the guy who can make love.”
    “Why? I can always buy my perfect chef a book on sex. Any man with enough brains to be a good cook is certainly smart enough to learn how to make love properly.”
    “That's what you think. I've got news for you. Cooking is a skill any idiot can learn. Making love to a self-appointed guardian angel, on the other hand, takes real talent.”
    He was going to kiss her. Katy bit her lower lip. “I don't think you should do this, Luke.”
    Just before Luke's mouth came down on hers, he replied, “When I want advice, angel, I'll ask for it.”

CHAPTER

SIX
    L uke thought he was going to drown in the crystal-clear blue pools of Katy's eyes. She was watching him with a cautious feminine curiosity that made him feel as if he were being weighed and measured on some invisible scale. The sensation bothered him. He wanted her, and he wanted her to want him. Badly.
    He leaned into her, savoring the anticipation that was flowing like lava through his veins. He realized he had been contemplating this moment from the instant he had decided to come to Dragon Bay. The only factor that had been in doubt was the timing.
    Seeing Katy out on the balcony with Darren earlier had settled the matter, Luke told himself. If she wanted to get involved with a Gilchrist, she could damn well get involved with him, not his cousin.
    The glaring fact that Katy was definitely not his type no longer seemed important.
    She was soft, he thought. Soft and sweet and vulnerable. He curved his hand around the