Family Man

reflectively for a long moment. “Not bad,” he finally pronounced.
    Katy wrinkled her nose. “I can do without the faint praise. If you don't like it, just say so.”
    He smiled slowly, a smile of pure sensual menace. His eyes drifted over her with deliberate intent and then came to rest on her mouth. “Like I said. Not bad. A little bland. Needs some snap.”
    “Snap?” She eyed him cautiously. She was beginning to realize he was not talking about her pesto. The heat rose in her cheeks.
    “Yeah. Snap. You know, something to spice it up. Pesto ought to have a little zest. I sense some shyness here. An element of uncertainty. A certain lack of experience, no doubt.”
    “Is that right?” Katy lifted her chin proudly.
    “A really good pesto has a natural intensity. The goal is to unleash the underlying passion of the herbs. Know what I mean?”
    Katy glowered at him. “I believe so, yes.”
    “Don't worry. There's nothing wrong with this particular pesto that can't be fixed with a little experimentation and practice.”
    “I'll keep that in mind,” Katy said through her teeth.
    Luke nodded, satisfied. “Good.” He took the knife out of her hand and spread another cracker with pesto. “Don't worry. You'll get the hang of it.”
    He handed the knife back to Katy, popped the cracker in his mouth, and walked out of the office.
    “Whew.” Liz wiped imaginary sweat off her brow. “What was that all about?”
    “The man obviously thinks he's an authority on pesto.” Katy clamped the lid down on the plastic container.
    “Don't give me that,” Liz murmured. “He was not talking about pesto.”
    “Of course he was.” Katy stalked toward her own office. “You know how Gilchrists are. They get intense about everything, including food.”
    “I suppose it's only natural.” Liz frowned thoughtfully. “They are in the restaurant business, after all.”
    Katy closed the door quickly and threw herself down into her chair. She swung around and sat staring out the window for a long, contemplative moment. If the next six months were going to be like this, she was going to be in big trouble.
    She had realized from the start that Luke was feeling hostile and resentful toward her. She had been fully aware that he blamed her for forcing him to meet his obligations. She had known he was not happy with his decision to come to Dragon Bay and that she provided a focus for his dissatisfaction. But she had told herself she could handle all that.
    Unfortunately, after what had happened last night she had to face a new element in the equation. She was very much afraid that she had somehow become a challenge to Luke.
    Gilchrists could become obsessive about getting their own way, especially when someone told them they could not have something they wanted. It was in the blood.
    Handling a Gilchrist who had decided to pursue a particular goal was difficult under the best of circumstances. In this instance, however, things were going to be far more tricky. After last night Katy knew she could no longer deny that she was attracted to Luke.
    He must never guess how much willpower it had taken to walk out of his cottage.
    The realization of just how vulnerable she was shook her to the core.
    Luke was dangerous. She had known that from the first moment she saw him. She would have to be extremely careful during the next six months if she wanted to escape the sorcerer unscathed.

    The sound of an expensive engine in the drive late that afternoon reminded Katy that Darren had said he would be dropping by to talk to her. She looked up from the cookbook she was studying.
    “Sounds like Darren's new Porsche,” Matt said from the kitchen table. He closed his textbook with a snap. “What's he doing here?”
    “He wants to talk to me about something,” Katy said.
    “Yeah? What?” Matt got up and went to the window. “The only time that guy talks to you is when he wants something.”
    “That's not true, Matt.”
    “The last time he stopped by to see you he wanted you to talk Justine into giving him a trial run as head of Gilchrist, Inc., remember? Man, that is some kind of car. Don't suppose he'd let me try it out.”
    “I'd say you have two chances, fat and slim. That car is Darren's prize possession.” Katy put the cook-book aside. “Let him in, will you, Matt?”
    “Sure.” Matt obligingly opened the door.
    Darren stood on the step. He was dressed in a black leather jacket and black slacks that went nicely with the