Family Man

do.”
    “If he's got half the business sense everyone credits him with, he'll sell off Gilchrist Gourmet.”
    “Maybe.”
    “Gilchrists have always been in the restaurant business,” Fraser said forcefully. “They should stick with what they know. They ought to get out of the frozen entrée market. They don't understand it.”
    “Gilchrist Gourmet was doing very well at this time last year.”
    “That was last year.” Fraser picked up his wineglass and swirled the contents with an impatient movement. “Today it's headed down the tubes. Gilchrist has to realize he's got no choice but to sell it off.”
    “If it has to be sold, I'm sure he'll sell it,” Katy said equably. “But if anyone can save it, he can.”
    Fraser eyed her. “You've got a lot of faith in the Bastard.”
    “The man may not be a gentleman and a scholar, but he's good at what he does.”
    “In other words, he knows how to make money?”
    Katy smiled ruefully. “From all accounts, yes.”
    Fraser put down his wineglass and touched her hand with intimate urgency. “Katy, I meant what I said earlier. I've got a lot on the line right now, careerwise. Can I count on you to keep me informed of any moves the Bastard makes?”
    “I'll do what I can,” she said quietly. “Would you mind very much if we ate dinner now? I'm starving.”
    Fraser seemed reluctant to get off the subject. His gaze flickered, and then he managed a smile. “You bet. Try the salmon. They do a good job with it here. You know, I've talked to Eden a couple of times.”
    “Have you?”
    “Trouble is, she doesn't know what's going on either. And I'm not sure she'd tell me if she did. Hell, she's family, and I'm just the hired help. In any event, I think she's got other things on her mind right now.”
    The offhand remark about Eden caught Katy's attention. “What makes you say that?”
    “Saw her with her ex-husband this week.” Fraser spoke casually as he opened his menu. “Maybe they're planning a grand reconciliation.” He chuckled wryly. “Justine is going to have a fit if that happens, isn't she? She was so damn relieved when the divorce was final.”
    Katy was shocked. “Eden and Nate? You saw them together? Are you certain?”
    Fraser glanced up. “They were getting into a cab together outside one of the restaurants. I had just finished talking to the manager and was on my way out. Looked like Atwood had been waiting for her.”
    Katy recalled the bitterness in Eden's voice that morning. He used me . “That's hard to believe.”
    “You know Gilchrists. They like lots of drama. Having an affair with her ex might appeal to Eden. Kind of kinky. You know something, Katy?”
    “What?” Katy tried to imagine why Eden would rekindle the flames of passion with Nate Atwood. As far as Katy knew, Eden hated the man now. But she'd always heard hate was the flip side of love.
    “I'm really glad to know I've got you on my side,” Fraser said deliberately. “When it comes to dealing with Gilchrists, friends have to stick together. And we're friends, aren't we, Katy?”
    “Yes,” Katy said quietly. “I think I'll skip the salmon and try the pasta in pesto sauce. I want to see if it's any better than my own.”

    Katy unlocked the door of her hotel room an hour later, relieved that she had managed to shed Fraser downstairs in the lobby. For a few minutes there she thought she had detected a businesslike speculation in his eyes that had angered her.
    It occurred to her that Fraser might try to seduce her in order to ensure that she kept him informed of events inside the head office of Gilchrist.
    Did everyone think she was an unsophisticated little fool? she wondered wearily as she opened the door. If she wanted to get herself seduced, she would prefer a man who was driven by some emotion other than concern about his career.
    Luke, for example.
    The thought staggered her. She must be crazy even to consider the idea. But at least with Luke a woman would know that there was some passion involved. Gilchrists were nothing if not passionate.
    With Fraser, Katy thought, a seduction would be strictly business.
    Not that she was interested in getting herself seduced by anyone, she assured herself as she started to close the door.
    She was groping for the light switch when she sensed the other presence in the room. Her hand froze.
    “At least you had the sense to come back to the room alone.” Luke's voice was dark, gritty and dangerous in the shadows.
    Katy sucked