Family Man

date.”
    “Oh.”
    “Is that all you can say?”
    Katy hid a smile. “No, I was somewhat surprised, that's all. I can't quite see you on a normal dinner date.”
    “What do you think I do for nourishment?”
    Katy's eyes widened innocently. “Drink blood?”
    Luke started to get out of his chair.
    Katy warded him off with both hands. “Just a joke. Okay. Come over for dinner tonight. I'll try out one of my new pesto sauce recipes on you.”
    “You've got a deal. My silence on certain matters when I talk to Justine in exchange for dinner tonight. Sounds fair to me.”
    Katy hesitated. “You do realize my brother will be there? We won't be alone. You'll have to go home around ten. Alone.”
    Luke got to his feet and came around the desk. “I told you, I'll worry about organizing our sex life.” He brushed his mouth lightly across hers. “You just worry about fixing dinner.”
    He walked out of the office before Katy could think of a suitable response.
    After he was gone she stood lost in thought for several minutes. She realized she didn't know what to expect next from Luke. It was true she had not had any experience with affairs, but she'd had plenty of experience with the passionate Gilchrist family. They were nothing if not predictable in that they were ruled by their passions. She had been certain that once Luke decided he wanted her, it would be extremely difficult to control him.
    And what he wanted from her, apparently, was sex.
    But to her surprise, Luke had not pushed for sex since they had returned from Seattle. In fact, this was the first indication he had given her that he was still planning on pursuing her. She felt confused and curiously disoriented.
    A Gilchrist who could discipline his own passion was an anomaly.
    A sorcerer.
    It occurred to Katy that such a Gilchrist might be infinitely more dangerous than an ordinary Gilchrist.
    Katy went back to her office and sat stewing at her desk. She would have given a great deal to know exactly what Luke was reporting to his grandmother.
    Having wrung from him the promise to keep silent about his suspicions and about Darren's predicament, she did not think he would betray her. She trusted him that far. But she also knew that Justine would expect some definite answers to her questions about the state of the company and Luke's plans to save it. Justine could be very persistent. But then Luke could be extremely unhelpful when he chose.
    Forty minutes later Katy heard footsteps in the hall outside the office. Luke was back. She heard the outer door open and close and realized he must have stopped by to tell her he had followed instructions. She summoned up an approving smile.
    There was a single peremptory knock on the inner door before it opened to reveal a grinning Darren.
    “Hi there, Katy. Luke's not in his office, so I thought I'd drop in to see you while I wait.”
    “Of course. Sit down, Darren. What are you doing here?”
    “I drove up here to fill Luke in on the situation with Milo Nyle.” Darren dropped lightly into a chair. He was looking happier than he had in a long while. “Damn, I still can't believe the Bastard was right about Nyle. But he was. The guy's as phony as a three-dollar bill. Man, did I get suckered. But it won't happen again.”
    “You don't have to come up with the hundred and fifty thousand dollars?”
    “Hell, no.” Darren shoved his hands into his pockets and stuck his legs out in front of him. “I don't owe him a damn thing. There are no innocent purchasers left hanging because there was no development project.”
    “Thank goodness,” Katy said.
    “Yeah, it was all on paper. Luke said that when I had the information I needed we'd contact the authorities. But he also said Nyle will probably have disappeared by the time the authorities make their move. Guys like Nyle operate for years without getting caught. He's probably in a different state by now. The broker Nyle used as a go-between seems innocent. He was just trying to structure what he thought was an honest deal.”
    “Darren, I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear you're in the clear.”
    “You think you're relieved? Believe me, it's nothing compared to how I feel. When I'm not feeling like a total idiot, that is.”
    “You're not an idiot, Darren. Anyone can get taken in by a good con artist.”
    “I'll bet Luke wouldn't get taken in by one. The man knows what he's doing.”
    Katy raised her brows at the tone of respect in Darren's voice.