Family Man

way to make Luke see that.
    She would approach him delicately, she decided. Diplomatically. She would use sweet reason and logic.
    Katy reached the far end of the pool and executed an underwater turn that sent her soaring back toward the opposite end. She could feel her tension lessening already. There was nothing like a swim to relieve stress and make her feel free for at least a little while. She should have come here earlier, she thought.
    She reached the pool wall and paused to take a deep breath. A dark figure moved in the shadows near a palm. Katy went still.
    “Where the hell have you been all day?” Luke asked in a soft, dangerous voice.
    Katy's diplomatic intentions went up in smoke at the clear note of challenge in his words. She was under enough pressure as it was. She had been stressed out all day. She did not need any more Gilchrist nonsense tonight.
    “I took the day off,” Katy said. Then she ducked back under the water and shot off toward the other end of the pool. When she ran out of room she turned and made her way back at a leisurely pace.
    Luke was still standing in the shadows, waiting with a predator's patience.
    “I want to talk to you,” he said.
    “Maybe later, when I've finished my swim.” Katy gripped the curving edge of the tile rim and prepared to launch herself back out of range. She could feel the smoldering anger in him. It was coming at her in waves.
    This was definitely not an opportune time to bring up the latest Gilchrist family problems, she concluded.
    “I said I want to talk to you. Now.” Luke took a couple of steps forward and sat down on the end of a lounge chair. The blue glow of the underwater lights revealed the fiercely elegant lines of his face. His eyes were gleaming with grim intent.
    “Luke, can't this wait until morning? It's late.”
    He ignored that. “Where were you all day? Why didn't you pick up your messages?”
    “I was busy. By the time I got home this evening it was too late to deal with any messages. I decided I'd wait until morning.”
    “Where did you go today?”
    “For heaven's sake, Luke, that's my business. Just because you and I are involved in some ways doesn't give you the right to grill me every time I go off on my own.”
    “Involved? Is that what you call it? Lady, not only are we sleeping together—”
    “We've only done it a couple of times,” Katy interrupted. “That hardly constitutes a strong, enduring relationship.”
    “Not only are we sleeping together,” Luke repeated through clenched teeth, “but you happen to work for me. That gives me the right to ask where you've been all day.”
    “No, it does not.” Katy swam over to the edge of the pool and hauled herself upward onto the tile. “You are obviously spoiling for a fight tonight, and I am not in the mood to participate in any more Gilchrist dramatics today, thank you very much.”
    “What's that supposed to mean?” Luke got to his feet and started toward her.
    “Nothing. Just a comment.” Katy grabbed her robe and quickly belted it around herself. She glanced around hurriedly for her shoes. They were under the lounge chair. She knew she would not be able to get them on in time to make a run for it.
    Luke came to a halt and stood looming over her. “I want some answers, Katy.”
    “Well, you're not going to get them. Not tonight, at any rate.” She ripped off her bathing cap and shook out her hair. “I don't care what you feel like.”
    “Is that right? Well, you'd damn well better change your mind, because you're not going home until we have a long talk.”
    Katy ran a hand through her hair. “I said I don't feel like talking to you tonight.”
    “Too bad. I left three messages with Liz today. You didn't respond to any of them.”
    Katy lifted her chin. “Now you know how it feels not to get a response when you want one. Remember all those messages I left on your answering machine when I was trying to get you to assume your responsibilities? Remember those Express Mail letters I sent? Remember the telegrams? I didn't get a single damn answer from you.”
    “We are not talking ancient history here. We are talking about today.”
    “Tough. I don't feel like discussing it. And if you don't stop badgering me, I am going to lose my temper.”
    “Is that supposed to terrorize me? I've got news for you, Katy, watching a little guardian angel lose her temper is a lot like watching a sparkler on the Fourth of July. Amusing, but not exactly a real