Family Man

threat.”
    That did it. Katy had had enough of Gilchrists for one day. Maybe she'd just had enough of Gilchrists, period. Something inside her snapped. She raised her hands, took one step forward, and shoved hard against Luke's chest.
    She caught him totally off guard. The pool's unearthly glow revealed the astonishment on his face as he toppled backward into the water.
    Katy watched, equally astonished at her own aggressiveness. Luke landed in the deep end of the pool with a magnificent splash and promptly sank below the surface.
    Appalled at what she had done, Katy hurried to the edge of the pool and peered down through the water. Surely Luke could swim. Everyone learned to swim these days. She gnawed anxiously on her lower lip as she watched him uncoil underwater.
    A couple of seconds later Luke shot to the surface. His excellent white teeth flashed in a wicked grin. “Damn. We'll make a Gilchrist out of you yet.”
    He stroked toward the edge of the pool and planted both hands on the tiled rim. Katy stepped back quickly as he surged upward and all the way out of the water. He got to his feet and started toward her. His black jacket and slacks dripped water, and his shoes made squishing sounds. There was a cheerful menace in his expression.
    Katy gasped in alarm. She turned and fled toward the exit.
    Luke caught her before she had taken more than a few steps. He was laughing softly as he swung her up into his arms.
    “Put me down,” Katy demanded imperiously.
    “You started this.” He carried her back toward the pool.
    “I did not. Luke, what are you doing?” Katy realized he was not going to halt at the edge of the water. “Stop. No, don't. Please. For heaven's sake.”
    She thought he was going to throw her into the pool. Instead he stepped off the edge with her in his arms. Together they hit the water, splashed heavily, and sank.
    Luke kept one arm around Katy's waist as they surfaced. She pushed wet hair out of her face with one hand and looked up to find him watching her with sensual intent. Her eyes widened.
    “Luke, stop looking at me like that.” She flailed about in the water, trying to free herself from his grasp. “I know what you're thinking.”
    “Do you?”
    “I most certainly do, and we can't. Not here, for goodness' sake.”
    Luke tightened his arm around her and brought her back against his chest. He tugged her toward shallower water and stopped when he could stand. Then he put his mouth very close to her ear. “Your brother won't be home until midnight. We have this place to ourselves. No one ever comes in here at night. Justine and Mrs. Igorson are both in bed by now.”
    “I know, but that doesn't mean we can do that sort of thing here, of all places.”
    “You don't think so?” He peeled off her robe and smiled slowly when he saw the outline of her nipples thrusting against the slick fabric of her racing suit. He stroked one small, firm bud.
    All the heat and energy generated by their argument was swiftly converting itself into desire. Katy had never experienced this sort of transformation. To be spitting mad one minute and sensually aroused the next was a dizzying sensation. She looked up at Luke, wide-eyed with wonder and uncertainty.
    “Are you still angry?” she asked.
    He kissed her deeply, thoroughly, and then raised his head. “What do you think?”
    She licked her lips. “How can you change so quickly?”
    He chuckled. “I wasn't all that furious to begin with. Just annoyed because I wasn't able to get hold of you all day. You're the one who set a match to the fireworks.”
    “That's right. Blame me,” she grumbled.
    “Don't worry. I will.” His hands slid up from her waist to cup her breasts. “And I'll thank you, too.”
    Katy shivered at his touch the way she always did. Her body seemed to be poised on the edge of surrender whenever Luke took her into his arms like this. The raw sensual and physical power in him was tantalizing enough to disturb Katy's senses. But she knew now that the discipline and control he exerted over that power was her true undoing.
    For her, the process of taming fire would always be a matter of magic, and Luke was the sorcerer who knew the spell.
    Katy wrapped her arms around his neck and did not protest as he stripped the snug suit down her body. A moment later she floated naked in the water, her sense of freedom a hundred times more delicious than it had ever been before.
    A deep warmth spread through her. She smiled