Free Family Man by Jayne Ann Krentz

the way, you will be needing a place to live. Have you given the matter any thought?”
    “If you're about to offer me a room here in the mansion, forget it. I'll find myself something.”
    “There are several cottages along the cliffs not far from here. Katy and her brother live in one. I'm sure you can rent one if you like.”
    Luke considered the suggestion, aware that he was being pulled more deeply into some invisible web. On the other hand, he needed a place to live until he had sorted out Gilchrist, Inc. And he wanted to be near Katy. “All right.”
    He walked out of the room, ignoring the tight-lipped housekeeper. He let himself out of Justine's private suite. In the hall he took the stairs to the second floor and strode down the south wing corridor to a door that stood open.
    The woman at the desk looked up quickly from a book she was reading when he appeared in the doorway. The nameplate in front of her read Liz Bartlett.
    “May I help you?” She peered at him through a pair of oversized glasses.
    “I'm looking for Katy Wade,” Luke said.
    Liz's eyes widened behind her glasses as she put down her book. “Yes, sir. You must be Mr. Gilchrist. I'll let her know you're here. She's with Mr. Stanfield.” She reached for the intercom.
    “Never mind,” Luke said. “I'll announce myself.”
    “But Mr. Gilchrist—”
    “It's all right. She works for me now.”
    He went to the inner door and opened it without knocking. Katy was standing next to a man at the window. The two were huddled in an obviously intense conversation.
    The pair sprang apart with guilty haste as the door opened. Katy spun around and glowered at Luke. The man narrowed his eyes briefly and then smiled and stuck out his hand.
    “Luke Gilchrist? Welcome to Gilchrist, Inc. I'm Fraser Stanfield, your operations manager.”
    Luke shook hands briefly. He found himself wondering if this man was one of those who were waiting in line for Katy to be free of her responsibilities to her brother. “Stanfield, you're just the man I want to talk to this afternoon. I'm going to set up an office here in the mansion.”
    “Justine's old office is available next door,” Katy volunteered.
    Luke nodded, still watching Stanfield. “Be there at two with a summary status report on the restaurants and on Gilchrist Gourmet.”
    Fraser's smile faded slightly. “Yes, sir.”
    “I'll be going into headquarters on a regular basis. Several times a week to start. Set up an office there for me, too, will you?”
    “Sure. No problem.”
    “Fine.” Luke turned to Katy. “I'm going back to Oregon tomorrow to pick up a few things. I'll drive back to Seattle in the afternoon and spend the night there. I'll want to meet with everyone at the restaurants and at Gilchrist Gourmet during the afternoon, evening, and the following morning. Have Liz make arrangements for me at a downtown hotel for tomorrow night, will you?”
    Katy nodded quickly. She looked relieved. “Certainly.”
    Luke turned to leave and then paused. “By the way, I'll need someone to look after my dog while I'm gone. I thought I might leave him with you.”
    Katy's eyes flickered with alarm. “Your dog? With me? I don't think your dog likes me.”
    “I'm sure the two of you will get along just fine.” Luke nodded to Fraser and walked out of the office.

    The next morning Katy sat across from her brother at the kitchen table and watched as Matt guzzled freshly squeezed orange juice and downed vast quantities of the homemade muesli cereal Katy had prepared.
    Matt was a bottomless pit these days, she thought, smiling to herself. She spent an incredible amount of time throwing food at him and watching it disappear. But it was all worth it. He had turned into a fine young man. The morning sunlight gleamed on his bright red hair, and she noticed again the increasing breadth of his shoulders.
    Her little brother was growing up quickly, she realized. It would be strange not having him around the place next