Free Catch by Michelle Congdon Page A

suspicion you weren’t going to give me your number if I’d asked.”
    “You were spot-on.”
    Even though she sounded unenthused to be speaking to me, she didn’t hang up, not even when I eventually convinced her to go on a date with me.
    “Does anyone ever say no to you, Mr. Fox?”
    My cheeks burned from the pain of the wide grin plastered on my face. “Not very often, Ms. Montgomery. But there is no way I’m taking no for an answer from you.”
    The phone went silent for a moment. I wasn’t one to allow something like that to go for long because it gave a girl enough time to think of an excuse to back out. On the other hand, it also gave me ample time to think up another clever comeback, one she wouldn’t be able to refuse. “Okay, just this one date,” she finally replied. Yes! I made sure I ended the call before I fist-pumped the air and accidentally blurted out something embarrassing. I wasn’t one to care for that either, but something about her made me that way. It mattered what I said to her, what I did around her and in front of her. I didn’t want to take any chances with Evangeline; too afraid to lose her if I tried the same things I did with other women.

Chapter 10
     
    Immediately after the phone call to Evangeline, I planned ideas for our ‘date’. If I wanted her to remember me, I needed to do something different from the obvious. She was a rich and beautiful girl, so I knew men would try to please her by splashing out all their money to impress her. To me, she didn’t seem the type to enjoy that. Considering she was shy and didn’t wave around the “I’m a Montgomery” flag backed up my theory. I mean, I could’ve always taken her to an exclusive restaurant, but she was probably used to it all. No, I needed something unique.
    Suddenly, Rose walked past carrying a few sculptures which belonged in the library, and an idea popped into my head. “Rosie!” I called out, rushing after her.
    “Yes, Mr. Fox?”
    I fell in step with her and followed her toward the library. “What are you doing today?”
    “Tidying up after my messy employer?” she replied with a hint of sarcasm, to which I shook my head. I wasn’t a messy person; she knew that and would often mock me by saying I was.
    “Oh, Rosie, if only you weren’t married.”
    “And didn’t have sons the same age as you?”
    I grinned. “You got it. We’d be a match made in Heaven otherwise.”
    “No offense, Mr. Fox, but you’re not my type.”
    “What are you talking about? I’m everybody’s type.” I mustered a faux shocked face just as we turned into the library.
    Rose stopped and turned to face me. “I like my men rounder, balder and—how do I say this—committed to me and only me.” There was a grin on her face which made me roll my eyes. There was nothing I could reply to that, nothing Rose wouldn’t pick up on that was a lie. She knew me all too well. “So, this girl, what are you planning for her? And what do you need me to do?”
    My eyes widened. How did she know?
    “Don’t look so surprised. I knew something was up the moment you came in asking me questions about my Harry.”
    “Oh.”
    “And you’ve been acting rather peculiar all morning.”
    I had to admit I felt my cheeks blush, something I wasn’t used to but had been doing often since a certain first encounter.
    After getting past the odd feeling, Rose and I went through the plans for the evening. I was going to make the night impossible for Evangeline to hate.

Chapter 11
     
    Courtside tickets to the New York Knicks were only the first plan for the evening. I was a big fan of the Knicks, especially my good friend, player Dwayne Jones, and went to watch him play whenever I had a chance. Of course, I had courtside seats. It was the best spot in the house to watch all the action.
    I initially thought Evangeline was going to hate the idea and we were going to have to leave midway through the game, but she enjoyed it much more than I did. Her eyes