Free Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie

people to this resort I’m indispensable.”
    “Lucky you,” Kate said uneasily. She felt a sudden need to get far away from Valerie, as if she had something contagious that she might catch. Like maybe rum-less ambition and a total lack of humanity. She smiled brightly at Valerie and pushed back her chair. “Well, I’ve got to run. I’m late to play golf.”
    “Who are you playing with?” Penny asked.
    “Peter somebody.”
    “Oh, he looks rich,” Penny said. “Good luck.”
    “Good luck?” Valerie raised her eyebrows at Kate.
    “On my golf game,” Kate said. “I’m going to need all the luck I can get.”
    “Well, then, I’ll wish you good luck, too,” Valerie said. “Let’s get together again later and talk. We’ve got so much in common.”
    “That would be wonderful,” Kate said, trying not to look appalled. “Really.”
    “Really,” Valerie said. “I consider you as a role model.”
    “Wonderful,” Kate said as she backed away. “I can’t tell you how that makes me feel.”
     
Chapter Four
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    I do not have anything in common with that woman,
Kate told herself as she crossed the lobby.
And I am not her role model or anything else.
Then she caught sight of Peter waiting for her and stopped, startled by how familiar he looked as he came toward her. Who did he look like? Derek? Terence? Paul? All of them, she decided. Tall, distinguished, graying at the temples, determined, aggressive. He reached her with the same long strides her father always took and put his arm around her and looked down at her, smiling. She hated it when men did that She always felt small.
    “You look fantastic. I’ll have to show you off to everyone,” Peter said, and she stared up at him for a moment, speechless with dismay. Now that he was close, he didn’t really look all that much like any of the men she’d been engaged to. It was more the way he moved, looming over her, beaming at her. As if she was something he’d achieved.
    “Um, wait a minute,” she said, and automatically backed off toward the lobby desk to get away from him. When she backed into the desk with a bump, she realized she’d left him standing in the middle of the lobby, confused and annoyed.
Snap out of it,
she told herself.
You‘re acting like a fool There is nothing wrong with this man. What’s wrong with you?
    He cheats, Jake had said. And for some reason, she suddenly trusted Jake in his dumb cowboy hat and ratty shorts more than she trusted this man in tailored flannels.
    On an impulse, she called Will over to the desk.
    “Do you have any field glasses?”
    “Just small ones.” Will reached under the counter for a pair of miniature folding binoculars. “They’re no good for bird-watching. I can hunt up some bigger ones for you if you’re not in a hurry.” He gave her an open, friendly smile that confused Kate. What was a nice man like this doing destroying neighborhood bars with a barracuda like Valerie?
    “Kate?” Will said as she stared at him.
    “These will be fine,” she said. “The bird I’m watching is pretty big.” She slipped them in her pocket and went back to Peter, who was pointedly looking at his watch.
    They walked toward the course, Peter nodding right and left to acquaintances, always keeping a proprietary hand on her back as if she were his entry in a particularly prestigious pet show. He’s in public relations, Kate remembered. Maybe he considers me good for his image.
    “The flat Toby’s Corners course is a good amateur course,” Peter informed her when they reached the hill course. He signaled to a couple of caddies. “However, if you’ve had any experience at all, we should golf on this course.” He smiled down at her, patronizing her and challenging her at the same time. “This one is more demanding.”
    Kate smiled back warily.
    “Of course, it’s not as impossible as everyone claims it is.” Peter chuckled and handed his bag and the bag he’d rented for