Free Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie Page A

her to the caddies without looking at them. “In fact,” he added, “I’ve been scoring under par pretty regularly here.”
    The caddies were about twenty, and the redheaded one looked familiar. Kate saw them look at each other and grin when Peter announced that he played under par. Score one for Jake. How did she find these men?
    These men are what you’re looking for, aren’t they? Tall, distinguished, successful, and rich. You just forgot to put “honest” in your job description.
    “How about a little bet?” Peter was looking at her guilelessly. “I’ll even add ten points to my handicap.”
    Her father always smiled like that just before he closed a deal. She had always hated that smile. How could she get out of this date?
    “You have played before?” Peter asked.
    “Oh, once or twice,” she said, adding silently,
since college when I was on the golf team.
The problem was that college was fourteen years ago.
    “How about fifty bucks?” he asked.
    I can’t believe this,
Kate thought.
He’s trying to set me up. And then he’ll probably try to make me. Well, the hell with you, Peter-Derek-Paul-Terence. I’m tired of being used by men like you. This time, I’m going to win. And I’m not just talking about golf.
    She beamed up at him. “How about a hundred?” she countered.
    Peter beamed back. “Fine, fine.”
    Her redheaded caddie was gently shaking his head at her, and she winked. His eyes widened and he exchanged glances with the other caddie.
    Peter’s first drive hooked into a nearby field. As he and his caddie trailed to where the ball had gone in, Kate took out her field glasses, keeping them hidden in her hand. When they reached the field, Peter waved to her and went to find his ball. Kate brought the glasses up and saw him kick the ball back out of the rough.
    “I do believe that my opponent’s ball just took another bounce,” she murmured to her caddie.
    “Your opponent’s balls tend to do that,” her caddie said.
    “Do they, now? I’m Kate.” She offered him her hand.
    “I’m Mark,” he said, taking it.
    “The bartender,” Kate said, remembering. “Is there anything you don’t do here?”
    “Not much,” Mark said cheerfully. “I’m studying hotel management, and Will wants me learning from the ground up.”
    Kate surveyed the hill straight ahead. “Well, the ground here certainly goes up.”
    “The better to cheat you on.” Kate looked back at him sharply, and Mark nodded. “Unfortunately true. I think you’re going to lose a hundred dollars.”
    “Oh, no,” Kate said. “I’m used to righting uphill battles. And I was brought up to be a winner. Daddy wouldn’t settle for anything less.”
    She teed up her ball and hit it sweetly onto the green.
    “I’ve got a feeling I’m going to enjoy this round,” Mark said.
    “Oh, me, too,” Kate said.
    She realized early in the game that she could have beaten Peter easily if he’d played fair, but his cheating evened things up considerably. Kate wasn’t surprised. That was probably how he’d gotten where he was today. After all, most rich men didn’t get that way by refusing to cut corners; they took every advantage they got. That’s what she’d liked about them. They were aggressive. Hard-hitting.
    God, I’m dumb
, she thought.
    Peter smiled at her condescendingly.
    But she wasn’t as dumb as he was. She smiled back. Two could play that game. With that thought in mind, on the fourth hole when she sliced into the rough, she kicked her ball back out without any compunction at all.
    Peter looked astonished when he saw her ball. “Weren’t you in the rough?”
    “Lucky bounce,” Kate said.
    Mark nodded solemnly.
    Peter scowled at her and went back to his ball.
    “This is getting nasty,” Mark said. “Personally, I like it. Too bad Jake isn’t here to see this.”
    Kate frowned at him. “Jake?”
    Mark opened his mouth and closed it again.
    “Tell me,” Kate said, and Mark shrugged.
    “Jake sent me