Page 4 of Caught Stealing

“Ow—”

“Hear me out.” He pauses to make sure I’m going to listen. “The story goes that the founder developed it in college. He brought in a few people to test the algorithms. When it ended with a near one hundred percent success rate, he opened it up for wide use. The deal has always been to pass it along through strict word of mouth on both sides.”

“Owen, this is ridiculous.” If this is one of Owen’s crazy plans to set me up with one of his cousins again, I might have to drive up to Charleston and throw him in the mud.

“Ten years. It’s been around for ten years and trust me, it works. I can set you up. There’s just one thing.”

“Ah, here we go. What’s the catch?”

“It’s meant for serious people. Those seeking an actual relationship, not a hook up. It’s for adults seeking companionship, friendship, and most importantly, lifelong love.”

Oh my gosh. “Owen, I haven’t even had a single date in a year. This is…” I fade, unsure what to say. That lonely pit opens again as I gaze out the window. It’s just me and Gobs. For a long time, that was okay. But now?

I don’t know. What would I even want in a woman? My mind drifts toward Evalina. Though she’s not my type and I’m far from hers, she still has a lot of the qualities I’d want in someone I’m seeking a future with. Kindness, intelligence, a drive for the things she wants in life.

I take a deep breath. But do I want a committed relationship right off the rip? Am I ready to settle down and make a life with someone, or should I date for a bit? See what’s out there?

There is no way around the truth. Owen and Dr. Hastings are both right. I’m looking at the end of my career, which means I’m ready for the next part of my life to begin. I don’t have an aversion to marriage. In fact, I’ve always wanted that, but I’m a one and done kind of guy. There’s no trying it out and divorcing if it doesn’t work.

Owen is patient, I’ll give him that. He waits silently while I ponder.

“I’m going to need more information before deciding, especially if the women I’ll get set up with are anything like the fans that cornered me today.”

“Do I even want to know?” he asks.

“Nope. But I have to know, is there some way to keep my job a little secret? I’m good admitting I work for the Sharks, but I’d like to get to know someone before throwing out that I’m well known.”

“That’s the beauty of it. You can share as much as you’d like.”

“Does that seem…dishonest?” I hesitate, unsure if this is a good idea without the truth up front even if it is beneficial to me.

“Virginia didn’t mind. I didn’t tell her until our third date, remember? I’m not saying you lie to the woman. Tell her the truth when you meet her on a date, but you don’t have to put it outright in your profile.”

I know I’m going to regret this, somehow, but I know as soon as I hang up the phone I’ll be staring at a television all night with a dog. I want more than that. Since I don’t have any other ideas, I might as well give this a try. “Set it up, but if this goes anything like sixth grade summer, I’m coming after you, Owen.”

I can’t miss the muffled chuckle he tries to hide. “I’ll submit your referral set up tonight. Be ready for love, bestie.”

“Do not ever call me bestie again or I’ll disown you. Just don’t lie about me on the thing, okay? Be honest about the fact that I’m driven and focused. A lot of people don’t like that. I want someone—”

“Yeah, you act like I don’t know you. She must love dogs, brains over beauty, and enjoy long walks in the park holding hands with a pro pitcher who hates leaving his house for anything but a game.” He doesn’t hide his laughter this time, so I hang up on him and toss my phone on the sofa.

Goblin turns his head sideways, peers through the window, and barks. He still wants my attention, so I head outside to toss a ball around for him—with my good arm, of course—and try not to worry too much about what Owen has in store for me.

Chapter Two

Charlotte

“Is there any chance at all of getting even one of you to pay attention?” Twenty-two high school students stare back at me as if I just asked them to donate their left kidney for scientific study. They’d probably enjoy that over statistics any day, but since it’s my job to ensure the walking dramatists learn math they probably won’t use in most jobs, I need them to look in my general direction when I work out the problem for the tenth time.

Fortunately for them, they are saved by the bell. I try not to glare as they walk out of my class, half of them forgetting to grab their assignment sheets from my desk on the way. I’m not going to remind them. I’ve done enough thinking for them. It’s time for them to figure it out themselves. Erasing my white board gives me a moment to gather my sanity before sitting to grade the pop quiz everyone groaned about.

“Miss Clarke?”

I glance over my shoulder to find Fisher Blake staring at me. He’s got a death grip on his textbook, and I have a good feeling I know why.

“What is it, Fisher?”

He runs a hand through his shaggy blond hair and grimaces. “I know I failed that quiz, but I really did study. I pay attention in class, but by the time I get home, I’ve forgotten everything.”

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