Thwarting Cupid Read Online Free

several volunteers were busy stuffing envelopes in their most ambitious donor mailing to date. If this went well like the numbers projected, they could expect a cash influx of a couple million dollars. Even though the thought of that excited him, it didn't begin to compare to running into Carissa like this. He rubbed at his sore sternum. Literally.
    She didn't know it, but the reason he'd stuck it out with Hands Helping the Homeless was because she'd been there. It had been one of the poorest run charities he'd ever seen. The leadership didn't like to be questioned, nor did they ever take suggestions. He'd been more than happy to wash his hands of them when the time came.
    Still, the time there had ended up being a wonderful learning experience on what not to do. That knowledge had come in handy when he'd started his educational foundation a mere three years ago. Already, they were on the brink of their fourth expansion. He'd hired a full time ten-member staff and had a core of wonderful volunteers who all had the same passion for education he did. More than once he'd considered asking Carissa to join them, but somehow he'd always gotten cold feet because he knew it wasn't for the right reasons. Hutch wanted her there for himself. Not for the cause. He'd worked hard to keep anything not for the cause outside the door. Things were more efficient that way.
    “So, yeah, it's been quite a ride,” he said, having told her all about the foundation. She was still listening with rapt attention which was an excellent sign that he hadn't bored her to death in the process of catching her up on his life. He knew he'd scared off many women with his ramblings over the past few years which meant he remained single after his last girlfriend decided to pack her bags and go backpacking around Europe indefinitely. She'd sent him a nice postcard telling him of her travels and impending wedding date to some Scottish fellow she'd met in Berlin. Funny thing was, he hadn't even been upset. Just wished the woman well.
    “It sounds like it. Who'da thunk it? Little Hutch, rising from the volunteer pool of the HHtH and growing into such a big shot.” She playfully jabbed at his shoulder while treating him to one of those Carissa grins he'd missed so much over the years. She was still one of those rare folks who, when they smiled, really smiled. It was never a front. He loved how it seemed to light her eyes from the inside out. It always made him want to smile back no matter how bad of a day he was having.
    So, he smiled. “Big shot, huh? I don't know about all that. It's more of a team effort. But we do put on a lot of programs which, if I do say so myself, end up being pretty amazing.”
    Carissa laughed. “Of course they are. And how's Tabitha? Is she dealing well with your over-inflated ego?”
    Hutch came down off his high. Carissa never failed to ask him about his girlfriends. It had always annoyed him. Not because she'd asked, but because it had always been a reminder that he wasn't single and free to pursue her. That was no longer the case.
    “Tabitha is great. Far as I know, anyway. Last I heard from her, she was living in Poland with her husband, who's from Scotland.” Hutch shrugged and something dawned on him. He was single now. Should he go for it?
    “With her husband? Wait a minute. How long has it been since we've talked?” She tucked an errant curl behind her ear.
    “Far too long Cara, far too long.” The pet name just slipped out. He didn't think she'd remember, but she raised her eyebrows telling him she did. During an event they'd worked for HHtH, stress levels had gotten far too high. They had combated it by being super silly, and had been so in tune to one another that by the end of the evening their silliness had turned into some serious sexual tension. Even the bartender at the event had remarked that they should just “get a room.” They hadn't, but Hutch had started calling her Cara.
    She'd dominated his thoughts for