Freeing Her by A. M. Hargrove Page A

mysterious about him. I just want to know more
and I don’t think he’s the type to share.”
    “ Have you asked
him?”
    “ No, and I don’t want
to.”
    “ Why the hell
not?”
    “ It’s
complicated.”
    Case rubbed his forehead. “I don’t really
like the sound of this.”
    “ Yeah, I figured you’d say
that. But I know what I’m doing.”
    “ Okay. You want financial
records? Work history? Education? That sort of thing?”
    “ Yeah, and family stuff
too.”
    “ You got it. But Gabby, I
need one more thing. His name.”
    She laughed. “Yeah, I guess that would help.
Kolson Hart.”
    Case whistled.
“ The Kolson
Hart?”
    “ Um, I guess
so.”
    Case shook his head. “You really do need to
get out more. Kolson Hart is considered the most eligible bachelor
in all of New York but he’s also the most elusive. He stays
completely out of the limelight and refuses to be photographed.
He’ll even hire a decoy if he has to make a public appearance. He’s
the hard-driving business dealer who walked away from his father’s
multi-million dollar business to start up his own. His company is
called Hart Transportation Service and has contracts for the
world’s top entertainers, millionaires, royalty, —you name it.”
    “ I do need to get out
more. Or run in the opposite direction.” Gabby smiled. “So, you
think you can do this? I can’t pay you much.”
    Case flashed her a look that said it all.
“Like I would charge you.”
    “ But …”
    “ But nothing. You do so
much for me and my NA group. There won’t be any charging. And if
you insist, I won’t do it.”
    Gabby held up her hands. “You got me. How
long will it take?”
    “ I should have something
for you in a week.”
     
    # # #
     
    The following night at seven o’clock, Kolson
Hart took Gabby to Le Chatelaine, one of the finest restaurants in
Manhattan. It was said that reservations were impossible to get,
but they must not have been for Kolson. The menu was in French, so
Gabby had no idea what anything was, and Kolson, being the
gentleman he was, took care of ordering for her, though only after
checking with her over his choices. Gabby was glad—she’d worried
she would make a fool out of herself.
    “ So tell me, Gabriella,
what do you like to do?” His mouth turned up as he
grinned.
    “ I love to volunteer at
the women’s shelter and I also help out at Narcotic’s Anonymous. I
moonlight at the substance abuse clinic at Bellevue too. I did my
residency there so it was hard for me to move on.”
    “ You’re a very busy lady.
Why all the volunteering?”
    “ I want to help those less
fortunate. I think they sort of get lost in the
shuffle.”
    He nodded. “That’s an admirable quality. Not
many people give up that much of their time.”
    Her cheeks warmed with the compliment.
“Thank you, but I love it.”
    “ No need to thank me.
You’re the one who needs to be thanked. At least that’s how I see
it.”
    “ I don’t know, there are a
lot of lost souls out there. Those that need direction and love.
And maybe if they get a helping hand, it can make a difference in
their lives. You know?” she asked.
    “ I do.”
    “ So what about
you?”
    “ I’m pretty basic. I get
people from point A to point B and that’s about it.”
    “ Any volunteer
activities?” Gabby asked.
    “ Afraid not. My only
activity is writing the check to the charity.”
    Gabby grinned. “Well, checks are very
important.”
    Their meals arrived and their conversation
became minimal as they ate. The food was delicious, the wine
extraordinary. She’d never had a culinary adventure quite like it.
And she laughed because she couldn’t even begin to pronounce what
she was eating. Kolson enjoyed watching the expressions of delight
pass over Gabriella’s face even more than he enjoyed tasting the
food.
    “ What?” she asked as she
caught him eyeing her.
    “ The look on your face.
It’s exquisite. I don’t think I can remember seeing anyone enjoy