SecondSightDating

by Marianne Stephens

  He peeked out just as she’d knocked on her own door, only to have it opened by “Gino”. The man had smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead.

  Strange. A kiss on the head. Didn’t seem to be the passionate type of kiss he’d give Serena if given the chance.

  Grabbing the sweater, Dan exited his car and headed for her first floor apartment. The blinds were partially opened so he glanced inside, curiosity and a tinge of jealousy getting the better of him.

  Jealousy crept through his body. He wanted her. She couldn’t be involved in any crime ring. Desiring a woman on the wrong side of a case wasn’t an option.

  Never happened before. Couldn’t be happening now. He’d always been a good judge of character except, well, when it came to his ex-wife. Dan snorted. Real piece of work.

  Serena wasn’t like her. Right? He marched to the door.

  The door swung open after his rapid knocking. “Gino” appeared. “Oh. You. We met in the office, right?”

  Dan glanced around him, trying to locate Serena. “I came to return Serena’s sweater. She left it in my car.”

  With a shrug, the man offered, “Fine. Come in. She’ll be right out.”

  Dan’s head swiveled toward a hallway as Serena appeared, dressed in a bathrobe. She stopped short, surprise masking her face.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Chapter Eight

  Dan’s insides roiled with disappointment. This didn’t look good. Serena, in a bright pink fuzzy bathrobe, freshly scrubbed face, bare feet. The man with his jacket off, tie undone and some opened buttons on his shirt. Nope. Not good at all. The scene played out as a picture of lovers about to embark on some wild night of passion and that rankled his innards.

  Did he care so much that she apparently had a lover or that the man wasn’t who she said he was? Or, both?

  Deep in his gut, he had to admit his trust in her dropped a few notches. Bottom line, she lied about “Gino”. What possible excuse for that could she offer? Only a guilty person, someone with something to hide, would resort to this charade.

  Dan found his voice and finally answered. “I, uh, came to return your sweater.” His eyes roamed from her to “Gino”, carefully scrutinizing both.

  Nose tilted up slightly and eyes narrowed, Serena replied in a clipped tone, “How did you know where I live?” He detected a slight hint of pink coloring her cheeks.

  Hell. Her question, tone, accused him of…what? He had nothing to feel guilty about. Her shrinking innocence image just ditched down further into the murky waters of suspicion and probable guilt.

  In a stern but calm voice, he responded, “I tried to catch you at the office, but you were in your car so I followed you here.” He glared at her then at “Gino”. “Sorry if I’m interrupting something.”

  Serena panicked as Mike took a tentative step toward Dan. Oh, no. Although her brother probably wanted to defend her, this wasn’t the time for a battle. She quickly moved to her brother, resting her hand on his arm.

  “Would you wait in the kitchen for me, Gino? I’d like to speak to Dan in private.”

  Her brother’s warning stare before he reluctantly strode away spoke volumes. He wanted to deal with Dan his own way, but to appease her, he’d back off for now. She’d better handle her client, send him on his way and spend the rest of the night soothing Mike’s ruffled feathers. Satisfying his curiosity later and appealing to his detective skills couldn’t hurt either.

  Serena turned her attention to Dan. “You shouldn’t have come here. I like to keep my personal life private from my work.”

  “Isn’t Gino a client, too?”

  Damn. Think fast. “Actually, we’ve been talking about him becoming my partner.” Even as she uttered those words, Serena wondered at her own sanity. It even sounded phony to her, but desperation made people say stupid things.

  Surprise registered on his face. Did he buy her excuse?

  “You need a partner? Are you in financial trouble or just expanding your business?”

  Now even more annoyed, her nerves danced on the brink of shattering at his game of twenty questions. Hands on hips, she glared at him. “Business is booming and I’m considering adding a partner. However, I don’t see where that’s any of your business.”

  He relaxed his stance. “Oh. I see.”

  She shivered as a mixture of senses bounced off Dan back onto her. Strange. All she deciphered pointed toward disappointment and relief intertwined. Did he dislike the fact that her business was booming and she sought a partner? Or, happy and relieved at her success?

  Dan eyed the entry into her kitchen then aimed an embarrassed peek at her. “Sorry for the intrusion. I’ll go now.”

  Huh? Could he have gotten a completely different idea when Mike opened the door and she appeared in her bathrobe? Could he be jealous?

  Hmm. She’d encountered that green-eyed monster herself back in the restaurant. At first jealous over Dan’s date with size two, model-goddess Monica, relief had settled in after he’d been dumped. No matter how hard she tried to tell herself otherwise, his failure pleased her.

  It could have been because she still wasn’t convinced of his honesty at wanting to meet women. Then again, Dan had a way of causing her body temperature to jump a few degrees every time he looked at her with those bedroom eyes.

  A tiny niggling of remorse replaced her anger. So did curiosity. Was he jealous?

  Serena quickly padded over to the door, opening it for Dan. “Look, it’s been a strange night for both of us and it’s late. Neither of our dates turned out the way I thought they would.” Not true. I knew they wouldn’t work. “Come to my office at noon tomorrow. Let’s work on what you’ll say to Miss ‘E’ for your next date.”

  His face brightened a bit as he said, “You’ll still help me? Can we set up a date soon? Like Sunday?”

  Desperate Dan, on the prowl for a date? Or, a woman to fleece?

  “I’ll, uh, try for that. For myself, too. See you tomorrow.”

  * * * * *

  “Steve, I still can’t believe she’s involved in shady business, but there’s no doubting Serena comes across as someone with something to hide.”

  Dan’s night had been anything but restful after leaving Serena’s apartment. He’d lingered outside for awhile, hunkering down in the driver’s seat of his car, keeping a close eye on her front door and window.

  After an hour of spying, frustration set in and he’d made the decision to leave. Why the hell had she let “Gino” stay but kicked him out?

  “What happened?”

  Over the next few minutes, Dan related his evening’s trip into the dating world of Serena’s making. Not a pleasant sight, no pun intended. Things had gone from bad to worse.

  “Romeo, turn on the charm. You’ve got to get her away from this new Gino guy. Make her think you’re interested in being her partner.”

  Dan rubbed his face with both hands, then aimed a dubious look at his boss. “Her even considering me as a partner has to be a long shot, but hey…all she can do is say no. I’ll have to have some bankroll behind me for this if she somehow wants to check my finances. Are you authorizing funds? How much?”

  Steve shrugged. “See what she’s asking. We’ll go from there. Tell her you have a trust fund you can dip into for a good investment. But keep working on the dating thing and meet these other two women.”

  “Why? If I get her to take me on as a partner, why do we need the others?”

  Steve shrugged. “Witnesses, part of her stable of women, who knows what we’ll come up with.”

  Hands balling into fists by the sides of his legs, Dan trudged out of Steve’s office after uttering an audible, “Hell.”

  * * * * *

  “Sis, I’m not sure I understand what’s bothering you about this Dan guy. Quite honestly, I’d say he’s jealous and has a crush on you.”

  Serena scrutinized her brother as he sat across from her at the kitchen table, ready to do verbal battle with him.

>   She’d looked like an undesirable fool with playboy Sean. Did Dan take pity on her? Commiserate with a fellow dumpee? Dan? Jealous? Maybe he really thought she and Mike, newly named Gino, were an item.

  “I told you already. I watched him snooping around my paperwork, checking out bios. And, come on. How could such a handsome, sexy man need help in finding women? Wouldn’t women line up outside his door, fighting each other for a chance at him?”

  “Oh, little sister of mine.” Mike laughed as he waved a finger at her. “You’ve got it bad for this guy. Admit it. This is me you’re talking to. I’ve always been able to read you like a book.”

  Serena jumped up from her chair and stomped over to the coffee machine. She proceeded to slosh the brown liquid into her cup and onto the counter. “You’re so wrong. He means nothing to me.” She sniffed. “Just another client. A very suspicious one at that.”

  “Sure. And all those crazy things that seem to happen since he entered your life don’t mean a thing.”

  She pivoted to face her brother while trying to calm tiny rumblings bouncing in her stomach. Mike was so off-base on this one. Or at least, she wanted him to think so.

  “All right, older and smarter brother of mine. What things are you talking about?”

  “Sit down before you spill coffee all over the floor. Jeez. This is the first time I’ve seen you get so wound up over a guy since Alan. Actually, more with this guy.”

  Willing her breathing to convert to a more normal pattern, Serena fought hard to control her every movement, every word. She took slow and deliberate steps to the table, ensuring a steady stride. Thankfully, her hands remained calm, neither shaking like her insides. She sat once again, waiting for her brother to explain his theories.

  Mike smiled at her and said, “Much better. Okay, here goes. First, he doesn’t fit into your usual range of client.”

  “Right. That’s why I’m leery of his motives.”

  “Let me continue, okay? Second, you’ve never had someone give you so much trouble with your number-letter match-ups.”

  “So?”

  “Third, I’ve seen how he looks at you and, more importantly, how you look at him.” He rocked back in his chair and smirked at Serena. “Do you think I’m blind?”

  “You have this all wrong. He’s up to something. Why all the sneaking around? He peeked through my files. He followed me here. He acted the complete loser with his date in the restaurant. No, he’s not real.”

  Michael inhaled and exhaled with a loud sigh. “Okay. I know you did your own background check. I don’t have the same connections here I used to have so I can’t do too much, but I sure can check out where he works.”

  “And you’re out in left field if you think there’s anything between us.” Serena tipped her head up to give credence to her statement.

  “Sis, I’m not trying to get into a fight with you over this. There’s something between you two.” He shrugged. “I can tell. It’s our curse, being blessed with this extra power of ‘sight’. We can’t shake it off or ignore it.”

  Serena’s head dropped and she exhaled a loud “whoosh” sound. “Damn our powers. You and I never could fool each other, could we? I want so much to trust Dan, but why all the subterfuge? What’s he hiding?”

  “Like I already told you, I’ll check on him. Who knows? We may luck out and uncover something.”

  “Thanks, big brother. You’re always there for me.”

  “Now don’t go getting mushy on me. I may not be able to do anything until Monday.”

  “You’ll be back in Wichita then.”

  “Nope. I’m staying put for the week. I have some leave time coming and you’re a good, desperate enough excuse for me to use it.”

  Serena grabbed a nearby dishtowel and flung it at her brother’s smirking face.

  * * * * *

  Dan entered Serena’s office the next afternoon, unsure of his sanity. Half of him, the spontaneous “follow-those-urges” side, wanted to seduce her and spend the rest of the day making love with her. His analytical, suspicious other half reviewed everything that had transpired in her case and kept coming to the conclusion that she was a fraud.

  Get a grip, man.

  Primly seated at her desk, she looked up at him as he walked in, offering a smile of welcome. If only it could be one of genuine interest in Dan as a man, not Dan as a client. That last part had two different spins to it and one of them could get her thrown in jail.

  “Ready to try again?”

  Dan heard her words as he surveyed her appearance. Although neatly dressed, she looked different. Even without any makeup, she was a beauty. Her curly hair held a rumpled look and he imagined Serena chose to run fingers through her auburn tresses rather than use a comb or brush.

  Her brown eyes shone, glazed over just enough for the tiny green flecks to glisten. Her eyes looked puffy, in need of sleep. Dan wondered if she’d just rolled out of bed and dragged herself into the office.

  Just to meet me.

  After spending the night with “Gino”.

  Damn.

  He cleared his throat then answered her. “Sure. Awake and anxious to get started.”

  “I’m glad one of us is awake. I had a hard time sleeping last night.”

  “Stay up too late?”

  “Not really. I just had a lot on my mind. And the numbers and letters kept merging in my brain.”

  “You see them in your dreams?”

  Serena shook her head. “No. Just when I’m still awake.”

  Dan began to pace the office, pretending to be interested in her choice of wall décor.

  “Maybe having me and Gino show up at your apartment threw your night off.”

  He glanced at her, trying to gauge her reaction to his comment. Only a cold stare gazed back at him.

  “You left early and Gino is none of your business.”

  Michael could be right. Maybe he is jealous.

  Serena’s heart fluttered with hope, although bothersome doubts hindered her euphoria. His jealousy could evolve from his suspicion of an involvement between her and “Gino”. That could be looked at as a positive reaction. If he feared competition in his ploy to gain customers for his own operation, that would place his jealous reaction in the negative, unwanted response.

  Dan rubbed a hand over his face and through his hair. “Look, besides wanting to continue with having you match me up with someone, I’m interested in your business.”

  Huh? The bottom fell out of Serena’s world as her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. “My business?”

  Dan strolled over to her desk and leaned over it toward her. “Didn’t you say you were looking for a business partner? Isn’t that what you and Gino talked about last night?”

  “Um, yes. But why would you be interested?”

  Straightening up, Dan hooked both hands into his pockets. “I’ve got a trust fund I can dip into. Maybe a business like yours is something I want to invest in.”

  “Why this? Why don’t you look into something you’ve watched operate more than a few days? Surely you don’t just jump into things without really checking them out.”

  An unpleasant smirk on his face annoyed Serena. She stared back, praying the hurt and doubts merging inside her didn’t reflect in the cold look she hoped she was giving him.

  “You don’t know me at all. Maybe it’s time for me to take a chance on something. I like your business. Matching people gives joy and comfort to others.” He shrugged. “I want a piece of something profitable.”

  Serena sunk back into her seat. There were just too many ways to interpret his comments.

  “I…I need to know you better before I consider letting you buy half of my business.”

  “Reasonable request. I have questions about the business too. How about dinner tonight? Then we can concentrate on getting to know each other while you tell me about Second Sight Dating.”

  “Dinner? Tonight? Uh, I’m not sure I can.” What about Mike?

 
“I figure tomorrow won’t work if I’m supposed to be meeting Miss ‘E’.”

  Damn. Mike would have to fend for himself and let her do some detective work on her own. Dining alone with Dan would give her the opportunity to uncover any secret agenda he had hidden up his sleeve for her business.

  She smiled. “Of course you’re right on target. I did contact your date already and tomorrow will be fine with her. I set it up for seven at The Cheesecake Factory on 119 Street. Will that work for you?”

  A momentary sense of confusion clouded his face, but then he agreed enthusiastically. “And do you have your date set up, too?”

  With the brightest smile she could muster considering her quaking insides, she replied, “Not yet. But, I will. I wouldn’t leave you alone with anyone, knowing how much you need me.” And how much I need to watch you.

  Dan’s smile faded. “And, our dinner tonight? Where and when?”

  “The Macaroni Grill on Metcalf. Is six okay?”

  He nodded in agreement. “Shall I pick you up?”

  Thinking quickly, she rushed out, “No. I mean, meet me here.”

  Dan quirked an eyebrow and answered, “Sure. I’ll be here at five-thirty.”

  Serena dropped her gaze from Dan and searched the files on her desk. “Here’s…no. Wrong bio. Here’s the file for Miss ‘E’. In case you want to review it before tomorrow.”

  Dan sat opposite her and took the file. “Will she be in to review mine?”

  “No. I spoke to her and she seemed satisfied with what I relayed over the phone.”

  He took less than a minute to check his date’s information before tossing the file onto Serena’s desk. “Fine. What should I say to her?”

  “Maybe you could try to be more personable. You know. Tell her some interesting things about yourself. She works with dogs. Talk about that. Find some common ground and go in that direction.”

  Dan rubbed his chin and glanced up at the ceiling as if pondering Serena’s words of wisdom on dating and making an impression.