SecondSightDating

by Marianne Stephens

  After bickering back and forth as to what her brother’s role would be in any future investigation of Dan, Michael agreed to step back and let her handle the upcoming night out by herself. Confident she wouldn’t relinquish control of her senses again, she’d convinced Michael to spend another evening with his former girlfriend instead.

  With no more clients expected for the day, Serena decided to close early. Getting some additional sleep before partying at night seemed crucial. She had a big night ahead, one sure to be filled with anxiety and doubts. Serena geared herself up to be alert and keep a close eye on Dan.

  Dinner for four, coming up. Her life was in the doghouse anyway, so, bring on the dogs. The fates had reduced her to dining with a maybe false client, whom she most likely mismatched with another client and she was dragging someone else along for the ride as her escort.

  How much worse could her life get?

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Don’t you just love this?” Miss “E”, Ramona Simms, dog groomer extraordinaire, shouted her comment over the incessant noise of one hundred excited dogs echoing in the massive dining hall. “I can’t wait for the best-dressed contest.”

  The gala event, unknown to Serena and a complete surprise to the two male escorts for the evening, not only offered dinner for those paying to attend, but dogs were admitted free, too. Of the two hundred guests crammed into the banquet hall, half of them brought their pampered pooches along.

  Brightly colored floor mats, coordinated with doggie water bowls and food dishes, were doled out upon arrival. Each pooch also received his or her own dog treat bag, courtesy of a local gourmet dog bakery.

  Ramona had greeted Serena at the entrance, dog in tow and both had waited for Dan and Jason to arrive. Other than Dan’s eyebrows arching to surprising heights, he never expressed any sign of emotion at the chaos greeting him.

  Jason, Serena’s non-real date for the evening, took the frantic scene in stride. He commented on his appreciation for all four-legged canine friends and expressed his disappointment over not knowing he could have brought his dog along. Jason immediately fell into step with Ramona, probably both dazzled by her charms and pumping her for hints and strategies on caring for his golden retriever.

  Actually, at least that’s what Serena assumed they mumbled about with each other. Deafened by the howling sounds of both happy and unhappy dogs, she wasn’t sure what anyone was saying. Dan, however, smiled at everyone and yelled out a comment here and there. Serena marveled at his ability to decipher any topic of conversation.

  Ramona motioned for them to head to their table, one set up for the four of them. Located in a corner, it provided space for one dog mat on the floor between two of the chairs. Her dog, Queen Sheba of the Nile, a prissy-looking white toy poodle adorned with hot pink bows, yipped and pranced around their feet, entangling them with her leash. Ramona unhooked her leash, wound up the strap and placed Sheba on the mat. To her credit, the dog sat perfectly still, one of the few creatures not moving in the hall.

  The foursome took their seats, Dan and Serena crammed into the back area of their tiny corner. Jason and Ramona had a wider area between them, space big enough for Sheba’s pink and purple mat.

  Two sets of eyes focused on the dog, while the other two sets, belonging to Dan and Serena, glanced at each other for a few seconds before each turned to stare intently at the scene of people and dog pandemonium before them.

  Dog owners spread across the room, tracking down their tables. Distracted and preoccupied pets trailed behind them, although some didn’t appear to be on leashes. Big, small, dogs of all sizes and breeds strutted their stuff.

  Some canines even sported outfits. Most noticeable were the tuxedo-garbed males and fluffy evening-dressed females. Dogs wore top hats and tiaras, not to mention the fancy studded collars.

  Sheba pranced around in her bows with a matching sequined gown in hot pink, totally coordinated with Ramona’s choice of wardrobe color for the night. Matching rhinestone and ribbon collars bonded the two and screamed, “we’re together”…just in case anyone doubted Sheba belonged to Ramona. Of course, the hot pink nail polish on the woman’s hands and Sheba’s four feet completed the picture.

  For a weird split second, Serena addressed the possibility of being underdressed amidst the fashion display surrounding her. She and Dan wouldn’t stand a chance at the best-dressed human award, even without a dog in tow. They’d dressed comfortably, not anything near the formal attire donned by over half the diners.

  Jason, however, fit right in, dressed in suit and tie, an outfit Serena deemed expensive. The scene blurred before her eyes and she questioned her sanity and stamina to get through dinner.

  Dan tapped her thigh under the table. The contact shook her out of shock mode and caused her to jump. She pushed her hand under the tablecloth and over his, covering it in an effort to still his fingers.

  Warmth spread from her thigh up her body and in seconds, heated her cheeks. His letters danced in her brain until she lifted and removed his hand from its location. She raised her face and moved closer to his, wondering if the noise level had diminished enough for her to hear what he wanted to say.

  “I don’t think she’s interested in me.”

  Serena’s heart sank, another failure on her part. However, that tiny part of her, the one that still craved Dan’s attention, shouted, “Good. I don’t want her to be.” Serena admitted total control over her emotions needed work.

  She moved her mouth near his ear. In a testy tone, more irritated at her own niggling reminder of a desire for him than his remark, she replied, “We just got here. Talk to her. You said you like dogs. Say something relevant.”

  Take your own advice, girl. Talk to Jason.

  She watched as Dan tapped Ramona on the shoulder and moved his chair closer to hers. He placed his arm around the back of her seat and said something in her ear. At first, Ramona pulled back and stared at him. Giving a giggle Serena managed to hear, Ramona then leaned over to Jason and made a comment.

  Dan kept smiling while the other two spoke back and forth between themselves. Serena’s mind whirled, disaster a sure outcome.

  Music began playing and Serena watched in awe as people got up to dance, taking their pets with them. Some danced with human partners while trailing their dogs on a leash. Others opted to dance only with their dogs. Some dogs were actually scooped up into the arms of their owners and carried into dance steps.

  Jason stood up and Serena geared herself to tackle the dance floor, dogs and all. But, her date for the evening didn’t ask her to dance.

  No, her escort, unknowing chaperone helper for Dan and his date, never even looked her way. He asked Ramona and Sheba to dance. All three drifted away from their table and onto the dance floor, disappearing into the sea of gala celebrants bobbing to music. Serena couldn’t tell if they’d held Sheba in their arms as they danced to a slow number.

  That left Serena and Dan stranded at their table. She grabbed for the carafe of table wine, hoping to pour a glass full of the red liquid and give her something to do. Dan intercepted her target, pouring her a glass and one for himself. Without a word, he reached over and tapped her glass with his, raised it in a salute, nodded and chugged it down.

  Serena followed suit. Maybe the wine would help her get through the next hour or two.

  Dan grabbed her hand after she placed her glass back on the table. Pulling her up with him, he shouted over the hubbub, “Let’s dance. I don’t want to just sit here.”

  Great. She was deemed a better choice than wallflower companion duty. Her arm went limp as Dan led the way onto the dance floor.

  They stopped in a semi-opened area and began dancing to a rock tune that had just started playing. Everyone did their own thing to the music and Serena took the opportunity to glance around her at the other dancers, both human and canine.

  Some dogs definitely possessed more rhythmic qualities than their owner counterparts. Not far from them she spotted Ramona a
nd Jason, twirling with Sheba, all three completely out of sync with the music. Dan, however, danced like a pro, someone very comfortable with his movement style and steps.

  Impressive dancer, lousy at talking to dates, excellent sex partner, clueless as to his date’s interest in another man. All these rolled up summarized Dan’s outward appearance. The puzzle pieces of his appearance didn’t quite fit, really didn’t gel.

  The song ended. Before Serena could make her escape back to their table, Dan caught her arm and drew her into his embrace.

  “Our dates are still dancing, so why don’t we do the same.”

  Serena glanced over at Ramona and Jason, deep in conversation, holding Sheba between them as a slow song started. “Dan, it’s probably not a good idea for us to be doing this.”

  She tried to break free from his grasp, but his arms only tightened around her. Heart beating rapidly, she ended her struggle and sank into his hold.

  “Why are you doing this? Can’t you see we shouldn’t be together?”

  He spun her in a turn, grasping her closer as he did so. “Serena, all we’re doing is dancing. Obviously my date isn’t the least bit interested in me. Yours,” he nodded in the other couples’ direction, “hasn’t spoken more than ten words to you since he got here. I came to eat and enjoy myself, so we’ll dance. You owe me that, at least.”

  Serena’s body sagged against his. He directed their steps, leading the way into their slow dance. She had no more energy to argue with him. He expected to be entertained and she was available.

  Ramona had probably been another disappointment for him. Perhaps she didn’t fit the type he was really looking for. Not wealthy, dog groomer, a little overboard in the pet-loving category. And, she hadn’t given Dan more than a cursory once-over.

  Maybe he felt crushed. Maybe he felt relieved. Maybe he felt a better catch would still materialize.

  Serena sniffed in a deep whiff of his aftershave, the one that had jumpstarted her heart the night before. Shivers of delight rushed through her body, making her tingle with desire for him. And, of course, his letters bobbed into her head.

  No. She wouldn’t give in, no matter how much she craved to have him satisfy her needs.

  She looked at her watch. Dinner would be served in ten minutes and the whole blessed mess of an evening would be over soon. She’d zoom out as quickly as possible, go home and let the tears fall.

  I don’t want to let her go. Dan’s heart warred with his brain, the one telling him to stick to his job and ignore Serena’s mesmerizing charms. She felt so good in his arms, coconut-smelling, shampooed head resting under his chin on his chest.

  Heated sensations thrived and burned everywhere her skin touched his. Giving himself one swift mental kick, Dan shoved all thoughts of lust into the back recesses of his mind. Serena. His job. No combining work and play.

  Ramona, her “expert” match for him, was as far out in left field as he was in right field. What match? She held no interest for him and seemed perfectly content to entertain Jason’s attentiveness.

  Here again, an insurance salesman didn’t hold a candle to the professor, an impeccably dressed one at that. He’d caught the remarks Ramona had made about Jason’s expensive suit and his first-rate judgment in using the most prominent and pricey dog trainer in the county.

  Maybe Ramona looked at Jason as a potential source for her to increase her income. Dan couldn’t compete with a wealthier catch like Jason.

  Or, maybe Ramona just preferred Jason, the knowledgeable dog owner, someone she could relate to on a higher, dog-loving level. Had Serena set them up on purpose, using Dan as a front, or had her gift, as she called it, screwed up again?

  Dan twirled Serena around the floor once more until the music stopped. Noticing that their dinners had been delivered to their table, he wordlessly led Serena to their seats.

  Ramona and Jason returned, laughing with each other and paying more attention to Sheba than to the others seated at the table. Dan began eating and smiled at Serena while his insides clenched. Spurned again, still unsure of the true reason for his rejection, he swallowed hard.

  Serena spoke with Jason and he explained his desire not to hurt her feelings but to pursue Ramona’s attention. She agreed with his assessment of their mismatched evening selections and planned to make a hasty exit after once again facing a turned-down Dan.

  Dan’s acceptance of the evening’s unplanned ending needed no discussion. He’d already evaluated the situation and commented on Jason and Ramona’s interest in each other.

  Was he being very accommodating, hurting inside, or relieved, not wanting to waste time with someone unsuited to his goals?

  After an almost tasteless meal, Serena thanked all for attending and rose to make her exit. Dan got to his feet, made his goodbyes to the two remaining table guests and backed away to allow Serena to precede him out of the hall.

  They traversed through rows of tables, wandering around yelping dogs and seated humans. As they exited the hall, the host for the evening’s gala announced the upcoming best-dressed categories. Serena and Dan glanced at each other and quickened their steps.

  Once outside, Serena inhaled deeply, grateful for a calm night sky and head-clearing air. Faint noises from the hall broke through her thoughts. Faster, determined steps took them further away from the building, the sounds from inside fading away.

  Dan kept pace with her, only once reaching for her arm but never touching her. She’d pulled her arm closer to her body, then hugged both arms near her chest. No contact with Dan was vital to her sanity.

  She reached her car, eager to get in, drive away and arrive home. The businesswoman in her made her stop short in her tracks, the requirement for discussing the evening’s failure, her mismatching him again, needed to be accomplished.

  “I’m sorry about tonight. We still have one more match for you to try. Look, Dan. If this doesn’t work, I’ll refund your money.”

  Dan frowned, then said with a shrug, “I don’t blame you. You said I was different. I’ll try once more.” His look turned serious. “Look. About last night…”

  Serena interrupted. “There’s nothing to discuss.” Embarrassed, she looked away as her cheeks heated. “You’re a client and I will keep the boundaries straight from now on. I forgot that last night, but it won’t happen again.”

  She looked at his face and willed herself to meet his stare without flinching. “Maybe I should let you meet this next date alone. Maybe four isn’t a lucky number for you on a date.”

  “And maybe it’s a good thing you and two others have been with me. Could be I’m a catalyst for you matching the others somehow.”

  Taken aback, Serena quipped, “I never thought of it that way.” Could he be right? Was he only there for her to match the others? Had her sight moved to a different level, one that required help or channeling through a virile, sexy, charming man like Dan?

  Dan broke through her mind’s wandering. “Who knows? Perhaps there’s not really a match out there for me.” He gave her a half-smile, nodded and walked away.

  I thought I was last night. Serena couldn’t help the words flashing in her head, over and over again. How stupid could she be? He didn’t want her. Made it very clear the night before after their lovemaking session.

  They’d shared a night of sex, incredible and full of passion. They hadn’t shared a night of love, the one thing Serena craved.

  He hadn’t asked more questions about her business, but she’d more or less quashed further discussions about that until he’d finished his dates. Perhaps Dan was content with just soaking in the inefficient way she seemed to be running things since his appearance. Could be he figured he’d come up with some plan of action to organize Second Sight Dating, using his financial backing as a huge, motivating incentive.

  After becoming her partner, Dan might think he’d run the operation his way, possibly using it as a means to carry out whatever ulterior motive was firmly lodged in the back of his mind. Something h
elpful? Innocent? Sinister? Illegal?

  She’d have to be careful. Dan wasn’t the man for her. Why couldn’t she shake off her desire for him? Any relationship other than a legitimate business one would only lead to heartache.

  He could very well be someone she’d have to turn over to the police.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Serena kicked off her shoes as soon as she entered her apartment, weary after a night of dogs and doubts. She eased her body back to lean against the wall closest to the door. Curling and uncurling her toes, she hoped to ease the cramps that had settled in.

  Dragging herself to a cushiony armchair, she plopped down into its softness. Minutes later, Serena looked up as the door opened. Michael strolled into the apartment, followed by a smiling Annemarie.

  “Hi, sister of mine. How’d it go?”

  Cautious about how much to divulge at the time, Serena replied, “Very noisily, actually. Be grateful you weren’t there. What should have been a quiet dinner for four turned out to be a mismatched foursome dining with dogs event.”

  Her brother and friend laughed, despite the evil looks Serena assumed she glared in their directions.

  “What about your matchmaking? What happened?” Michael wasn’t about to let her slide over his question with some witty comment.

  “Let’s just say two of the four people at our table hit it off and the other two of us went home. Alone. As in, separately, to our individual abodes.” She dropped her head behind her to the high back cushion.

  “I get the feeling our night couldn’t compare in a ‘fascinating details’ category with yours.”

  Serena closed her eyes. “You never can tell. Any dogs yelping along to music where you went?”

  Michael snorted. “Uh, I can’t say we had that pleasure, did we, Annemarie?” He glanced at the woman next to him and she shook her head no. He continued, “Want to know how our evening went?”