SecondSightDating by Marianne Stephens Page A
Authors: Marianne Stephens
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.
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.