SecondSightDating by Marianne Stephens Page B

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,