Free SecondSightDating by Marianne Stephens

“richer” image. Maybe the guy was out to lure a wealthy
customer and fingered the blonde as someone who had money.
    Dan guessed it could be a possibility the woman was a target
although her file didn’t indicate her monetary status. As a model, or an
aspiring one, she dressed expensively. Could have a fortune hidden away
somewhere that only Serena might be privy to. Maybe the woman wanted to keep
that part of her life a secret and off her file info.
    If her interest demanded finding someone with money to burn,
there remained the possibility that Monica channeled her attention on Sean
because he seemed a more likely candidate. Although he came across as a slick
loser, maybe the guy was really a rich idiot in disguise and Serena knew this.
    Then, what the hell was he there for?
    To play chaperon?
    Make the meeting look legit?
    Could be.
    Dan returned his attention to the conversation going on
between Sean and Monica. Neither seemed interested in including the other two
people at their table.
     
    Serena’s head ached. Although she’d hoped for some success
for Dan if he truly wanted to find someone and wasn’t a con artist, the evening
wasn’t going as planned. She couldn’t deny a tiny twinge of jealousy over
Monica being his date, then relief when the blonde dismissed him for Sean. The
night would end quickly if Serena moved fast.
    Sean hadn’t ordered a main dish, only a dessert that he
shared with Monica. Dan and Serena chose decaf coffee.
    When the bill was presented, the foursome split the tab. Dan
and Serena exited the booth while the other two stayed seated.
    “Uh, hope you don’t mind but Monica and I want to finish our
discussion.”
    Grateful for some type of closure and the ability to exit
gracefully, Serena smiled. “Not a problem. I don’t know much about hard rock
music anyway. You two enjoy yourselves.”
    She then directed her attention to Dan, wondering how he’d
take the news. After all, the man had just been dumped.
    Like me .
    He had the air of someone not at all affected by his date’s
snub. “Sure. I don’t much care for that kind of music. More of a country music
fan myself. Nice meeting both of you.”
    With a humbling graciousness Serena wished she could
portray, Dan shook hands with the happily seated couple. He then escorted her
out of the restaurant.
    “Nice couple. Sorry your date ignored you.” Dan’s comment
came as they settled themselves inside the car for the ride back to her office.
    Serena bristled at his comment. “He wasn’t really my date. I
mean, uh, we just went out to make up the foursome. Sorry Monica didn’t work
out for you.”
    “Well, I know I made lots of mistakes tonight so I can’t
blame her. You’ll just have to give me more help in getting ready for my next
dinner date.”
     
    Neither spoke during the rest of the ride. Dan tried to
review the evening’s disastrous scenes. First, he’d made a fool of himself by
hounding Monica in the lobby and following her around like a lovesick puppy.
Then, he’d acted the complete buffoon and talked incessantly about food,
something his date obviously had no interest in. His switch in gears and
rambling on about the insurance business only succeeded in gaining yawns from
everyone at the table.
    The only spark of interest developed when Sean joined the
group trying to speak Italian. Dan’s only dilemma—figure out if the airhead
blonde’s goal pushed her to chase Sean or if Mr. Phony Italian Accent was
putting the moves on Monica.
    Hmm. Either one of them might have viewed the other as a
potential target with money. Monica had talked about all her lucrative modeling
jobs in the works. And, Sean did mention an inheritance becoming available in a
month.
    So, who was Serena setting up? Her plan all along must have
been to get the two together. Maybe their number and letter didn’t match
initially and using the guise of a foursome gave her the chance to throw Sean
at Monica…or the other way around. After all,