Double Dating with the Dead by Karen Kelley (best fiction novels to read .txt) 📗

Easier said than done. She told Paige goodbye, then just sat on the side of the bed, staring at nothing. If she crawled back under the covers, she probably wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep, and if she did go back to sleep, she’d just have more sex dreams.

Hell, she might as well get up and go in search of coffee.

She grabbed a robe and pulled it on before making a quick bathroom run, then stumbled down the stairs.

Had she really worn a dominatrix costume in her dream last night? Good Lord, her fantasies had never gone in that direction…. Okay, maybe a few times.

A delicious shiver spread over her body as she remembered it in vivid detail. The way she’d shredded Trent’s clothes with a whip. She’d felt like Cat Woman and Superwoman all rolled into one. Except her damn arm was sore as hell this morning. She flexed and stretched her arm out in front of her. Being in control was damned hard.

But Trent had only let her think she was in control.

She drew in a deep breath. If making love was this good in a dream, how much better could it be when she was awake?

No, she wouldn’t think like that. It was dangerous. She had to keep things in perspective. She was having vivid dreams because she was with Trent every day. He was a handsome man, she wouldn’t deny that.

But she really had to start reading something sweet and innocent before she went to sleep. Anything to stop the direction her dreams were going. In the light of day, Trent was still the enemy, and she’d still like to keep her job.

And in the light of day, she had to see clearly. Trent and Barbara had been kissing. Selena would like to think Barbara had initiated the kiss, that Trent hadn’t been like every other male and fallen for the woman’s charm, but it was just a dream.

She nibbled her bottom lip. Then again, maybe her dreams were trying to tell her something. Barbara could’ve instigated the whole thing. Selena certainly wouldn’t put it past her.

She made her way into the kitchen, inhaling the aroma of coffee. Anger aside, it was kind of nice waking up to a pot of coffee. She’d miss it after the two weeks were up. Trent did have a few good qualities.

As she walked to the cabinet, Trent automatically reached in and brought her out a cup. She took it and, as soon as the coffee was ready, waited for him to pour her a cup.

They didn’t speak as they carried their coffee to the table, taking a chair across from each other. Not that she was ready to speak to him. After all, he had kissed Barbara. Any other woman she might not have cared so much. But Barbara the Bitch? Selena couldn’t help being really irritated.

She blew across her coffee before taking a drink. Trent made a mean cup of coffee. She closed her eyes, keeping the cup near her face and inhaling the rich aroma.

“This is good coffee,” she said.

Silence.

“Most women don’t like it this strong.”

It made her wonder just how many women woke up in his apartment to the smell of coffee. For some odd reason, she didn’t want to know. It was bad enough that she’d acted like she had yesterday after Barbara kissed him.

“I didn’t kiss her,” he said as if he’d read her thoughts.

She opened her mouth to tell him she didn’t care, but the words didn’t come. She sighed instead.

“I know.” And she guessed she did. “Barbara is a bitch.” She looked at him. “Not that it’s any of my concern who you kiss.”

“There’s something between us. You can’t deny it.”

She thought of her dream and smiled. “We have a bad case of lust for each other. Not good when there’s a war going on.”

“Truce?”

“Anyone home?” Tye called out.

She breathed a sigh of relief that he’d saved her from answering because she wasn’t sure what she would’ve told Trent. Maybe she was tired of the sexual fantasies she’d been having at night. Maybe she wanted to bring the dreams to life. When he’d kissed her yesterday, Trent had only fueled the fire.

Tye strolled into the kitchen, stopped and glanced between the two of them. “Now, doesn’t this look cozy? Kind of like an old married couple.”

Trent frowned. “What are you doing up this early? I thought you were the epitome of the night owl.”

Tye glanced at his watch. “Early? I thought it was late. I haven’t been to bed yet.”

“And the reason for your visit?”

Tye sauntered to the coffeepot and poured a cup, grimacing when he took a drink. He dumped in a couple of packets of sugar and stirred. It was their turn to frown when he took a drink.

“Too strong, but better than nothing.” He went to the table and pulled out a chair, tossing the newspaper on the tabletop as he sat. “I take it neither one of you has seen the paper.”

Selena didn’t like the speculative look on his face. She glanced down at the open page to see a picture of her, Trent and the hotel. Her eyes widened when she read the headline.

HAUNTED HOTEL OR LOVE NEST?

by Barbara Carmichael

Selena drew in a sharp breath and leaned closer, but Trent grabbed the newspaper off the table. Oh, no, she wanted to see, too. She jumped out of her chair and hurried to look over his shoulder, scanning the paper along with him.

Everyone knows by now about the little challenge our own columnist, Selena James, made to the infamous novelist, Trent Sanders. I showed up quite unexpectedly yesterday to see if they might have a comment for my column. I know my readers have been clamoring to know what exactly has been going on in the haunted hotel. I mean, is it really filled with ghosts?

Not that I believe in that…well, that sort of stuff. No