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

“My mother went to work for his mother. He thinks mine will corrupt his.”

Dixie laughed.

“It’s not funny.”

“Yes it is.”

Selena stood and went to the dresser, pulling out the clothes she planned to wear. “If you would only show yourselves, then he would know ghosts exist.”

“You like him, don’t you?”

She squared her shoulders. “Pffft. Of course I don’t like him.”

“You had sex with him.”

“That’s different. You don’t have to like someone to have sex with them as long as there’s chemistry.”

“And this…chemistry—it was there?”

Selena thought back to the way it felt having his hands caressing her. His mouth kissing her. She drew in a long, shuddering breath. “Oh, yeah, there was a lot of chemistry.”

“I think you like each other but you don’t want to admit it.”

Selena began to dress. “It doesn’t matter. He’s too close-minded. Our beliefs are too far apart. But if you did show yourself, he would know you do exist, and maybe we could have some kind of relationship.”

“Too easy.”

“And you have something against easy as opposed to hard.” She frowned when Dixie raised her eyebrows. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“It’s an unwritten law of the dead.”

“What kind of law,” she asked with more than an ounce of suspicion. She’d never heard of ghosts having laws.

“If we meddle too much, then it upsets the balance of things. We’d have to answer to the ghost tribunal.” She shook her head. “Not pretty. They’re really testy at times.”

“I’ve never heard of a ghost tribunal.”

“Like you know everything. Sometimes it’s people like you who really aggravate me. Some psychics are so positive they know exactly what’s going on when a person crosses over.”

“I’ve never claimed…”

Dixie left in a poof. Ghosts could be so touchy sometimes. Well, she’d never claimed to know everything.

She ran her hands through her hair and headed toward the bathroom. A few minutes later she looked more presentable and felt as though she could face Trent.

Except Trent wasn’t in the kitchen this morning. There was a full pot of coffee, but no Trent. She poured a cup and went to the table. Odd how she felt as if something were missing.

Did married people feel like this?

Married people? She shook her head and laughed. Nope, she wasn’t even going there. Especially not with Trent. Sex with him was great, fantastic even, but they certainly weren’t a couple.

Then why did she feel a rush of giddiness when he sauntered into the kitchen a few minutes later?

Because the sex was that good, she told herself.

“Morning,” he said.

“Morning.”

She covertly watched him go to the coffeepot and pour himself another cup before turning back toward her. She quickly lowered her eyes and took a drink.

“Thanks for putting on the coffee,” she told him.

He pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m sorry I called your mother wacky,” he said without looking at her.

That was it? Just I’m sorry? She frowned. “That was a very heartfelt apology. Thank you so much. I bet you thought long and hard before coming up with those exact words.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”

“That’s only your opinion.”

He set his cup down, his frown deepening. “I meant it when I said I was sorry. I thought that would be enough.”

Maybe she was being a little testy this morning. Having sexual dreams, then the real thing, then being denied sex had a tendency to put her on edge.

She took another drink of her coffee. “Okay, I accept your apology,” she grudgingly told him.

“Thank you.”

As long as it was coming from him and not someone else. “Your mother didn’t put you up to this, did she?”

“I’m my own boss. My mother doesn’t dictate to me what I should or shouldn’t do.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you.”

Silence filled the room. She knew there was still a lot left unsaid. Words that needed to be said.

“My mother is a little wacky at times, but she means well.”

He didn’t say anything. Why didn’t he say anything? He should tell her again he didn’t think her mother was that wacky. By not saying anything, he was agreeing her mother was wacky. She clamped her lips together.

He glanced up. When he noted her expression, his turned to confusion. “What?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

He shook his head. “Something is bothering you. You might as well tell me and get it off your chest.” His eyes automatically lowered. He cleared his throat and returned his attention to his coffee.

That one look. One heated look and she nearly melted into a puddle in her chair. She was such a loser.

And he was right. She didn’t want to spend the rest of the day wondering what he was doing. Besides, she really could use his help finding Dixie and Wesley’s bones.

Ewww.

She kept picturing images from the Discovery Channel where people found bones with skulls that still had wisps of hair.

Ewww.

She didn’t want to see Dixie and Wesley like that. Having Trent with her would make it a little easier. So maybe she shouldn’t be so sensitive about her family.

“It’s nothing. I love my mother very much, and I don’t like it when people talk about her. I guess I heard enough snickers when I was growing up. I refuse to let anyone talk about her now. I mean, what would you do if someone talked about your mother?”

“I get your point.”

She crossed and uncrossed her legs at the ankles. “Are you going to help me hunt for bones today?”

“You’re still on that kick?”

She hadn’t expected him to jump at the chance, but she thought he might want to try to prove her wrong by not finding anything again today. She stood, taking her cup to the sink.

“Yeah, I’m still on that kick.”

“Okay,” he said after a long pause. “I’ll help you look.”

There was a difference in his voice. Funny, but it was almost as if something had changed between them and it was more than the fact they’d had sex.

No, it was more than that. He was less on edge around her. She didn’t feel like she was a