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

closer to the edge of the porch and looked up at the sky. The moon was exactly as Selena had said. Even as he stared at it he could almost see blood dripping from the deep orange orb.

“That’s a Hunter’s Moon…Blood Moon,” Matilda said.

His heart pounded inside his chest. Damn, he was jumpy as a downed electrical wire. He drew in a deep breath. “Yeah, I’ve already been told that once today.”

Matilda nodded. “Strange things happen when there’s a full moon, but you got to watch yourself when it’s a Blood Moon.” She cast her gaze around as if a ghost might pounce on her at any second.

“I don’t think you need to be too worried.” Damn, had Selena been filling this sweet old woman’s head with stories meant to spook her? Selena could cause Matilda to have a heart attack if she wasn’t careful.

Matilda shook her head. “Tonight’s a night that a person should tread careful-like ’less they get in over their head.”

She wiped her hands on her flowery apron, her eyes narrowing as she looked around.

“Mark my words, things will happen tonight. There’s a powerful wind in the air. Don’t know if it’s evil or good, but you and the girl best be watchful of the night.”

He started to gently explain that he didn’t believe in what he couldn’t see with his own eyes, but a horn honked down the street, drawing his attention. When he turned back, Matilda was gone.

“For an old woman she sure can move fast,” he muttered and turned to go back inside.

Quiet surrounded him, chilling him to the bone. Was Selena upstairs? More than likely she was in her room curled on her bed with one of her books. Either that or plotting a way to kill him.

He sat down in the nearest chair, crossing his arms in front of him. Something was going on. But what? The more he thought about it, the more he knew Selena was playing him for a fool. But why would she try to convince him that she was crazy? He hadn’t done a thing to her. At least, nothing new.

He’d probably been staring at the black notebook for a good two minutes before he realized it was his black notebook in the middle of a stack of books.

It came to him in a flash. Writing in his book, then Tye wanting him to look around outside for those stupid bones. He’d slid the notebook between the books.

She wouldn’t stoop so low as to read what he’d written. Would she? He opened the book, could almost smell her perfume wafting up to him. There was a smudge on a page—no big deal. A fold on another that shouldn’t be there. A corner where she might have unknowingly worried it with her fingernail.

He closed the book. It had all been an act to scare the crap out of him because she was pissed. It had worked. She had given him more than a twinge of uneasiness.

But now he had a problem. His gaze moved to the staircase. She wouldn’t believe that he wasn’t going to write the exposé. Why would she? She’d read his notes. Hell, his musings, his observations, all of it condemned him.

He closed the book, setting it down, thinking about their time together. His gut told him that she wasn’t conning the public. He’d bet his life on it. He couldn’t say for sure how he knew, but he knew. Maybe her head wasn’t screwed on perfectly straight, but he kind of liked it that way.

Somehow, someway, they would work everything out. Including this stupid challenge. He came to his feet and went in search of her.

Not upstairs.

When had she slipped past him? He traipsed back down the stairs.

Not in the kitchen, either.

He went back to the foyer. Where else could she be? What if she was lying hurt somewhere? The hotel was old. Anything could’ve happened. A faulty step giving away, a loose board.

The blood in his veins ran cold.

He strode toward the other side of the hotel.

“Selena!”

“You’re seeking me out?”

Her sultry voice floated to him from the library. Even as relief washed over him, so did desire. She had a soft Southern drawl, but it didn’t make him think of church socials. No, it made him think of things that would make a hooker blush.

And as soon as they had their little talk, he planned to make Selena’s body blush—every inch of it. Just the thought started an ache deep inside him.

He walked into the dark room, but came to an abrupt halt.

What the hell is she doing now?

A heavy odor clung to the air. He sniffed. Grape incense? He’d never cared for incense, and this scent didn’t change his mind.

The candles were lit again, too, only four so the light was dim at best. Selena wore a long flowing gown in wild colors and some kind of turban on her head that was slightly askew. Every time she moved her hands the bangles on her wrists jingled and the rings on her fingers flashed.

She was up to something, but only one thought ran through his mind: was she wearing anything under the robes?

The silky material would caress her skin just the way he wanted to. Damned if he wasn’t jealous of a piece of material.

“Listen, Selena, we have to talk.”

“Sit.” She waved her hand toward a card table that had been set up.

“I know why you’re doing this…”

“Sit.” She floated over to the table and gracefully sat in one of the chairs, then looked at him expectantly.

Fine, he’d humor her. Then they would have a talk, and after that they’d have sex. He took a seat across from her. “What exactly are we doing?”

Selena cast a quick glance in his direction. Trent didn’t look a bit worried. Amused maybe, but not worried. He didn’t know what was about to happen, either. Revenge could be sweet.

He suddenly looked at her and their gazes locked. A flash of heat swept over her. For a