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

moment she couldn’t move, couldn’t think, couldn’t remember what she was doing.

So not fair!

With a supreme effort, she forced herself to look away and returned her attention to the glitter she was sprinkling on the table. Why did he have to look so good when she was about to scare the hell out of him? He wanted proof? Okay, she’d show him a ghost!

Sure, she knew Dixie and Wesley wouldn’t cooperate. She didn’t really care. She was out for revenge.

“We’re having a séance,” she told him.

“A séance?”

“To call the ghosts so that you will believe,” she droned much like her mother did when she was trying for a certain effect.

Wesley looked at Dixie. “We’re already here,” he whispered. “Can’t she see us?”

Selena glared at Wesley, who sat on top of a stack of books.

“Of course she can see us,” Dixie explained with a smile. “She’s just really mad at Trent.”

“I hope they don’t get shot like we did.”

Dixie rolled her eyes. “And just who would shoot them?”

“They might not get shot, but I’d bet my bottom dollar nothing good is goin’ to come from all this.”

“You never had a dollar to your name, cowboy.”

His slow grin had Dixie glowing bright blue. “That’s because I spent it on a pretty little gal who worked in a saloon.”

“Silence,” Selena commanded.

“I didn’t say anything,” Trent told her.

Damned ghosts. For them not wanting to communicate with Trent, they sure talked a lot. She was frowning when she looked across the table, but her irritation disappeared when she saw the way Trent looked at her—as if he wanted to devour her.

Stay strong!

Deep breath. Gio. No, not Gio.

Oh, Lord, his gaze moved to her breasts. Good thing she was wearing a bra, because her nipples were really hard right now.

“Did they freeze?” Wesley asked. “Saw a frozen rabbit once looked kind of like they do right now.”

Selena snapped out of her daze. Revenge. She had to remember why she was here.

“I was just telling you that we’ll need complete silence if I’m to prove ghosts exist.” She only hoped Paige’s mirrors, lights and flashing pictures worked. It wasn’t anything elaborate, and Paige was hidden in a corner with all the controls. She’d sneaked everything in earlier, and they’d quickly set all of it up, praying the whole time Trent wouldn’t decide to come into the library.

She would soon see his reaction. Show time!

“Spirits from beyond, I call you forth,” she intoned.

Dixie chuckled. “This is better than that traveling show them actors put on. Remember that?”

“Yeah, and afterward, too, when I slipped into your bed and under your covers.”

Great. Not only did she have two ghosts talking, but now they were talking about sex. The stupid grape incense didn’t help. It only made her hungry for a fruit salad. She’d asked Paige why she couldn’t have brought a more intense incense, but she’d only shrugged and told Selena she’d been trying to hurry.

But grape? Yuck. The air had shifted, and the grape scent blocked the more sensuous smell of Trent’s Gio.

But maybe that was a good thing?

She closed her eyes and began to sway. “Show us a sign,” she droned. When she peeked from one eye she saw the corners of Trent’s mouth twitching right before he straightened in his chair and his expression turned serious.

Laugh at me, will you?

“Show us a sign,” she repeated, then inhaled and almost choked. Apparently, Paige had sprayed the musty perfume that she’d concocted for Halloween night at the school, but she’d sprayed it a little too many times. It was really gross mixed with the grape incense.

“What is that—” Trent began.

“They’re here,” she interrupted, her voice low. If she wasn’t so pissed at him, this might be fun. “It’s the smell of death.”

“Excuse me,” Dixie began, planting her hands on her hips. “I don’t think I smell that bad.”

“Of course you don’t, darlin’.”

God help me, Selena thought to herself.

“Spirits of the hotel, why do you haunt us?”

“Technically, they haven’t been haunting me,” Trent supplied.

She glared at him, wanting to wipe that smirk off his face. And she would. She’d give him a con like he’d never seen.

“Can you feel them?” she asked.

“No.”

“Be very still.” Okay, what was Paige doing? The mists should’ve appeared by now. What was she supposed to do now? Dance on the table? Oh, yeah, Trent would probably like that. Come on, Paige, don’t fail me now.

In the corner, a green cloud began to form. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“There,” she said, raising a hand and pointing.

He turned slightly in his chair, stilled.

“The hotel is haunted!” Dixie screamed and flew closer to Wesley.

He chuckled. “By us, darlin’, by us. Remember Doc Wells and his magic tricks? It’s the same thing. Selena’s just foolin’ Trent. She’s pretty good, too.”

“I don’t think it’s a bit funny.” Dixie pouted. “She scared me.”

“That’s okay. I like you scared.” For a second their spirits blended.

“Oh, Wesley,” Dixie sighed.

“Oh, brother,” Selena muttered, then quickly covered her words with a cough when Trent looked at her.

“Is that your ghost?” he asked with a cocked eyebrow, nodding toward the cloud.

There was a loud rumble.

She jumped. Then it dawned on her what it was. Cool. Paige had brought sound effects.

“Did I upset your ghost?” Trent folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the back of his chair.

Dixie frowned. “He’s starting to make me angry.”

Good, Selena thought, that was exactly what she wanted. She wanted them angry enough to reveal themselves to Trent. She only hoped her Plan B worked. If it didn’t, there was always Plan C.

She began to sway again. “Show yourselves to the unbeliever,” she crooned.

“I’ll never believe, Selena,” Trent quietly told her, reaching across the table and taking her hand in his.

For just a second, she let his warmth envelop her. Then she pulled her hand away. It wouldn’t do to get caught up in the moment. She had to make him see the truth. Even if she scared the hell out of him.

The thunder sounded again.

“That’s not convincing me,”