Double Dating with the Dead (12 page)

“You don't like Selena very much, do you?” he countered with a question of his own.

Her eyes widened. “Why would you say that?”

“Just stating a fact.”

She hesitated for a few seconds before apparently deciding she had more going for her than Selena. “Why should I like her? I'd been at the paper two years when she comes waltzing in and immediately the editor gives her a column. Her own column!”

“And what does that have to do with you?”

“He cut the size of mine to make room for hers. She talks to dead people, for Pete's sake. How idiotic is that?”

“Yours has a lot more to offer?”

She squared her shoulders. “Damn right. I let my readers know what's going on. I had planned on asking for more room. You know, cover the trends and maybe branching out into the fashion world. Women need to know how to dress if they want to get by in the world.”

“As opposed to talking to the dead.”

“Don't tell me you're defending her? The man who claims ‘if you can't see it, it isn't there'? If you judge me, then you have to judge yourself because we're exactly the same.”

“The same?” He came to his feet. “Lady, we're not even close to being the same. You use people to get ahead.”

“And what's so wrong with that? There are a lot of sharks in the water. You eat them before they can eat you. That's the way the world works.”

“Not my world, sweetheart. You're not going to find a story here, so maybe you'd better leave.”

She came to her feet. “Are you throwing me out?”

“It would look that way.”

“The least you can do is walk me to the front door. Just in case there's a ghost or two.” Her words were brassy, and he had a feeling he was seeing the real Barbara.

Hell, she'd scare any ghosts off if there were such a thing, but yeah, if it would get rid of her quicker, he'd walk her out.

He followed her to the front door. There was an exaggerated sway in her hips. Not the sexy sway Selena had.

When they reached the front door, her attitude immediately changed, and the seductress came out. The lady had more personalities than he could count.

“I can't interest you in giving me a story?” She pouted as she ran a long red fingernail down his shirt. “I guarantee I could make it worth every minute if you give me an exclusive interview.”

Before he could do anything, she moved against him and raised her lips, kissing him full on the mouth. He put his hands on her arms and moved her away from him none too gently.

Barbara's gaze raised, but she wasn't looking at him. Damn, he didn't want to turn around, but he had to see.

Selena stood at the top of the steps, her lips set in a grim line. Before he could say anything, she whirled around and marched in the direction of her room.

Barbara's soft chuckle drew his attention back to her. Never in his life had he wanted to kill another human being—until now.

“You're a real bitch.”

She smiled. “Maybe next time you won't be so quick to dismiss me. It doesn't pay to take me for granted. I saw what you were thinking when I said I write a gossip column. You dismissed me as fluff, but you underestimated me.”

“No, I had your number right from the start. I just didn't think you would stoop this low.”

“Oh, honey, I'll go as low as I have to if it means getting the job done.”

“Yeah, I suspect you wouldn't mind getting on your knees for just about anyone.” His gaze raked over her. “But, honey, I wouldn't want that mouth on any part of my body. You can walk the rest of the way to your car by yourself.”

“Bastard!” She spun on her heel and slammed the door as she left.

Barbara seethed for a moment as she stood on the filthy porch. She'd thrown everything she had at Trent. He should've been on her side. He was out to ruin Selena, but it looked more like he was screwing her. God, she hated Selena. If it weren't for her, she'd have twice the column.

“Your scheme didn't work.”

She jumped, her eyes narrowed on the lanky cowboy. “Where the hell did you come from?” She hadn't seen him before.

She started to go down the steps, but suddenly stopped and looked at the cowboy. Her gaze moved over him as she speculated. He seemed to be comfortable sitting in the rocker. Maybe he lived nearby. He might be the person she needed to question.

A slow smile curved her lips. They hadn't beaten her yet.

She thrust her chest forward. Her thirty-six D cups were her best assets, and she'd certainly made use of them over the years. Men loved squeezing them, burying their faces between them.

Whatever it took to get ahead. That was her motto.

“Do you live close by?” she innocently asked as she perched seductively on the railing.

“You could say that. Wesley's the name, ma'am.” With one finger, he raised the brim of his hat and grinned at her.

He was cute, and the way he was looking at her, she knew he appreciated a real woman. She'd never been ridden by a cowboy before, they always smelled like horses, but there was always a first time for everything. Especially if it meant beating Selena.

“So, what's the scoop?” She chuckled. “Is the place haunted?” Oh, yeah, she was going to get her story after all. Nothing was going to stop her now.

A woman wearing a hideous red dress trimmed in ugly black ruffles seemed to just appear. “What do you think, sweetie? Is it haunted or not?” She looked straight at Barbara.

This couldn't be happening. The woman had just…just come out of nowhere. Out of fucking thin air. Her gaze whipped from one to the other. “Where the hell…”

“I'm Dixie. Remember my name, sweetie, and the fact that this is my cowboy and I don't like it when a woman flirts with my man.” Dixie waltzed over and stood in front of her.

Maybe she seemed to come out of nowhere, but the woman was a real bitch.

That was what she got for paying so much attention to the cowboy. She hadn't even noticed when this Dixie chick had come up the stairs. No one got the better of her, though.

“Apparently Wesley doesn't feel the same way,” she taunted. “Why would he be interested in you when I'm here?” She laughed. “You look like you're ready for Halloween. I mean, look at the way you're dressed. Your choice of clothes is terrible.”

Damn, she'd never seen anyone glow red before.

“Are we upset?” she asked sweetly.

“Upset?” Dixie asked.

“Now, Dixie, you might want to watch—” Wesley began, only to have his words cut short when Dixie narrowed her eyes at him. He looked apologetically at Barbara. “You're on your own, honey. I'd just as soon not have to face her anger for the next hundred years. The last haven't been that much fun.”

“Because you're the reason we're dead.”

“I told you it wasn't my fault.” He came to his feet.

Great, a couple of crazies.

“I don't want to talk about it,” Dixie said.

“Fine.” He vanished.

Barbara's mouth dropped open. “How the hell did he do that?” she whispered.

Dixie faced her. “We can do anything. We're ghosts.”

She pushed, and Barbara tumbled backward off her perch on the porch rail. She landed with a thud that was cushioned only by the bushes. She just lay there in the thorny shrub.
What is happening?
She stared at the woman who claimed to be a ghost.

“Ghosts,” she mumbled. “No such thing.”

The woman disappeared. In the next second she appeared beside her.

“You don't think I'm real?” She laughed. “Don't I feel real?” Dixie ran her hand through Barbara.

Shit, crap. Dixie was a ghost. Oh, damn, she had to get out of here. She scrambled out of the bushes, not caring that she could hear the ripping of material.

Ghosts!

The hotel was haunted.

She had to go to the bathroom. But first she had to get to her car…really fast.

“Do you believe me now?”

Dixie was floating beside her as Barbara ran to her car. Barbara's chest grew tight. She couldn't breathe as she fumbled inside her purse for her keys.

“Go away!” She didn't look behind her to see if the ghost left, but opened her door and slid into the driver's seat.

Her hand shook as she jammed the key into the ignition and started the car. Oh, God, she was going to be sick. No, it was a bad dream. She'd wake up any minute. She swerved into the street, almost hitting a car, and tromped the accelerator.

“Ghosts do not exist,” she kept repeating. It didn't do any good. She saw what she saw. Damn it, she hated being wrong.

She gripped the steering wheel. And if she was wrong, that made Selena right. That was a hard pill to swallow.

She glanced in her rearview mirror, then took a quick peek over the backseat.

All clear.

So she was wrong. Ghosts did exist. Who cared as long as they stayed out of her way and she stayed really far away from them. She could still get revenge on Selena, and now Trent. Boy would she get revenge!

A hot flush swept over her. He'd taken what she'd offered and thrown it back in her face. Well, just see how he liked her next column. She'd teach them both.

Cautiously, she glanced in her rearview mirror once more. Still clear. No ghosts. She was safe.

She smiled, a smile that didn't reach her eyes, as she thought about how she'd word her next column. She'd drag them both through the mud.

Just as soon as she changed her ruined clothes and showered. She sniffed. There was a distinct odor in her car, and she knew without a doubt it wasn't just the smell of her fear.

Oh, she'd make them both pay!

S
elena flung the covers back and climbed into bed. She'd avoided Trent all afternoon. He'd mumbled something about letting her cool off and then stayed out of her way as well. And so he should.

She flipped onto her side. He was more like his little brother than she'd thought. Hell, Tye probably took lessons from Trent. They were both players, and apparently, Trent didn't care who he kissed.

Blech! Barbara!

Couldn't he see what she was like? Dummy, of course he could. That was probably why he'd kissed her. Hell, half the men at the newspaper had probably kissed her and a whole lot more.

Damn it, but did Trent have to fall for her act, too? Not that she cared, of course. Well, maybe she did, but it was only because she disliked Barbara so much.

Fool. She flipped over to her other side and punched her pillow.

She'd so played right into his hands.

He'd accused her of trying to seduce him. Yeah, uh-huh, sure. The shoe was on the other foot. He'd been seducing her right from the start. And she'd fallen for his every rotten move.

Idiot!

But she had his number now, and his games wouldn't work on her. Nope, it wasn't going to happen. And when Dixie and Wesley finally showed themselves and he had a heart attack, maybe she wouldn't start CPR. Except she'd have to keep him alive long enough for him to admit he'd been wrong about ghosts.

As soon as he told the world, then she'd let him croak.

Her stomach churned. Burning acid bubbling inside her. Lord, he'd given her an ulcer.

Stress wasn't a good emotion, and it only made her newly acquired ulcer worse. She forced herself to relax. Working herself up over the fact Trent had kissed Barbara the Barbarian wouldn't solve anything.

But did he have to
kiss
her?

Selena had wanted to wipe that smirk right off Barbara's face when the other woman looked up and their gazes locked. Barbara had known exactly what she was doing. The bitch wanted her to know she could have Trent.

Selena balled the covers in her fist. Of course, she didn't care what they did. They were made for each other.

Barbara was about as two-faced as they came. When Selena first went to work at the paper, it hadn't taken her long to realize Barbara's attempts at friendship were as thin as tissue paper.

So, yeah, that was a good enough reason to get pissed off, but neither one was worth losing sleep over. At least tonight she wouldn't be lusting over Trent in her dreams and maybe she'd get some sleep. Sex was the last thing on her mind and certainly not with Trent.

 

“She seems pretty upset,” Wesley commented as he hovered above Selena.

“Do you blame her? Barbara planted a good one on Trent, and from Selena's angle, it looked like the feeling was mutual.”

“Yeah, but you got even with her.” Wesley chuckled.

She grinned. “We both did. The look on her face was worth every bit of energy it cost me. You could smell her fear.”

“I don't think it was fear you smelled.”

Dixie chuckled. “You're right.”

Dixie nodded toward Selena, who was tossing and turning in her sleep. “But we still have to fix it between these two.”

“Some things can't be fixed.”

“I don't believe that. Any relationship can be mended.”

“Even ours?” Wesley spoke quietly.

Silence.

“It wasn't your fault we were killed.” She downed her head. “I was trying to make you jealous because you were flirting with Samantha.”

He swirled around her in a mist of blue. “And I was flirting with Samantha to make you jealous. Didn't you know how smitten I was with you?”

“It looks like we were both foolish.” She closed her eyes as his spirit blended with hers. If this was all they had left for all eternity, then she'd be satisfied.

“I hate to see the same thing happen to them.”

“I know,” she sighed. “They say they're sworn enemies. Maybe we should show ourselves and let him see that we actually exist.”

“That wouldn't prove anything. They have to realize there's something between them before we show ourselves.”

“And if they don't?”

“It's all up to fate.”

One side of his mouth lifted, and Dixie knew immediately Wesley wouldn't leave it all up to fate.

He blew across his hand. Yellow dust sparkled in the light of the moon before it drifted down to settle on Selena.

“Forgiveness dust. Perfect.” She raised her hand and blew across her palm. A deep red dust that landed on Selena. Her body jerked.

“That was blood red. Are you sure?”

Dixie smiled. “Oh, yeah. She shouldn't be a pushover. He has to work for forgiveness.”

Wesley sighed. “I hope you're right.”

 

“Selena, where are you?” Trent called. Not only had she ignored him after Barbara left, but she wasn't in his dream, either.

“You kissed Barbara,” she said, breaking her silence but keeping hidden.

She was here. Relief washed over him. “No,
she
kissed
me.”

“You weren't exactly pushing her away.”

“She didn't give me much of a chance.”

Selena stepped from the mists. He sucked in a deep breath. She wasn't wearing the soft red nightgown trimmed in black ruffles tonight. No, his sweet dream woman had turned into a dominatrix.

The form-fitting black leather dress was short enough that it left little to his imagination. It laced up the front, displaying the creamy contours of her breasts. Thigh-high black boots cuffed in red with four-inch heels almost completed the picture. The only other thing she had was a wicked-looking red whip.

“She didn't give you a chance?” She cocked an eyebrow and flicked the whip with a light movement of her wrist. It uncurled like a snake ready to strike, ready to draw first blood.

One side of his mouth raised. She might want him scared and groveling, but that wasn't what he was feeling right now. Damn, she was the hottest thing he'd ever seen. She'd had him hard and aching the minute she'd stepped from the deep red mists.

She popped the whip. The air whistled, and he felt a tiny thump on his chest. He glanced down, and one button was gone from his shirt. He looked back up.

“You're pretty good,” he told her.

She shook her head, her long black hair brushing across the leather dress. “Not pretty good. I'm damn good.”

A temptress. An angry vixen who wanted revenge. A definite turn-on because he had a feeling she'd forgive him, and he looked forward to the kiss-and-make-up part.

She paced back and forth, then flicked the whip again, and another button popped off.

“Feeling better.”

“No, but I will,” she said.

“Barbara had bad breath,” he said.

Selena laughed, then flicked her whip again. Another button disappeared. “I don't care if she'd just eaten a loaf of garlic bread. That's not the point.”

“Damn, you look so friggin' hot.”

“It won't work. You have to be punished.” She flicked the whip again, and his shirt hung open. “Take it off.”

His eyes narrowed. “Baby, if you want me to strip, then you can do the removing.”

“Okay, but I'd advise you not to move. Don't even blink.”

The whip cracked through the air. He held his breath, but it barely kissed him. Four times she raised her arm, but all he could think about was the way her breasts swelled above the low-cut dress, threatening to burst free.

When she lowered her arm, there was a wicked smile on her face. “That's more like it.”

He looked down; the movement caused his shredded shirt to fall off.

“Are you having fun?” he asked.

She laughed. “Oh, yeah.”

She cracked the whip, and the tie to his pajama bottoms was snapped in two. He sucked in a deep breath, his bottoms sliding down, as he realized how close she was to making him a soprano.

“Umm, nice.”

“Exactly how far are you planning on taking your revenge?”

“Don't worry. I won't harm anything of importance.”

“Just so we're on the same page here, what exactly do you consider important?”

She didn't answer. Instead, she walked around him.

“I hope you're enjoying the view.”

“Not bad.” She flicked the whip.

He jumped as the leather bit his butt just enough to cause a little sting, a lot like a Texas mosquito. Okay, her games had gone on long enough. It was time he joined in. It was time to get serious. He kicked his pajama bottoms away.

She came around to stand in front of him again, keeping her distance. Did she guess that he wanted more? He didn't think so. She was only being cautious. And he could tell by looking at her that she thought she had the upper hand.

That was her first mistake.

“You fell right into Barbara's trap,” he said.

Selena's eyes flashed. “It looked to me like you were the one taken in by her charms.”

He shrugged. “She's a sexy lady. She wears her clothes so they'll tempt a man, and she has the kind of body that is definitely tempting.”

Selena's eyes narrowed, her shoulders squared.

“She's the kind of woman who oozes sex appeal,” he continued, watching Selena get angrier with each second that ticked by. “Who can blame a man for wanting to sample what she offered?”

Selena growled from low in her throat. She raised her arm and struck with her whip, but he grabbed the leather. He felt the sting as it coiled around his arm, but he ignored the pain. Instead, he watched her face. Saw the surprise, then worry tinged with a little fear.

And so she should be afraid.

He tugged on the whip, slowly drawing her closer to him. “But I knew the minute Barbara stepped into the kitchen she was a bitch and she hated you. After you left, she came on to me.”

“I knew she had.” She raised her chin, but he noticed the slight tremble of her bottom lip.

“I threw what she offered back in her face. She's not my type. I'd never know if I was going to wake up with a knife in my back.”

“But she kissed you.”

“Exactly. She apparently noticed you at the top of the stairs. She couldn't have me, but she still wanted to make you miserable. She kissed me. I did not kiss her.”

“You don't like her?”

He shook his head as he pulled her the rest of the way to him. “There's only one woman who turns me on.” He lowered his mouth to hers. Like an electrical current, the heat spread over him.

He tossed the whip away and cupped her bottom. Damn, she wasn't wearing panties. He ended the kiss and nuzzled her neck while moving one hand to the front of her dress and sliding it beneath. She gasped when he tangled his fingers in her curls, rubbing his finger over the fleshy part of her sex.

“You like that?”

“Yes.” She moaned, pressing against his hand.

The spitting cat changed to a purring kitten. It was a heady feeling knowing he had that much power. He slowed his fingers. She whimpered.

“Look at me.”

She raised her head, holding on to his shoulders. He rubbed her sex harder, faster. Her eyes drifted closed and he slowed.

“I want to see into your eyes when you come.”

Excitement mixed with embarrassment crossed her features.

“Remember, it's only a dream.” But damned if he didn't want it to be real. Crazy thoughts. Maybe they were meant to be together only when they were asleep. It was probably for the best, but he found he longed for sleep more and more.

She nudged against his hand. He inserted a finger inside her. Damn, she was wet and hot. He ran his damp fingers over her sex, then dipped inside her again. She clutched his shoulders, fingernails biting into his flesh, but he didn't care. He watched as she squirmed against his fingers. Her breath grew shallow and rapid, but she didn't close her eyes.

When she cried out, he removed his fingers and entered her. He thrust deep inside. She wrapped her legs around him, and he sank deeper. Once, twice, and he climaxed.

Slowly, he sank to his knees, taking her with him. The bed was there, and they tumbled onto it, but still he didn't let go of her. He wanted her close. And damn it, he didn't want to wake up. He was in heaven, and each morning when he dragged himself out of slumber, he faced the hell of knowing it hadn't been real, and the pain was incredible.

“I think I'm falling in love with you,” she whispered close to his ear.

Her breath tickled as guilt washed over him. Only one of them could come out the victor when the two weeks were up. One of their careers would be forever ruined.

No, this was only a dream. Selena wasn't falling in love with him. He pulled her closer to him, but she wasn't there anymore, only his pillow.

Emptiness filled him.