Double Dating with the Dead Read Online Free PDF Page A

to look him in the eye. “Mom went to New Orleans a few years ago. She took the voodoo tour.”
    â€œWhat’d she do, dig up a dead body as a souvenir and haul it back with her? A corpse doesn’t count as a ghost, you know.”
    â€œNot funny.” She untied the leather string at the back of her neck and brought the small bag from her shirt-front. “It’s an amulet. You know, to ward off evil spirits.”
    â€œWard them off? Hell, it’d kill them. What’s in it?”
    Her nose scrunched up. “I was afraid to ask,” she admitted. “I’m pretty sure garlic.” Lots and lots of garlic.
    Enough that her eyes watered.
    â€œPlease tell me you’re not planning on wearing that for the next two weeks.”
    What did he think she was? As if she didn’t know the answer to that . “I thought I’d put it under my pillow,” she snapped.
    â€œOh, honey, I can think of much better ways to keep you safe from evil spirits.”
    He stood too close. She could feel the heat emanating from his body. Images of her and Trent making wild, passionate love filled her mind.
    Damn, he was tempting her again. So not fair!
    She stiffened her spine and cast a glare in his direction that would’ve had a lesser man begging for mercy. It didn’t seem to faze him, but she wouldn’t back down.
    â€œI doubt I’ll ever need your protection. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to soak in a tub and get rid of some of this dirt.” She whirled around and went inside.
    His mocking laughter followed her.
    Trent thought this was all some grand joke. By the end of the two weeks she’d prove him wrong. Then who would have the last laugh?
    She tromped upstairs and down the hall to her room.
    Every bone in her body ached, but they had most of the hotel cleaned. At least, the areas they’d be living in. It would take a lot longer to clean the whole place.
    She grabbed fresh clothes and made her way to the bathroom. Just for good measure, she hung the gris-gris on the outer knob. Lord, only her mother could concoct something that stunk as bad as that gris-gris.
    After turning on the water, she added a large dollop of tropical-scented bubble bath. Coconut and mangos soon blocked the odor of garlic.
    She stripped out of her grungy clothes and climbed into the claw-footed bathtub. This is nice, she thought, sliding down until her shoulders were submerged in bubbles. Heavenly….
    Her nose twitched as a new aroma invaded the room, and it wasn’t the smelly amulet or her tropical-scented bubbles.
    Leather?
    She held her breath and waited to see what was about to happen. Usually, an odd or different smell meant only one thing.
    Excitement shimmied up and down her spine as a mist began to rise, different from the steam coming from her bath. It settled comfortably on the counter by the sink.
    A spirit! She knew it.
    I’m going to win the bet! I’m going to win the bet. The words singsonged inside her head. She started to sit up.
    Oops, not a good idea.
    Coconut-and mango-scented bubbles were not on her fashion list. It didn’t matter. Selena was quite content to lie back and wallow in her victory. She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud.
    Calm down.
    She didn’t want to scare the spirit away before Trent had a chance to see it. Not that he would get the chance to see it while she was in the bathtub, but once she was dressed—look out!
    The vapor grew thicker, taking on the shape of a lanky cowboy as he became more solid. Selena guessed him to be in his early thirties. Not bad looking: blondish hair, strong chin.
    With one finger, he pushed up the brim of his cowboy hat and looked into the fogged mirror. “You know, I’ve aged pretty good.” He turned toward Selena. “Wesley Cole, ma’am, at your service.” He crossed his arms in front of him and leaned against the counter, a roguish grin on his