Nick was caught. He didn’t want to appear rude – or jealous, for that matter – but he also didn’t want to share a meal with this guy. “Well … .”
“We can’t,” Maddie interrupted, pressing her hand to Nick’s chest. “We appreciate the offer, but we’re having a quiet dinner with my grandmother. It’s a family thing. I’m sure you understand.”
“I do understand,” Cooper said, nodding. “I’m sure Christy and Marla are up to the challenge of filling me in on Blackstone Bay – and all of it’s very lovely residents.”
“Yeah, have fun with that,” Nick said, linking his fingers with Maddie’s and tugging her in the direction of the carnival. “What kind of junk do you want to eat tonight, love?”
“We need to find Granny first,” Maddie said, falling into step with Nick. “I haven’t seen her all day. She’s probably getting into trouble.”
Nick arched a challenging eyebrow. “Probably?”
“Okay, she’s most definitely getting into trouble,” Maddie said, risking a glance over her shoulder as they moved away to see if Christy even noticed their departure. Nope. She happily chatted away while Marla tried to interrupt and drag Cooper’s attention to her. For his part, Cooper ignored them both and watched Maddie and Nick walk away, his expression unreadable. “Let’s find Granny,” Maddie said brightly. “I’m starving, and I’m dying to spend the night with you around the bonfire.”
“Oh, you know the best way to my heart, Mad,” Nick said, squeezing her hand. “As long as I have you and food, I’m good for the rest of my life.”
“I DON’T like that guy,” Nick munched on his hot dog as he watched Christy and Marla fawn over Cooper at a nearby table. “He’s … full of himself.”
Maude Graves, Maddie’s grandmother, made a hysterical face behind Nick’s back as Maddie bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud.
“Do you want to know what I think?” Maude asked.
“Not even remotely,” Nick replied, turning back to his dinner.
The small family unit sat at a picnic table, the sun waning quickly as the Michigan days shortened. The days were still warm enough to enjoy with a light coat, but the nights grew increasingly cold and Halloween would be the last outdoor hurrah before spring unless you enjoyed winter sports.
“I think you’re jealous,” Maude said, ignoring Nick’s sarcastic response. “I think you’re worried because Casanova over there keeps staring at Maddie when he thinks no one is looking.”
“I think you should eat your dinner and stop talking,” Nick replied, earning a light smack on the arm from Maddie.
“Don’t talk to Granny that way,” Maddie chided. “It’s not fair to her, and it’s rude.”
Nick sighed and offered Maude a rueful smile. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I’m not jealous, though. I don’t get jealous.”
“That’s a load of horse pucky,” Maude said. “Jealousy is part of human nature. You’re jealous of that guy’s interest in Maddie, just like Maddie can’t help herself when she sees Cassidy. It’s normal to be jealous.”
“I’m not jealous when I see Cassidy,” Maddie scoffed, although she didn’t believe the words as they escaped her mouth. When she returned to Blackstone Bay, Nick was in a relationship with Cassidy Dunham. She tried to keep her distance from her best friend, but Nick’s pull proved to be too much and when Cassidy realized Nick was going to break up with her she made several scenes around town before he got a chance. Things were still tense between the group, although Cassidy had moved on to a local contractor and the overt hostility seemed to have dissipated. “That’s … ludicrous.”
“It is ludicrous,” Maude agreed, popping a French fry in her mouth. “Everyone with eyes can see that Nick is in love with you. He always has been and he always will be.”
“That’s true,” Nick said, poking Maddie’s ribs to cajole a smile. “I’m putty in your hands, love. There’s no reason to be jealous of Cassidy. You’re it for me.”
Maddie’s cheeks burned at his words and her heart warmed. “Thank you, but I already know there’s no reason to be jealous. I guess sometimes – and they’re very rare times, mind you – I do feel a little jealous. I have everything I ever wanted, though, so I try to be the bigger person when those little … flashes … pop up.”
“Oh, there’s no reason to be jealous, my Maddie,” Nick cooed, kissing her cheek. “You won me over when we were teenagers. There’s never been anyone else but you.”
“Except the parade of women you dated to forget about Maddie while she was down south,” Maude replied, referring to Maddie’s time in Southeastern Michigan.
“You’re a real joy tonight,” Nick said, wiping the sides of his mouth with his napkin. “For the record, I am not jealous of … that guy.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Maude said. “You being jealous of that empty shell is even more ridiculous than Maddie being jealous of Cassidy. Maddie has literally only ever had eyes for you. You pretended to have eyes for everyone else when you were mad at her. There’s a difference.”
“Is there a point to this little life lesson?” Nick asked, irritated. “Maddie is my girl and she’s always going to be my girl. I’m not jealous of Cooper Asshat.”
“Ashton,” Maddie corrected, giggling as she rested her head against Nick’s shoulder. “I hate to admit it, but knowing you’re jealous gives my ego a little boost. It’s wrong, but there it is.”
Nick groaned. “I’m not jealous. Stop saying that. And, by the way, your ego should always be huge because you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.” He dropped a quick kiss on her upturned mouth. “That doesn’t mean that I’m jealous.”
Maddie wasn’t ready to let it go. “So that wasn’t you who came up behind me and put his hand on my neck to make sure Cooper realized I was taken an hour ago?”
“I put my hand on your neck because I like touching you,” Nick argued. “Your skin is soft and you’re always warm and … I blame you for this.” Nick turned his dark eyes on Maude. “We were having a perfectly delightful evening before you showed up and ruined it. What’s your deal?”
Maude shrugged. “I don’t have a deal. Why do you think I have a deal?”
“You do look like you’re up to something, Granny,” Maddie said after a few moments of watching her grandmother. “Your skin has a certain … glow. That usually means you’re about to go and get into mischief with your friends.”
“I agree,” Nick said. “What are you up to?”
“Last time I checked, I was an adult,” Maude sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t deserve to be talked to as if I’m a teenager. You’re not the boss of me.”
Nick locked gazes with Maddie. “She’s up to something.”
“Definitely,” Maddie agreed.
“I’m the law around these here parts, ma’am,” Nick said, tipping an invisible cowboy hat as he regarded Maude. “I know you’re up to something. You should know if it involves property damage … or public humiliation … or drinking in public … or locking Harriet Proctor in a car trunk and dropping her in the woods to find her way home … you’ll be in big trouble.
“Just because we live together, that doesn’t mean I won’t arrest you,” he continued. “Keep that in mind when you carry out whatever dastardly plan you’re about to embark on.”
“You can’t arrest me,” Maude protested. “Maddie would stop calling you her ‘love muffin’ and force you to sleep on the couch if you did. We both know you can’t live with that.”
Nick cast Maddie a sidelong look. “Is that true, love? Would you toss the man you adore more than anything out of your bed if I arrested your rule-breaking granny?”
“You can’t put it like that,” Maude challenged. “That makes it sound as if I’m doing something wrong. I never do anything wrong. I’m a good woman.”
Nick snorted. “You’re a pain in the butt,” he said. “I love you dearly, Maude, but you like finding trouble. Other women knit or sew. You like
to rile people up. That’s your hobby.”
“I’m not taking sides in this,” Maddie said. “Just keep that in mind.”
“But you’d kick him out of bed if he arrested me, right?” Maude pressed. “You wouldn’t stand for that, would you?”
“It depends on what you did, Granny,” Maddie replied. “I’m not about to let you use me as a weapon to get your own way with Nick. I have faith that if he did arrest you … well … you would probably deserve it.”
“I can’t believe my own granddaughter would turn on me like this,” Maude muttered, her eyes busy as they scanned the growing crowd. The festival wasn’t technically scheduled to kick off until the next day, but the bonfire was an annual event for residents. The area would be packed within the next hour. “Fine. Do you really want to know what I’m plotting?”
“Not particularly,” Nick answered, not missing a beat. “If it’s illegal and I do nothing, then I would become an accessory. I’m far too handsome to do time.”
“I agree with that,” Maddie said, giggling when Nick tickled her ribs.
“Harriet Proctor is doing an end run around the Pink Ladies,” Maude explained, referring to her social group. They were supposed to do charitable work for the county – it said so in their bylaws and everything – but mostly they sat around drinking tea and bourbon and playing euchre. “She knows we’ll never give her entrance, so she’s starting her own club.”
In addition to being Maude’s sworn enemy, Harriet Proctor was Marla’s grandmother. The Proctor and Graves family battle was as long and storied as the Hatfield and McCoy feud.
“This isn’t the first time Harriet has threatened to start her own club,” Nick pointed out. “She does it once a week. Why do you care?”
“Because this time she’s going to call them the Purple Ladies and two of my members are considering defecting because they say purple is a better color than pink,” Maude said. “I can’t stand for that.”
Maddie loved her grandmother beyond words. She was her only living relative. Well, sure, she had a father out there somewhere. He hadn’t been in the picture since before Maddie was born, though, so he didn’t count. When it came down to it, Maude and Nick were Maddie’s family. She would always take her grandmother’s side no matter the battle, but Maddie couldn’t help but wonder if Maude only picked fights with Harriet for lack of anything better to do.
“Well, if someone would pick Harriet’s group over yours because of a color, that’s on them,” Maddie said. “Besides, even if they did leave, two minutes with Harriet as the boss would have them running back to you. Maybe you should just let them learn their lesson the hard way.”
“Did you just meet me?” Maude was incensed. “That’s not how I do business.”
“How are you going to do business?” Nick asked. “It’s not illegal, is it?”
“Of course not,” Maude said. “That being said … um … the less you two know about my business, the better.” She pushed herself to a standing position. “Thank you for dinner, but I have to round up my posse before the bonfire. I’ll see you guys later.”
Nick frowned. “No drinking and driving,” he ordered, wagging a finger for emphasis. “I know how you guys get with your bourbon … and don’t bother denying it.”
“I would never drink and drive,” Maude said. “I’m not that kind of lady.”
“Whatever,” Nick said, his interest in the conversation waning. “We’re going home right after the bonfire. If you need a ride, find us before you get soused and forget.”
“I’ll be spending the night at Edna’s house tonight,” Maude replied. “Her house is only a block away and we can get as drunk as we want and still find it in the dark. Does that make you happy, Detective Buzzkill?”
“Yes,” Nick replied, unruffled. “Now … go off and make mayhem. I want to romance my woman.”
“You’re nothing if not predictable.”
4
Four
“It’s getting colder out,” Maddie said, holding her hands up to catch some of the bonfire’s warmth.
Nick moved in behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he nuzzled his face in the hollow between her neck and shoulder. “If you would let me take you home, I would draw you a long bath and we could warm up that way.”
Maddie smiled at the suggestion. “Okay. If that’s what you want, I’m fine with it.”
Nick rested his chin on Maddie’s shoulder for a moment, rolling her words and tone through his head. That wasn’t what she wanted. “How about we compromise?” he asked, trying again. “How about we spend one more hour here and then we go home and take a bath?”
“That sounds perfect.”
“Yes, it does,” Nick agreed, swaying slightly as he kept Maddie warm. “The fire is pretty. I like how it glows against your hair.”
“This has always been my favorite time of year,” Maddie mused, moving her warm hands over Nick’s colder ones to stave off the chill. “I love horror movies and candy. I love the changing leaves. I love the summer activities more, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something magical about this time of year.”
“I enjoyed summer because it was hot enough to convince you to skinny dip,” Nick said, laughing as Maddie’s cheeks colored under the muted light. “Summer is always going to have a special place in my heart because that’s when we got together.”
“You’re a romantic at heart sometimes, Nicky. I forget that.”
“I’m a romantic where you’re concerned,” Nick clarified. “I’ve never considered myself a romantic other than that.”
Maddie carefully turned in his arms so she could slip her hands under his jacket and rub her cheek against his chest. “I love you, Nicky, even if you are jealous.”
Nick scowled, but he pulled Maddie tighter, his eyes bouncing to the other side of the bonfire where Cooper Ashton was surrounded by almost every woman between the ages of twenty and forty. He was a hit, and even women in relationships – including Cassidy – were enthralled with whatever story he deigned to weave for their benefit.
“I’m not jealous, Mad,” Nick clarified. “I’m … annoyed on the behalf of women everywhere because that guy is a tool.”
Maddie’s giggle was so delightful Nick couldn’t help but smile into her hair.
“How come you’re not over there falling over that guy, Mad?” Nick asked, genuinely curious. “Are you too good for him?”
“Do you want an honest answer or do you want me to pump your ego?”
Nick tilted his head to the side, considering. “I guess I want an honest answer.”
“I don’t like flashy guys like that,” Maddie said. “Plus, you didn’t see it, but he put on a little display for us before you showed up. He faked a psychic vision.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Nick said, pulling his head back far enough to study Maddie’s pleasing features. “What happened?”
“He just put his hand to his head and declared he saw a long feud between Marla and me,” Maddie replied. “Of course, this was after Marla sniped at me twice, so it wasn’t exactly a huge leap.”
“Of course,” Nick muttered, kissing Maddie’s forehead. “Did you say anything?”
“No, and I’m not going to,” Maddie answered. “I don’t want to get involved in anything like that. It’s not smart and he’s a pretender. That’s obvious. Even those who really have the sight screw up eventually and someone gets hurt. If he hasn’t hurt someone already, I would be stunned.
“He doesn’t seem to care, though,” she continued. “He’s playing a part. He doesn’t want to help anyone but himself.”
“You’re very astute, love,” Nick said, humming quietly as they swayed. “You’re my favorite person in the world. You know that, right?”
“Of course I am,” Maddie teased. “That’s why you’re jealous.”
“I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
“Probably not for the next few days,” Maddie conceded. “After that, tho
ugh, you should be fine.”
“Well, there’s always that to look forward to.”
Maddie and Nick lapsed into amiable silence, clinging to one another as they moved to music only they could hear. Their perfect moment came crashing down when Christy popped up at their side.
“Do you guys want to go into the haunted maze with us?”
Nick ceased his rocking and narrowed his eyes. “That’s closed until tomorrow. You can’t go in there.”
Christy rolled her eyes. “Are you going to arrest us for going in the haunted maze that’s right over there?” She pointed to the fall festival attraction across the parking lot. It was absolutely huge. “Besides, Cooper swears he’s had a vision that there’s a body in there. Don’t you want to see if he’s right?”
“Not particularly,” Nick replied. “Just for the sake of argument, though, that’s a haunted maze. There are like fifty fake bodies in there.”
“Yes, but Cooper says someone has dropped a real one in there to hide a crime,” Christy said, her eyes sparkling. “He’s extremely smart and wise.”
“He’s extremely annoying is what he is,” Nick muttered, squeezing Maddie’s hip to get her to look up. “What do you think, love? Do you want to check out the maze?”
Maddie wasn’t particularly keen on stumbling through a dark maze built to scare people, but there was something about the way Nick asked the question that set her teeth on edge. “Sure,” she said after a moment’s contemplation. “How about we walk through the maze and then head home to take your bath?”
Nick tilted Maddie’s head up so he could rub his thumb over her cheek. “Are you sure? You were really looking forward to the bonfire.”
“It turns out I was really looking forward to spending time with you,” Maddie countered. “We can have our own personal bonfire at home if we want. Then we can add a blanket.”
“And wandering hands,” Nick whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Maddie’s mouth before turning to Christy. “We’re in,” he said. “We’ll follow you guys over there.”
Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7) Page 3
