“That’s convenient.”
“I only ate here once when I lived down here, but it was really good. If you can’t find a steak here that will make you happy, I think we’re in for a rough night.”
Nick slowed his pace and drew Maddie to him. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. I really am.”
“It’s okay. It’s my fault you got shot.”
Nick balked. “It most certainly is not!”
“I wanted to go down there. You positioned yourself to protect me. It is my fault.”
“No, it’s not, Maddie.” Nick was at his limit. “Love, I went down there because we needed answers. I protected you because that’s what instinct told me to do. You are not to blame for this.”
Maddie didn’t look convinced. “We’ll make sure you get a good night’s sleep tonight.” She patted his arm. “I’ll take care of you.”
“Oh, geez.” Nick rubbed his free hand across his forehead. “You’re going to be a pain all night. I can already tell. You’re definitely eating your weight in cake because sugar makes you happy.”
“I guess we’ll be a happy couple then, huh?”
Nick nodded without hesitation as they started walking. “Definitely.”
DWIGHT AND SAGE WERE already seated at a cozy table in the corner when Maddie and Nick arrived. Sage bounced to her feet and immediately threw her arms around Maddie’s neck, causing Maddie to have to plant her feet to stay upright.
“I’m so glad you’re finally here,” Sage enthused.
“Yes, I thought Sage was going to pass out from the anticipation,” Dwight said dryly.
Nick smiled at the girl when she turned her attention to him and offered her a mild hug as Sage grinned like a loon. “You look good, Sage. It’s really good to see you.”
“Of course I look good.” Sage smoothed the front of her peasant blouse as she stood back. “The last time you saw me I’d been held captive for days. Anyone would look rough after an ordeal like that.”
“Definitely,” Nick agreed, holding out Maddie’s chair so she could sit. “How are you doing otherwise?”
“Great.” Sage seemed obscenely happy. “School is going well and I’m caught up from the time I missed. I’m in a new dorm room and I like the girls on my floor a lot. Oh, and I’m dating someone.”
The last part caught Maddie off guard. “Really?” She grinned. “That sounds great. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”
“Yes, I love hearing talk about the boyfriend,” Dwight drawled, rolling his eyes as he sipped a beer. “I can’t tell you how excited I am that Sage has found a serious boyfriend. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest.”
Nick smirked. “That sounded very well-rehearsed.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Dwight waved off the comment. “Sage is happy so I’m happy.”
“Have you met the boyfriend yet?”
Dwight shook his head. “Apparently he’s afraid to meet me. Personally, I think that’s a point in his favor.”
Nick snorted out a laugh. “Ah, I can already tell this relationship is going to be fun.”
“You need to tell me about him,” Maddie prodded. “I want to know everything.”
Sage’s eyes sparkled. “Okay, but we should probably do it in the bathroom because Dad says he’s sick of hearing about him.”
“Oh, I’m sure he doesn’t mean that.”
“No, I mean it.” Dwight made small shooing motions to get Maddie and Sage to depart. “If you’re going to talk about Corey – that’s his name, by the way, although I’m not sure if that’s a man or woman’s name quite frankly – then you should do it elsewhere.”
Sage rolled her eyes. “We’ll do it in the bathroom. I don’t want to hear his comments a second time anyway. I have photos for you though, Maddie.”
“That sounds great.” Maddie cast Nick a quick look as she stood. “Can you order for me?”
Nick nodded. “Porterhouse?”
“And mashed potatoes and whatever else you think I might like. I really am starving.”
“That’s what happens when you skip lunch.” Nick watched her go, his lips curving when Sage leaned close to Maddie and whispered something that made both women giggle. When he turned back to Dwight, he found the detective watching him with a speculative look. “What?”
“How are you feeling?”
Nick groaned. “Oh, not you, too. I’m perfectly fine. It was barely a scratch. I wouldn’t have even gotten the stitches if Maddie wouldn’t have made such a fuss about it.”
“Not that.” Dwight rolled his neck. “I meant the other thing. It was very clear you were agitated in the hospital this afternoon, and I have a feeling I know why.”
Nick played with the condensation ring left behind by his water glass as he shifted in his chair. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re a terrible liar.” Dwight made a clucking sound with his tongue. “I saw the look on your face when you were watching Maddie. You were agitated by Dr. Bishop.”
Nick considered lying, but since Dwight was the only friend he had in the area he opted to go the other way. “Will you think less of me as a man if I admit that I don’t like the way that any of those doctors look at Maddie?”
“No.”
“Well, I hate it.” Nick felt like a pathetic jerk. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I mean … I’ve always known she was beautiful. When she left Blackstone Bay, I think part of me wanted to pretend she would turn ugly or something because I didn’t want to think about it. If I spent too much time pondering the truth, it would’ve driven me insane.”
“I think you and Maddie are unique in a lot of ways.” Dwight chose his words carefully. “You guys fell in love as children, but you separated at a time when you were both exploring and debating who you were going to become as adults. Honestly, I think that was the best time for you to separate. It allowed you to be fully formed individuals when you got your second chance.”
“I believe that wholeheartedly,” Nick said. “I’ve never really given what Maddie did down here too much thought because it bothered me to think about her being alone. Now, though, I’ve found that the idea of her not being alone – the mere notion of those jerks hitting on her – has twisted me up in a way I didn’t think was possible.”
“You’re jealous.”
“I don’t like that word.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s not the right word.” Dwight took another long swig of his beer before continuing. “I get it. Up until now it’s been pretty obvious that Maddie has only ever had eyes for you. Seeing the way the doctors in that hospital follow her around like trained puppy dogs has to be annoying.”
“It is annoying,” Nick agreed. “Worse, though, I’ve snapped at her three or four times this afternoon because I was annoyed with the doctors, not her. I never snap at her.”
“I know. You’re usually the puppy dog when it’s just you and Maddie.” Dwight grinned at Nick’s scowl. “I’m messing with you, man. As for the doctors, you should know that even when Maddie was down here before, she didn’t show them any interest. I didn’t know about you at the time, but I always thought she was searching for something. I didn’t know what that something was, but I was hopeful she would find it.
“Then, one day not long after she left, I got a call from you,” he continued. “You sounded so concerned, so worked up, that I realized she’d found what she was looking for. I also realized you two didn’t quite realize how important you would end up being to each other … at least not yet. Thankfully for all of us you put things together fairly quickly. By the time I visited you guys, it was obvious she was exactly where she was supposed to be.”
“I don’t know if you’re just saying that to make me feel better, but I’ll take it.” Nick sipped his water. “The thing is, I don’t like being jealous. I know those doctors didn’t mean anything to her, but I feel territorial whenever anyone looks at her the way I do.”
“Son, you’re the only one who can
look at her the way you do. Do you want to know why? Because she looks back. She’s never looked at anyone but you as far as I can tell.”
“I like to tell myself that, but she’s clearly been involved with other people over the years. She wasn’t a virgin our first time together.”
“Ugh.” Dwight slapped his hand to his forehead. “Did you have to tell me that?”
“I’m sorry.” Nick held up his hands in a placating manner. “I didn’t mean to gross you out. I’ve just been forced to face some deep thoughts that I would rather not have to be facing and apparently I’ve turned myself into a grouch.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” Dwight countered. “You had other things going on. You were almost shot – we’re still investigating that, by the way, and we don’t think it has anything to do with the bodies at this point – and Maddie is convinced you were actually shot. That’s been grating on you. She turned herself into Florence Nightingale to dote on you, which you should just let her do because she has a nurturing manner and she needs it.
“You saw two guys hitting on her, which irritates the crap right out of you,” he continued. “That’s on top of the fact that you keep thinking about what might have been, and I’m not talking about what might have been if you hadn’t moved fast enough to put her on the ground when you first heard those shots.
“Don’t get me wrong, you’ve been entertaining thoughts about that, too,” he said. “I think your biggest problem is that this trip has made you confront the idea that things might not have turned out so well for you if Maddie never came home. And, while it’s none of my business, I think the bigger part of you is mad at yourself because you didn’t come down here to collect her sooner.”
Nick touched the tip of his tongue to his top lip as he considered the statement. “How did you know I was thinking that?”
“Because it’s what I would be thinking in your shoes. I don’t know that I’ve ever believed in fate and destiny, but I know I definitely didn’t believe in those concepts before I saw you and Maddie together. If any two people ever belonged together, it’s you.”
“I have been whipping myself about that,” Nick admitted ruefully. “I hate knowing we missed time together. Some of that time was necessary. Not all of it was, though. I should’ve come for her years ago. Even when I was trying to delude myself that I hated her I knew that I still loved her.”
“And she knew it, too, which is why she came home,” Dwight said. “Her mother’s death might have been the catalyst, but you were the reward and she’s finally come to the realization that she deserves her reward.”
“That’s a very sweet thing to say,” Nick teased, hoping to lighten the moment. “I had no idea you felt that way about me.”
“Oh, I don’t.” Dwight was droll. “To me, you’re the same as that Corey who wants to romance my daughter. You’re both filthy animals.”
“Good to know.”
Dwight’s eyes twinkled. “The thing is, Nick, you’ve got to accept the fact that you’ve already won. Being jealous and trying to smother Maddie with affection – and even protection – while you’re down here isn’t going to help. It’s only going to hurt.
“She needs to feel the freedom she did when she lived down here to reinforce that she’s where she’s supposed to be,” he continued. “She’s a pragmatic soul and she’s good at what she does. She’ll never love anyone but you. So, my question is, what exactly are you worried about?”
Nick searched his mind for an answer and came up empty. “I want her safe,” he offered lamely.
“I know. You can’t watch her every moment of every day, though. Give her a little breathing room. You’ve been snapping at her all day and you don’t like it. Maybe that’s a hint that you need a little breathing room, too.”
Nick pursed his lips as he nodded. “I’ll give it some thought.”
“That’s all I ask.”
13
Thirteen
Nick and Maddie were back on track the next morning, or at least as close as they could get while living in a hotel room. The dinner lasted long into the evening, laughter and jokes flying fast and furious. When they returned to their room, Nick allowed Maddie to play nurse for him and the game turned romantic. When they both woke, they were entwined around one another and happy.
“I could eat an entire truckload of bacon,” Nick announced as they headed into one of the Renaissance Center’s diners. “I don’t understand why I’m so hungry after the pile of food I ate last night.”
Maddie cocked a flirty eyebrow. “Oh, that hurts my feelings. I thought you were going to blame me for your appetite.”
Nick grinned. “I’m always hungry for you.” He gave her a quick kiss before settling across the booth from her. “So, other than eating a big breakfast, what are your plans for the day?”
The way he phrased the question caught Maddie off guard. “I’m not sure. I haven’t given it a lot of thought yet. I was thinking I would stop by the hospital and check in with the girls.”
“Okay.” Nick’s answer was easy, too easy for Maddie to swallow.
“You’re not going to fight me on that?” she challenged.
“Should I fight you on that?”
“Well, no, but … you’ve been fighting me on a lot of stuff the last few days and I thought for sure you would give me grief about it.”
Nick thought back to his conversation with Dwight the night before. The man had been married for more than twenty years and he and his wife were still happy. That was the sort of relationship Nick wanted with Maddie so he gave serious consideration to Dwight’s words.
“I was a jerk yesterday.” Nick was matter-of-fact. “I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I don’t have much of a defense, but I promised to always be straight with you and, honestly, my nose was a little out of joint.”
“Why?”
“Because every doctor at that hospital was apparently in love with you and it bothered me to watch them follow you around, their tongues practically hanging out of their mouths. I don’t like admitting I was jealous, but I was.”
“You were jealous?” Maddie was flabbergasted. “Why? You’re the only person I’ve ever wanted.”
Nick smiled, warmth washing over him. “I know. I was being a weirdo. I can’t explain it. I’m truly sorry, though. It was me, not you. None of what happened is on you, and if I made you feel that, the fault is with me and you’ll never know how sorry I am.”
Maddie tapped her bottom lip as she regarded him. Her eyes were serious, but Nick sensed a hint of playfulness lurking beneath her stern exterior. “I’m sorry, too.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“For being so irresistible you couldn’t hold back your jealousy.”
Nick let loose with a hearty guffaw. “Ha, ha.” He gripped her fingers tightly on top of the table for a beat and then relaxed. “I think it’s probably a good idea for you to head to the hospital alone. I don’t do well with all your male fans, and I get the feeling you might enjoy having lunch with some of the other nurses so you can catch up on gossip.”
“I don’t gossip.”
“All women gossip. It’s fine. I’m pretty sure your friends are going to want to gossip about me – because I’m irresistible, too – and this will give you a chance to talk freely without worrying about entertaining me.”
Maddie welcomed the offer, but she remained conflicted. “Are you sure? What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go through some missing person files with Dwight,” Nick replied, not missing a beat. “He mentioned needing help yesterday and I volunteered. We’re trying to match faces with names. Once we have a smaller list, we’re hoping you can look through the files and tell us if any of the women were the ones you saw in your vision.”
“Oh.” Maddie was mollified. “That sounds like a good idea.”
“It does,” Nick agreed. “Just promise me to text when you’re leaving the hospital so I know to look for you.”
“The hospital is only two blocks from the police station,” Maddie reminded him. “I made that walk at least a hundred times when I lived here and nothing ever happened.”
“Yes, well, I’m hopelessly devoted to my irresistible girl and I want to know.” Nick kept his tone playful but didn’t back down. “That will be our compromise for the day.”
“I think it’s a good compromise.”
“I wholeheartedly agree. Now, let’s eat. I’m going to need a full stomach if I hope to make it through the morning without worrying.”
MADDIE WAS IN A GOOD mood when she hit the hospital. Nick seemed more like his usual self and she couldn’t help being giddy knowing that she was returning to the facility under her own free will rather than being forced to walk through the front doors, which was exactly how she felt the last few years of her tenure. It was a slog each and every day she returned, but now it felt voluntary and she appreciated that.
She was almost to the front steps when a familiar figure stepped out from under the eave and cut off her avenue of approach.
“I’m so glad you’re alone,” Sage said, causing Maddie to rear back and gasp. “Dad said Nick was going to be helping him and you were going to be doing something else for a few hours and I took a chance that you were coming here.”
“You scared the crap out of me, Sage,” Maddie complained, slapping at the girl’s hand. “What are you doing here?”
“I was going to call you and ask you to come to me, but I didn’t want to take a chance.”
“The chance to what?”
“I might know something about Dad’s case,” Sage hedged, averting her gaze.
Maddie’s heart tripped at the admission. “I’m sorry but … what? You know something about a serial killer and you haven’t told your father about it. What are you thinking?”
“I don’t know anything about a serial killer,” Sage clarified. “At least … I’m not sure if I do. I happen to know some people laying low, though, and I’ve been helping them a little bit by dropping off food while I’m home.”
Maddie was utterly confused. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Sage. What exactly do you know?”
Grave Danger (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 12) Page 12
