Nick gestured to the adjacent conference room, exchanging a dubious look with Kreskin before following her inside. He closed the door to offer them a modicum of privacy, and then crossed his arms over his chest and waited. It didn’t take long.
“I think you need to have a talk with your little girlfriend,” Cassidy seethed. “You need to lay down the law and explain to her that I’m not going to go through this again. If you can’t control her … .”
“What are you even talking about?” Nick asked, confused.
“I just caught your girlfriend flirting with my boyfriend.”
“No, you didn’t,” Nick said, unruffled.
“I know what I saw,” Cassidy snapped. “I was going to stop by and visit him, and when I got there I saw them talking by his truck. Whatever was going on, they didn’t look happy. Personally, I think Maddie asked David out and he turned her down.”
Nick tugged on his limited patience. “I’m a hundred percent sure that’s not what was going on, but for the sake of argument, why would Maddie ask David out?”
“Because she’s trying to ruin my life.”
“Why?”
“Because … she’s jealous of me,” Cassidy sputtered. “She keeps taking what’s mine. How can you not see that?”
“See, I think this is really about me and you’re making it about David,” Nick said.
“Get over yourself.”
“Cassidy, there is no way Maddie was hitting on David,” Nick argued. “We live together. We’re in love. Maddie doesn’t care about David.”
“Have you considered that Maddie only went after you because I was dating you?” Cassidy refused to give up on her theory.
“No.”
“Think about it, Nick,” Cassidy pressed. “Maddie came back to town and immediately went after my boyfriend. I just saw her talking to my new boyfriend. Can you explain that?”
“I can, but first I’d like to point out that Maddie and I have been best friends since we were five,” Nick said. “I’ve loved her my entire life. I’ve been in love with her since I was seventeen. Perhaps she came back to town because she loved me, too. Have you ever considered that?”
“Then explain why she was talking to David,” Cassidy hissed. “You can’t. There’s not one viable reason for her to be talking to David if she’s so in love with you.”
“I can think of several reasons for her to be talking to David,” Nick countered. “First off, he witnessed us in the lake last night. Maddie embarrasses easily. I can see her asking him not to tell anyone what he saw because she would be mortified if people found out she was … .”
“A slut?” Cassidy challenged.
“Don’t ever call her that,” Nick warned, extending a finger. “I’m not joking. Just … don’t.”
Cassidy took an inadvertent step backward. “She’s got you so snowed.”
“Maddie might have been talking to David about last night,” Nick gritted out. “She might have been talking to him about the ongoing construction in the master bedroom at her house … the bedroom we’re going to share for the rest of our lives, mind you.
“She might have been talking to him about the library restoration,” he continued. “Of course, there is one other option you haven’t considered, too.”
“And what option is that?”
“She might have been talking to him about the dead woman found in the lighthouse,” Nick replied, not missing a beat. “The woman he was dating at the time she disappeared, in case you’ve forgotten. Now, I’m not happy about that. David Bennet could be a murderer, and I don’t want my Maddie near him. Out of all the scenarios floated here this afternoon, though, I can promise you the only one that can be ruled out is your theory that Maddie is after David.”
“David is the kindest man I know,” Cassidy shot back. “He’s sweet … and attentive … and not the type of man who would lead a woman on and dump her in the dirt. He’s the exact opposite of you.
“I don’t care what you think,” she raved. “I know Maddie is out to ruin my life. I’m not going to sit by and let her steal another boyfriend from me. If you think I am, you’re crazier than her nutty grandmother who believes she could win a beauty pageant.”
“First off, don’t ever disparage Maude,” Nick ordered. “You don’t know her and you have no right to say anything about her. Second off, don’t threaten Maddie. I won’t stand for it. She’s not after your stupid boyfriend. Get over it.”
“Well, I can see you’re going to sit back and let Maddie Graves make a fool of you a second time,” Cassidy said. “I don’t even know why I came here.”
“That makes two of us,” Nick said, rolling his eyes as Cassidy threw open the conference room door and dramatically stormed out. She shot Kreskin a withering look as she passed, the front door of the office opening to allow Maddie entry and causing Nick’s heart to sink.
Maddie’s eyes widened and she quickly sidestepped Cassidy before the angry woman could barrel over her.
“I told Nick you’re going after my man,” Cassidy said. “You’d better stay away from David if you know what’s good for you.”
Cassidy slammed out of the office, leaving three conflicted faces in her wake.
“That looks like it went well,” Kreskin deadpanned.
“Nicky … .” Maddie didn’t get a chance to answer because Nick gestured toward the conference room, cutting her off with a dark look.
“Come into my parlor, Ms. Graves.”
Maddie did as instructed, scampering inside and not exhaling until Nick closed the door behind them.
“Do you want to tell me what happened this afternoon?” Nick asked, tamping down his temper so he wouldn’t explode all over her before she had a chance to explain.
“Well, it’s a long story.”
“Mad, you’d better make it a short one,” Nick said. “I am really close to losing it.”
“Chelsea Johnson stopped by the store today,” Maddie said, launching into her tale. “She heard I could talk to ghosts and wanted me to talk to her mother. I went up to the lighthouse, where I ran into my mother, and we found Andrea Johnson. She seemed really confused and didn’t believe she was dead. Then she disappeared.
“My mother noticed a ‘for sale’ sign up there that wasn’t present the other day,” she continued, breathless. “There was one of those little ‘sold’ stickers on it. I went to the salon and Christy called Victoria Jackson. Victoria looked up the property and found out David Bennet bought it.
“I went to talk to David to ask why he bought the lighthouse,” Maddie said. “I told him I thought it was ghoulish. He claims he wants to live there. I think he’s acting strange. I ran into Cassidy when I was leaving and she melted down like you wouldn’t believe. Then I came here … but I guess she beat me to you.”
Maddie sucked in a steadying breath as Nick placed his tongue in his cheek.
“Wow, love,” Nick said finally, shaking his head. “That was a mouthful.”
“I’m sorry,” Maddie said. “I got here as quickly as I could. She had rage on her side, though. You know I would never cheat on you, right?”
“I do know that, Mad,” Nick said, his expression somber. “I am, however, extremely upset that you went out to the lighthouse alone. I’m furious that you talked to David Bennet alone. What is wrong with you?”
“I … .” Maddie broke off and helplessly shrugged. “I had to know why he bought the property. I couldn’t come up with one feasible excuse that explained it. We were out in the open, Nicky. He wouldn’t have dared touch me out there with so many potential witnesses around.”
“Well, Mad, you know how you wanted to have a fight so we could get it out of the way and make up?”
Maddie nodded, miserable.
“Here it comes.”
13
Thirteen
Nick let himself into the house shortly before eight, his back aching from hours of computer work, and listened to the quiet house. His fight with Maddie ha
d been brief, mostly because she refused to yell and scream back at him, and he couldn’t continue harping on her when he knew she was upset.
He sent her home after, told her not to plan on him showing up for dinner, and then proceeded to pout his way through hours of work. David Bennet’s purchase of the lighthouse sent so many red flags shooting through Nick’s head that he couldn’t focus on one at a time, so he sent out queries in eight different directions and called it a night.
He was exhausted.
Nick locked the front door and pulled the security chain in place before heading for the stairs. Despite his worry over Maddie’s safety earlier in the day, he was ready to make up. He didn’t like fighting with her.
He reached for the light switch to turn off the main floor overhead fixture, but stilled when he saw Maddie’s curled up form in the window seat. Olivia built the window seat for them when they were kids so they would have a place to hang out and read while she was working in the shop. It was one of his favorite places in the world. Since moving in, though, they hadn’t spent much time in it because they had an actual bed to stretch out in on the second floor.
Nick moved closer to Maddie, intent on lifting her slim body without waking her and carrying her up to bed. She stirred when she felt him, her eyes snapping open as she gasped.
“I’m sorry I startled you, Mad,” Nick said, his voice low. “I was hoping to take you upstairs without waking you up.”
Maddie struggled to a sitting position, her hair tangled and eyes swollen. Nick realized she’d been crying and his heart twisted.
“I … you came home.” Maddie sounded surprised.
Nick frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t sure if … .” Maddie broke off and rubbed her cheek.
Realization washed over Nick, guilt flooding him as he understood what she wasn’t saying. “You thought I wasn’t going to come home, didn’t you?”
“I wasn’t sure,” Maddie admitted, lowering her eyes. “I was worried.”
“Mad, we had a fight,” Nick said. “That doesn’t mean I’m not coming home to you. I’ll always come home to you.”
“I’m sorry,” Maddie said, her voice cracking.
“Oh, Mad.” Nick slipped his arms around Maddie’s waist and drew her to him as he rolled into the window seat with her. He cuddled her close from behind, kissing her neck as he smoothed her hair. “Have you been upset since you left the police station?”
“I’m fine.”
Nick didn’t believe her. “Maddie, I love you,” he said. “You need to understand that people fight. Just because I was angry with you earlier, that doesn’t mean I somehow stopped loving you. You’re my life, Mad. I’ll always come home to you.”
“But you told me to go home and not expect you for dinner,” Maddie argued. “You acted like I wouldn’t see you again tonight. I thought you were going to go back to your old house or something.”
“This is where I live now,” Nick countered. “Wherever you sleep, that’s where I’m going to sleep. I’m sorry if you misunderstood what I was saying. Just for the record, though, I’m always going to come home to you. Never think otherwise.”
Maddie bit her lip and mutely nodded, forcing Nick to shift her so she was facing him and he could press her face into his chest and wrap her up in his warmth. It was a muggy mess outside, and yet she was shaking.
“We can’t fight again, Mad,” Nick said, kissing her cheek. “I was upset after you left, too. I don’t like arguing. I don’t want you crying because you think I’m not coming home, because that’s just ridiculous.”
“I don’t want to fight again either,” Maddie said, burrowing as close to Nick as possible and squeezing him as tightly as she could manage. “I’m sorry I upset you.”
“Mad, I wasn’t upset because I thought you were hitting on David,” Nick explained. “When Cassidy accused you of that I immediately shot her down. Believe it or not, I’m fairly certain you love me. I hope I’m not mistaken on that because that would mean I was the worst police officer ever for reading all those clues you’ve been dropping incorrectly.”
Maddie giggled, warming his heart.
“I was upset because David Bennet might be a murderer,” Nick said. “I can’t lose you, Maddie. I don’t want you in danger.”
“I had to know.”
“I know you did,” Nick said, rubbing her back. “Next time … and yes, I know there will be a next time because you’re too curious for your own good … you need to come and get me before you do something like this. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you, love.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying that,” Nick instructed. “I know you’re sorry. It’s over. You’re here, and I officially declare this fight over.” He rolled to his back, pulling Maddie on top of him so he could use both hands to rub soothing circles across her soft skin. “Don’t ever think I’m not coming home again. I mean it.”
“I love you, Nicky.”
“Maddie, you have no idea how much I love you,” Nick whispered. “You’re my home. You always have been. No more fighting, though. If we do, we’re making up before we separate. I don’t think either of us can go through this again.”
“That sounds a little co-dependent.”
“Everyone has struggles, Mad,” Nick said. “If being co-dependent means we’re happy, then I can live with it.”
“Me, too.”
“Then stop crying, love,” Nick ordered. “Now that we’ve had our first fight, we officially get to make up. Isn’t that what you’ve been looking forward to?”
Maddie lifted her chin and locked gazes with Nick. “Finally. Something I actually want to do.”
“WHAT is that?” Maddie murmured, shifting her head from Nick’s chest as he swore under his breath and collected his cell phone from the bedroom floor. They’d undressed quickly once hitting their bedroom, and he’d forgotten to plug his phone in stow it on the nightstand like he usually did.
“Winters,” Nick answered, rubbing Maddie’s neck in the darkness.
Maddie knew nothing good happened in the middle of the night. Sure, they’d fallen into bed early, but the clock told her it was after midnight.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Nick muttered. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” He disconnected and pressed a kiss to Maddie’s forehead. “We’ve got trouble.”
“We?”
“Someone took a few shots at David and Cassidy outside his house about an hour ago,” Nick explained, switching the lamp beside the bed on. “He and Cassidy are fine, but they’ve got the shooter in custody.”
“Who is it?”
“Chelsea Johnson.”
Maddie’s stomach twisted. “I have to go with you.”
“I know,” Nick said. “Get dressed quickly.”
“You’re not going to fight me on this?”
“Maddie, I’m not trying to cut you out of things,” Nick said. “I’m trying to get you to involve me when you decide to investigate stuff. There’s a difference. Hurry up and get ready. We have to get over there.”
Maddie did as instructed, slipping into yoga pants, a sports bra, and a tank top before yanking on a pair of tennis shoes. She ran a brush through her hair and tied it into a simple ponytail and hopped to Nick’s side. The whole process took less than three minutes.
Nick holstered his gun and glanced at her, marveling at her efficiency. “That was pretty impressive, love,” he said, placing his hand at the small of her back and ushering her toward the door. “I love how you don’t insist on wearing makeup.”
“Do I need it?”
“You never need it, Mad,” Nick said, chuckling as he switched off the light and followed her downstairs. “Do you want to know my favorite part about what you just did?”
“What?”
“You’re not wearing any panties,” Nick replied, his smile devilish. “I see you took my suggestion about going without panties one day a week to heart.”
“You’re a sick man sometimes.”
“Only when it comes to you.”
BY THE time Nick and Maddie arrived at David Bennet’s house it looked like half of Blackstone Bay was awake and ready for the show. Neighbors spilled out of their houses, loitering on their front lawns with interested looks and lowered whispers. This was the most exciting thing to happen since Maude and Harriet announced they were competing for the town trout festival crown.
“This is not good,” Maddie muttered, taking Nick’s outstretched hand and letting him lead her up the driveway.
“I want her arrested,” Cassidy shrieked, her hair flying as she took on Dale Kreskin. “She tried to kill us.”
Maddie shifted her eyes to the back of Kreskin’s cruiser and found Chelsea sitting in the back seat, her face blank as she watched Cassidy call her every name in the book.
“That little monster needs to have some repercussions,” Cassidy said.
“What’s going on?” Nick asked, moving to his partner’s side and exchanging brief looks with Cassidy and David. “Was anyone hurt?”
“We’re fine,” David replied. “I don’t want to press charges.”
“Are you kidding?” Cassidy was incensed. “She could’ve killed us!”
“She didn’t, though,” David said. “I don’t want to make a big thing about this.”
“I don’t understand why Chelsea would do this,” Maddie interjected. “I saw her this afternoon … er, yesterday afternoon … and she seemed upset, but not murderous or crazy.”
“You probably sent her over here to take me out so you wouldn’t have any competition,” Cassidy muttered, earning an odd look from David.
“Why were you talking to her?” Kreskin asked.
“She came to the store and wanted to know if … .” Maddie broke off, unsure.
“She wanted magic help to talk to her mother’s ghost,” Nick supplied. “She’s a teenager and assumed she could find that in a magic shop. She was looking for something to focus on.”
“Okay,” Kreskin said. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her I would go up to the lighthouse and see if I could find a ghost,” Maddie admitted.
“And that’s when you found out the lighthouse had been sold to David and you took a detour,” Kreskin finished.
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