Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3)

by Hart, Lily Harper

  “I don’t want to yell at you, Nicky,” Maddie said, leaning forward on the lawn chair so he could situate himself behind her. “I just want to know what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m thinking I don’t want to be away from you,” Nick said. “I’m thinking I want us to share our lives.”

  “I thought that’s what we were doing.”

  “We are,” Nick said. “I still want to climb into bed next to you every night.”

  “We’ve been doing that.”

  “When I say ‘I’m going home,’ I want that to be a place you and I share.”

  Maddie sighed. “You could have just told me that. You didn’t need to hide it.”

  “I was afraid I was moving too fast.”

  “We’ve only been together two weeks,” Maddie said. “In our hearts, though, we’ve been together forever. It doesn’t feel too fast.”

  “So, what’s the problem?”

  “There is no problem,” Maddie said. “I’ve already talked to Bill Schroeder about sprucing up Mom’s room when he’s done with Granny’s apartment. He’s going to paint the walls and upgrade the shower in the bathroom. He’s also going to refinish the wood floors throughout the entire house.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I was going to surprise you with a grand gesture,” Maddie said.

  Nick’s heart rolled. “Oh. I’m guessing I ruined that for you.”

  “You could never ruin anything for me,” Maddie said. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted. The truth is, I was worried about approaching you because I wasn’t sure you’d want to give up this place. I know you love it here. It’s just … .”

  “You love your house,” Nick finished. “I know that. Olivia is there. Maude still has a few good years ahead of her. Who knows? She may never die. Your store is in that house. I picture our future in that house, Mad. Don’t worry about that.”

  “But what about this place? You love it.”

  “I love you, Maddie,” Nick said, kissing her neck. “You’re my home. I’m not going to lie about missing this place, but that’s why I’m selling it to my brother. It’s going to stay in the family and I’m going to be able to come out here and fish whenever I want. This place isn’t my home, though. I can’t have a home that doesn’t include you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life,” Nick said. “Besides, love, this house has two bedrooms. It’s not big enough for when we decide to start a family.”

  Maddie balked. “You think about things like that?”

  “I constantly think about our life,” Nick said. “I think about it all.”

  “You don’t want to have kids right away, do you? I was kind of hoping we’d have some time for just the two of us before we even consider that.”

  “We’ve got a lot of time,” Nick said. “I don’t want anything but you right now. I’d like a few years where we can be together without having any obligations. We could travel. We can go camping. We can take off in the middle of the night and go skinny-dipping.” He poked her in the ribs, causing her to giggle. “I want kids with you some day. That day isn’t right now, though.”

  “I love you, Nicky. I can’t wait to move in with you.”

  “Me either,” Nick said, kissing her softly. “Just because we don’t want kids right away, though, that doesn’t mean we can’t practice.”

  “I’m glad you brought that up,” Maddie said, beaming. “I have plans for you tonight.”

  “You mentioned that.”

  Maddie grabbed the sides of his face and held him steady. “Let’s start now.”

  The kiss was deep and heartfelt, and unlike the night before, there were no nerves holding them back. Love is a funny thing, Nick mused. Just when you think you’ve felt all you can, someone comes along and makes you feel even more. Both Maddie and Nick were quickly realizing that there would never be a limit to their love, and they couldn’t wait to see how far they could push the boundaries on their ongoing adventure. Tonight was just another step – and it was going to be a fun one.

  Fourteen

  “You didn’t have to come with me,” Maddie said, inserting her key into the lock and pushing the door of Magicks open. “I know you have work to do.”

  Nick nuzzled the side of her face as he moved up behind her, hormones from last night still raging. “I didn’t want to be away from you yet.”

  “Nicky, you’re acting like an addict,” Maddie chided, although she was basking in the attention.

  “I’ve been addicted to you my whole life,” Nick said. “I just didn’t realize how bad it was going to get when we started doing … that.”

  “If you can’t say the word out loud then you probably shouldn’t be doing it,” Maude said, breezing past the open door frame that led to the bowels of the house.

  Nick grinned. “It looks like she’s still alive. You were worrying for nothing.”

  “Just wait,” Maddie said.

  When they got to the kitchen they found … chaos. Maude had set up four different dry erase boards on easels, and there were so many charts, graphs, and maps drawn on them Maddie was having trouble absorbing what she was seeing. “I … what is this?”

  “It’s my plan for world domination,” Maude said, shoving two mugs of coffee across the kitchen counter. “I’m glad you two finally surfaced. I need to talk to you.”

  “Is something wrong?” Maddie asked, worried. “Is it your hip? Did you fall? Is something wrong with the construction project?”

  “Chill out, Nervous Nellie,” Maude said, rolling her eyes. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m running for president of the Pink Ladies.”

  Nick pursed his lips to keep from laughing while Maddie tamped down her irritation. “Don’t scare me like that again,” Maddie instructed. “While I’m happy you’re … broadening your horizons … that is not an emergency.”

  “When you’re my age everything is an emergency,” Maude said. “Grow up.”

  Nick snickered. “I see you’re in good hands here, love.” He kissed the back of her neck. “I need to find John and get moving.”

  “Where are you going to be today?”

  “We’re going up to the high school. They have a summer drama program, and we’re hoping some of the kids will know about Hayley. It will be easier than tracking them all down separately. That’s the one thing that blows about summer.”

  “Okay,” Maddie said, kissing him lightly. “Call me if you come up with something.”

  “Where are you going to be?”

  “Probably here,” Maddie said.

  “I thought you said you were going to go back down to the beach looking for Hayley’s ghost?”

  “I changed my mind, at least for now,” Maddie said. “Until we know where Hayley died, looking for her ghost is going to be … difficult. We don’t even know if her ghost is still hanging around. I don’t want to waste time there when I have stuff to do here.”

  “What stuff?”

  “You’re awfully suspicious this morning.”

  “I love you,” Nick said. “What stuff?”

  “You’re very bossy,” Maude said.

  “I love you, too,” Nick said. “Go back to your world domination plans.”

  “I’m going to open the store,” Maddie said. “I didn’t open yesterday because … well … you know.”

  “Everyone in town knows,” Maude said. “They’re accusing me of having inside information because I won the pool.”

  “A month ago that would’ve bugged me,” Maddie said. “It doesn’t bother me now. We’re happy. Live with it.”

  Nick arched an eyebrow. “A month ago?”

  “Fine. Two days ago. I’m trying to grow. Do you have to give me a hard time?”

  Nick grinned. “I really do love you.” He snagged a belt loop on her jeans and pulled her closer. “I’ll call you later.”

  “I was hoping we could spend the nig
ht here tonight,” Maddie said. “I … um … kind of want to show you the plans for Mom’s bedroom. I thought we could pick colors out together.”

  Nick’s heart jumped. “That sounds like a perfect evening. When I have more of a timetable I’ll call you. I can bring dinner for all of us.”

  “Don’t plan on feeding me,” Maude said. “I have a strategy meeting with the women on my election team.”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask,” Nick said. “What are you guys going to be doing?”

  “Mostly drinking,” Maude admitted. “Don’t worry. I won’t drive drunk. I’ll spend the night over at Bernadette’s house.”

  “Bernadette Dawkins?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay,” Nick said. “Be good. Try not to get arrested.”

  “I’m always good,” Maude said.

  “Be better than that,” Nick said. He gave Maddie one more kiss. “You be good, too.”

  “I’m always good,” Maddie said.

  “You’re my angel,” Nick agreed. “Maude, you should take some lessons from your granddaughter.”

  “You two are so sickly in love it makes me want to puke,” Maude said.

  “You’ll live,” Nick said. “You’re going to have to. I’m moving in here once your apartment is done.”

  “I already knew that,” Maude replied, nonplussed. “I knew that before you and Maddie did.”

  “You’re very wise.”

  “I am,” Maude agreed. “Don’t worry. I’m fine with it. I like the idea of love filling this house again. It’s felt lonely for far too long.”

  Nick’s face softened. “There will be plenty of love here. You still have to behave yourself, though.”

  “You’re such a killjoy.”

  “HOW well do you know these kids?” John asked, parking in front of the high school and studying the teenagers milling on the lawn. “What do you think they’re doing?”

  “I know some of them,” Nick said, studying the faces. “These are mostly the good kids. Trust me. The kids who are volunteering for a summer drama class – and it looks like they’re painting sets over there – are not the kids getting drunk and rowdy up at Kissing Point.”

  John snickered. “I loved Kissing Point. I ruled there my senior year. You’re probably jealous of that, aren’t you?”

  “Why would I be jealous of that?”

  “Because you were sitting in fields staring at the sky and making wishes on stars with Maddie without the promise of any tongue action,” John replied.

  “How do you know that?”

  “I told you already. I used to spy on you.”

  “Speaking of tongue action, what happened with you and Christy last night?”

  John shifted in his seat. “Are you asking if I got lucky?”

  “You better not have gotten lucky,” Nick said. “Christy is a good woman. She doesn’t deserve a broken heart.”

  “What makes you think I would break her heart?”

  “Listen, I like Christy,” Nick said. “I also think, one day, you’re going to make someone a great husband. I don’t think you’re ready to settle down, though, and I do think Christy is looking for someone to share her life with.”

  “I could be ready to settle down,” John argued.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I see you with Maddie,” John said. “The way you look at her is right out of a book. Right now I think it’s out of one of those bodice rippers you see in the checkout line at the grocery store, but I also think it’s right out of one of those big, sweeping romance stories. It makes me want what you have.”

  The admission warmed Nick. “You just can’t decide to get that,” he said. “It’s something that happens. It’s not something you can make happen.”

  “I know,” John said. “I just … I like Christy.”

  “Do you want to hurt her?”

  “No.”

  “Then think really hard about this before you do anything,” Nick said. “That’s all I ask. Technically, you don’t even live in this town yet and you’re not going to for … what … two months? Can’t you just wait until you’re living here full time and you can really get to know Christy?”

  “That’s probably a good idea,” John conceded.

  “I only have good ideas.” Nick pushed open his door and hopped out. “Now, come on. Let’s see if we can solve a murder.”

  “One thing,” John said, causing Nick to lean in and stare at his brother. “Did you and Maddie talk about everything last night?”

  “We’re picking colors for our new bedroom tonight,” Nick said. “We’re … perfect.”

  “And you’re back to being sloppy in love,” John said. “I’m glad you’re so predictable these days.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I’m also glad you’re happy.”

  “Me, too.”

  THE students were leery to be approached by two police officers. Nick couldn’t blame them. These were the types of kids unfamiliar with police questioning. That’s why he liked them.

  “We’re not here accusing anyone of anything,” Nick said. “I want to make that clear. We just need some help, and we knew you guys were up here today.”

  “What do you want to know?” Lexie Baker asked. “Are you here asking questions about Hayley Walker?”

  “What do you know about that?” John asked.

  “Just what everyone is saying,” Lexie said. “They said she was found dead on the beach.”

  Justin Torkelson peered around Lexie’s shoulder, his glasses slipping low on his nose. “They say she was naked and stabbed to death. Is that true?”

  “No,” Nick said. “She was fully clothed, and we’re not saying how she died. I can say she wasn’t stabbed, though. The coroner couldn’t ascertain if she was raped or not.”

  “That means the rumors were true,” Lexie mused.

  “What do you mean?”

  “If the coroner doesn’t know if she was sexually assaulted that means she wasn’t a virgin,” Lexie said. “If she was still a virgin, you would’ve ruled sexual assault out.”

  Nick’s mouth dropped open. “I … .”

  “Oh, don’t be so surprised,” Lexie said. “I’m going to school to be a medical examiner when I get out of this place. I watch a lot of television. I know things.”

  “Obviously,” John said, shooting her a charming grin. “You’re very smart.”

  “I’m also a lesbian,” Lexie said. “That smile doesn’t work on me. I don’t like it.”

  “I like it,” Justin said.

  John shifted uncomfortably. “I … .”

  “You’re not so smooth now, are you?” Nick asked.

  “Shut up.”

  “Tell me about Hayley,” Nick said. “Who were her friends?”

  “She didn’t have a lot of female friends,” Lexie said. “She didn’t get along with other girls.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she was so slutty,” Justin said.

  Nick and John exchanged a look.

  “Okay, here’s how it works,” Justin said. “Girls like each other in high school as long as everyone is exactly the same. When things start changing, that’s when problems arise. Some girls become popular because they sleep around. When that happens, the other girls turn on them. To get popular, though, you have to sleep around. It’s a vicious circle.”

  “It sounds like it,” Nick said.

  “Things were the same when we were in high school,” John said. “You probably don’t know that because you were wishing on stars with Maddie instead of doing the things you were supposed to be doing.”

  “I thought Maude won the pool,” Justin said. “Is that not true?”

  Nick shot him a look. “You know about the pool?”

  Justin rolled his eyes. “If you’d moved a week faster I would’ve won. I’m still upset.”

  “Great,” Nick said. “Tell me about Hayley’s … boyfriends.”

  “I don’t know if I would call
them boyfriends,” Lexie said. “She spent a lot of time with Michael Jarvis, but he’s … .”

  “Dating in a different pool,” Justin supplied.

  “I know,” John said. “I talked to him last night. He seemed upset, but he didn’t have any information for me.”

  “He probably just didn’t want to talk badly about Hayley because he feels guilty,” Lexie said.

  “Why would he feel guilty?”

  “He was trying to talk her out of dating Trevor Gardner. Hayley really liked him, though, and I think Michael and Hayley were fighting about it.”

  Nick racked his brain. “Trevor Gardner? Isn’t he the big basketball star?”

  “Yes,” Lexie said. “He’s very popular, and a lot of the girls want him. To get him, though, you had to be … .”

  “Adventurous,” Nick said. “I get it.”

  “I was going to say slutty.”

  “Don’t,” Nick said. “That’s not nice to say about someone.”

  “Don’t worry, no one thinks your girlfriend is slutty,” Lexie said. “Well, Marla Proctor does. Since Marla is slutty, her word doesn’t hold much weight, though.”

  “This is the problem with living in a small town,” Nick grumbled.

  “Were Trevor and Hayley together at the time of her death?” John asked.

  Lexie shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him. Keeping up with Trevor’s dating habits isn’t part of my summer curriculum. Speaking of which, we need to get back to work.”

  Once it was just the two of them, Nick and John bent their heads together.

  “What do you think?” John asked.

  “I think we need to find Trevor Gardner. The prime suspect is always the boyfriend.”

  Fifteen

  “Did you get any customers today?” Maude poked her head into Magicks and found Maddie sitting on the window seat.

  “Yeah, I did pretty well,” Maddie said. “I sold quite a few candles and gave two readings. It was good. I’m thinking that it might make sense to only be open a couple of days a week. People still come, and then it opens up my time.”

  “For Nick?” Maude teased, shuffling into the room.

  “What would you think if I told you I was considering offering my help on some of Nick’s cases?”