Now, a full twenty-four hours after that, Nick was taking Maddie out for a real boat ride – complete with a picnic. All he cared about was the sun … and her smile.
“I can’t believe you surprised me with this,” Maddie said, grinning as she climbed onto the boat. “Are we really getting a whole afternoon alone? That sounds … amazing.”
“We spent all day yesterday together, too,” Nick pointed out. “Maude checked in on us a few times, but other than that it was just you and me. Doesn’t that count?”
“It does,” Maddie said, her eyes sparkling. “It was wonderful. This is better, though.”
“It definitely is,” Nick said. “I figure we’ll go for a ride. Then we can find a place to fish – someplace isolated from everyone else – and maybe do a little … kissing.”
Maddie arched a challenging eyebrow. “Kissing?”
“For starters,” Nick said, smirking. “Put the picnic basket below deck, will you? It will spoil if it’s not out of the sun.”
“Are you going to be bossy today?”
“I’m the captain,” Nick said. “You’re the first mate.”
“Are you going to call me Little Buddy?”
“I’m going to call you the love of my life and leave it at that,” Nick said, kissing her lightly. “Hurry up. I have one thing I want to show you before we go off on our own. It won’t take long.”
Maddie was intrigued, and after stowing their afternoon picnic, she joined Nick on the deck. He maneuvered the boat away from the dock, and before engaging the engine at a higher rate of speed, he tapped the captain’s chair he was sitting on. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll let you steer with me.”
Maddie rolled her eyes but joined him, pressing her body against his. She was having just as much fun as he was.
Nick took a leisurely pace on the lake, the boat slowly skimming the water in a “no wake” zone as he kept close to the beach.
“I thought you wanted to take me someplace isolated?” Maddie teased. “I’m not skinny dipping with you when there are so many people around.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Nick said. “I know exactly where we’re going … and you’re definitely skinny dipping with me. I see an all-body tan in your future.”
“We’ll see,” Maddie said. She was feeling more adventurous these days, but even she wasn’t sure if she was ready to risk someone besides Nick seeing … everything she had to offer.
“Don’t worry, Mad,” Nick said, licking the ridge of her ear. “No one will be able to see you. I promise. I don’t want to share you with anyone. Trust me. I just want to show you one thing before we head out to my special spot.”
“I thought your special spot was at my lake?”
“You’re my special spot,” Nick said, kissing her jaw as he snuggled closer to her. “It’s special whenever I have you in my arms.”
“You’re being awfully sweet today.”
“Today?”
“You’re always sweet,” Maddie conceded. “I just … why are we by the pier?”
Nick grinned and killed the engine, letting the boat float as the busy pier denizens swam into view. Nick flipped up his sunglasses and studied the pier for a moment. When he saw who he was looking for he extended his arm and pointed. “I wanted you to see that.”
Maddie turned her head, curious, and when she saw what Nick was pointing at she almost wept with joy.
There he was, the curmudgeonly David Crowder in all of his glory. He was on the end of the pier, and he wasn’t alone. He had two teenage boys with him – boys who were just as tentative around each other as David was around them.
“It’s Trevor and Michael,” Maddie said.
“It is,” Nick said. “I ran into David when I was picking up sandwiches for our picnic. He told me he was giving fishing lessons to them this afternoon.”
“But … why?”
“He said a certain blonde convinced him that he might be too old to adopt, but he wasn’t too old to help kids who were struggling,” Nick said, flattening his hands against Maddie’s midriff as he leaned forward. “They’re trying to become friends and David is trying to help them.”
“I don’t understand,” Maddie said. “I … I thought they didn’t like each other.”
“They might not,” Nick said. “They both loved the same girl, though. Love can do funny things to people. It can bridge a lot of gaps.”
“Do you think … ?”
“I don’t know, Mad,” Nick said, sucking in a breath. “It’s just a step. I know you’re worried about Michael losing his best friend. I just wanted you to see that he’s not alone.”
Maddie bit her lower lip, considering. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You can ask me anything.”
“If it had been us, if I had died when we were in high school, do you think you would have gotten over it?”
“No.” Nick answered immediately, no hesitation stilling him.
Maddie turned to him, her eyes shiny. “Are you sure? I want to think Michael is going to be okay.”
“Maddie, you moved away and it almost killed me,” Nick said. “The only thing that kept me going was that I knew … deep down … that you were going to find a way to come back to me. I believed that we would get to … this.”
“How did you know that?”
“I had faith,” Nick said. “If you’d died on me … and just for reference, don’t you dare ever die on me … I wouldn’t have ever recovered. That doesn’t mean Michael won’t have a happy life. No matter how much you identified with Hayley and Michael, they’re not you and me.”
“I know,” Maddie said, turning her attention back to the laughing faces on the pier. “I just think Hayley would have loved this.”
“I think, wherever she is, she knows and … she’s okay. The question is: Are you okay?”
“I’ve never been better,” Maddie said, pressing her lips to his softly. “I really haven’t.”
Nick deepened the kiss, holding her close for a few moments before firing up the boat again. “Good. Now … how fast can you get naked? I have plans for you once we’re away from prying eyes … and I’m definitely the boss today.”
Maddie saluted. “I put myself in your capable hands.” Internally, she knew she always would. The sun was the one smiling down on them this day, but Maddie had a feeling Hayley was somewhere watching over them, too.
For today, that was more than enough.
Up Next
The Fourth of July holiday is almost upon them, and Maddie Graves and Nick Winters are celebrating with a high school reunion.
Nick is excited while Maddie is more … reticent. Bad memories and old insecurities are warring with her happy life and future. Instead of giving into her fears, though, Maddie agrees to spend the weekend at the infamous Denton mansion with a group of former classmates.
The weekend is filled with more than reminiscing, though.
The former lady of the house, Rose Denton, still haunts the property – and she’s not the only one. There’s also a pesky poltergeist on the hunt.
When Nick’s former girlfriend goes missing, everyone is a suspect. It seems someone from Blackstone Bay’s Class of 2005 might be a murderer – or something even worse.
Maddie and Nick are stuck. They know they’re in danger if they stay, and yet they can’t leave until fifty years worth of mysteries are solved – and Cassidy Dunham is found.
When things come to a head, Maddie is in danger again – and this time the enemy was one she didn’t see coming.
Can Nick solve the mystery in time to save Maddie? And can a long-tortured soul finally find rest?
By the time fireworks hit the sky, both of those questions will be answered – and a whole lot more will come to light.
Grave Misgivings is available here.
Author’s Note
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad eno
ugh. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
If you’re interested in upcoming releases, follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I do not spam. I don’t believe it and, as a reader, I find it annoying. Only new release information and special sales promotions will be posted.
This book is available for lending. Please do so.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Books by Lily Harper Hart
Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal
Deadly Prospects
Deadly Ever After
Deadly Honeymoon
Deadly Questions
Deadly Addition
Deadly Vacation
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Storm
Deadly Dealings (Coming October 2015)
Deadly Christmas (Coming November 2015)
Deadly Desperados (Coming December 2015)
A Maddie Graves Mystery
Grave Homecoming
Grave Insight
Grave Delight
Grave Misgivings
Grave Concerns (Coming Winter 2015/2016)
An Ivy Morgan Mystery
Wicked Days
Wicked Dreams
Wicked Times (Coming Winter 2015/2016)
A Harper Harlow Mystery
Ghostly Interests
Ghostly Issues (Coming Winter 2015/2016)
Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3) Page 20