Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7) by Lily Harper Hart
Authors: Lily Harper Hart
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Nick chided. “I love you more than anything, Maddie. I know you’re worried that’s somehow going to change, but it’s not. I don’t like that you have the dreams, but they’re not going to somehow make me want to leave you. Just … let that go. Nothing is ever going to split us up. I promise.”
“What about Cooper?” Maddie asked. “Do you think he’s a suspect?”
“I don’t know what his motive would be, but the way he found her body is certainly reason to look into his background,” Nick said. He knew why Maddie wanted to change the subject and he didn’t fight the effort. “Until we know what’s going on, I want you to be careful not to be alone with him.”
“I have no intention of being anywhere near him.”
“Yes, well, he seems enamored with you,” Nick said. “Now, I don’t blame him. Anyone would be crazy not to love your beauty. For some reason, I think he sees more in you. I haven’t figured out what yet, though, so I need you to be really careful.”
“Nicky, I don’t want to talk to him, so that’s not going to be a problem.”
“Just … if he approaches you, I need you to call me,” Nick instructed. “I know you’re telling fortunes down at the festival, and you should be fine in public. I’ll stop by for lunch if I can, and I’ll text you if I can’t. Regardless, since it gets dark so early now, I’ll be there to make sure you get home.”
“You’re such a good protector,” Maddie murmured, rubbing her nose against Nick’s chin.
“I don’t feel like much of a protector after last night,” Nick countered. “We can’t go back, though, so I’m going to let it go.”
“That’s good,” Maddie said. “What time do you have to be at work?”
“As soon as I shower and eat. It’s probably going to be a long day.”
“Well, then let’s shower together,” Maddie suggested. “It will give us a few more minutes together and then I’ll cook you a big breakfast. I know it’s not a bath, but it’s still warm water.”
“You had me at shower, Mad,” Nick said, grinning. “Come on. I’ll scrub your back if you’re a good girl.”
“I’m always a good girl.”
“And that’s why I’ll always scrub your back.”
“ O H , WOW.” Nick studied the counter full of food forty minutes later and let out a low whistle as he took in the pumpkin pancakes, sausage, and bacon. “Someone went all out.”
“I want to make sure you have a full stomach,” Maddie said, her hair still damp from the shower. She didn’t have to be down to the festival for two more hours so she took the opportunity to cook while Nick got ready. “I’m keeping two plates warm in the oven for you to take to Dale and John when you’re ready to leave, too.”
“You don’t have to feed them.”
“They need nourishment.”
“Yes, but you’re my girlfriend,” Nick teased, moving in behind Maddie so he could kiss her neck. “You should only be cooking for me.”
“Live and learn.”
“Ugh!” Maude appeared in the doorway between the store and kitchen, her hair standing on end and her blouse on backward. “Do you two have to maul each other so early in the morning?”
“You look lovely,” Nick deadpanned, his gaze washing over Maude. “How much did you drink last night?”
“Enough that I can’t remember what we ultimately decided to do to Harriet so we have to go through the process all over again,” Maude replied, grabbing a slice of bacon from the plate on the counter. “This looks good. What’s the special occasion?”
Maddie told Maude about the previous evening as the trio carried plates to the table and settled around it. When she was done, Maude was flabbergasted.
“How come I miss all of the fun?”
Maddie made a face. “It wasn’t fun, Granny,” she said. “A young woman died. I … saw it … in my dreams.”
Maude was well aware of her granddaughter’s peculiarity, and she knew how hard it was on Maddie at times. “I’m sorry, Maddie
“What about Cooper?” Maddie asked. “Do you think he’s a suspect?”
“I don’t know what his motive would be, but the way he found her body is certainly reason to look into his background,” Nick said. He knew why Maddie wanted to change the subject and he didn’t fight the effort. “Until we know what’s going on, I want you to be careful not to be alone with him.”
“I have no intention of being anywhere near him.”
“Yes, well, he seems enamored with you,” Nick said. “Now, I don’t blame him. Anyone would be crazy not to love your beauty. For some reason, I think he sees more in you. I haven’t figured out what yet, though, so I need you to be really careful.”
“Nicky, I don’t want to talk to him, so that’s not going to be a problem.”
“Just … if he approaches you, I need you to call me,” Nick instructed. “I know you’re telling fortunes down at the festival, and you should be fine in public. I’ll stop by for lunch if I can, and I’ll text you if I can’t. Regardless, since it gets dark so early now, I’ll be there to make sure you get home.”
“You’re such a good protector,” Maddie murmured, rubbing her nose against Nick’s chin.
“I don’t feel like much of a protector after last night,” Nick countered. “We can’t go back, though, so I’m going to let it go.”
“That’s good,” Maddie said. “What time do you have to be at work?”
“As soon as I shower and eat. It’s probably going to be a long day.”
“Well, then let’s shower together,” Maddie suggested. “It will give us a few more minutes together and then I’ll cook you a big breakfast. I know it’s not a bath, but it’s still warm water.”
“You had me at shower, Mad,” Nick said, grinning. “Come on. I’ll scrub your back if you’re a good girl.”
“I’m always a good girl.”
“And that’s why I’ll always scrub your back.”
“ O H , WOW.” Nick studied the counter full of food forty minutes later and let out a low whistle as he took in the pumpkin pancakes, sausage, and bacon. “Someone went all out.”
“I want to make sure you have a full stomach,” Maddie said, her hair still damp from the shower. She didn’t have to be down to the festival for two more hours so she took the opportunity to cook while Nick got ready. “I’m keeping two plates warm in the oven for you to take to Dale and John when you’re ready to leave, too.”
“You don’t have to feed them.”
“They need nourishment.”
“Yes, but you’re my girlfriend,” Nick teased, moving in behind Maddie so he could kiss her neck. “You should only be cooking for me.”
“Live and learn.”
“Ugh!” Maude appeared in the doorway between the store and kitchen, her hair standing on end and her blouse on backward. “Do you two have to maul each other so early in the morning?”
“You look lovely,” Nick deadpanned, his gaze washing over Maude. “How much did you drink last night?”
“Enough that I can’t remember what we ultimately decided to do to Harriet so we have to go through the process all over again,” Maude replied, grabbing a slice of bacon from the plate on the counter. “This looks good. What’s the special occasion?”
Maddie told Maude about the previous evening as the trio carried plates to the table and settled around it. When she was done, Maude was flabbergasted.
“How come I miss all of the fun?”
Maddie made a face. “It wasn’t fun, Granny,” she said. “A young woman died. I … saw it … in my dreams.”
Maude was well aware of her granddaughter’s peculiarity, and she knew how hard it was on Maddie at times. “I’m sorry, Maddie
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