Grave Homecoming (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 1) by Lily Harper Hart

was in shock, but she still needed to be questioned. After taping off the crime scene, and calling the coroner, Nick rejoined Maddie as another officer, Dale Kreskin, questioned her.
    “What made you go down the alley?”
    Maddie worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “I was … just looking for a moment to collect myself.”
    “Why?”
    Maddie looked to Nick for help, unsure how to answer. “I was just a little … unhinged after lunch.”
    “And why is that?” Dale asked.
    “I … um … it’s just been hard to reintegrate myself back into town,” Maddie said, squaring her shoulders. “I keep running into people I used to know.”
    “And who were you having lunch with?”
    “Christy Ford.”
    “Just her?”
    “And … um … Cassidy … .” Maddie shot a furtive look in Nick’s direction. “I don’t know her last name.”
    “Dunham,” Nick supplied.
    “ Your Cassidy?” Dale asked.
    Nick didn’t miss the face Maddie made. It was a quick reaction, and she pushed it away as fast as she could, but he’d still seen it. It made him feel … something.  “Yes,” he said. “I was there, too.”
    “Do you two know each other?” Dale hadn’t grown up in the area, only coming to Blackstone Bay after twenty years with the Detroit Police Department, so he wasn’t familiar with a lot of the local history. While Dale had been bored with the lack of crime in town during his five-year tenure, Nick was happy someone with so much experience was here now.
    “We grew up together,” Nick said evasively. “We were just getting … reacquainted.”
    Dale’s keen brown eyes bounced between Maddie and Nick, curious. “Uh-huh.”
    “Is that all you need?” Maddie asked.
    “I guess so,” Dale said. “I need a number to reach you at in case I have more questions. You’re not planning on leaving town, are you?”
    “No,” Maddie said. She gave him her cellphone number. When he was gone, she let loose with a shaky sigh and blessed Nick with a watery smile. “Well, this was quite the welcome home.”
    Nick reached out and pushed her hair away from her face. It was still as soft as he remembered, as was the skin his fingers brushed against with the movement. “Are you okay, Mad?”
    Maddie stilled. “I … don’t know. It’s just all so surreal.”
    Nick nodded sympathetically. He pulled her in close, his body overriding the warnings his mind kept screaming, and gave her another hug. Something told him she needed the solace – and he just couldn’t stop himself. He wanted to touch her.
    Maddie burrowed her face into the hollow between his neck and chest. Nick pressed his cheek to the top of her head, and then he proceeded to rock back and forth to lull her – just like he had when Marla Proctor terrorized Maddie back in high school. It was as if nothing had changed. Even the steady beat of her heart was the same.
    “It’s going to be okay, Mad.”
     
    CASSIDY couldn’t stop the feeling of dread from dwarfing her as she watched Nick console Maddie from the front stoop of Ruby’s Diner. He hadn’t even bothered to look for her in the melee surrounding the discovery. It was like she didn’t exist.
    Cassidy had seen him, though. He’d only left Maddie’s side when forced, returning as quickly as he could and … touching her every chance he got. Cassidy didn’t miss that. Nick’s hands seemed to have a mind of their own, and that mind was focused on Maddie.
    Before Maddie returned to town, Cassidy had pushed her misgivings about the woman as far down into her soul as she could manage. She’d heard the whispers. Stay away from Nick Winters. He’ll never want anyone but Maddie Graves. Since Cassidy had no idea who Maddie was, she’d ignored the rumors because she was desperate to get close to Nick.
    Who wouldn’t want to be close to him? He was all muscles and bright smiles. He had the face of a Greek god, and the body of a movie star. He was sweet, and nice, and even romantic from time to time.