Grave Homecoming (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 1) by Lily Harper Hart Page A
Authors: Lily Harper Hart
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direction, leaving her drenched. Maddie’s mouth dropped open as she pushed her stringy hair out of her face. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“You wouldn’t admit my water superiority,” Nick said.
Maddie whipped her hands through the water and coated Nick with a cold layer before he could move away.
“Holy crap! That is cold,” Nick said. “Oh, and you’re going to pay now.” He slogged through the water. Since his legs were longer, even though Maddie tried to flee, he caught up with her quickly, grabbing her around the waist and twirling her around. “I’m going to have to dunk you now.”
“No, you can’t,” Maddie gasped, her heart racing as his body pressed close to hers. Even though she was freezing, she suddenly couldn’t focus on anything but the warmth his body offered. “I’ll get sick if you dunk me.”
Nick’s face softened. “Tell me what I want to hear.”
Maddie made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat. “Fine. You’re the king.”
Nick smiled.
“Of putzes,” Maddie grumbled.
Nick flicked the end of her nose. “We need to get out of this water before one of us really does get sick.” He gripped Maddie’s hand as he pulled away. She missed his warmth instantaneously, but the feeling of his fingers as they linked with hers was a new sensation to grapple with.
Once they were on the grassy embankment and settled on the ground, Maddie instinctively leaned over and rested her head against his shoulder. She’d done it so many times before, it didn’t seem like a strange move. Nick returned the gesture, resting his cheek against her head. “Oh, my Maddie,” he said. “I know I haven’t told you this yet, but I’m really glad you came home.”
“Me, too.”
“I’m still mad at you.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you’re here, though.”
“Me, too,” Maddie said, sighing. She searched her mind for a topic to continue the conversation. She didn’t want to pull away from him. She needed to think of something to converse about. “So, do you know who killed Sarah Alden yet?”
Nick’s body stiffened. “We haven’t released her name yet. How do you know it?”
Maddie’s heart sank into her stomach. Oh no.
Eleven
Nick leaned back in his office desk chair and studied the ceiling. Blackstone Bay was a small department. There were only three full-time officers, and even though the building was small, there was more than enough room for everyone to be able to spread out. That was a welcome thing – especially today. He couldn’t deal with … people.
Technically, he was off duty. Kreskin was handling Sarah Alden’s death, and Nick’s biggest problem today was supposed to be avoiding Cassidy. Life had interrupted. Again.
Nick rubbed his forehead, weary. He was at a loss with Cassidy. He had nothing against her, but he wasn’t exactly emotionally invested in her either. In fact, he’d been preparing just how he was going to break up with her when his world tilted. He’d known she wasn’t the one for him after the first date. That didn’t mean she wasn’t fun, and easy to handle. As long as she didn’t make demands, Nick was happy to let the relationship float in the ether. It was never going to move to the next step. Maddie’s return hadn’t changed that.
Now? Now Nick knew that any decision he made was going to be blamed on Maddie. Before she returned, the town would’ve chalked up the breakup to Nick’s six-month cycle. He was well aware of the whispers. He’d argued against them a few times, only ceasing when he realized they were true. Things were different now.
Now his Maddie was home.
Nick had known from the second he saw her that all the love he’d long since forgotten – and stuffed away – was still there. He’d tried to convince himself he was over her, but it wasn’t true. He was never going to be over her. He was never going to be able to move beyond her. He was never going to be able to let her go.
That didn’t
“You wouldn’t admit my water superiority,” Nick said.
Maddie whipped her hands through the water and coated Nick with a cold layer before he could move away.
“Holy crap! That is cold,” Nick said. “Oh, and you’re going to pay now.” He slogged through the water. Since his legs were longer, even though Maddie tried to flee, he caught up with her quickly, grabbing her around the waist and twirling her around. “I’m going to have to dunk you now.”
“No, you can’t,” Maddie gasped, her heart racing as his body pressed close to hers. Even though she was freezing, she suddenly couldn’t focus on anything but the warmth his body offered. “I’ll get sick if you dunk me.”
Nick’s face softened. “Tell me what I want to hear.”
Maddie made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat. “Fine. You’re the king.”
Nick smiled.
“Of putzes,” Maddie grumbled.
Nick flicked the end of her nose. “We need to get out of this water before one of us really does get sick.” He gripped Maddie’s hand as he pulled away. She missed his warmth instantaneously, but the feeling of his fingers as they linked with hers was a new sensation to grapple with.
Once they were on the grassy embankment and settled on the ground, Maddie instinctively leaned over and rested her head against his shoulder. She’d done it so many times before, it didn’t seem like a strange move. Nick returned the gesture, resting his cheek against her head. “Oh, my Maddie,” he said. “I know I haven’t told you this yet, but I’m really glad you came home.”
“Me, too.”
“I’m still mad at you.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you’re here, though.”
“Me, too,” Maddie said, sighing. She searched her mind for a topic to continue the conversation. She didn’t want to pull away from him. She needed to think of something to converse about. “So, do you know who killed Sarah Alden yet?”
Nick’s body stiffened. “We haven’t released her name yet. How do you know it?”
Maddie’s heart sank into her stomach. Oh no.
Eleven
Nick leaned back in his office desk chair and studied the ceiling. Blackstone Bay was a small department. There were only three full-time officers, and even though the building was small, there was more than enough room for everyone to be able to spread out. That was a welcome thing – especially today. He couldn’t deal with … people.
Technically, he was off duty. Kreskin was handling Sarah Alden’s death, and Nick’s biggest problem today was supposed to be avoiding Cassidy. Life had interrupted. Again.
Nick rubbed his forehead, weary. He was at a loss with Cassidy. He had nothing against her, but he wasn’t exactly emotionally invested in her either. In fact, he’d been preparing just how he was going to break up with her when his world tilted. He’d known she wasn’t the one for him after the first date. That didn’t mean she wasn’t fun, and easy to handle. As long as she didn’t make demands, Nick was happy to let the relationship float in the ether. It was never going to move to the next step. Maddie’s return hadn’t changed that.
Now? Now Nick knew that any decision he made was going to be blamed on Maddie. Before she returned, the town would’ve chalked up the breakup to Nick’s six-month cycle. He was well aware of the whispers. He’d argued against them a few times, only ceasing when he realized they were true. Things were different now.
Now his Maddie was home.
Nick had known from the second he saw her that all the love he’d long since forgotten – and stuffed away – was still there. He’d tried to convince himself he was over her, but it wasn’t true. He was never going to be over her. He was never going to be able to move beyond her. He was never going to be able to let her go.
That didn’t
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