Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7)

C
opyright
© 2016 by Lily Harper Hart

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

“
T
his is
my favorite time of the year.”

Maddie Graves studied the Halloween costumes in the front window of one of Blackstone Bay’s kitschy tourist shops and smiled at the sultry witch costume. It was black with a plunging lace top, and the purple broom and hat made the ensemble stand out.

“You would look great in that, Maddie.” Her best friend Christy Ford eyed the costume with unveiled interest. “I could never it wear it because I have hips, but you have the perfect body for that dress. I think you should get it.”

Maddie’s cheeks colored. “I could never wear that in public,” she said, moving a little closer to the storefront window. “How do you even wear a bra with that? It plunges way too low in the front.”

Christy made an exaggerated “well, duh” face. “That’s the point, Maddie,” she argued. “When you have a body like yours, you have to wear a costume like this for Halloween. I don’t make the rules, but you do have to abide by them.”

“Well, I’m not wearing that.”

“What aren’t you wearing?” Maddie’s boyfriend and live-in love Nick Winters stepped into the spot on the sidewalk between the two women and stared at the costume, his velvety chocolate eyes widening as he realized what they were looking at. “Please tell me you’re going to buy that, Mad.”

Christy shot Maddie a knowing look. “I told you. Nick wants to see you in that costume. It’s a done deal. You have to buy it.”

“I am not wearing that in public,” Maddie hissed, swiveling so fast to greet Nick her honey blond hair whipped against his face. “I’m so sorry.”

Nick grabbed Maddie’s hand as she reached out to touch his face and kissed her palm. “I’m used to your hair, Mad,” he said. “Trust me, it didn’t hurt. Don’t apologize.”

“Tell her she needs to get this costume,” Christy ordered, wasting no time on unnecessary greetings.

“Hello to you, too, Christy,” Nick deadpanned. He was used to his girlfriend’s feisty friend – they all went to high school together, after all – but he enjoyed watching Christy and Maddie interact. While Maddie was sometimes painfully shy, Christy never met a word she didn’t utter before thinking about the intelligence associated with saying it. Nick was glad the fiery redhead and Maddie hit it off upon Maddie’s return to town. Christy brought Maddie out of her shell, although Nick was happy to take Maddie however she was, including introverted.

“Hello, Nick,” Christy said, pasting a bright smile on her face. “How are you today? Are you keeping the mean streets of Blackstone Bay safe from the scourges of society?”

Nick pursed his lips. Blackstone Bay, located in the northwestern part of Michigan’s lower peninsula, wasn’t exactly a happening place to be a police officer. He wouldn’t change the peaceful setting of his childhood home for anything, though. He enjoyed the tight-knit community – gossip and all – and he was looking forward to eventually raising a family with Maddie in the same spot. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a pain, Christy?”

“You do every single time I see you,” Christy shot back, unperturbed by Nick’s tone. “Tell her to buy that costume.”

Nick kept Maddie’s hand in his as he turned his attention back to the slinky black ensemble. “It really is hot, Mad,” he said finally. “I would love you forever if you wore that for Halloween.”

Maddie rolled her eyes as she tried to jerk her hand back, but Nick’s grip was too strong. In truth, Nick’s grip was too strong on her hand and heart, so she knew if he really wanted her to wear the outfit, she would give in and do it. “I thought you were going to love me forever no matter what.”

“I am,” Nick said, squeezing Maddie’s fingers as he leaned over to give her a soft kiss on the cheek. “I would just really love you in that outfit.”

Maddie sighed, frustrated. “I can’t wear that, Nicky. It’s not … me.”

Nick studied her a moment, his expression thoughtful. “Halloween is about being someone other than yourself,” he said. “If you don’t want to wear that, though, then don’t wear it. Personally, I would be happy if we forgot all about the town’s big Halloween party and stayed in and watched horror movies all night. You’re the one who wants to get dressed up and go to the party.”

Maddie chewed on her lower lip. That was true. “You’re right. If I force you to go to the party, I should be willing to wear what you want me to wear. It’s just … .”

“Oh, good grief, Maddie,” Christy said, shaking her head. “Don’t work yourself up. I was just joking about the costume. I knew there wasn’t a chance you would wear it.”

For some reason, Christy’s words stung Maddie. She was sick of worrying about what other people thought, but she didn’t think she was sick enough to change her modesty meter. Not yet, at least.

“Mad, I don’t care what you wear,” Nick said, brushing a strand of Maddie’s long blond hair away from her face. “I was just teasing you. I don’t mind getting dressed up and going to the party. I’m going to have the prettiest date in the world on my arm no matter what.”

Maddie sighed. “That costume is just too … revealing. I would never be comfortable in that.”

“Well, then don’t wear it,” Nick said, his pragmatic side taking over. “I want you comfortable more than anything else. Besides, that costume is not going to be easy to enjoy the hayride in, and I have definite plans for enjoying the hayride with you.”

Maddie fought the urge to smile – and lost. “I’m looking forward to the hayride, too,” she admitted. “I’m looking forward to the funhouse … and the kids’ costume parade … and even that psychic ghost hunting author who is showing up tonight.”

Now it was Nick’s turn to scowl. “I don’t like that guy coming here,” he said, disgustedly shaking his head. “He’s the one thing I’m least looking forward to. He’s got all of the women in this town in a frenzy.”

“Why?” Christy asked, affronted. “Cooper Ashton is a fabulous author. I’ll have you know I’ve read every single one of his books. He’s amazing.”

Maddie smirked. “I think you like him because he’s hot.”

“He
is
hot,” Christy agreed, her expression becoming dreamy. “With that dark hair and eyes he looks like a movie star. You’re going to have to put up with being the second hottest guy in town for a little bit, Nick. Even you aren’t competition for Cooper Ashton.”

Nick’s expression was unreadable as he locked gazes with Maddie. “Do you think this guy is hot, too?”

“I think you’re hot,” Maddie argued, tapping the end of his nose. “I only have eyes for you.”

“That’s a good answer, Mad,” Nick said, snagging Maddie’s finger and making a fake growling noise. “That’s why you’re going to get a reward when it’s just you and me at home tonight.”

After a decade apart, Maddie moved back to Blackstone Bay following her mother’s death. She was only in town for a few weeks before Nick declared his love and they were on the fast track to forever. That included Maddie admitting her deepest secret – she could see and talk to ghosts – and Nick selling his house to his brother so he could move in with Maddie. They’d been inseparable ever since, and neither of them ever wanted to envision a life without the other.

“You promised we could go to the opening ceremonies of the fall festival tonight,” Maddie reminded him. “We were supposed to be able to cuddle by the fire and eat junk food.”

Nick made an exasperated sound in the back of his throat. “I forgot about that,” he said. “I was kind of hoping we could make our own fire at home, Mad.”

“You do that every night,” Christy argued. “This is a big night. Blackstone Bay is going to have a real celebrity in town. How can you ruin that for us?”

Nick fought the mad urge to laugh. “Us? Since when do my plans with Maddie involve you?”

“You know what I mean,” Christy sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Maddie really wants to meet Cooper Ashton, and I think you should realize that it’s a big deal and not give her crap about it.”

Maddie made a face. “
You
really want to meet Cooper Ashton,” she corrected. “I agreed to go because I thought meeting an author would be fun. I think I’ve only ever read one thing by him, and when I realized what he wrote about that was more than enough for me.”

“Why? What does he write about?” Nick was confused. “I thought he wrote horror books.”

“He does,” Christy said. “They’re based on his ultra hot hero, Dexter Hawthorne. He investigates a new paranormal mystery every month. Cooper Ashton modeled the character after himself. He’s so … hot.”

Nick licked his lips and glanced at Maddie. “Dexter Hawthorne? That sounds like a soap opera character. How do you know how hot this guy is if it’s a book?”

“Because the guy on the front of the books is hot and shirtless,” Maddie supplied.

“Ah.” Realization dawned on Nick. “It’s one of
those
books.”

“What kind of books?” Now it was Christy’s turn to be confused. “What is he talking about?”

“It’s one of those paranormal books that acts as if it’s about a mystery but is really full of sex,” Nick surmised, enjoying the red tint of Christy’s cheeks. “Women don’t want to admit they’re reading a book for the sex so they wrap it around a mystery and pretend that’s why they’re reading it.”

“That is a complete and total lie,” Christy said. “I like Dexter Hawthorne because he is strong, brave, and true.”

“So was Pinocchio,” Nick pointed out.

“Except no one wanted to see Pinocchio shirtless,” Maddie added, earning an odd look from Nick. “Imagine the splinters involved with running your hands up and down a wooden chest … and don’t get me going on the possible splinters in other places. Sheesh.”

Nick barked out a laugh, delighted. Maddie’s shyness factor was a work in progress, but her self-confidence grew every day. Spending time with Christy had given her a new snarkiness he was still getting used to. “You’re very cute, love,” Nick said, flicking the end of Maddie’s nose before kissing it. “I thought you liked romance novels, though. Why would you only read one book by this Cooper Asshat guy?”

“Ashton,” Christy corrected.

“They sound the same to me,” Nick replied dryly. “Why would you only read one book by this literary maestro if you like the stuff he writes?”

“It’s not the romance stuff that bothers me,” Maddie admitted, lowering her eyes. “I’m fine with that stuff.”

“I know,” Nick said, forcing Maddie’s chin up so they could lock eyes. “We read passages aloud to one another when we’re cuddling in the window seat all the time. That’s why I couldn’t figure out why you weren’t as big of a fan as Christy.”

“Do you guys really read romance novels together?” Christy asked, dumbfounded.

“We do,” Nick confirmed. “Maddie likes to reenact the scenes when we’re alone. She’s a total pervert.”

“Nicky!”

Nick chuckled as he slipped an arm around Maddie’s shoulders and pulled her close enough to kiss her temple. “She’s an animal.”

“You two are so sickeningly sweet I want to punch you sometimes,” Christy said. “For the record, I’m not ashamed to say I like the sex scenes in Cooper Ashton’s books. They’re hot. I like the mysteries, though. There’s something so cool about a hero who is psychic and can see and talk to ghosts to solve his mysteries.”

Nick shifted his eyes to Maddie’s profile, things clicking into place. “Oh.”

“Oh, what?” Christy asked, distracted as she turned back to the costume in the window. “I wonder if I could pour my hips into that thing. Unlike Maddie, I have no problem with people staring at my cleavage.”

“Did you stop reading the books because they hit a little too close to home, Mad?” Nick asked.

Christy snapped her head up at the question. “Holy cannoli. I didn’t put that together. He’s technically writing about your life, Maddie. Sure, he’s a hot guy having tons of dirty sex and you’re a woman living with your grandmother, but still … wow. I didn’t even think about that.”

“I just didn’t like the cavalier way he talked about ghosts and psychic dreams,” Maddie clarified. “His writing was fine – even if it was a little descriptive.”

“And our dirty sex is fine, thank you,” Nick added, offended on behalf of both of their libidos.

Maddie didn’t want to encourage him, but she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “Yes, our dirty sex is wonderful.”

Nick rubbed his nose against Maddie’s, taking a moment to bask in her warmth. “I love you,” he whispered. “Let Christy buy the costume. I’m happy with you no matter how you dress.”

“Ugh!” Christy made a face. “It’s great that you two love each other and you both look as if you stepped off the pages of a catalog, but some of us are forced to live vicariously through books until we find our heart’s desire.

“Now, I can see why Maddie doesn’t want to read the books because it would be like reading about a male version of herself, but she could at least read the sex scenes,” she continued. “You should read them, too, Nick. They might give you some inspiration.”

Nick stilled. “Inspiration? I don’t need inspiration.”

“Every man says that, but almost all of them are deluding themselves,” Christy challenged.

Nick’s eyes were unreadable when they shifted in Maddie’s direction. “Do I need inspiration?”

“You inspire me every night,” Maddie said, giggling. “Don’t listen to her. She’s just trying to get under your skin.”

“I hate to admit it, but it’s working,” Nick muttered.

“That’s because you know I’m right,” Christy teased. “Come on, Mad. Say goodbye to your boyfriend. I want to try that costume on. I’m hoping to do a little inspiring of my own.”

Maddie shot Nick a rueful smile. “I’ll see you at the festival tonight, right? You promised me junk food and a bonfire.”

“You’ll see me,” Nick said, cupping the back of Maddie’s head. “In case you need a reminder of what I’m going to do to you tonight, let this suffice.”

Maddie squealed as Nick made a grand gesture of dipping her low and planting a huge kiss on her. When he straightened, Maddie fanned her face as Christy laughed.

“Yeah, something tells me you’re not lagging in the inspiration department, Nick,” Christy said.

“Something tells me she’s right,” Maddie said, smoothing her hair. “That was … wow.”