Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7) (16 page)

“
A
re you ready
?”

Nick sat on the bed, a cowboy hat on his head, and waited for Maddie to walk out of the bathroom. When she’d first insisted they wear costumes to the festival’s final party, he’d balked. He never considered himself a costume guy. The look on her face when he turned her down, though, wasn’t something he could ignore. If Maddie wanted costumes, she would get costumes. That’s why he was dressed up as a cowboy – and she was hiding in the bathroom afraid to come out.

“Maddie, I don’t care how you’re dressed,” Nick said. “I’m sure you look adorable. Come out.”

“Promise me you won’t laugh.” Maddie’s voice was muffled thanks to the door separating them.

“I promise I won’t laugh.” Nick was eighty percent sure he could keep that promise. If she came out in something really goofy, though, all bets were off.

Nick sucked in a breath when he saw the handle turning and when Maddie walked out of the bathroom he almost fell over. It wasn’t the same costume from the store window, but the flowing black skirt and tight bejeweled corset was pretty darned close.

Maddie pressed her lips together as she gauged Nick’s response. “Well?”

“I’m trying to find the right words, Mad,” Nick replied, licking his lips. “I … wow.”

“I’m going to change,” Maddie said, hurrying toward her closet. “I’ll just put on one of Mom’s old outfits and go as a fortune teller. I’ll probably feel more comfortable in that anyway.”

“No way, Mad,” Nick argued, grabbing her arm and spinning her around so he could look her over from head to toe. He pressed his hands to her small waist, delighting in the feeling of the corset as it hugged her body. “You look amazing.”

Maddie lifted a challenging eyebrow. “Really? Are you just saying that?”

“Maddie, I think you look beautiful in whatever you wear,” Nick said, running his hands higher so he could check out the top of the corset. “I love you in jeans … and pajamas … and absolutely nothing at all. This, though … you look smoking hot.”

Maddie’s cheeks colored as Nick’s hands grew bolder. “We can’t do that when we need to get down to the festival.”

“Sorry,” Nick said, jerking his hands away and fanning his face. “I got ahead of myself there. This is … beyond my wildest dreams, though. When did you get this?”

“The day Christy bought her costume,” Maddie replied. “I saw it inside the store and went back for it. I loved the purple beads on the corset. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

“And you’re embarrassed by this somehow, right?” Nick asked. “That’s what you’re telling me, right?”

“I feel … naked.”

“I’ve seen you naked, love, and while that’s the best sight in the world, this is nowhere near what you look like naked,” Nick said, opting to take a pragmatic approach in the hope Maddie would come around to his way of thinking. “You’re completely covered except for your shoulders. I don’t see what the problem is.”

“I have a cape for my shoulders.”

“What do you need a cape for?”

“Because I’m a witch,” Maddie replied, grabbing a purple hat off the bed and tossing it on her head.

“Oh,” Nick intoned, things slipping into place. “I just thought you were the hottest woman alive. Now that I know you’re a witch I’m dying for you to curse me tonight.”

“Ha, ha.”

“Maddie, you look beautiful,” Nick said. “If you don’t want to wear this, though, I don’t want you being uncomfortable. Although … what’s this shiny stuff on your skin? You look like you’re glowing.”

“It’s scented body spray from Victoria’s Secret,” Maddie replied. “It’s called Love Spell and it has glitter in it.”

“Well, you’ve definitely put me under your spell,” Nick said, sighing. “God, I love you.”

“Cool your jets, Nicky,” Maddie chided. “You’ve already got me. There’s no reason to lay it on so thick.”

“I wish you could see what I see when I look at you,” Nick said, wrapping his arms around her waist and tipping his chin up. Maddie angled his hat so she could see his face. “No one could ever be lovelier than you, Mad.”

“Fine,” Maddie said, giving in. “I’ll stay in the costume.”

“Everyone is going to think I’m the luckiest man in the west,” Nick drawled, pushing himself to his feet so he could grace Maddie with a smoldering kiss. “And they have no idea I thank my lucky stars for you every single moment we’re together.”

“I can’t even be annoyed with you when you say romantic things like that,” Maddie said, squeezing Nick’s jaw. “You’re a very handsome cowboy, though. I can’t wait to play cowboys and witches when we get back.”

“Me either,” Nick said. “We have things to discuss downstairs first, though. We’re definitely going to play games the first chance we get, though. I just … wow, Mad.”

Nick led the way downstairs, and when John and Kreskin caught sight of Maddie their eyes nearly bugged out of their heads. Maude entertained the duo with tea – Nick was convinced there was bourbon in it – and when Maude let her attention drift to the stairs her grin was so wide it practically swallowed her entire face.

John let loose with a low wolf whistle and Maddie’s cheeks turned crimson as she hit the main floor.

“If you’re going to make fun of me, do it now,” Maddie said. “I’ve already promised Nick I won’t change out of the costume, so I would rather hear the ridicule before we hit the festival.”

“What ridicule?” John asked, fanning himself. “You’re freaking hot, girl. Now I’m definitely going to steal you away from Nick. Nice cowboy costume, by the way. I like how you even got a white hat for it just in case anyone should think you’re a villain instead of a hero.”

Nick tipped his hat up to show off his handsome face. “Don’t be talking smack around my woman.”

“You look amazing, Maddie girl,” Maude said, moving closer to her granddaughter. “I love this top. You’re finally showing off your goods. I’m so proud.”

Since Maude was dressed up in a garish pink fairy outfit – complete with oversized foam breasts – Nick had to swallow his laugh.

“Are you the tooth fairy?” Nick asked.

“I’m just a regular fairy,” Maude replied, shooting him a dirty look. “I hope you know, next to Maddie, you look downright drab.”

“I’ve figured that out myself,” Nick said. “Now I wish I would’ve got a fancier costume. I don’t have time for that now, though, so I’m a cowboy.” He shifted his eyes to Kreskin, who was wearing a silver badge and his normal clothing. “What are you supposed to be?”

“I’m a cop,” Kreskin replied, pointing toward the badge. “Can’t you tell?”

“I’m glad to see you put as little effort into this as possible,” Nick said, shaking his head before turning his gaze to his brother. “And I expected nothing less from you.”

John shrugged, situating his bright red cape so it was easier to sit in the chair by the front door. He was dressed as Superman, and Nick didn’t think he’d ever seen tighter pants – were those pants? – on anyone in his entire life.

“I’ve always fancied myself a superhero,” John said. “Now I get to wow the ladies with my muscles and cape and they will have no choice but to see how godlike I really am.”

“You’re modest, too,” Maddie said, laughing.

“Is that how you’re going to win Christy over?” Kreskin asked.

Maddie stilled, surprised. “Are you going to ask Christy out?”

John looked caught. “I … no. These guys think I have a thing for her and I don’t.”

“I think you do have a thing for her,” Maddie countered. “I think you liked her when you met her and Nick and I got involved when we shouldn’t have done it. If you like Christy, I really wish you would tell her.”

“Is that because you want her away from Cooper Ashton?” John challenged. “I’m not here to be someone’s consolation prize, Maddie. I’m here to make sure nobody else dies tonight.”

“I know that,” Maddie said. “It’s just … I thought you were going to hurt Christy. Now I think you guys might’ve had a real shot if I kept my nose out of it. You had a reputation as the ‘love them and leave them’ type in high school, but you’re not in high school anymore.

“None of us are the same people we were back then, and if you want a chance with Christy, I think you should take it,” she continued. “I’m not trying to force you together. I know that this Cooper thing is going to take her some time to get over. Just … think about it.”

“You are in town now and it could work,” Nick added. “I think you want a girlfriend, and I think Christy and you would fit well together. I’m not going to push you, though. Maddie is right. Christy is going to be upset when she finds out what Cooper has been up to. She’s not going to run off with Superman before she gets over this.”

“You would be lucky to have Christy,” Maude sniffed. “She’s a catch … just like me.”

Kreskin chuckled. “You’re a pip, Maude. You always have been.”

“I know that,” Maude said. “Other than giving my granddaughter and her costume my blessing, though, why did you want me to stay here?”

“Because I have need of you and your Pink Ladies tonight,” Nick replied. “Maddie had a vision of Christy being in danger last night. Someone was going to hurt her, and we can’t let that happen.

“I know Christy is messed up right now, but she’s still family,” he continued. “John and I questioned Caitlin at the bed and breakfast this afternoon and she told us Cooper has slept with at least five women in town – and it’s probably more than that. Christy deserves better.”

“So, what do you want me to do?” Maude asked, confused. “Do you want me to whack him with my wand in his naughty parts so he can’t get it up?”

John and Kreskin barked out twin laughs of delight as Maddie shook her head and covered her eyes.

“Granny!”

“I want you to do that, Maude,” John said, recovering quickly. “You have my permission.”

Maude smiled happily.

“I don’t want you to do that,” Nick said. “I do want you to follow Christy everywhere, though, and if it looks like Cooper is trying to get her alone or take her away, I want you to thwart him. I don’t care how you do it.”

“You say that now, but I can’t help but believe you’ll be angry if we … think outside the box,” Maude said.

“Under normal circumstances I would never give you an open road to mischief,” Kreskin supplied. “Under these circumstances, though, we want Cooper off his game. He has to stay at the festival until at least ten. That’s when he’s scheduled to tell a scary story. He’s been contracted and paid, so he can’t back out.”

“I don’t care if you make a scene with Cooper,” Nick added. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s got it coming. When I talked to Detective Kincaid this afternoon, he said that Cooper has a tendency to make a theatrical goodbye and then take off right away. He’s convinced there’s a possibility Cooper circles back around, though, and he might do that tonight.”

Maddie snapped her head up. “You talked to Dwight?”

Nick’s stomach rolled when he realized he’d forgotten to impart that little tidbit on Maddie in the safety of their bedroom. “I did, Mad. He came up in a Detroit file when Dale did a search on Cooper. I should’ve told you, but it honestly slipped my mind.”

“It’s okay,” Maddie said, her mind busy. “How is he?”

“He’s good, love,” Nick replied. “The first thing he asked about was you. I told him you were happy. I told him we were living together. That seemed to take a load off his mind. He was worried about you.”

“I feel bad for the way I left Detroit,” Maddie said. “I never said goodbye. That wasn’t fair to him.”

“Well, he says when things are settled he’s going to make a trip up here to see you,” Nick said. “I told him he was welcome whenever he had the time. He’s anxious to see you, too.”

“That’s good,” Maddie said, exhaling heavily. “That makes me feel … better.”

“I’m glad,” Nick said, brushing a quick kiss against her temple. “Our plan for tonight is pretty simple. We’re going to keep Cooper in our sights at all times, but we’re not ignoring everyone else. We can’t assume it’s Cooper, even though we all want to believe it’s him.”

“We obviously can’t keep an eye on everyone,” John pointed out.

“No, but Christy and Maddie are our top priorities,” Kreskin said. “Maddie saw Christy being attacked in her vision. If we go out of our way to make sure Christy can’t be touched, that means the killer is going to set his sights on someone else.”

“And I’m really worried that someone else is going to be Maddie,” Nick added. “I’m going to stick close to her the entire night.”

John snorted. “Yeah. I’m sure that has nothing to do with that outfit. Seriously, Maddie, get rid of junior and take on senior over here. I’ll help you leap tall buildings in a single bound.”

“Don’t make me thump you,” Nick warned. “Don’t hit on my woman.”

“Sure, pardner,” John teased, winking at Maddie to let her know he was kidding.

“Everyone needs to stay alert and not go anywhere alone tonight,” Nick said, his gaze pointedly bouncing between Maude and Maddie. “Maude, you keep your Pink Ladies close to you. Create as much mayhem as you want while watching Christy, but stick together.”

“Yay!” Maude said, clapping her hands. “I can’t wait to tell the girls what we’re doing tonight.” She gave Maddie a quick hug and then scurried toward the back of the house. “I’ll see you there!”

“You might regret telling her to wreak havoc at her discretion,” Maddie said once her grandmother was out of earshot. “This could come back to bite you.”

“As long as nothing comes back to bite Christy or you, I’m willing to put up with the fallout,” Nick replied.

“That makes two of us,” Kreskin said. “There’s nothing Maude can do that would be worse than the alternative. I say let her be herself and see what happens.”

“You have no idea the hell you have unleashed,” Maddie intoned, causing Nick to laugh.

“Come on, sexy witch,” Nick said, holding out his hand. “I can’t wait to walk into that festival with you on my arm.”

“Yes,” John said, falling into step behind them. “And then later tonight, he’s going to be the quickest draw in the Midwest.”

Maddie didn’t want to laugh, but she couldn’t help herself.

“Keep it up, Superman,” Nick warned. “I’ll beat you up in front of people if you keep saying things like that.”