Free Grave Concerns by Lily Harper Hart Page A

to make me feel better.”
    “It was black with pink daisies,” Nick interjected. “It was a string bikini on top and it had a full bottom. I was very disappointed you didn’t go with a skimpier bottom.”
    “I … .” Maddie swiveled. “Do you really remember that?”
    “I remember everything,” Nick reminded her. “That was the day I first noticed how toned your abs were. Well, to be fair, I noticed how toned they were the day before when we were wrestling on the window seat and my hand slipped under your shirt. That’s when I realized I needed to get a better look at them and that’s why I suggested going swimming the next day.”
    “No way.” Maddie’s heart flipped. “Are you being serious?”
    “That’s also the day your mother sat me down for a little chat,” Nick said, his mind wandering back to a fond memory.
    “She did? She never told me about a chat.”
    Olivia Graves was Maddie’s only parent. Well, Maddie supposed she had a father out there somewhere. He took off when Maddie was still an infant. Olivia gave Maddie her maiden name and erased all signs of her father after that. Maddie never missed what she didn’t have because Olivia was such a great parent.
    “She explained that we should probably … cut down … on the wrestling for the time being,” Nick said, chuckling. “She said she knew what was going on and she didn’t think you were ready for any wandering hands. She wasn’t angry or anything. She was just kind of … resigned.
    “She told me you had a fragile heart and I should be really careful about breaking it,” he continued. “She also told me that I wasn’t allowed up in your bedroom when she wasn’t home from that day forward. Now that I think back on it, she was probably right. My hands would’ve definitely gotten away from me if we were alone up there.”
    “I like that story,” Maddie said, smiling. “It’s much better than the one about my boobs in the funhouse.”
    “Oh, they’re both good stories,” Nick said, brushing his lips against Maddie’s neck. “I don’t suppose you’re ready to go back to the cabin, are you? I think I owe you a massage … and maybe some s’mores.”
    “I’ll take the massage and put off the s’mores until tomorrow.”
    “Sold,” Nick said, kissing Maddie again. “Come on. I’ll make sure to lock the door and close all the curtains so we don’t have any unwanted guests tomorrow morning.”
    “Does that mean you have plans for tomorrow morning?”
    “Love, I have plans for the rest of our lives,” Nick said, twining his fingers with Maddie’s. “I have so many plans you’re going to lose your mind. I am the king of plans. I am … .” Nick pulled up short as two figures took shape in the darkness.
    Kelly chatted amiably with the tall woman as they moved closer and Maddie was confused by the stiff set of Nick’s shoulders.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Oh, man,” Nick muttered. “You have got to be kidding me!”

Nine
    “Hello, Nick.”
    The woman’s voice was low and sultry as she looked Nick up and down. Maddie’s heart took a strange bounce as she watched Nick’s reaction to the new face.
    “Hello, Sydney,” Nick said, his voice tight. “I … what are you doing here?”
    “Visiting Kelly,” Sydney replied. “She called and said you guys were over here camping and wanted to know if I could join you. I had to work today, but I got everything finished so … here I am.”
    “Here you are,” Nick muttered.
    “And she looks great,” Kelly said, her eyes pointedly fixing on Maddie for a moment before shifting to her friend. “Doesn’t she look great, Nick?”
    “She looks fine.”
    Maddie shifted uncomfortably. Something weird was going on. The problem was, she had no idea what.
    “Oh, now, come on,” Kelly prodded. “She looks amazing.”
    “She looks fine,” Nick repeated, barely glancing at the auburn-haired beauty. “I … .”
    Kelly cut him off before he could make an excuse and