Free Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3) by Lily Harper Hart Page A

her.
    “Here we go, my Maddie.”
     
    NICK woke with a start, something yanking him out of the most peaceful slumber he’d ever experienced. The spot next to him in the bed was empty – and cold. Where’s Maddie?
    Nick scanned the dark room, cocking his head so he could listen to the sounds of the house. Was she in the bathroom? Something told him that wasn’t the case. The house was too quiet. She wasn’t inside. She was … gone.
    Nick’s heart inadvertently flipped. He knew instinctively she wouldn’t flee in the middle of the night. Something else had to be going on. He climbed out of the bed, grabbing his boxer shorts from the spot where he haphazardly discarded them hours before. He slipped into the boxers, and he was almost out of the bedroom before he noticed a hint of movement on the back deck. He stilled, and when the shadow on the lawn chair shifted again, Nick realized Maddie hadn’t disappeared – she’d just gone outside to enjoy the night.
    Despite himself, Nick released a relieved sigh. He opened the door and let himself onto the deck silently, narrowing his eyes so he could focus on Maddie. Her hair was still in the ponytail, but it was mussed from some vigorous rolling around. It seemed – despite both their fears – some things did just come naturally. This was one of those things … and Maddie had been wrong after all … there was such a thing as perfection.
    “What are you doing, Mad?” Nick asked the question quietly, hoping he wouldn’t jolt her from whatever reverie she was living in as she stared at the sky.
    “Did I wake you up?” Maddie asked, worried. The blanket from the chair next to his bed was wrapped around her naked body, and her bare shoulder was poking out.
    “I think your absence in the bed woke me up,” Nick said, unsure what was going on but determined to hear her out on her own terms. “Lean forward.”
    Maddie did as instructed, and Nick lifted her from the chair before settling himself in the warm seat – placing her on his lap and cuddling her close as he inhaled deeply. He wasn’t sure what time it was, but it was clearly after midnight. The only sound intruding on their moment was that of the river down the way.
    “I’m sorry you woke up without me,” Maddie said, her voice small. “I … I just wanted to come out here for a few minutes. I didn’t think you would notice.”
    Nick’s bravado at his earlier prowess was starting to slip. “Is something wrong? Did I … do something?”
    “No,” Maddie said immediately, running her finger down his cheek. “I just … I wanted to look at the stars.”
    Stargazing was one of their favorite activities. He understood the joy of a night sky. What he didn’t understand was Maddie’s need to leave him alone in bed after the best experience of his entire life. “You’re worrying me a little bit,” Nick admitted. “I can’t help but feel I failed you somehow.”
    Maddie frowned. “Don’t ever think that, Nicky,” she said. “Nothing has ever been better than … that. Nothing. I didn’t even know it could be like that.”
    “Then what’s wrong, Mad?”
    “Nothing is wrong,” Maddie said. “I’m just … scared to fall asleep.”
    Nick stilled. “What?”
    “I was laying there next to you thinking how I’ve never been happier in my whole life,” Maddie said. “I could hear your heart beating, and your breath on my neck was warm and … wonderful.”
    Nick waited.
    “Then I started thinking that I might be dreaming,” Maddie said. “I thought it was too perfect. I just knew it had to be a dream.”
    Nick’s heart unclenched. “Oh, love.”
    “I wanted to get a little air and make sure I was really awake,” Maddie explained. “I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a dream. Then, well, I wanted to wait for a shooting star to wish upon. I thought if I could just see one … then I’d know it was true. I’m scared to go to sleep and wake up and find this was all just the best dream