Free A Ghostly Affair: A cozy mystery series (Death by Chocolate Book 3) by Pat Amsden

get it checked out. You’re probably going to have a headache tomorrow. Extra strength Tylenol might be enough.  Again, if the pain is stronger or you’re having dizzy spells go to ER and get it checked out.”
    The younger paramedic looked with doubt at the scene before them. “That’s if they go ahead with the event-“
    “But they have to,” Maxine cried. “So many people have put so much into these houses and it means so much to them. Besides it’s a fundraiser!”
    “That’s still not worth risking your life for,” the other one said stiffly and then Patrick was by her side.
    “So, is she OK to go?”
    “As long as you make sure she gets home safely. She certainly can’t drive right now.”
    “I’ll take care of her,” Patrick said. As he helped her out to his awaiting jeep she was more than thankful to have him next to her.
    “You realize you’re my knight in shining armor,” she said smiling at him as he opened the jeep door and helped her up.
    He sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t give me so much work rescuing you.”
    She looked at him contritely. “I don’t mean to.”
    He gave a sigh and grinned a rueful grin in her direction. “I don’t mean it’s your fault. Just,” he looked straight ahead concentrating on his driving. “I care about you Maxine. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
    She blinked back tears. “I’ll try to be more careful. And I have been practicing. I just – I was making a last minute check of our display and the venue tonight. It was only supposed to take one minute.”
    “That might really have been bad luck,” he said. “Someone went to a lot of effort to get the guard away from the exhibits for a few minutes. He couldn’t have known you’d have chosen then to check the exhibits. At least –“ he gave her a sideways glance. “You didn’t tell everyone you were going to be here tonight did you?”
    She shook her head. “I think I mentioned it to Marcus when we were closing up. He told me I needed to get a life. Or words to that effect,” she said flushing as she remembered his exact words. “ You’re way too young and hot to be spending Saturday night doing homework.” Close enough she thought.
    “I’ll drive you home and make you something to help you sleep,” he said.
    “You don’t need to stay,” she said. “Grandma Ellie is upstairs if I need anything.” If she hadn’t gone out with her karate instructor.
    The look he sent her made her feel about ten shades hotter. “I don’t mind,” he said gently.

Chapter Nine
     
    Maxine felt the top of her head gingerly. Ouch! She could feel the goose-egg with her fingers but fortunately she’d been able to hide most of the damage with her hair. She was not about to let a little thing like a bump on her head stop her from judging the Haunted House Contest at the Art Gallery although she did wish their display hadn’t been trashed.
    “The carnage,” Grandma Ellie said, shaking her head sadly. “Such needless vandalism.” An artist herself, she knew most of the local Victoria artists, as well as some of the board. Keeping her away from an event like this would have been impossible.
    “Patrick was there in minutes and paramedics checked me out,” she said.
    “Well, at least you called Patrick this time,” her Grandma said approvingly. “I like that young man. But you should have kept him overnight.”
    “Grandma!”
    “I see the way he looks at you,” her Grandma Ellie said, not phased in the least. “And it’s not as if I don’t know about the birds and the bees. I have kids you know.”
    “I know,” Maxine said feeling her blood pressure rise. “But he was on the job when this happened. He can’t just drop everything and spend the night here. He made sure I was fine before he left.”
    “That’s something,” her Grandma said with a small smile. Dressed in a bright red tunic with glasses framed in the same bright red and black leggings her Grandma managed to maintain a sense of