Free Grave Insight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 2) by Lily Harper Hart Page B

yourself out there a little more. It’s not good to surround yourself with three people and try to live in a small corner of town.”
    “I surround myself with more than three people,” Maddie protested.
    “You’ve got Maude, Christy and me,” Nick countered. “Who else?”
    “Mom.”
    “Okay, four,” Nick conceded. “Unfortunately, the fourth is someone only you can see.”
    “That doesn’t mean she’s not important to me.”
    “Of course she is,” Nick said, tugging on Maddie’s hair so she would focus on him. “I’m not saying she’s not important. I’m just saying it would do you some good to get out and have some fun.”
    “How do you know it will be fun?”
    “Because, when you’re done, I’m going to take you to the fair and buy you an elephant ear,” Nick said. “I might even win you a stuffed animal if you’re a very good girl.”
    Maddie rolled her eyes. “You can’t take me to the fair with the Cassidy situation still up in the air.”
    “Oh, good grief, you haven’t handled that yet?” Maude placed her hands on her hips and fixed Nick with a pointed scowl. “Sometimes I worry that you’re addled.”
    Nick extended his index finger. “Don’t push me. I’ve had a horrible day.”
    “Cassidy has been hiding,” Maddie explained. “She even called in sick to work.”
    “That’s a bummer,” Maude said. “It’s downright despicable really.”
    “It probably wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t enlightened her last night,” Maddie pointed out.
    “Well, live and learn,” Maude said, turning back to the staircase. “I’m going to retire for the evening. I left the Wonder Woman costume on your bed, by the way. You can try it on in the morning.”
    “I’m not dressing up as Wonder Woman,” Maddie said. “I told you that.”
    “Well, you have to dress up as something. That’s the only costume I have.”
    Once Maude was gone, Nick couldn’t resist chasing the costume topic. “Why does Maude have a Wonder Woman costume?”
    “I’m scared to ask.”
    “Why does she want you to wear it?”
    “Because Catherine said Mom used to dress up when she ran a booth at the festival,” Maddie explained.
    Nick burst into laughter, the hearty guffaws wracking his solid chest.
    “It’s not funny.”
    “Olivia dressed up like a gypsy,” Nick said. “Or … I don’t know … a fortune teller. She wore a long skirt. It had little bells on it. I remember. She jangled when she walked. I liked it. She wore some white blouse with it. It was big, and it hung off her shoulders. And then she wrapped her head in a scarf. She didn’t dress up like Wonder Woman.”
    “Oh,” Maddie said, understanding dawning. “That makes so much more sense.”
    Nick grinned. “It does. Although, I’m not going to lie, if you want to put on the Wonder Woman costume and show it to me, I’d be up for seeing you in it.”
    “You’re so not funny,” Maddie said, pouting.
    “You can’t wear it in front of anyone else, though,” Nick said. “I couldn’t take it if others saw you looking like that.”
    “I’m not wearing it in front of anyone. I can promise you that.”
    “Oh, one day you’re going to wear that costume for me, Mad,” Nick said. “I can guarantee it.”
    “Oh yeah? How can you guarantee it?”
    Nick studied her face closely for a second and then slipped his arm under her and pulled her close. Their mouths were inches apart, but neither made a move to close the gap. “I just can.”
    He raised his chin up and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. “Turn off the light.”
    “You’re going to sleep here?” Maddie was surprised.
    “I can’t bear the thought of sleeping anywhere else,” he said. “I just … need sleep and you. Tomorrow is another day. I’m a police officer, for crying out loud. Cassidy can only hide for so long.”
    Maddie switched off the light and settled on her side. Nick wrapped his body around her and rested his face in the hollow of her neck.