Grave Concerns by Lily Harper Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

Maddie’s hand to reassure her. “I’ve told her that’s not true but … well … she’s got a weird prudish streak that I can’t quite get her to shake.”
    “You have nothing to feel embarrassed about,” Sharon said.
    “That’s for sure,” John interjected, wiggling his eyebrows.
    Nick reached for his brother, his hands ready to close around his neck, but John easily evaded him.
    “John, you know better than letting yourself into someone’s private space without knocking,” Sharon chided. “How would you feel if someone did the same thing to you?”
    “I think I would be fine with it as long as I got to see Maddie naked,” John replied.
    Nick swiped at him again, causing Sharon to frown.
    “That is not funny, Jonathan Winters,” Sharon snapped. “I don’t care how you and your brother choose to go at each other. Maddie should feel safe in her own bedroom … or the bedroom she’s rented for the week, as the case may be. It’s not okay to force yourself on women.”
    John’s mouth dropped open. “I … who … what … I did not force myself on her.”
    Maddie was confused. While she wasn’t thrilled with John barging in, she never felt threatened by the situation. “I’m not sure … .”
    Sharon cut her off. “Really? You don’t think that peeping on a naked woman is the same thing as forcing her to do something?”
    “No,” John said, glancing at Nick for support. For his part, Nick looked just as confused as his brother.
    “You’re a police officer, John,” Sharon reminded him. “If a woman came to you and said a random man walked into her bedroom and stared at her, what would you do?”
    “I … .” John moved his mouth, but he couldn’t find the words to answer his mother.
    “That’s right, you’d arrest him,” Sharon finished. “You did a dirty and perverted thing this morning. I’m ashamed.”
    “But, Mom … .”
    “You apologize to Maddie and Nick,” Sharon ordered. “You apologize and tell them it will never happen again.”
    “I’m sorry,” John said, his brown eyes wide. “I’m really sorry, Maddie. I didn’t think of it that way. I was just messing with Nick. I honestly didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “It’s okay,” Maddie murmured, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
    Sharon leaned in close so only Maddie could hear her. “When you want to deal with them, the easiest way is to shame them until they start behaving,” she whispered. “Boys are different than girls. When you want to make girls behave you threaten to take makeup and cell phones away. When boys misbehave you threaten them with a mother’s wrath. It works every time.”
    Maddie fought the mad urge to laugh. “I see.”
    “I have a feeling Nick is already putty in your hands,” Sharon said, patting Maddie’s shoulder. “You’re going to have to exert control if you want to rein John in. He needs a firm hand.”
    “Thank you for the advice.”
    “Don’t mention it.”
    Sharon moved in the direction of the picnic table and returned to her cooking task. As soon as she was out of earshot, Nick and John converged on Maddie.
    “What was she whispering to you?” Nick asked.
    Maddie tilted her head to the side, considering how to answer the question before offering a response. “She said that I should think long and hard before filing a police report about John barging into the cabin this morning,” she lied. “She agrees John committed a criminal act, but she’s hoping we can agree to a compromise before I bring the police into this.”
    John’s face slackened. “What? Maddie, I swear to God that I didn’t mean to upset you.” His voice climbed an octave, becoming shriller with each word. “I didn’t mean for you to feel threatened. I … seriously, that wasn’t my intent.”
    “I’ve decided against calling the police.”
    John exhaled heavily. “I’ll make it up to you, Maddie. I promise.”
    “I know you will,” Maddie replied, her tone solemn. “As part of