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

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    Nick’s hands rose and cupped the back of Maddie’s head before he even realized what he was doing. He tilted her chin up, the sea blue of her eyes bombarding him with unasked questions. He moved in closer, but instead of kissing her, he rested his moist forehead against hers.
    “W-w-what are you doing?” Maddie asked, uncertain.
    “I have no idea,” Nick admitted.
    “I … .” Maddie broke off.
    “What were you going to say?” Nick asked, refusing to break from the position they were standing in.
    “I’m not sure.”
    Nick snorted. “We’re quite the pair.”
    “Nick, you know we can’t … not while … not now.”
    “I know,” Nick said. “I’ve got to get this Cassidy situation under control.”
    “I’m sorry things worked out this way,” Maddie said. “If we hadn’t ended up at the same restaurant, this would probably already be over. I didn’t expect Cassidy to volunteer to come with us.”
    “She’s desperate,” Nick said. “She knows what’s coming, and yet she just won’t accept it. It’s … pathetic.”
    “Nicky,” Maddie chided. “She’s just sad.”
    “I know,” Nick said. “I know I’m the one in the wrong here. She’s just making things so hard.”
    “You just have to deal with it,” Maddie said. “You don’t have to deal with it tonight. It’s not like you’re on a timetable.”
    Nick pressed his eyes shut briefly. He wasn’t on a timetable, but he was running out of time all the same. He wouldn’t be able to stop himself from kissing Maddie again, and he wanted their first kiss to be something special. It wouldn’t be if he was still joined with Cassidy, even if it was in name only. “I do have to deal with it tonight,” Nick said, finally pulling his forehead back so he could brush his lips against the wrinkled spot between her eyebrows “I’m not putting this off any longer.”
    “Okay,” Maddie said. “Um … thank you for all your help.”
    Nick grinned. “At least you’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight,” he said. “The only thing sweaty will be your dreams.”
    Maddie lowered her eyes, flustered. Nick knew his comment was pointed, but he liked to watch her fidget.
    “You’re being awfully forward when your girlfriend is down in my kitchen,” Maddie challenged.
    Nick’s smile faltered. “Yeah. I need to go and deal with that right now.” He moved out of Maddie’s bedroom, casting one last longing look in the direction of her bed, and then stepped into the hallway. “Tomorrow, you and I are going to have a talk, too.”
    Maddie stilled. “About what?”
    “Something fun,” Nick said. “I promise.”
    Maddie followed him downstairs and into the kitchen, pulling up short when she caught sight of Maude cleaning up spilled iced tea. “What happened?”
    “Where’s Cassidy?” Nick asked.
    “She ran out,” Maude said.
    “Why?” Maddie pressed.
    “We were just talking about a few things,” Maude hedged.
    “Like what?”
    “About the future of her relationship with Nick,” Maude admitted.
    Maddie was mortified. “Granny! That’s none of your business.”
    “Where did she go?” Nick asked.
    “She ran out,” Maude said. “I think … I think she knew you were going to have a serious talk on the way home, and she didn’t want to deal with it.”
    Nick raised his eyebrows. “You mean she left left?”
    “I think so,” Maude.
    “Well … crap,” Nick said, rubbing the back of his neck. “What is she going to do? Does she think hiding is going to change something?”
    “You’ll have to ask her,” Maude said.
    “This is just unbelievable,” Nick grumbled. “I can’t catch a break.”
    “Or a break up,” Maddie said, her tone dry.
    Despite himself, Nick barked out a hoarse laugh. “Good grief. It never ends.”

Seven
    Nick took a chance when he left Maddie’s house, following the route Cassidy would have walked if she wanted to return home. He didn’t see her, and when he pulled into her