Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3) (6 page)

“I see we have a few more things to talk about,” John said. “You’ve been holding out on me.”

Nick desperately wished a hole would open up underneath him and swallow him whole. He so didn’t want to have this conversation.

“So, do you want to tell me why you’ve spent two weeks sharing a bed with the love of your life and you haven’t made a move yet?” John leaned back in his chair and fixed his younger with a serious look.

Nick had been dreading this conversation for more than an hour. After changing his clothes, John picked a local restaurant so they could eat and have a few drinks. Dinner conversation had been light, most of it revolving around the case, and Nick had almost managed to convince himself that John was going to let Mildred’s parting shot go unnoticed.

He wasn’t that lucky.

“I’m not talking about this,” Nick said.

“You’re talking about it,” John said. “When I thought the reason you missed family dinner was because you were spending the entire day in bed with Maddie I understood your actions. I don’t understand … this.”

“What’s to understand?” Nick asked, leaning back in his chair and sipping from his beer. “We’re taking our time.”

“Why really?”

Nick sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose to ward off the headache he was sure was coming. “Because she was … nervous … when I admitted I loved her,” he said. “She was scared.”

John furrowed his brow. “What was she scared of?”

“She thought I was going to get bored with her,” Nick said. “And if I got bored with her … .”

“Then you could never go back to what you had,” John finished. “I get it. Still … I would’ve thought you two would just do it that first night. You’ve had ten years of … need … building up.”

“I wanted her to get comfortable with me first.”

“I’ve never seen her anything but comfortable with you.”

“This was different,” Nick said. “I didn’t want her constantly thinking about that when she could be focusing on just … feeling. That’s why I put a moratorium on sex.”

John pursed his lips, amused. “For how long?”

“Two weeks,” Nick said. “I wanted time for us just to be a couple without anything hanging over us.”

“And?”

“And it was the best two weeks of my life.”

“When is the moratorium over?”

“Last night,” Nick said.

John barked out a hoarse laugh. “So, let me get this straight,” he said. “You’ve pined after Maddie Graves for a decade. You finally got her, but you put a moratorium on sex because you wanted her to be comfortable. The moratorium was finally over, and then she stumbled across a dead body. Am I getting this right?”

“Pretty much.”

John guffawed loudly. “You poor man.”

“Let it go,” Nick said. “I’m not going to sit here and let you make fun of me. I don’t care what you say. I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“You’re still missing one thing,” John pointed out.

“No, I’m not,” Nick said. “The only thing I need every night is her next to me.”

“You’re so sappy.”

“No, I’m happy,” Nick said. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I just care what Maddie thinks.”

“That’s probably why she’s been in love with you since she was sixteen,” John said. “And, yes, I noticed she was in love with you before I realized you loved her back. It took you longer than it took her.”

“It didn’t take me longer,” Nick corrected. “I’ve always loved her. I just didn’t realize the difference between loving someone and being in love with them.”

“That’s a good answer,” John said. “Why didn’t you tell her before she left for college?”

“Because she wasn’t ready to hear it,” Nick said. “She was … dealing with some stuff. I know how I acted when she left. I’m not ashamed to say she broke my heart because she did.”

“I know that,” John said. “Trust me. I saw you … crumble. Was it hard for you to forgive her?”

“I forgave her the second I saw her,” Nick said. “It took me a week to realize that I’d already forgiven her, but … it was like no time had passed. I saw her face and … I was just done. I fought my feelings because I didn’t want to forgive her. I thought it made me weak.”

“And now?”

“And now I know that she’s the one thing in this world that truly gives me strength.”

“You’re suddenly a poet,” John teased. “Still, it must drive you crazy knowing that the two of you wasted ten years.”

“I’m not sure we did,” Nick said. “Mom and I had a talk a few weeks ago. She knew why Maddie left all along. Olivia told her.”

“Why did Maddie leave?”

“I’m not telling you that,” Nick said. “It’s her secret.”

“Good enough,” John said. “What did Mom say to you?”

“She said that Maddie and I wouldn’t have survived as a couple then because we were too young,” Nick said. “She said we weren’t ready for life together, and by being separated then we made sure we were mature enough to love one another as adults now.”

“Do you think that’s true?”

“I was mad at first,” Nick admitted. “I thought she … robbed … me of something. She was right, though. I wouldn’t trade my life now for anything in this world.”

John grinned. “You’re so happy I want to puke.”

“Join the club.”

Nick jolted at the sound of the new voice, lifting his eyes to Christy’s expressive face and gracing her with a small smile. “What are you doing here? Is Maddie with you?”

“I thought Maddie was with you,” Christy said, grabbing the open chair between John and Nick and settling in it. “Why are you here, by the way?”

“My brother wanted dinner and a drink.”

“Ah,” Christy said, nodding and turning in John’s direction. “You’re the elusive John Winters. I’ve been dying to meet you.”

Nick smirked. Christy was known as something of a flirt, and the look she was giving John now was nothing short of scandalous. “Do you want a drink?”

“Sure,” Christy said, not moving her eyes from John. “I’ll have whatever you guys are having. I’m … easy.”

“That’s the word on the street,” Nick teased, rolling his eyes. “John, if you don’t remember her, this is Christy Ford. She graduated with Maddie and me.”

“I think I kind of remember you,” John said, smiling. “I definitely remember that red hair.”

Nick was starting to feel like a fifth wheel. Since John appeared to be charmed by Christy, Nick saw an out for himself, though. Another beer and these two would be well on their way to a comfortable evening of flirting. That would allow him the chance to sneak out and find Maddie. That’s all he could think about right now.

AN HOUR
later Nick was starting to lay the groundwork for his escape. The problem was, Christy and John were so busy with their own conversation they wouldn’t let him get a word in edgewise. He was considering just leaving and then sending John a text once he was safely on the road. He was pretty sure Christy would make sure he had a ride home.

“Well, well, well. Look who it is.”

Nick internally cringed when he heard Marla’s voice, refusing to turn around and give her the satisfaction of acknowledging her presence.

John lifted a friendly eyebrow. “Um … do I know you?”

“No,” Marla said. “I definitely want to know you, though.”

“I’m sure you do,” Christy said. “We’re full up here, though.”

“Oh, Christy, don’t be that way,” Marla said. “I’m sure you can find room for Cassidy and I to sit down.”

Since he’d been staring at the table Nick didn’t realize Marla wasn’t alone. Now he was really wishing he’d snuck out when he had the chance.

“Hello, Nick,” Cassidy said, her voice low. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Nick said. “How are you?”

John watched Nick interact with the women, confused. He leaned over so he could whisper to Christy. “What’s going on?”

“You don’t know who that is?” Christy asked.

John shook his head.

“Oh, well, this will be fun,” Christy said. “Okay, where to start? The tall bitchy one is Marla Proctor. She spent her teenage years panting after Nick and hating on Maddie. She was really mean to her. I mean … like … horrible.”

John nodded, soaking it all in. “Go on.”

“The other girl is Cassidy Dunham,” Christy said. “She’s the girl Nick was dating when Maddie came back to town.”

“Oh, she’s the girl who had the meltdown when Nick dumped her,” John said. “Mom told me about her. I think she broke into his house.”

“She did,” Christy said. “She’s also had some
choice
words for Maddie.”

“Do you blame her?”

“I don’t know,” Christy said. “People warned her when she started dating Nick that it wouldn’t end well. Everyone – and I mean everyone – in town knew he had a six-month cycle. What I don’t get is why you never met her.”

“I’ve never met any of them,” John said. “Part of his cycle was to make sure the girls never interacted with our family. He didn’t want them to have unrealistic expectations – like they would ever see us again.”

Christy snickered. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Have Nick and Cassidy seen each other since the breakup?”

“I think there was an uncomfortable run-in two nights after the mortifying lingerie incident,” Christy said. “Since then? I don’t think so.”

“Oh, fun,” John said. “Nick looks like he wants to crawl into a hole and die. Why is Cassidy friends with this Marla girl if she’s so horrible?”

“I think Cassidy just wants to hang around with someone who hates Maddie as much as she does,” Christy replied. “Marla fits the bill. What Cassidy doesn’t realize is that Marla would’ve snaked Nick from her in a second if she got the chance.”

“Interesting,” John said. “You are an endless source of information.”

“I like to gossip.”

John smiled. “You’re cute, too.”

Christy smiled right back at him. “You have excellent eyesight.”

Nick watched Christy and John chat out of the corner of his eye, silently cursing them both. Didn’t they see he was floundering here?

“How are … things … in your life, Cassidy?”

“Oh, they’re great,” Cassidy said. “Everyone in the town walks around laughing at me and I try to keep my head down so they don’t recognize me. It’s constant work.”

Nick scowled. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“So, where is your homewrecker girlfriend?” Marla asked, changing the subject. “I thought she was in Christy’s salon getting her hair done because she had a big date with you tonight. That’s the way she made it sound.”

Nick shot John a challenging look. “I thought we had a date, too.”

John ignored him.

“Oh, this is just priceless,” Marla said, clapping her hands. “Maddie spent her afternoon getting ready for a date and you’re already bored with her. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer homewrecker.”

“I’m not bored with her,” Nick said. “My brother is in town. He wanted to go out. I had no choice in the matter.”

“That’s true,” John said, trying to be helpful. “I made him abandon the blonde for the night.”

“I’ll bet she’s home crying,” Marla said. “She doesn’t know what to do with herself when Nick and Christy aren’t around. I can’t wait until it gets back to her that we were all out together.”

Nick froze, the gravity of Marla’s words washing over him. “That’s not going to happen,” he said, pushing his chair back and getting to his feet. “I’m officially done here.”

“Now … wait,” John said, desperate for his time with Christy to continue. “What about me? I need a ride back to your place.”

“You’re not staying with me,” Nick said matter-of-factly. “You’re going to a hotel.”

“No way,” John said. “The only hotel the state will pay for is that dive out on the highway.”

“Then stay with Christy,” Nick said, guileless. “She’s got a nice house … and I’m sure she’d love the company.”

Christy shot Nick an appreciative look. “I’ll make sure he finds a place to land tonight.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“I have room at my house,” Marla offered.

“He had crabs when he was in high school,” Nick said. “I don’t think he wants them again.”

Christy snorted into her drink while John made a face. “Thanks for telling people
that
story.”

“Whatever,” Nick said. “I’m going to get my girl.”

“You should,” Christy said. “After running into these two this afternoon she’s probably feeling a little sad.”

Now Nick felt doubly guilty. No wonder she hadn’t returned his call. He fixed John with a serious look. “Do not come out to my house. I don’t care if your pants are on fire – which they will be if you touch Marla, by the way. Don’t come out to that house. It’s not yours yet.”

John’s eyes were soft as he regarded his younger brother. “Have the night of your life, man.”

“Have the night of both of your lives,” Christy said, beaming.

“Wait a second,” Marla said, hands on hips. “What about us?”

“I’m sure there are some guys down on the pier who will give you the night of your life, Marla,” Christy said. “Some of them might even have teeth.”