Grave Decisions (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 7) by Lily Harper Hart Page B

crushes. Her head is in the clouds right now. You shouldn’t take it personally.”
    “I know you’re right,” Maddie said, forcing her attention away from the vibrant redhead as she tried to bend Cooper’s ear in her direction. “Who is your celebrity crush, by the way? I want to know who to be fearful of should she turn up in town.”
    Nick snickered. “I only have a crush on you, love. You look like a movie star. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
    “Very cute,” Maddie said, tapping the end of Nick’s nose. “That’s not how you play the game, though. I don’t expect you to leave me – not even for a celebrity – but I want to know who you have a crush on.”
    “Oh, well … I don’t know,” Nick said. “Who do you have a crush on?”
    “I like that guy who plays Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek movies,” Maddie replied, not missing a beat.
    “I’m glad to see you’ve given it a lot of thought, Mad,” Nick said dryly, shaking his head. “At least I know who to punch if the Enterprise lands.”
    Maddie giggled. “Come on. You can tell me. I promise I won’t turn it into a thing.”
    “I guess I think that supermodel is hot,” Nick said finally. “You know the one dating Justin Verlander, right? She has huge … eyes.”
    Maddie barked out a laugh, delighted. “Kate Upton? Yeah. Her eyes are impressive.” Maddie glanced down at her much flatter chest. “Hmm.”
    “Don’t do that, Mad,” Nick chided. “That’s exactly why I didn’t want to tell you. I wouldn’t trade your body for anything in the world. It’s perfect. There’s a reason all of the high school boys just magically show up along your running route five times a week.”
    “How did you know about that?” Maddie asked, embarrassed. “I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you would laugh at me.”
    “I’m a police officer,” Nick replied. “Their coach asked me to figure out where they were going because they disappeared during their cross country practices. He thought they were drinking or doing drugs. I followed them one day. Guess what I found?”
    “Me?”
    “They like to sit up on the bluff and watch you with binoculars,” Nick said. “Personally, I admire their ingenuity. Since I know I don’t have to worry about losing you to them, I let them be.”
    “Oh, Nicky.” Maddie scowled. “You should at least warn them off. I’m your girlfriend.”
    “Yes, but they’re never going to see anything as beautiful as you ever again,” Nick said, his grin impish. “I want to let them keep the dream a little longer before all hope is dashed.”
    “You’re incorrigible.”
    “I know,” Nick said. “Eat your dinner so we can play games and go to the funhouse. I’m ready to make my dreams come true.”

    “ S HOW ME you love me ,” Nick prodded an hour later, tapping his cheek as Maddie hugged her new stuffed bear.
    Maddie obligingly rolled up to the tips of her toes and planted a kiss on Nick’s cheek. “I’ll show you better when we get home.”
    “You’ll show me better in the funhouse,” Nick corrected, laughing as he slung an arm over Maddie’s shoulders. “How about we get a hot chocolate and look around the area one more time before going into the funhouse and calling it a night?”
    “That sounds good,” Maddie said, studying her bear’s face for a moment. “He kind of looks like you.”
    “You say that about every animal I win for you, Mad,” Nick said. “That should only be said about handsome animals. This bear is clearly cute, but not handsome.”
    “Duly noted,” Maddie said, giggling.
    They were almost to the hot chocolate stand when Cooper smoothly stepped in front of them, a bright smile on his face. “There you are, Maddie. I’ve been looking for you all day. I thought you were hiding from me.”
    “Not hiding,” Maddie corrected. “Just hoping I would never see you again.”
    Nick snorted. “I guess we’re not that lucky, huh?”
    “You’ve been