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Grave Haunting (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 10) Page 20


  Maddie was justifiably affronted. “You act as if I go around looking for trouble.”

  “Not looking,” Kreskin corrected. “It simply seems to find you.”

  “Oh, whatever.” Maddie rolled her eyes, leaning in as Nick kissed her cheek. “What happens now?”

  “Now we take Dora in and question her,” Kreskin replied. “You’re going to have to give a statement. You, too, George. Other than that, it seems pretty open and shut.”

  “That’s good.” Maddie scratched the side of her nose. “I guess that means I can cook dinner two nights in a row, Nicky. What sounds good tonight?”

  “You don’t have to cook,” Nick argued. “In fact … .” He broke off and flashed a quick look in George’s direction while gathering his thoughts. “I thought maybe we could go to the diner for dinner.”

  “Again? I thought you liked my cooking.”

  “I do,” Nick said, bobbing his head. “If we go to the diner, though, you can focus on getting to know George over a meal instead of fussing over food.”

  “Oh.” Maddie pressed her lips together and tilted her head to the side, considering.

  “You don’t have to do that,” George said after a beat. “If it’s too soon … .”

  “It’s not too soon,” Maddie said, making up her mind. “Dinner at the diner sounds good.”

  “It does?” George couldn’t help but be hopeful. “Really?”

  “Really.” Maddie nodded, flashing a small smile. “You can bring the photo album … and your stories.”

  “That sounds good.” George’s voice cracked as he fought off tears. “What about your mother? What about Maude?”

  Maddie shrugged. “I can only tackle one thing at a time. They’ll either learn to live with it or, in Granny’s case, complain for the foreseeable future and see how much mischief she can find.”

  George snorted. “Thank you. I would love to have dinner with you.”

  Maddie held her hands palms up and exhaled heavily, weighing the decision. It felt right. She didn’t know what would come in the future, but for now, things felt right. “We have to start somewhere.”

  “So we will.” Nick grabbed her hand and grinned. “If you want to make an apple pie for dessert, though, I won’t complain.”

  Maddie returned his smile. “Somehow I knew you would say that.”

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  Acknowledgments

  I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

  Books by Lily Harper Hart

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  Deadly Intentions

  Deadly Intuition

  Deadly Illusions

  Deadly Proposal

  Deadly Prospects

  Deadly Ever After

  Deadly Honeymoon

  Deadly Questions

  Deadly Addition

  Deadly Vacation

  Deadly Secrets

  Deadly Storm

  Deadly Dealings

  Deadly Christmas

  Deadly Desperados

  Deadly Arrival

  Deadly Rivalry

  Deadly Memories

  Deadly Adventure

  Deadly Reunion

  Deadly Conflicts

  Deadly Payback

  Deadly Waves

  Deadly Forever

  A Maddie Graves Mystery

  Grave Homecoming

  Grave Insight

  Grave Delight

  Grave Misgivings

  Grave Concerns

  Grave Discovery

  Grave Decisions

  Grave Seasons

  Grave Holiday

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  Wicked Times

  Wicked Places

  Wicked Warning

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  Wicked Season

  A Harper Harlow Mystery

  Ghostly Interests

  Ghostly Issues

  Ghostly Deceits

  Ghostly Worries

  Ghostly Images

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  Welcoming Seas

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