His lips curved as he turned back to her. “So am I. You’re my angel and I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She beamed at him. “It still makes me sad, though. She was a well-regarded woman. People all over the world respected her. None of the people here are mourning her, though.”
“I wouldn’t say none of them,” Nick countered. “I saw Cooper and Boone questioning the daughter and assistant in one of the buildings yesterday. They looked shaken up, and I don’t see them down here. It’s possible that the people who are upset about this decided room service was a better option this morning.”
Maddie brightened considerably at the prospect. “I didn’t think of that. You’re right, though. That’s probably what it is.” She let out a sigh and leaned back in her chair. “That makes me feel a little better. Even if she was awful — and the woman we saw yesterday before it happened could never be described as pleasant — I can’t imagine being so horrible nobody would mourn you.”
“That’s because everybody who has ever met you would cry big, fat tears of despair if something ever happened to you.” He grabbed her hand before she could reach for her juice again and kissed her palm. “Do you want to know why that is?”
Maddie rolled her eyes in exaggerated fashion. “Let me guess ... because I’m an angel?”
His grin was so wide it swallowed his entire face. “Pretty much.”
“Does that include you?”
Even though he’d started the game, Nick’s smile disappeared swiftly. “Let’s not talk about this.”
“It’s a simple question.”
“And the answer is simple, too. If something happened to you I would never get over it. I would be a broken and despondent man. I don’t like this game any longer.”
For some reason, that had Maddie smiling. “You’re my favorite person in the world, Nicky. Have I ever told you that?”
“Maybe a time or two. It’s always nice to hear, though.” He gave her palm one more kiss and then released her hand. “You’re my favorite person, too. In fact, I love you twice as much as you love me.”
“Oh, you do not.”
“I do so.”
“No.” She fervently shook her head. “Do you want to know why that’s not possible? I’ll tell you. It’s not possible because I love you to infinity and beyond and there’s no bigger love than that.”
He laughed at the way she puffed out her chest. “How about, when we get back home, we put that to the test, huh?”
“How do you suggest we do that?”
“Oh, I have a few ideas.” He pursed his lips and made a kissing sound before shifting his gaze to a tall brunette. The woman was cutting her way through the dining room and appeared to be heading in their direction. “Do you know who this is?”
Maddie shifted so she could look, nodding as the woman eliminated the distance. “Hello, Alicia. I wondered if we would be seeing you.”
“Hello, Maddie.” The woman beamed at the couple, her gaze sparkling as it bounced between them. “I recognize you from the photo you sent for your event bio. I just wanted to say hello before things get started. What time are you heading up to Casper Creek?”
Maddie was caught off guard. “I ... assumed that things wouldn’t be happening as planned today.” She exchanged a quick look with Nick and found he looked as puzzled as she felt. “Isn’t Casper Creek still a crime scene?”
“The brothel may be, but I’ve already talked to the owner. Things will be continuing as planned. Absolutely nothing has changed.”
Nick cleared his throat to draw the woman’s attention to him. “Something has changed,” he countered. “Velma Sanders is dead. I would think there would have to be adjustments because of that.”
“Why?” Alicia wrinkled her nose. “Obviously Velma ticked someone off — which is her way — and it’s over and done with. Besides, we’re talking about a group of psychics. What better way to get into the swing of things than to go up there and find a killer? I mean ... it’s the least we can do for Velma, right?”
Maddie’s stomach rolled at the woman’s callous disregard for the dead. “That seems disrespectful.”
“I don’t happen to believe that. I just wanted you to know that I’ll be heading up there in about an hour. I expect to see you there, too.”
Maddie watched her go, a mixture of annoyance and confusion washing over her. Nick studied his wife’s face for a beat and then voiced his opinion. “She’s right, Mad. It makes sense for us to stick around long enough to see if we can get some answers. Besides, I’m not sure the police want us to leave quite yet.”
“Did they say we have to stay?” Maddie looked momentarily fearful. “They don’t think we’re suspects, do they?”
“I don’t think so. That’s standard operating procedure, though. Besides, we’re paid up for several more days. There’s no reason to hurry back, even if you decide you don’t like what happens in Casper Creek today. We can turn the rest of the trip into a private vacation, just the two of us, if it comes to that.”
He made sense and Maddie found herself nodding. “Yeah. I do kind of want to see if they know anything.”
He smiled. “I figured. We’ll eat our breakfast and head up.”
“That sounds like a plan to me.”
6
Six
The ride up the ski lift wasn’t as fun the second day. This time, Nick and Maddie sat in relative silence, holding hands, and simply watched the foliage stream by. When they landed, the town was already buzzing with activity ... and the bulk of the people there appeared to be having a good time.
“So much for mourning the dead,” Maddie mused.
Nick rubbed his hand over her back. “They didn’t know her, Mad. Also, you know this as well as anybody, when someone dies in brutal fashion it’s difficult for people
