The look Cooper shot Tyler was withering. “Hannah isn’t stupid. It’s that other woman who makes me want to find a hole to hide in.”
“And what woman is that?”
“I don’t know. Velma Sanders, or something close to that.”
Maddie straightened, surprised. “The psychic?”
Nick slid his eyes to his wife. “Do you know her?”
“I know of her,” Maddie replied. “She’s got a pretty good reputation in certain circles. I believe she’s found a few missing kids ... and she once told a murderer he was going to die soon during a reading and it caused him to turn himself in and give cops a full confession so they could help grieving loved ones before the killer passed on.”
Nick and Cooper made twin faces of disbelief.
“No offense, Mad, but that sounds like some sort of urban myth to me,” Nick argued.
“Me, too.” Cooper shot her a rueful smile. “I say that as a man who likes most women, although not in whatever creepy way you’re probably imagining.” He shook his head, dumbfounded. “Wow. I’m all kinds of stupid today or something.”
“Yes, it’s lovely to see,” Tyler drawled, amusement sparking in his eyes. “Since I’m usually the one who sticks my foot in my mouth, I’m happy to see it.”
“That’s because you’re a moron,” Cooper muttered under his breath. He held out his hands in a placating manner as he regarded Maddie. “I really am sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean to be so rude. I just ... was having a bad moment.”
“It’s okay,” Maddie insisted. “We all have bad moments. I’ve had my fair share. Isn’t that right, Nicky?”
“You’re perfect in every way,” Nick countered, grinning when Maddie shot him a dark look. “You’ll never get me to say otherwise.”
“Oh, you guys are so cute,” Tyler drawled. “You’re both tall and look as if you could model in your spare time. You give each other adorable little looks and touches at every turn. Let me guess, you’re newlyweds.”
Maddie’s eyebrows hopped. “How did you know that?”
Tyler snickered. “Just call it a wild guess.” He winked at Maddie’s confused face and then inclined his head toward the saloon. “It sounds like you guys just got here. Since your first official act was helping me save the goats from the dog, your first round is on me.”
“Oh, that’s really not necessary,” Maddie countered hurriedly. “We can buy our own drinks.”
“You can after I buy you a round,” Cooper countered, nodding at Tyler as he gestured toward the fence. “If you helped Tyler wrangle Jinx, then you’ve definitely earned it. Besides, the fact that you know a little something about Velma has me curious. I wouldn’t mind picking your brain.”
Maddie exchanged a quick look with Nick and then nodded. “Sure. That sounds like a fair trade-off.”
“I’m glad you agree.”
3
Three
The saloon was bustling with activity. Maddie didn’t consider herself much of a drinker, but the way Nick’s eyes lit up when he saw the interior was enough to have her debating what sort of drink she wanted to try.
“This is ... fun.” Nick absently rubbed his hand over Maddie’s back. They were a tactile couple, always touching one another, and that wasn’t about to change as they embarked on this sprawling new adventure. “Where do you want to sit, Mad?”
“Wherever.” Maddie grinned as he read the menu. He seemed completely enamored, which lifted some of the weight she’d been carrying. When he initially floated the idea of them going on the trip together, she’d been convinced he would be bored. For now at least, he appeared to be gung-ho regarding their surroundings. “You can pick.”
He slid his eyes to her and grinned. “Then I want that booth.” He pointed toward a circular bench that would allow them to sit side-by-side rather than across from one another. “It will be like being in Ruby’s diner.”
Maddie snorted. Their favorite diner at home had a booth that allowed them to sit the same way. Nick always claimed it before anyone else could. “I think that’s a fine idea.”
Cooper walked with them to the table and sat, making sure to give them a wide berth as they snuggled together at the center. He seemed conflicted as he watched them look over the menu. On one hand, they were a ridiculously cute couple. The way they laughed and whispered was adorable, and the fire was obviously still there because they flirted constantly. On the other hand, though, the woman had recognized Velma Sanders’ name. That made her intriguing in Cooper’s book, and maybe a little dangerous, too.
“What do you recommend?” Nick queried, fixing the security chief with a friendly smile. “I mean ... do you have a specialty here or anything?”
“Well, the sarsaparilla is a real crowd pleaser,” Cooper offered. “There’s no alcohol in that, though. If you want something with a bit of a buzz, I recommend going with the IPA. It’s sourced locally and I’ve never heard a single complaint about it.”
“That sounds good to me,” Nick enthused. “What about you, Mad? Do you want the IPA, too?”
“I want the sarsaparilla.”
Nick frowned. “We’re on vacation, Mad. You’re allowed to have a drink in the middle of the day. Nobody is going to give you grief over it.”
“I know.” For some reason, she felt defensive. “It’s not that. It’s just ... I’m kind of a lightweight. You’re the one who always points that out.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t a fan of you getting tipsy at a summer festival after one beer,” Nick pointed out. “You get handsy when you’re tipsy.”
Maddie shot him a pointed look, scandalized. “I don’t get handsy. Stop telling strangers that.”
Nick’s smile was indulgent as he slid it back to Cooper. “She’s kind of a prude.”
Cooper returned the smile. “You don’t seem to mind.”
“No,” Nick
