"I've seen her all my life." Tired now, Ripley stepped away from him because it would be too easy, frighteningly easy, to step toward him. "I'll let you know what I decide when I decide it. And I want to apologize for being rude and swiping at you, for mucking things up. But right now ... I need to be by myself."

"I'll walk you back."

"No. Thanks, but no. Come on, Lucy."

Mac stayed where he was, between two women. Both of them pulled at him.

CHAPTER Ten

Nell found itstrange to knock on the door of a house where she'd once lived. Part of her still thought of the yellow cottage as hers.

She had lived much longer in the white palace in California, and had never considered it hers. Unless it was to think of it as her prison, one she'd risked her own life to escape.

But the little cottage by the wood had been hers for only a few months, and had given her some of the happiest moments of her life.

Her first home, the place where she had begun to feel safe, and strong. The place where she and Zack had fallen in love.

Even the terror she'd known there, the spilled blood, couldn't spoil the sense of belonging that the little yellow cottage with its dollhouse rooms gave her.

Still, she knocked, and waited politely on the front stoop until Mac opened the door.

He looked distracted. He was unshaven, his hair sticking up in wild spikes.

"Sorry. Did I wake you?"

"What? No. Up for hours. Um." He dragged a hand through his hair, tousling it further. What was she doing there? Did they have an appointment? Jeez, what timewas it? "Sorry. My mind's ... come on in."

The peek past him showed her the room jammed with equipment. Lights were glowing, and something was beeping steadily. "You must be working. I won't disturb you. I just wanted to bring you some of last night's dessert. You missed it."

"Dessert? Oh, right. Thanks. Come in."

"Actually, I'm on my way to work, so I'll just ..." Since she was now talking to his retreating back, Nell shrugged and stepped inside, closed the door behind her. "Why don't I just put this in the kitchen for you?"

"Uh-huh. Look at this. Wait, wait." He held up one hand, making notes with the other as he studied a printout that put Nell in mind of a seismograph.

After a moment he looked over at her again and beamed. "You just sparkle, don't you?"

"Excuse me?"

"The readings changed the minute you came into the house."

"Really?" Fascinated, she stepped a little closer. And realized that no matter how close she got, she would never understand a thing about it.

"It's different with Ripley," Mac went on. "Her readings are all over the chart, and you never know. But you, you're a dependable soul."

Her lips pursed, the beginnings of a pout. "That makes me sound boring."

"On the contrary." He took the plate from her, lifting the protective wrap to break off a piece of the pie. Scattering crumbs. "You're a comfort. I'd say you're a woman who's found her place and is happy there. I'm sorry I messed up dinner last night."

"You didn't. If you're going to eat that now, let me get you a fork."

When she walked back to the kitchen, he followed her, watched her go to the right drawer, take out a fork. "Does it ... sorry."

"Does it bother me to be in here?" she finished for him, and handed him the fork. "No. This house is clean. I cleansed it myself. I needed to do it myself."

"A strong comfort. Sheriff Todd's a very lucky man."

"Yes, he is. Sit down, Mac, I've got ten minutes. Do you want coffee with that?"

"Well ..." He glanced down at the pie. He couldn't quite remember if he'd eaten any breakfast. Besides, the pie was here. "Sure."

"You said it was different with Ripley," Nell said as she measured out coffee. What was already in the pot looked nearly as hideous as it smelled, and she poured it straight down the drain. "You're right. I don't know all the reasons why, but she doesn't talk about it. And if I did,I wouldn't talk about it. It's for her. But she's my sister, so I'm going to ask you straight out. Is your interest in her only to do with your work?"

"No." He shifted a bit, seeking comfort. He was a man more used to asking the questions than answering them. "In fact, it would probably be easier for me, and certainly easier for her, if she wasn't involved in the work. But she is. Was she all right when she got home last night?"

"She wasn't angry anymore. Unsettled, but not angry. I'm going to confess and get this out of the way. I set things up last night."

"You mean the pink candles, the rose quartz, sprigs of rosemary, and so on?" Relaxed again, Mac shoveled another bite of pie into his mouth. "I noticed."

"So much for subtlety." Irked, Nell got down a mug. "I didn't do a spell."

"Appreciate it," he said with his mouth full. "I also appreciate knowing youthought about doing one. I'm flattered you'd consider me someone you'd like to see with Ripley."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Not exactly. I upset her last night, and I'm sorry for that. But it's something we're both going to have to come to terms with. She is what she is. I do what I do."

Angling her head, Nell studied him. "She wouldn't be attracted to you-not for long, anyway-if you were a pushover."

"Good to know. Will you talk to me on the record?"

"Yes."

"Just like that? No qualifications?"

She set his coffee on the table. "I won't tell you anything I don't want you to know. I'm still learning, Mac. I may learn as much from you as you do from me. But now I have to get to work."

"One question. Does the power make you happy?"

"Yes. Happy and centered and strong. But I could be all those things without it." Her dimples winked. "Now ask me if I could be this happy without Zack."

"I don't have to."