Not entirely sure when he might have changed his sheets last, he decided to err on the side of caution and stripped them off.

It would be good if there was space to set up weights and exercise equipment. Ripley would want some space of her own, too, he imagined, and started gathering up socks, shirts, underwear. Somewhere she could get away from him when he started to drive her crazy.

His mother called hers an escape hatch, he remembered, and reminded himself to phone home.

He carted the laundry to the tiny room off the kitchen, missed stepping on the same screw by a hair, and stuffed everything that would fit into the washing machine. He added soap, then deciding he should write down some of the basic house requirements, wandered out to find a pad and forgot to turn on the washing machine.

Three bedrooms minimum, he thought. Four would be better.

Someplace close to the water. Not that anywhere on the island was far from it, but Ripley was used to living right on the beach so ...

"Booke, you idiot! It's staring you right in the face. You knew the first time you saw it."

He dashed to the phone and dialed long distance information. "New York City," he told the operator. "I need the number for Logan Enterprises."

An hour later,to celebrate what he considered the first step in becoming a homeowner, he braved the elements. Thaddeus Logan hadn't jumped at the offer, but he hadn't dismissed it out of hand, either.

It hadn't hurt that Logan was acquainted with Mac's father. Connections within connections, Mac thought as he hissed in his breath and decided to walk to Cafe Book rather than risk the iced-over roads in his Rover.

He had a good feeling about it, and he was certain Logan would negotiate. Which reminded Mac-he should call his father for advice in that area. The one thing he was sure of was if you wanted something too much, and the other party knew it, you were asking to get skinned.

He needed to do some research on real estate values in the area, and he patted his pockets absently, hoping for a handy piece of paper to make a note to himself.

Not that the money mattered all that much, but the principle did. And he imagined that if he let himself get taken, Ripley would get torqued about it. That would start the whole process off on a bad note.

Tomorrow, Mac promised himself, he would take a drive and get another good look at what was going to be theirs.

Delighted with the idea, he strolled along, head down, as the wind screamed in his ears and the ugly mix of ice and snow swirled and spat.

Just look at him, Ripley thought. Out in this mess when he doesn't have to be. Not looking where he's going and bopping along as if it's a sunny day in July.

The man needs a keeper.

She would just have to take on the job.

She started toward him, then judging time and distance, planted herself. And let him walk straight into her.

"Jeez." Since she was braced and he wasn't, he went skidding. Reflexively he grabbed her, and that took them both on a fast slide. "Sorry."

But she was laughing, and the little elbow jab she gave him was friendly. "How many walls do you walk into on your average day?"

"I don't count. It's demoralizing. Gosh, you're pretty." He grabbed her again, but was steady this time. Lifting her to her toes, he planted a long, warm kiss on her mouth.

Her system tilted, sweetly. "What I am is cold and wet. My nose is red, and my toes are ice cubes. Zack and I just spent a miserable hour out on the coast road. We've got power lines down, and cars off the road, and the best part of a tree through Ed Sutter's workshop roof."

"Nice work if you can get it."

"Very funny. I think the worst of it'll blow out by tomorrow," she said, looking, as islanders had for centuries, out to sea and sky. Both were gray as pewter. "But we're going to be cleaning up after this one for a while yet. What the hell are you doing out here? You lose power?"

"It was on when I left. I wanted some decent coffee." He clued in to the direction from which she'd come, and the direction she'd been going. "Were you coming to check on me?"

"It's my job to check on the residents of our happy little rock."

"That's really considerate of you, Deputy Todd. How about I buy you a cup of coffee?"

"I could use it, and someplace warm and dry for ten minutes."

He took her hand as they headed into the wind up High Street. "How about if I buy a quart of soup and whatever, take it home? We can have dinner at my place later."

"Chances of the power lasting in the cottage through the night are slim. We've got a generator at our place. Why don't you pack what you need and plan on staying there tonight?"

"Is Nell cooking?"

"Is grass green?"

"I'm there." He pulled open the door for her.

Like magic, Lulu popped out from behind a bookshelf. "I should've known it was a couple of lunatics. Sensible people are home whining about the weather."

"Why aren't you?" Ripley asked.

"Because there are just enough lunatics on this island to keep the store open. Got a few of them up in the cafe right now."

"That's where we're heading. Did Nell go home?"

"Not yet. Mia cut her loose, but she's sticking. Didn't see why Peg should have to come out in this when she was already here. We're closing early, in an hour, anyhow."

"Good to know."

Ripley pulled off her soaked cap as she started up the stairs. "Do me a favor?" she said to Mac.

"Sure."

"Can you hang around till closing, make sure Nell gets home safe?"

"Glad to."

"Thanks. It'll be a load off. I can let Zack know, and he won't worry."

"I'll ask her to come by my place, help me get my stuff together."

Ripley shot him a smirk. "Pretty smart, aren't you?"

"People are always saying so." He kept her hand in his as they walked to the cafe counter.

"Zack just called," Nell told them. "You've had a hell of a day, haven't you?"