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 café 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 café counter.
“Zack just called,” Nell told them. “You’ve had a hell of a day, haven’t you?”
“Goes with the territory. You can give me two large coffees to go, and I’ll take one back to him. This guy’s springing for them,” she added, jerking a thumb at Mac.
“A large for me, too, but I’ll have it here. And . . . is that apple pie?”
“It is. Want a slice warm?”