“For a minute, the burn was arousing.” Ripley took a steadying breath. “Seductive. I wanted it, and what it would do to me.”

“That’s part of its slyness.” But fear, cold and clammy, shivered over Mia’s skin. “You know that, too.”

“Yeah, I know it. And now I’ve felt it. You and Nell can hold out against it, and Nell stands in front of Zack. But I saw what could happen, and I’m not taking any chances. I can’t leave, it won’t work. So Mac’s going to have to go.”

“He won’t.” Mia soothed the welts with her fingertips.

“I’ll make him.”

With her hand on Ripley’s heart, Mia felt the beat that was love and fear. Her own ached in sympathy.

“You can try.”

Steps to be taken, Ripley reminded herself as she approached the yellow cottage. This one, most of all, had to be faced. She didn’t need second sight or a ball of crystal to foresee that it would be painful. More painful than the raw welts that even Mia hadn’t been able to erase completely from her skin. He might hate her when she was done. But he would be safe.

She didn’t hesitate, but knocked, then strolled in.

Dressed in a ragged sweatshirt and rattier jeans, he stood in the crowded bedroom. He was reviewing the tape from the night before. It was a jolt to see him on the monitor—so calm, so unruffled, so steady

—sitting on the bed beside her, gently taking her pulse while his voice reassured. A jolt to see him glance over at her now, to see the concentration in his eyes, then the easy pleasure that warmed them.

He stood, blocking the monitor with his body, then switching it off.

“Hi. You snuck off on me this morning.”

“Had stuff,” she said with a shrug. “Back at work, huh?”

“It can wait. How about some coffee?”

“Yeah, that’d be good.” She didn’t avoid the kiss, but neither did she respond. She knew he was puzzled, so she breezed by him into the kitchen.

“I wanted to talk to you,” she began. “I know we’ve been hanging out a lot.”

“Hanging out?”

“Yeah. We’ve got a real nice sizzle between us, especially between the sheets.” She sat, stretching out her legs, crossing her feet at the ankles. “But the thing is, it’s getting a little intense for me. Wow, last night especially really went over the top. I’m going to have to back off.”

“Back off?” He caught himself parroting her again, shook his head. “I understand last night’s session was rough.” He got down two mugs, poured coffee. “You need a break from that.”

“You’re not following me.” Already bleeding inside, she took the mug he offered. “It’s not just the work area—I’ve got to admit, I found it a lot more interesting than I thought I would. Brains are pretty sexy. I’ve never hung out with a really smart guy before.”

She sipped the coffee, burned her tongue, and kept right on talking. “Look, Mac, you’re really a nice guy, and I think we both had a good time. You even helped me clear my head about a lot of stuff. I appreciate that.”

“Do you?”

There he was, she thought, looking at her as if she were a bug on a slide. “You bet. But I’m starting to feel a little, you know, confined. I need to move on.”

“I see.” His voice was calm, just a bit detached. “So, you’re dumping me.”

“That’s a little harsh.” He wasn’t reacting as she’d expected. He didn’t look angry, upset, hurt, shocked. He simply looked mildly interested. “Why don’t we keep it friendly and just say it’s been fun?”

“Okay.” He leaned back on the counter, crossing his long legs at the ankles in a move that eerily mirrored hers, then sipped his coffee. “It’s been fun.”

“Great.” A little sliver of resentment worked through, pricking her heart, and her voice. “Figured you for a reasonable type, which is probably why you’re not really my type. I guess you’ll be heading back to New York pretty soon.”

“No, not for several more weeks.”

“I don’t see the point in staying. I don’t want to play anymore.”

“I guess I have to make sure you’re not the center of my universe, then. I still have work to do on the Sisters.”

“You won’t get any more cooperation from me. Look, I’m just thinking of how you’re going to feel. It’s a small world here. People are going to know I broke things off. It’s going to be embarrassing for you.”

“Let me worry about that.”

“Fine. Not my problem.” She pushed to her feet.

“No, it’s not.” He spoke pleasantly as he set his mug aside. She never saw it coming. One second he was studying her with that vague curiosity, and the next he’d yanked her against him. His mouth was like a fever on hers. Hot, angry, draining.

“Why are you lying to me?”

She was out of breath, and her thoughts had scattered like ants. “Hands off!”

“Why are you lying?” he repeated, and backed her up against the refrigerator door. Detached? she thought wildly. Had she thought he was detached?

“Where did all this bull come from?” He gave her one quick shake. “Why are you trying to hurt me?”

And it did hurt, a deep, throbbing ache in the pit of his stomach, a slow, twisting twinge in the heart.

“I’m not trying to hurt you, but I will if you keep pushing yourself on me. I don’t want you.”

“You’re a liar. You held me when you slept.”

“I can’t be responsible for what I do in my sleep.”

“You turned to me in the dark.” His voice was relentless. A part of him felt as if he was fighting for his life. “You gave yourself to me.”

“Sex is—”

“It wasn’t sex.” He remembered how it had been. For both of them. His hands gentled, and his anger became exasperation. “Do you think you can trick me into turning away from you, leaving the island?

Why?”

“I don’t want you here.” She shoved at him, and her voice began to hitch. “I don’t want you near me.”

“Why?”

“Because, you moron, I’m in love with you.”