“I’ve got a date, so if you don’t finish this before my time’s up, you’ll just have to wash the bowl yourself.”

“I can dump it in the sink the same as you would, for Nell to deal with in the morning. Give me a hot chocolate to go with it. Are you still stepping out with Mick Burmingham?”

“That’s right. We’re snugging in and having a video festival. We’re watching Scream One, Two, and Three.”

“Very sexy. If you want to take off, I won’t snitch to Mia.”

Peg didn’t hesitate. “Thanks.” She whipped off her apron. “I’m gone.”

Appreciating the fact that the café was empty, Ripley settled down to enjoy her soup in blissful solitude. Nothing could have spoiled her pleasure more quickly than hearing the click of Mia’s heels on the floor barely one minute later.

“Where’s Peg?”

“I cut her loose. Hot date.”

“I don’t appreciate you giving my employees permission to leave early. The café doesn’t close for another four minutes, and it’s part of her job description to clean the case, counters, and kitchen after that time.”

“Well, I booted her along, so you can kick my ass instead of hers.” Intrigued, Ripley continued to spoon up soup as she studied Mia.

It was a rare event to see the cool Ms. Devlin heated up, and jittery. She was twisting the chain of the amulet she wore around her neck, continued to worry it as she strode over to the display counter and hissed.

“There are health regulations about cleanliness in food services. Since you were so generous to Peg, you can damn well scrub this up yourself.”

“In a pig’s eye,” Ripley muttered, but felt a tug of guilt that threatened to spoil her appetite. “What bug crawled up your butt?”

“I have a business to run here, and it takes more than stalking around the village looking cocky, which is your specialty.”

“Oh, get fucked, Mia. It’ll improve your humor.”

Mia rounded back. “Unlike you, fucking isn’t my answer to every whim and itch.”

“You want to play the ice maiden because Sam Logan dumped you, that’s your . . .” Ripley trailed off, despising herself even as the hot color in Mia’s face drained. “Sorry. Out of line. Way out of line.”

“Forget it.”

“When I sucker punch somebody, I apologize. Even if you did come in here looking for a fight. In fact, I’ll not only apologize, I’ll ask you what’s wrong.”

“What the hell do you care?”

“Normally, I don’t. But normally I don’t see you spooked. What’s the deal?”

They’d been friends once, and good ones. As close as any sisters. Because of that it was harder for Mia to sit, to open up, than it would have been if Ripley had been a stranger.