“You’ve got a lot of thoughts going on inside that head at one time.” Zack held out a glass. “Want to share any of them?”

“No. That is, I was just thinking what a nice room this is.”

“It was a lot more presentable when my mother was in charge of it. Now that it’s just Ripley and me, the kitchen doesn’t get a lot of attention.”

“Ripley. Oh. I see.”

“You were wondering if I was married, or maybe living here with someone who wasn’t my sister. That’s nice.”

“It’s none of my business.”

“I didn’t say it was, just said it was nice. I’d take you through the house, but it’s probably in worse shape than the kitchen. And you’ve got a tidy soul. We’ll go this way.” He took her hand again, pulled her back outside.

“Where? I really should be getting back.”

“It’s Sunday, and we’ve hit our day off together. I’ve got something you’ll like,” he continued and tugged her across the porch.

It wrapped around the house, edged the side where there was a scrubby garden and a couple of gnarled trees. Weather-worn steps led up to a second-story porch that faced the sea.

He kept his hand over hers and led her up them.

Air and sun washed over her, made her think how easy it would be to stretch out in the wooden chaise and let the day rock away.

A telescope stood by the rail, along with a stone troth that had yet to be planted.

“You’re right.” She stepped to the rail, leaned out and breathed. “I do like it.”

“You look west, you can see the mainland when it’s clear enough.”

“You don’t have your telescope pointed west.”

At the moment all his attention was on her very pretty set of legs. “I guess I don’t.”

“What do you look at?”

“Whatever strikes my fancy at the time.”

She glanced over as she moved away. He was staring at her now—long, speculative looks, and they both knew it. “It’d be tempting to stay out here all day,” she said as she turned the corner and looked out on the village. “Watch the comings and the goings.”

“I watched you this morning, feeding the gulls.” He leaned on the rail, a man at home, and drank his tea. “I woke up thinking, ‘You know, I’m going to find a reason to drop by the yellow cottage today, get another look at Nell Channing,’ then I came out here with my morning coffee, and there you were. So I didn’t have to make up a reason to get another look at you.”

“Sheriff—”