Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

her. I’d just as soon it not get around that our resident witch is cooking up a spell. Or whatever.”
    To keep Ripley in check, Zack tightened his grip on her shoulders. “I’d go in myself and have a word with her, but the lobster boys should be coming along in a few minutes. I want to be standing here, looking smug and authoritative.”
    â€œI’ll talk to her.”
    â€œYou play nice, Rip. And remember it was Carl who went to her.”
    â€œYeah, yeah, yeah.” She shook off his arm and marched across the street.
    Witches and spells. It was all a bunch of nonsense, idiotic hooey, she thought as she breezed down the sidewalk. A man like Carl Macey ought to know better. Stirring up a bunch of silliness. It was all right for the tourists to buy all the Three Sisters lore—it was one of the things that brought them over from the mainland. But it burned her butt when it was one of her own.
    And Mia encouraged it, too. Just by being Mia.
    Ripley swung into Café Book and scowled over at Lulu, who was ringing up a customer. “Where is she?”
    â€œUpstairs. Pretty busy today.”
    â€œYeah, she’s a busy little bee,” Ripley muttered and headed up.
    She spotted Mia with a customer in the cookbooksection. Ripley bared her teeth. Mia fluttered her lashes. Simmering with impatience, Ripley strode into the café, waited her turn, then snapped out an order for coffee.
    â€œNo lunch today?” Flushed with the bustle of the noon crowd, Nell poured out from a fresh pot.
    â€œLost my appetite.”
    â€œThat’s too bad.” Mia cooed from behind Ripley. “The lobster salad’s particularly good today.”
    Ripley merely jerked a thumb, then marched behind the counter and into the kitchen. She jammed her hands on her hips when Mia strolled in after her.
    â€œZack and I are handling the problem. I want you to stay out of it.”
    A bowl of top cream was less smooth than Mia’s voice. “I wouldn’t dream of interfering with the law of the land.”
    â€œExcuse me.” Nell hesitated, cleared her throat. “Sandwiches. I need to make them up.”
    â€œGo right ahead.” Mia gestured. “I imagine Deputy Fife and I are nearly done.”
    â€œJust save the smart-ass comments.”
    â€œI do. I store them up just for you.”
    â€œI don’t want you doing anything, and I want you to tell Carl you didn’t do anything.”
    â€œToo late.” Enjoying herself, Mia smiled brilliantly. “It’s already done. A very simple spell—even someone with your fumbling abilities could have managed it.”
    â€œCancel it.”
    â€œNo. Why does it concern you? You claim not to believe in the Craft.”
    â€œI don’t. But I know how rumors work around here. If anything happens to those boys—”
    â€œDon’t insult me.” All humor fled from Mia’s voice. “You know very well I’d do nothing to harm them, or anyone. You know, that’s the heart of it. That’s what you’re afraid of. Afraid that if you opened yourself to what’s inside you again, you wouldn’t be able to control it.”
    â€œI’m not afraid of anything. And you’re not pulling me in that way.” She pointed at Nell, who was struggling to keep very busy with sandwiches. “You’ve got no right pulling her in, either.”
    â€œI don’t make the pattern, Ripley. I just recognize it. And so do you.”
    â€œIt’s a waste of time talking to you.” Ripley stormed out of the kitchen.
    Mia let out a little sigh, her only sign of distress. “Conversations with Ripley never seem particularly productive. You mustn’t let it worry you, Nell.”
    â€œIt has nothing to do with me.”
    â€œI can feel your anxiety all the way over here. People argue, often bitterly. They don’t all solve the conflict with fists. Here, now.” She