No, she loved her brother too much to let anything happen to him.

But the alternative wasn’t much better. She would continue to lie to her colleagues and her boss and break the rules of the SEC, until her deception was finally revealed. And then? She would lose her job and be facing the same problem. In addition, Zach would get in even more trouble. To try to influence an agent of the SEC wasn’t a misdemeanor. Nobody would believe that he hadn’t wanted to bribe her. Even if she were defending him. After all, who would believe her? She was the one who’d gotten involved with a suspect. That just about killed her credibility.

Rochelle cursed. No matter what she decided, somebody would suffer. There was no solution to her dilemma.

Resigned, she took the plate and carried it into the kitchen. She placed it in the sink when her cell phone rang. Probably her brother, wanting to know when he could get his hands on the money. Did she have enough energy tonight to confess that she’d not yet been able to raise the entire amount he needed?

With a heavy heart she walked back into the living room and reached for her cell phone. The display didn’t show Steve’s number, but Zach’s.

She swallowed hard before answering the call.

“Yes?”

“Rochelle, it’s me, Zach.” His voice sounded calm and collected. Almost sober.

“I know.”

“We need to talk.”

She knew that, too.

“Please. I’m outside your apartment.”

“You’re here?” Immediately she walked over to the window and looked outside. She found him standing on the sidewalk opposite, his cell phone pressed to his ear.

“Please talk to me.”

She hesitated. She couldn’t invite him into her place, because she knew exactly what would happen if she did. She couldn’t be alone with him.

“Zach, I—”

As if he’d read her mind, he interrupted, “Meet me down here. Please.”

Slowly she nodded. “I’ll be down in two minutes.” She disconnected the call and turned away from the window.

While she searched for a light cardigan and took her keys, she pulled in a deep breath of air. She could only hope that she wasn’t making a huge mistake by agreeing to meet with him.

~ ~ ~

Zach waited impatiently, until Rochelle finally exited from her apartment building. He walked across the street to meet her. As much as he wanted to take her into his arms, he suppressed the urge and instead nodded at her in greeting.

“Thank you for coming.” He motioned toward the street. “Shall we walk a little?”

She nodded silently, and they began to walk side by side.

“You wanted to talk.”

He took a fortifying breath. “What happened in the office today… was inevitable.” He caught her stunned sideways glance, but continued nevertheless. “Even though I know that our actions were reckless, I can’t regret them.” He shoved his hand through his hair. “Nobody has ever gotten under my skin like you have. And the fact that we’re on opposing sides doesn’t change that either. Damn it, Rochelle, I want you now just as much as I wanted you that night in the hotel. And the longer we keep denying each other what we really want, the more likely it is that the incident from this morning will repeat itself.”

He looked at her from the side and noticed how she was fighting with herself. “You know it’s mutual. This morning you wanted me just as much. The way you pressed yourself to me, the way you took me inside you… Rochelle, you didn’t fake that. That was you.”

He noticed her swallow hard. “Zach, I don’t know what came over me. I know it was wrong.”

He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Yet so right.”

She stopped walking and turned to him. “Nevertheless, nothing can come from it. I’ve risked too much already. We’ve been incredibly lucky so far that nobody has noticed anything, but how long do you think this streak is going to continue? At some point they’ll catch us, and you know exactly what will happen then.” Slowly she pulled her hand from his grip. “I’ll lose my job and then—”

“I would never let that happen.” And if it did happen, he would make sure that she’d want for nothing. He owed her that much. He had enough contacts; besides, a woman as intelligent as Rochelle would find a new position in no time. Not that he’d let things get so far that she’d lose her job. He didn’t want to be the reason her career took a nose dive. He’d prevent it with everything he had.

She shook her head. “That’s not your decision. My boss can’t wait to find a reason to fire me anyway. He wouldn’t hesitate, if he heard any rumors. And what’s gonna happen to my brother then?”