Rio handed her a plate heaped with fried chicken, creamed potatoes and coleslaw. “If I came by any more often, they’d have to roll me in and out the door.”

“You eat.” Rio gestured with his spatula before he flipped burgers. “I like to see a woman with hips.”

“You’re about to.” Her willpower was nonexistent when she was faced with Rio’s extra-spicy chicken. Rachel began to eat where she stood. “Definitely number one,” she said with her mouth full. Rio grinned. “So, did you want to see me about anything in particular?” she asked Nick.

“No.” He brushed a hand down her hair. “I just wanted to see you.”

Whoops. “Nick, I really think—”

“We’ve only got a couple of weeks to go.”

“I know.” She shifted slightly, putting the plate between them. “In fact, I was able to speak to the DA, tell him about your progress. He doesn’t plan on making an objection to the suspended sentence and probation we expect from Judge Beckett.”

“I knew I could count on you, but I wasn’t just thinking about that.”

She knew very well what he was thinking of, and she’d put off dealing with it long enough. “Rio—” she set the plate aside “—I need to talk to Nick for a minute. Can you handle things without him if we go upstairs?”

“No problem. He just wash twice as fast when he come back.”

She would be calm, Rachel promised herself as they started upstairs. She would be logical, and she would be in control. “Okay, Nick,” she said the minute they stepped into the apartment. And that was all she said, because she found herself being thoroughly kissed. “Stop.” Her voice was muffled, but it was firm, and the hands she shoved against his shoulders did the rest.

“I’ve missed you, that’s all.” He gentled his grip, then released her completely when she stepped back. “It’s been a long time since we had a chance to be alone.”

Pressing her hands to her temples, she sighed. “Oh, Nick. I’ve made a mess of this.” The confused churning of emotion was clear in her eyes as she stared at him. “I kept telling myself it would resolve itself, even though I knew it wouldn’t.” In a gesture that mirrored the helplessness she was feeling, she let her hands drop to her sides. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

There was a quick warning twist in his gut. People only said that stuff about not hurting you in that particular tone of voice when they were about to. “What are you talking about?”