“I can handle my liquor, pal. And I don’t plan on picking a fight. Unless it’s with the cop.”

Nick crunched a dry leaf as it skittered across the sidewalk. “I’ll take the cop.”

Why, they’re joking with each other, Rachel realized. Like brothers. Very much like brothers. Delighted, she linked arms with both of them. “If either of you takes on Alex, you’ll be in for a surprise. He’s meaner than he looks. And the only thing I’m nervous about is that I won’t get my share of dinner. I’ve seen both of you eat.”

“This from a woman who packs it away like a linebacker.”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at Zack. “I merely have a healthy appetite.”

He grinned down at her. “Me too, sugar.”

She was wondering how to control the sudden leap of her heart rate when a car skidded to a halt in the street beside them. “Hey!” the driver called out.

“Hey back.” Rachel broke away to walk over to greet her brother and sister-in-law. Bending into the tiny window of the MG, she kissed Mikhail and smiled at his wife. “Still keeping him in line, Sydney?”

Cool and elegant beside her untamed-looking husband, Sydney smiled. “Absolutely. Difficult jobs are my forte.”

Mikhail pinched his wife’s thigh and nodded toward the sidewalk. “So what’s the story there?”

“They’re my guests.” She gave Mikhail a long, warning look that she knew was wasted on him before calling to Nick and Zack. “Come meet my brother and his long-suffering wife. Sydney, Mikhail, this is Zackary Muldoon and Nicholas LeBeck.”

His eyes shielded by dark glasses, Mikhail took a careful survey. He had a brother’s natural lack of faith in his sister’s judgment. “Which is the client?”

“Today,” Rachel said, “they’re both guests.”

Sydney leaned over and jammed her elbow sharply in Mikhail’s ribs. “It’s very nice to meet you, both of you. You’re in for quite a treat with Nadia’s cooking.”

“So I hear.” Zack kept his eyes on Mikhail as he answered, and lifted a proprietary hand to Rachel’s shoulder.

Mikhail’s fingers drummed on the steering wheel. “You own what? A bar?”

“No, actually, I’m into white slavery.”

That got a chuckle from Nick before Rachel shook her head. “Go park your car.”

As they retreated to the sidewalk, Nick smiled over at Rachel. “I see what you mean now about older brothers. Being a pain must go with the position.”

“Responsibility,” Zack told him. “We just pass on the benefit of our experience.”

“No,” Rachel said, “what you are is nosy.” Amused, she gestured toward the sound of voices and laughter. Mikhail and Sydney were already at the door of the row house, hugging and being hugged. “This is it.” When Rachel spotted Natasha, she gave a cry of pleasure and dashed up the steps.