“Apparently not. Anyway, I was just wondering why you’re doing all this for her brother, but you don’t have the guts to tell her how you feel about her.”

“One thing has got nothing to do with the other.” Besides, he hated it when people nosed around in his private life.

He turned away and sat down. But if he’d thought to shake Xavier off like that, he was wrong.

His friend sat down next to him. “Did you know she quit her job?”

Zach whirled to him. “What?”

“I called her office and—”

“You called her? What the fuck did you want from her?” Had Xavier wanted to ask her out on a date?

“Just wanted to see how she was doing. Anyway, her colleague told me she doesn’t work there anymore. Apparently, she quit the day your investigation closed.”

“Are you sure she quit?” Because that didn’t make any sense. Rochelle needed her job. “Or did her boss fire her?” That was much more likely. Had her boss found out about his and Rochelle’s relationship after all, and fired her despite her success in bringing in Emily Grover?

“You mean, because you and she were involved?” Xavier shrugged. “Possible, but I couldn’t really ask her colleague anything else. Even my charm only goes so far.”

“Damn it!” Was he responsible for Rochelle losing her job? He had to fix this. “I have to leave.” He placed the coffee cup on the little table next to him and rose, but didn’t get far.

Holly came running into the waiting room. “It’s here. The baby is here!” She pointed to the hallway behind her. “Come on, guys.”

Everybody rose and followed her through the double doors. Zach went with them. At the next corner, everybody stopped in front of a large window. Behind it, Daniel stood, dressed in scrubs, holding a newborn in his arms. He grinned from one ear to the other. The proud father.

The members of the Eternal Bachelors Club suddenly turned into tame lambs, tapping at the windowpane and cooing at the new life in their friend’s arms.

“What is it, a girl or a boy?” Wade asked.

“A boy,” Holly replied. “I so wanted a girl that I could spoil rotten.”

Paul laughed. “Well, don’t let Daniel hear that.” He caressed his wife’s big belly tenderly. “Maybe you and I will have the girl that you wish for.”

Holly rested her head on Paul’s shoulder, and he drew her against him.

Zach sensed his heart tighten. Daniel and Paul had both found the right women to be happy with. Could he, too, hope for such happiness, or had he already screwed everything up beyond repair?

Did he still have a chance to fix what had gone wrong with Rochelle? Oh God, he sincerely hoped so, because now, as he watched Daniel behind the window, holding his son in his arms, after overcoming so many obstacles in his relationship with Sabrina, he suddenly realized that whatever he had to do, it would be worth it.

He waved goodbye to Daniel and turned.

“Where’re you off to?” Xavier asked.

Zach looked over his shoulder. “To go get what I want.”

His friend smiled contentedly. “About time.”

27

All Rochelle had wanted to do was get milk from the small corner store before it closed at nine p.m. Of course, they’d run out of it.

She hadn’t counted on the sky opening up within ten minutes of her leaving the house without an umbrella and pelting her with rain. Not just ordinary rain. It was like a tropical downpour that now turned the narrow streets of the East Village into canals.

She wore only a thin summer dress, because it had been unbearably humid in the afternoon. And her sandals provided no protection against the water either. She felt as if she was standing in her shower, fully dressed.

“Crap!” she cursed and ran along the sidewalk, passing other pedestrians who weren’t faring any better. Only a few people had umbrellas with them.

She felt her clothes clinging to her like a second skin. She was soaked to her underwear, which everybody could probably see, unless they were as eager to get out of the rain as she and took no notice of anybody.

She reached the entrance to her apartment building and pulled on the door. But tonight of all nights, it was locked. Typical! She searched for her keys when she heard somebody call her name.

She whirled around and froze.

“Rochelle!” Zach crossed the street and headed straight for her.

In his faded jeans and light-blue polo shirt he looked younger—and even more attractive.

“Zach.” She could barely say his name. She swallowed and tried to appear normal. “What are you doing here?”