Kate came over to her bedroom and knocked on the door.

"Ethan? She's left."

No answer came from inside. Kate sighed and opened the door. There Ethan laid across her bed, with his arms behind his head. His eyes closed.

Kate drifted over to stand beside him. She laid his shirt at the end of the bed. He must have fallen asleep. Ethan looked peaceful and a lot less intimidating this way. Kate hated him for being so cute.

Ethan had known her since her art school days. They were both photography majors. She always knew he held feelings for her, but it always scared her to act on that knowledge. She feared losing him as a friend.

When she went through all the hardships of being framed and having to take the fall for the scandal, she hadn't talked to him about it. She felt too ashamed. Kate never knew he was upset about it until he mentioned it today. However, she should have guessed that's how he would feel, as he's always been protective of her.

Kate leaned over to gently push a piece of hair out of his face. Ethan suddenly came to life and grabbed hold of her, flipping her over him to the other side of the bed. Kate screamed from being startled.

"Don't you know better than to touch a man while he's sleeping?"

Ethan still had a hold on her wrist and was now leaning over her.

She looked up at him annoyed. "Was it your goal to scare me half to death?"

Ethan leaned in his face so close to hers, that Kate realized she only had to lift her face slightly and she could kiss him.

"You really have no feelings for me whatsoever?"

"What would admitting to it get me?" Kate challenged.

"A little bit of this," Ethan said nuzzling her neck.

"Not worth the wait," Kate told him.

Ethan looked to be considering her words. "What about this?" His lips grazed over hers as his hand traveled over her thigh to her hips and up to her ribs stopping just short of her breasts.

Kate's breath caught in her throat. Her heart was beating a wild rhythm against her chest.

Ethan pulled away. "Better?"

Kate nodded not trusting herself to speak. Ethan kissed her again and Kate surrendered to him, but then she tried to push him away. Ethan didn't press his advantage. Instead, he let her go and flopped onto his back.

"We can't do this," Kate said.

"And why is that?"

Kate leaned over so she could see his face. "I can't lose you as my friend."

Ethan reached up and touched her face. "You can't lose something you never had, Kate."

Kate pulled back confused.

"You honestly think I've hung around you all this time because I wanted to be your friend?"

Kate knew that wasn't true. She had always known how Ethan felt about her, even though he never confessed his feelings to her before.

"That's what I thought," Ethan said putting an arm over his eyes. He couldn't take looking at her at this moment. She looked so conflicted. So unsure. Why couldn't she return his feelings?

Kate pulled his arm away. His face showed his disappointment. "I know you've been waiting for me but I fear after all this time you might realize I'm not worth the wait."

Ethan reached up and cupped Kate's face in his palms. "If that's what you think, then you don't grasp how deep my love for you goes. If you allow me, I'll show you that you have nothing to fear." Ethan pulled her to his lips and spent the rest of the night convincing her that she was definitely worth the wait.

Kate woke up in the morning, curled up in Ethan's arms. She snuggled in and he held her tight. "We should probably get up so we can get back to the condo."

Ethan held her closer still and Kate laughed. "I promise I'll be okay."

Ethan sighed, but he released her. Kate got dressed in the clothes Dina gave her and over breakfast she explained the reason for the swap to Ethan.

"Evelyn's friend must really hate this guy."

"Yeah, I thought the same thing," Kate admitted. They packed up the camera and Kate wore Evie's clothes but kept her purse and shoes from the night before.

They made it to the apartment. Kate snuck into the building through the garage. She and Ethan took the freight elevator up to the right floor. Ethan found a spot out of the way to capture Kate coming back out.

Before she could walk away Ethan pulled her back and kissed her. "Be safe in there. Just get in and get out? Okay?"

Kate nodded. She knocked on the door but no one answered. She smiled back at Ethan who gave her a thumbs up. If Jackson wasn't home this would be a piece of cake.

She let herself in. "Hello?" There seemed no sign of Jackson being in the house.

Kate felt bad not watering the plants since Dina promised she would take care of them. She found the watering can on the kitchen counter. She could accomplish both tasks, right?

The plants were easily taken care of, she only needed to check the bedroom and she would be off. Upon entering the bedroom, Kate heard the water of the shower running and then shut off.

In a panic, Kate tried to leave the room but Jackson was already out of the bathroom. He stood facing her in only a towel. "You're the woman from last night. What are doing in my apartment?"

Kate held up the watering can. "Evelyn asked me to take care of her plants while she was away.  Are you and she?"

"You're the neighbor?"

"Mmm-hmm." Kate nodded.

Jackson strode over and stood before her. Standing this close Kate felt a little intimidated and backed away. Jackson kept coming forward, forcing Kate to keep stepping back.

Kate spoke up. "I never expected to see you again. Guess it's best nothing happened last night since you and she..." Suddenly her back was against the wall. Jackson trapped her in place with his arms.

"Don't be so coy. I know what you came for, and it wasn't to water the plants."

"Excuse me?" Kate's heart leaped in fear. She was in trouble.

Jackson ran his finger down the side of her face. "You want that kiss, don't you? Wasn't that what you were after?"

Kate thought to knee him and make her getaway but he was too close. She half considered hitting him with the watering can but feared he'd easily overtake her and then he could press charges for assault.

"I swear I don't know what you are talking about. I just came here to..."

"There's no need to toy with me, Kate. I wonder though, how much did Calem pay you to put your dignity aside to entrap me?"

Oh shit! Jackson knew. How?

The mole at work. Oh God. Of course, they would have had their own photographer in play. Why didn't she think this through more thoroughly? If they got pictures of her, they'd know exactly who she is.

The sound of someone pounding on the door echoed into the bedroom. Jackson thought to ignore it until he heard a man yelling in the hall as he continued to pound on the door.

"Jackson! Jackson Brewer open up! I know you're in there with my girlfriend. How dare you take her back to your apartment last night. I swear when I get my hands on you?"

The door swung open and Jackson stood there staring down at Ethan. Ethan took a step back as Jackson's girth filled the doorway. The man somehow looked even larger without clothes on. Ethan took off his jacket.

"You'll what?" Jackson asked clearly not intimidated by Ethan's threat.

"Ethan!" Kate yelled from somewhere behind Jackson's back. Jackson turned to look at her and Ethan took the opportunity and swung with all his might. His hand felt like he just punched a wall but because Jackson wasn't expecting it, he staggered backward, leaving just enough room for Kate to escape.

Ethan quickly grabbed his coat and threw it over Kate's head before rushing her to the stairwell. They ran until they were out and as far from the building as they could possibly get. They ducked into an alley, both of them ready to collapse from how fast and far they had run.

Ethan grabbed hold of Kate's shoulders. "I thought I told you to get in and get out."

"I didn't think he was home, so I watered the plants, but it turned out he was in the shower."

"Watered the plants. Are you crazy?"

"I can't believe we didn't get the picture," Kate said exasperated.

Ethan thought he might wring her neck at this moment. "The picture? That's what you're concerned about. Of course, that's what you're concerned about. Well, you're right. I didn't get the picture."

Kate slid down the brick wall no longer able to stand now that the adrenaline had left her body. "All that for nothing."

Ethan slid down the wall next to her. Kate hugged her knees, her head resting upon them.

"I wouldn't say that."

Kate glanced his way. Ethan was examining his hand. Kate saw that his knuckles were already starting to swell.

"Ethan, oh my God. You're hurt."

Kate gingerly took his hand in hers. She gently poked and prodded and winced when he did at her touch. "I'm pretty sure it's broken," she told him. 

Ethan saw how much it pained Kate to see him hurt and it almost made the agony he was now in worth it. Almost.

He pulled his hand away. "Don't worry about that now. Now you need to call someone at your magazine to go and collect the photos and videos that were being taken in the hallway of the condo."

"What?"

Ethan smiled at her. "You didn't think I made all that commotion just because I was worried about you, did you?"

"Kinda, sort of, yeah," Kate admitted and Ethan laughed.

"Well, I was worried about you but I knew if I made enough of a ruckus that I'd draw attention to myself and therefore to the situation. So, I'm pretty sure you'll have enough evidence to expose him."

Kate realized that's why Ethan threw his jacket over her head when he pulled her out of the room. He was trying to keep her identity hidden from the people taking photos or recording video in the hallway. However, he completely implicated himself in this whole sorted mess when she promised she'd keep his name out of it.

Kate felt awful. This entire idea had blown up in her face. She had no idea what they were going to do now.

"I just gave you great news. Why don't you look happier?" Ethan asked concerned.

"Because had I just done what you told me I would have gotten in and out and we'd have our picture but now I know, Jackson knows who I am. Worse, he thinks Calem put me up to it. Oh, Ethan? What am I going to do now?"

Kate started to cry and Ethan pulled her towards him. He stroked her hair trying to comfort her. "Don't worry. We'll think of something."