Brian

2

He pressed her back into the soft leather seats, pulling her body beneath his, his mouth covering hers in a deep kiss. Lily moaned softly, her head spinning with the taste of him, her hands running over his body frantically. She knew she ought to stop, that she should want to stop. This was crazy!

She'd just met him a few hours before, but from the moment he'd looked at her, she'd been captivated, every nerve in her body jangling with anticipation. Lily shoved her hands beneath his jacket, pushing it over his shoulders. With a low groan, Brian tugged it off, his lips never leaving hers.

Lily knew if she asked him to stop, he would. There was something about Brian Quinn that she trusted, even if her instincts told her to be careful. But she didn't want to stop. As long as they stayed in the limo with the driver on the other side of the glass, then she'd be in complete control.

As her fingers fumbled with his bow tie, Lily felt her heart begin to race. This instant attraction they felt for each other was too much to deny. It was powerful, magnetic, an unseen force that seemed to propel them closer and closer to intimacy. She should be able to resist, but with every kiss and every touch, her inhibitions dissolved.

Was this really what she wanted, to throw herself into the arms of a stranger simply to satisfy a craving? His hands skimmed over the bodice of her dress and grasped her hips, pulling her close. Yes, Lily's brain screamed. Yes, yes, yes.

As he drew her beneath him, the fabric of her wide skirt billowed around them, creating a barrier as effective as any chastity belt. He stilled his frenetic exploration of her clothing, cursing softly. "What are you hiding under there?"

Lily giggled. "If I would have known I'd end up here, I would have chosen a different dress." Something shorter, with buttons down the front, she mused.

Brian grinned, then glanced out the window. "The PublicGarden," he murmured. "And Boston Common is coming up. There's a statue of George Washington that you might be interested in seeing."

"Forget the sights," Lily said, grabbing the front of his pleated shirt and dragging him back down. "I'll see them later."

His gaze raked over her features and settled on her lips. "Lily, are you trying to seduce me?"

"If you have to ask, then I guess I'm doing a pretty poor job of it." Lily sighed. "I've never really seduced a man before."

Brian smoothed his palm over her cheek, then let it drift down her neck. "Believe me, you're doing just fine." He slipped his fingers under the spaghetti strap of her gown, toyed with it for a moment and pushed it off her shoulder. "Tell me what you want," he murmured as he pressed his mouth to her collarbone.

"That's nice," she said. He let his hand drift down further until his fingers brushed along the swell of her breast. She sucked in a sharp breath. "Oh, and that's nice, too."

"Tell me," he urged, running his fingers along the edge of her dress, back and forth in a lazy caress. Her skin began to tingle and Lily closed her eyes and arched up, bracing herself on her elbows. Suddenly, she wasn't the person in charge of this seduction, he was. "I want your hands on my body," she whispered as her inhibitions slowly dissolved.

She felt his hands circle her waist and then, in one easy movement, he pulled her up to sit on the seat across from him. Her skirts billowed up around them, but he brushed them aside and took her foot in his hand. "I was beginning to wonder if you had legs underneath this skirt." He slipped her left shoe off and gently massaged her foot.

Lily moaned softly, leaning back into the seat. When she'd asked him to touch her, she hadn't had a foot massage in mind. But as he rubbed his thumbs into the arch of her foot, she was surprised at how sensual the caress was-especially when he set her foot between his legs and slid his hands up her calf.

Her foot rested in a very intimate spot, and every time he moved, it rubbed against his growing erection. Lily had never considered the sole of her foot to be an erogenous zone, but as his hands traveled upward to her knees and then her thighs, she knew she'd be learning a few things about seduction from Brian Quinn.

Lily wondered where they'd stop-or whether they'd stop at all. Since she couldn't see what he was doing beneath her dress, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of his warm palms on her skin.

And when he moved to her inner thighs, she held her breath. "Look at that," he murmured.

Lily opened her eyes.

"ParkStreetChurch," he said, nodding toward the window. "The tall steeple just over there. And the Boston Athenaeum and the Old Granary Burying Ground. Lots of famous Revolutionary War soldiers are buried there." His hand slid a bit higher and Lily sucked in a sharp breath. "Including Paul Revere." And then he was moving again, running his fingers up and over her hips. He caught the lace of her panties with his fingers and slowly began to tug them down. Lily shifted and they slipped to her knees and then off her feet.

Brian held them up and examined the lacy scrap of lingerie. "I love black underwear."

Lily leaned forward, but her skirts once again billowed up between them. She shoved the fabric down, then knelt in front of him. Though he'd lost his jacket and tie, his shirt was still buttoned to the neck. With nimble fingers, Lily reached out and began to work on the studs.

When she'd brushed the shirt aside, she smoothed her hands over his chest, hard and muscular. Then she leaned forward and pressed her lips to the soft dusting of hair beneath his collarbone. Working her way down, she kissed a trail to his belly. But when she let her fingers drop to his trousers, Brian grabbed her hands and drew them away.

"Are you sure about this, Lily?"

She smiled. He didn't have to be such a gentleman, but Lily was glad that he made the attempt. "There's nothing wrong with two…" She moved back to his trousers. "Consenting adults…" She worked the button open. "Engaging in mutually satisfying…" She slowly drew the zipper down. "Sex."

Most guys had probably dreamed about hearing those very words. And Lily had never expected that she might be the one to say them. But she'd had enough of "relationships." What was wrong with taking pleasure where she found it? She'd always wanted to make more out of a simple sexual attraction and that had only led to disappointment.

Lily knew Brian Quinn wouldn't disappoint her. Not tonight. And after tonight, she wouldn't give him a chance. They'd go their separate ways and be satisfied with the pleasure they'd taken in each other. "Haven't you ever just been swept away by the moment?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said with a smile. "I think that's happening right now."

He reached around her back and pulled on the zipper of her gown. When it gaped in front, Brian drew Lily up onto his lap, settling her knees on either side of his legs. She groaned as he unhooked her strapless bra and tossed it aside.

He reached up and shut off the light, the sights of Boston now illuminating the tinted windows of the limo and their tempting seduction. Brian slowly explored her body with his hands and his lips. Every so often, he'd brush aside clothes to get to naked skin, but both of them still remained half-dressed, their clothes providing an effective barrier to complete surrender.

Lily wrapped her arms around his neck as he slipped his hands beneath her skirts. He'd done away with her underwear and now she was naked beneath the gown, the fabric shifting over her skin as she moved. He drew her down, settling her on his lap, but his boxers still stood between them and pure contact.

She reached between them and tugged at the silk, but Brian whispered for her to stop. He searched the car for his jacket at the same time she looked for her purse. Lily found a condom first and handed it to him. He smiled gratefully. "For a minute there I was afraid we'd have to stop at a drugstore."

Lily pushed up, anticipating the feel of him slipping inside of her. Then she slowly lowered herself on top of him, his hard shaft probing at her damp core. Brian moaned softly, his hands sliding up beneath her skirt to her hips. He held her fast, controlling her movement until he was completely buried inside of her.

She'd only met him a few hours ago and now, they were making love in the back of a limo. Just the thought of it made her shiver with desire. This was what it was all about, basic lust, the need to be with a man, to feel him move inside of her and to reach her release.

But as they moved, Lily couldn't help but believe there was something more to this spontaneous intimacy. Maybe she had fallen a little in love with Brian over the course of the evening. He was sweet and funny and sexy and he'd swept her off her feet. She couldn't have chosen a more perfect man for this little adventure.

Lily ran her hands over his face. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. Their gazes locked as he began to increase their rhythm. She watched his reactions as his hands controlled her, the pleasure that suffused his features, first easy and then intense. He drew her up and down on top of him but then stopped suddenly.

Without warning, he held on to her waist and gently laid her back onto the seat. Her skirt billowed up around her face and he fought through it until he could kiss her.

He was so gentle with her, yet so determined, and when he slipped his hand between them and touched her, Lily knew that he wouldn't be satisfied with simply taking his own pleasure. He began to move again as he caressed her. A tremor shot through her at his touch and she felt her need increase, tightening in her belly.

Lily closed her eyes and focused on that feeling, on the sweet sensations that raced through her limbs to the tips of her fingers and toes. Every thought dissolved in her head and she could only feel, aching for her release. She arched up, meeting his every thrust, daring him to take everything she offered.

His name slipped from her lips, not once, but twice and then again, a plea to give her more.

"Come with me," he murmured, his mouth hot on hers. "Come with me, now."

And then, as if his invitation was all she was waiting for, Lily felt her body explode in a soul-shattering orgasm. She cried out, but he'd already found his own release, driving into her one last time and then allowing the spasms to shake his body.

He collapsed on top of her, then rolled off to the side, grasping her waist to pull her tightly against him. For a long time, he didn't speak and Lily listened to his breathing, harsh and quick at first, then slowing.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"I can't believe we just did that. I've never… well, I've just never done that."

Lily smiled hesitantly. "I find that a little hard to believe."

"Believe it," Brian said, nuzzling her neck. "That was pretty incredible. You were… wow."

She furrowed her fingers through his hair and kissed him, lingering for a long time. Lily had never felt so completely satisfied and given the choice, she'd have spent the next week making love to Brian Quinn in the back seat of the limo. But she'd made a promise to herself and she was going to keep it. A one-night stand was just that-one night.

Suddenly, a wave of regret washed over her. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea. After what they'd shared, Lily didn't want to just walk away. Brian Quinn was a wonderful man! And from what she could tell, he was available. She sucked in a sharp breath. Now was not the time to change directions.

"I think I have two questions left, don't I?" Brian murmured.

Dragged from her thoughts, Lily frowned. "I-I don't know. I lost count."

"So what happens now?" Brian asked, running his hand along her shoulder. "We can't drive around in this limo forever. We're going to run out of gas."

"I say we go until we run out of gas," Lily murmured, her attention fixed on his mouth.

"We could go to my place or we could go to yours," he suggested.

Again, Lily had to force herself to remember her plan against formidable distractions. She sat up and adjusted her dress, then reached for the zipper. Brian turned her around on the seat and zipped it for her, then let his hands drift down her arms.

His touch sent a shiver through her, but Lily occupied herself by collecting her underwear and shoes. She stuffed her panties and bra into her purse, and slipped the strappy sandals on her feet. Then she pressed the intercom button. "Driver, take us back to the CopleyPlaza, please." She glanced over her shoulder and her gaze met his. For a moment she lost herself in the beautiful color of his eyes. "Let's be honest with each other," she murmured. "This was all about passion and lust and it was wonderful. It was exciting. But it doesn't have to be more than that. I don't expect more."

"But we should at least-"

Lily placed her finger on his lips. "What? I should give you my phone number and we'll get together? Maybe you'll call, but maybe, after thinking about it for a day or two, you'll decide that it's better to just let it go. But if I give you my phone number, then maybe I'll expect you to call and when you don't, I'll be hurt. Or maybe we'll get together again and realize that there's nothing but… this between us. Or maybe, we'll even find that we have a lot in common and we'll have a relationship. But then, you'll grow bored or I'll get too demanding and we'll fight and it will all end badly and we'll hate each other." Lily smiled and drew in a deep breath. "So maybe it's best that I don't give you my phone number and we just skip all that pain and heartbreak."

He buttoned his pants and yanked up the zipper, then reached for his jacket. "Lily, I don't-"

This time she replaced her finger with her mouth, kissing him deeply, her arms wrapped around his neck. "I had a wonderful time, darling."

He sighed. "So did I, sweetheart," he murmured, pressing his mouth into the curve of her neck. "But, that doesn't mean-"

"Yes, it does."

The car stopped and Lily looked out the window, surprised to find that they were back at the Plaza so quickly. Brian slipped his hand around her nape and drew her close, giving her a fierce kiss designed to persuade her to go with his point of view. "Won't you at least let me try to change your mind?" She drew away, shaking her head and he finally loosened his grip. "Then, I guess I won't be seeing you again."

"I guess you won't," Lily said with a smile. "I had a good time, Brian."

He looked into her eyes for a long moment, then shrugged and slid across the seat to the door. "Good night, Lily."

"Goodbye, Brian."

With that, he pushed the door open and stepped out. For a moment, Lily thought he might turn around and say something to her. But then he shut the door. She watched him walk down the sidewalk, but the tinted windows made that difficult. With a soft sigh, Lily sank back into the leather seat and pressed her palm to her chest. "What have I done?"

"Miss Gallagher?"

Startled, Lily pushed the intercom button. "Please take me back to my hotel."

As the car pulled away from the curb, Lily closed her eyes and tipped her head back. This was no time for doubts. She had a job to do here in Boston and when she was finished, she'd go home to Chicago. And she'd take along incredible memories of a very passionate and spontaneous encounter to keep her warm at night.

She braced her hands on the seat and her fingers fell on a smooth bit of fabric. Lily picked it up and realized it was Brian's bow tie.

"It was great sex," Lily murmured, fingering the tie. "And that's all it was." But though she said the words, they just didn't seem to ring true.

"Aren't you doing the news tonight?"

Brian slid onto a bar stool next to his twin brother Sean and waved to his father at the far end of the bar. For a Sunday evening, Quinn's Pub in South Boston was relatively empty. A few of the regulars were playing pool in the back and a couple sat in one of the booths near the bar. A soft Irish ballad played from the jukebox.

Seamus, a canvas apron around his waist, strolled up and tossed a paper coaster in front of Brian. "Aren't you doing the news tonight? We're tuned in," he said, pointing to the television in the corner.

Brian nodded. "Yeah. The eleven o'clock news. I've got to be at the station at seven. I thought I'd get something to eat."

"We've got corned beef and cabbage," Seamus said. "I'll get you a plate."

"No cabbage," Brian said. "It'll make me burp."

Seamus raised a bushy white eyebrow. "So?"

"Da, I have to read the news. I can't be burping every few seconds. Give me a club soda over ice. And a cheeseburger, no onions."

Seamus fetched the drink, then wrote the order down on a pad and walked it back to Henry, the short-order cook in the kitchen.

Brian and Sean sat silently, both of them contemplating their drinks. They didn't need to talk. Since the moment they'd been born, they'd shared a silent kind of communication, an ability to read each other's moods, to know what the other was thinking. While Sean rarely confided in his other brothers-or anyone for that matter-when he was alone with Brian, he was able to open up.

Brian knew everyone thought Sean was shy and aloof. But he also knew his twin brother used an indifferent facade to hide a deeply sensitive nature. He wrapped himself in a protective armor, allowing very few people to see the man underneath.

Of all of the Quinn brothers, Sean had been the one who'd come away with the most childhood scars. He'd been the one to rebel against his circumstances. He'd never really learned to trust and had turned into a brooding loner. He'd washed out of the police academy and drifted into private investigative work. It had been a good choice for Sean, but it hadn't made him any more outgoing.

"How's business?" Brian asked.

"Not bad. Not good, either."

"I thought you made a bundle on that case with Liam and Eleanor and that Pettibone guy."

A few months back, Sean had taken on an embezzlement case for a Manhattan bank and enlisted the aid of their youngest brother, Liam. Charged with surveillance on the female suspect, Liam had fallen in love with the woman. After they had cleared her name, he and Eleanor Thorpe had continued seeing each other and announced their engagement the day after Brendan and Amy's wedding in early May.

"I did," Sean said. "But I burned it all on expenses on another big case. My rich client didn't like what I found. Turns out his wife wasn't cheating. He's decided not to pay the bill. Now, I've got to spend more money to get him to pay. I've got to hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit."

"Sorry," Brian murmured. "I wish I had something I could throw your way."

Sean held up his hand. "I'm going to be fine. Liam's making money now. He's paying the rent at our place-for once. He and Ellie are moving out at the end of the summer. I'll be all right until then."

"How is that, living with them both?"

Sean shrugged. "She likes to clean. She's got a thing about the toilet seat. And I really wish she wouldn't hang her… underthings all over the bathroom."

"Yeah, I suppose that is a little distracting," he murmured, his mind flashing an image of Lily Gallagher's lingerie, that strapless number made of black lace and the matching panties. He drew a sharp breath and pushed the image out of his head. He'd spent the entire day thinking about Lily and it was time he quit! Yes, she was beautiful and intriguing and the night they'd spent together had been unforgettable, but he knew better than to make it into something more than it was.

"She likes to cook," Sean continued. "There are always leftovers in the fridge." He shrugged and took another sip of his Guinness. "Between eating at the pub and eating at home, I've been saving a lot of money on food."

Brian nodded. He stared down the length of the bar and caught the glances sent their way by a pair of curvaceous blondes. One of them gave him a little wave. Under any other circumstances, Brian might have waved back. But after his experience with Lily, he'd decided to take a little break from the opposite sex.

Meeting Lily Gallagher had thrown his brain completely out of whack. He'd never once lost control the way he had with her. Sure, he'd seduced a fair number of women, even had a few one-night stands, but this had been different. Instead of feeling sated the next morning, he felt strangely uneasy, as if he'd done something… wrong.

But what was it? She'd wanted it as much as he had, maybe even more. And he certainly hadn't forced the issue. He'd given her every opportunity to call a stop to their headlong rush into intimacy.

God, she was beautiful. And that body, it seemed to be made for his touch. He glanced at the girls at the end of the bar. Funny how a few nights ago he might have found them attractive. Now they were just too… much. Their lipstick was too dark and their hair too bleached, their clothes too tight and their breasts too big to be real.

Lily had been a beauty who hadn't required any improvements. Her hair, her skin, her slender form. Each element had been nearly perfect in his eyes. An image of her flashed in his head, her dress billowing around them both, her eyes closed at the moment of her release. Brian groaned softly, then rubbed his forehead. "Lily," he murmured.

"What?" Sean asked.

Brian gave his brother a sideways glance. "What?"

"You said 'Lily,'" Sean replied. "Lily what?"

"It's not a Lily what. It's a Lily who. She's a woman I met last night. At this fund-raiser at the Copley."

"Hmm," Sean said.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"Then just shut up!"

"Don't get pissed at me," Sean said. "I was just making conversation."

"Well, don't," Brian muttered. Silence descended on them again, both of them staring into their drinks. Then Brian cursed softly.

"Was she pretty?" Sean asked.

Brian nodded. "Yeah. And funny and smart and incredibly sexy. She was wearing this gold dress that made her look… wow. You know, I think she actually took my breath away. Did that ever happen to you?"

"Sounds like you have it bad."

"I spent one night with her."

"Tell me you didn't rescue her from some life-threatening situation," Sean said. "Or you're in big trouble."

Brian chuckled. "Naw, I didn't res-" He paused, his stomach sinking. "Oh, hell." He had rescued her, not from any danger, but from her boring companion! In fact, she'd even thanked him for the favor and he hadn't realized the importance of her words until now. "Yeah, I guess I did."

"Well, that's it then. Jaysus, Brian, haven't you been paying attention. Conor, Dylan, Brendan and Liam. Even Keely. It's a curse, you know. No one is immune. Not even you."

"Or you," Brian countered.

"Oh, no? I'm not crying in my club soda after a one-night stand."

"She wasn't just a one-night stand," Brian snapped.

"Did you hook up?"

"Yeah."

"Did you get her phone number? Did you make a date to see her? Are you planning to call?"

"No."

"Then it was a one-night stand."

"That makes it sound so… well, that's not what it was like. It was different. Besides, if I wanted to find her again, I could."

"Do you know where she lives?"

"No."

"You don't have her phone number. Did she tell you where she works?"

"No, but I have her name. Lily Gallagher."

"You sure that's her real name?"

"Stop talking like a P.I. If I wanted to find her, I could." In truth, Brian had been wondering about that same thing since the moment she'd dropped him off in front of the hotel. He could call the event organizers and get her address off the invitation list. He could call the limo company and find out who hired the car. Hell, he could look in the Chicago phonebook under Gallagher, if he really wanted to find her. "I don't believe in the curse," he finally said.

"Maybe you just had a close call," Sean said. "Be more careful next time. You just can't trust women."

Brian knew that Sean's feelings weren't entirely based on his own dating experiences. His distrust went back a lot further, back to their mother and her desertion of them when he and Sean were only three years old. Brian had no memories of Fiona Quinn when he was a child. They'd been told she'd left the family, then died in a car accident, a story fabricated by their bitter father. And now that Fiona Quinn was back in their lives, Brian had forgiven her past mistakes. Only Sean seemed to be carrying an old grudge.

"Ma is staying with Keely and Rafe," Brian said. "Keely called this morning and wants us all to come for a picnic on the Fourth of July. Now that she's getting her business moved up here, Fiona is thinking about moving, too. I think Keely wants to convince her that we all want her here. Are you going?"

He shook his head. "Nah, I'm busy. I'm going to be working on a case-out of town."

"What is your problem with her? You're an adult, not some pissed off little kid. She and Da had a tough time, they both made mistakes. If Da can forgive her, you should."

"I have my reasons," Sean said.

"What reasons?"

He shook his head, then reached for his Guinness and took a sip.

Brian cursed softly. "I swear, you are the most stubborn, selfish son of a bitch I've ever known."

"She cheated," Sean muttered.

"What?"

Sean kept his voice low. "Fiona. She was cheating on Da."

"How do you know that?"

"One night after the Mighty Quinn put into port, Conor sent me down to the pub to drag Da home. He was drunk. He was talking to some of his pals and he told them that he'd caught Fiona with another man. He said he'd kicked her out of the house and that he didn't expect her back. He didn't know I was there, that I'd heard."

"Geez, Sean, why didn't you say something?"

"What was I supposed to say? I never knew her. And the way Con and Dylan and Bren talked about her, she was like the goddamn queen of virtue and goodness and I believed that. I kept hoping she'd come home."

"What else did Da say?"

"I don't remember much of it. He was really drunk. Most of what he said didn't make sense." Sean sighed. "All those Mighty Quinn stories. Hell, I don't blame him. Turning over any control to a woman is dangerous."

"You've got to talk to Ma about this."

"Why? So she can make some excuse? She was supposed to love us. She was supposed to be faithful to Da. That's what marriage is all about. Till death do us part."

"People make mistakes, Sean. And marriage is difficult enough, without a husband who's away for weeks at a time and who drinks too much and who gambles his pay away."

"Are you saying she had a good excuse to cheat?"

"I'm saying you need to talk to her and get this out in the open. She wants her family back and you're part of that family."

Sean shoved his glass across the bar. "Tell Da that I'll tend bar tomorrow. I have to go."

Brian sighed as Sean strode to the door. Maybe he shouldn't have pushed so hard. But he'd been on edge all day and provoking his brother into an argument had simply been a reaction to his mood.

"I have to forget Lily Gallagher," he murmured. "I just have to forget her."

"I don't know what I'm doing here," Lily said. "Patterson hasn't explained what he needs." Grabbing a piece of paper, she sat down at her desk in the living room of her hotel suite. She slowly scribbled on the paper as she spoke to Emma Carsten, her best friend and co-worker at the agency. "We've got a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, so I guess I'll find out then."

"Why did you have to be in Boston this weekend?"

Lily drew a heart and traced over it again and again. "I don't know. I guess he wanted me to attend this benefit he was sponsoring so I could see what a good guy he is."

Emma and Lily had started work at DeLay Scoville the same month and had struggled through their first year together, calling on each other whenever they had questions. Now that they had more experience, they still discussed their clients with each other.

"Why would he come all the way to Chicago to look for a PR firm?" Emma asked. "There must be plenty of firms in Boston."

"I don't know," Lily said. "I'll have to ask him."

"He must know you're good with a scandal. Do you think he's got a scandal he wants you to fix?"

"If he does, I hope it isn't too messy or I'm going to be here for a while."

"So, what are the men like in Boston?" Emma asked. "Are they cuter than they are in Chicago? Did you meet anyone interesting at the party?"

Lily's breath caught in her throat. Brian Quinn certainly had been interesting. How many times had his image flashed in her head since last night? She'd expected to put the evening aside and get on with her work here in Boston.

But making love to Brian Quinn in the back of a limo had been the craziest, most dangerous thing she'd ever done. And rather than satisfy her desire, it only made her want more-more of his mouth and his hair and his incredible body. More of the need and excitement and shudders of ecstasy.

Lily swallowed hard. "I-I'm not here to meet men," she said. "I'm here to work."

Emma was silent for a moment. "Are you all right? You sound a little strange. Tense."

"No, I'm fine."

"Are you thinking about Daniel? This assignment was probably the best thing for you. You'll put some distance between you and him and get on with your life."

In truth, Lily hadn't thought about Daniel at all-not since the moment she'd met Brian Quinn. "I'm over him," she said. "I'm moving on. From now on, I'm not going to let myself get caught up in romantic fantasies. In fact, I'm not going to let myself fall for any man."

"I think that's a good attitude to have," Emma said. "For now."

A knock sounded on the door. "Listen, I ordered a little snack and it's here. I'll call you on Tuesday after I talk with Patterson. Make sure you water my plants. And don't let the mail pile up." They said their goodbyes and Lily hung up the phone.

She flipped on the television as she crossed the room to the door, the sound of the eleven o'clock news filling the room. Though she'd had healthy salad and a diet soda in the hotel restaurant earlier that evening, she'd been craving sweets all evening long. She'd promised herself to get into a regular workout routine, but decided tomorrow would be a better time to start. Besides, she'd gotten a day's exercise walking around Back Bay and Beacon Hill, shopping and taking in the sights of the historic neighborhoods, learning more about the city that would be her home for the next few months.

But even with shopping to distract her, Lily's thoughts had returned again and again to the previous night. Even now, she felt her cheeks warm as she thought of what she'd done. Pausing at the door, she pressed her palms to her face. Why should she feel embarrassed? She'd decided what she wanted and she'd gone after it. Just because that involved unbridled lust and an earth-shattering orgasm didn't make it a crime.

"That's what I'll keep telling myself," she said.

Another knock sounded on the door and she pulled it open. A waiter stood outside with a tray. "Good evening, Ms. Gallagher."

"Hi," she said. "You can just put that on the table, thanks."

Lily followed him inside and signed the bill for the pie and ice cream, adding a generous tip. Richard Patterson was picking up the tab for her hotel, so why not? But as she was signing the check, a familiar voice drifted through the room. She froze, then slowly turned to face the television.

Lily's jaw dropped. There he was! Brian Quinn was sitting behind a news desk reading the news. She closed her eyes and cursed. Now she was imagining him on television, and not just in her bed or in the limo or showering in her hotel bathroom. She opened her eyes and stared at the screen, prepared to realize she'd been wrong. "Oh, my God," she murmured. "It's him."

"He's really good," the waiter said, nodding in the direction of the television.

She snapped her head around to look at him. "What?"

"That guy. Quinn. He did an investigation on the auto repair business in Boston. It was really an eye-opener. Two of the biggest dealerships in town were taking cars in for repair and they were deliberately breaking things, just so they could charge to fix them. And this Quinn just went in and stuck a microphone in their faces, daring them not to answer the tough questions."

Lily turned back to the television, her attention transfixed by the image on the screen. He really was a handsome man with his dark hair and beautiful eyes, those chiseled cheekbones and sculpted lips. A tiny shiver skittered through her as she listened to his voice. It was hard to believe this was the same man she'd been with the previous night. He'd never mentioned what he did for a living-although that had been one of their little rules.

"He usually doesn't read the news," the waiter said. "He's like an… investigative reporter. I read somewhere he's from Southie."

"Southie?"

"South Boston. Hometown boy. Working-class neighborhood."

Lily handed the check back to him. "Thanks," she murmured.

The waiter smiled and nodded. "Have a nice evening, Ms. Gallagher. Just give me a call if there's anything else I can get for you."

She didn't see the waiter leave the room. Instead, she kept her gaze fixed on the television, slowly sitting down at the table. How odd it was to be looking at him again. When he'd left her last night, she'd assumed it would be the last time she saw him. And now, here he was, in her hotel room with her.

She grabbed a fork and dug in to the piece of apple pie a la mode, her eyes still transfixed by the news broadcast. This was not supposed to happen! She wasn't supposed to feel this way. A one-night stand was supposed to last just one night!

But now she knew where to find him. He wasn't just some stranger in the night, he was a man with a job and a home and people who knew him. If she wanted, she could dial the television station right now and leave a message. And when he got that message, he'd stop by her hotel room and they'd-

Lily glanced down at the pie then methodically devoured the remainder of it in four large bites. Then she snatched up the room service menu and dialed the kitchen. "Hello. Yes, Lily Gallagher in 312. I'd like a piece of lemon meringue pie and a piece of pecan pie. And send up one of those chocolate fudge brownie sundaes, too, as well as two glasses of milk. And hurry."

She hung the phone up and went back to the television, pacing back and forth in front of it. "Stick to your guns," she muttered. "Don't imagine something that isn't there. This is all about control."

Lily groaned and sat down on the end of the sofa to wait for her food. If she was in complete control, then why did she want another night with Brian Quinn, and several more after that? And why did she feel like gobbling down an entire pie? Lily covered her face with her hands, groaning softly. "What have I done?"