Brian

6

The fire blazed in the stone pit, sending sparks up into the night sky. Lily snuggled against Brian, wrapped in a rough wool blanket. His arm draped around her shoulders as they rested their backs against a long log on the beach. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been so completely content. She felt… happy. It was such a simple word but it was the only one she could find to describe her condition.

Here, on this little island out in the middle of BostonHarbor, they seemed a million miles away from all the troubles between them. She could almost imagine living like this every day. She and Brian could get to know each other better, they could do things that normal couples did, like eat take-out Chinese and watch videos and argue about the position of the toilet seat.

"I could stay here forever," Lily murmured.

"We could send Brendan and Amy back," Brian suggested. "I'll build you a little grass shack and I'll fish for food-although it's not recommended that we eat the fish from the harbor."

"It's a fantasy," Lily said. "We don't need to think about that. I'll collect sea grass and I'll make plates and curtains and clothes for us."

"Oh, hell, I thought we'd do this thing naked," Brian teased. "Isn't that all part of the fantasy?"

"And what are you two going to do when winter rolls in?" Brendan asked from his spot on the other side of the fire. "When everything is covered with snow and the temperature is barely above zero."

Amy slapped him playfully. "Don't spoil their fantasy," she said.

"I'm just being practical. Remember our trip to Turkey? We had tents with cots and down-filled sleeping bags and you still had to send me out to buy you more socks from the local market. They're going to dress in grass clothes and live in a hut. Let's get real here."

"You're right," Brian said. "We'll spend summers here, except for black fly season, no-see-um season and the mosquito season. And when it turns cold, we'll go to Tahiti, to our winter hut."

"This fantasy isn't such a fantasy anymore," Lily complained. "If I have to give up Twinkies and Fresca for bananas and papayas, I'm not sure I'll live."

A long silence descended around them, the snaps and pops from the fire the only sounds in the night. Lily sighed, then snuggled closer to Brian. "Hey, why don't you tell me about the Quinn family curse? It's dark, we're sitting around a campfire. A spooky story might be fun."

Brian groaned. "Oh, no, we're not going to go there."

"Why not?" Amy asked. "Lily deserves to know what she's getting into. I'll get the marshmallows."

"I vote we tell her," Brendan said. "She might want to get out now."

Amy pushed to her feet. "First she should hear a Mighty Quinn tale, just to put everything in context."

Brian groaned again. "I might as well find the nearest cliff and just jump off. Don't you think the Mighty Quinn thing is more of a fourth or fifth date revelation?"

"A Mighty Quinn story," Brendan said in a deep voice. He cleared his throat. "I'll give a Reader's Digest condensed version. We begin with a Quinn ancestor, usually clever or handsome or strong, but clearly not living up to his potential. He performs an act of courage or mercy or cunning and suddenly he's a hometown hero. Usually, if there's a woman involved, she's evil, manipulative or greedy. Example, Paddy Quinn plants the magic bean and climbs up the vine to slay the giant, but there's a woman on the ground chopping the vine out from under him."

Lily frowned. "So the stories don't have a happy ending?"

"Oh, always," Brian said. "The Mighty Quinn prevails, the dragon is vanquished and the woman turns into a toad. My da thought these tales would teach us to beware of women. They only confused us."

A long silence grew around the fire. "And that's the curse?" Lily asked.

"The curse is a more of a modern-day phenomenon," Brendan explained. "It actually started with our oldest brother, Conor, and then moved to Dylan, then me and then Liam."

Amy returned to the fire and handed Lily the bag of marshmallows. "They played the Mighty Quinn and rescued a woman in trouble," she explained. "And they ended up-horror of horrors-in love." She giggled. "Such a sad, sad tale. All those stalwart ancestors protecting the family image only to have this generation turn weak and pathetic."

Brendan growled playfully, grabbed her around the waist and wrestled her to the ground. Amy scrambled to her feet, then ran toward the water with Brendan following her. "We'll go find some sticks for the marshmallows," he called, before they disappeared into the darkness. Brendan laughed and Amy teased him, her voice echoing in the cool night air. But then their voices faded, replaced by the sound of the water lapping on the shore.

"I think they're still on their honeymoon," Brian said.

"They're good together," Lily said. "That's always the way I thought marriage should be." She hesitated. "Not that I'm thinking about marriage. I mean, I think some people aren't meant to be married."

"Maybe so," Brian said. "I used to think that. But when I see my brothers with the women they love, I wonder if I'm missing something."

An uneasy silence grew between them and Lily wasn't sure what to say. All this talk of love wasn't what she expected from a guy like Brian. "The food was wonderful," Lily said, changing the subject. "Now, I can go home having experienced a true New England clambake. I'll have to send you some deep-dish pizza in return."

"Technically, this wasn't a clambake," Brian said. "More like a lobster boil with a few clams tossed in."

"It was still good," she murmured.

He tightened his embrace and pulled her nearer, nuzzling his face into her hair. "When do you think you'll be going back to Chicago?"

Lily shrugged. "I suppose you'd probably know that better than me."

"Maybe there's a way to keep you here," Brian countered.

Lily looked up at him and he took the opportunity to kiss her, covering her mouth with his and lingering there for a long time. Lily knew she ought to stop, but they'd already crossed the line long ago. Why deny her desire for him? It felt so good to have him close, to feel his hands on her body.

His fingers moved up to her face and traced her features as their kiss spun out, growing more demanding, more passionate with each heartbeat. Lily already knew his taste, the sweet narcotic that was his mouth. A hundred men could kiss her in a dark room, and she could pick out Brian immediately. With him, each kiss was… perfect.

There had been other men in her life, other failed relationships, but when she was with Brian, all those experiences seemed to fade. He'd become something more, a man she wanted to trust. Yet there were still so many things standing between them. Though they'd managed a lovely evening together, tomorrow their careers would be back on a collision course.

Brian pulled her down on top of him and Lily drew the blanket over their heads, wrapping them in a warm cocoon of privacy. He stared up at her, his face barely visible in the firelight that filtered through the blanket. "I'm glad I brought you here," he murmured, his hands skimming over her body.

"And I'm glad I came," she said.

"Not bad for a first date."

Lily giggled. "I've had worse."

Boston was ablaze with light as Brian wove through Saturday night traffic in Back Bay. Lily had curled up against his body, still wrapped in the blanket and quietly dozing. He pulled her closer as he waited at a stoplight, then pressed a soft kiss into her rumpled hair. She smelled of salt air and campfire smoke, a scent more intoxicating than any French perfume.

Brian sighed softly, wondering at the oddly protective feelings he had toward her. Though he'd accepted they were on opposite sides professionally, that didn't affect his feelings for her at all. He'd told the truth when he'd urged her to do what she had to do.

But that certainly didn't mean that he was falling in love with her. No, he was a long way from that particular emotion. Lily was simply the most captivating woman he'd ever met. But like the other women in his life, there would come a time when he'd feel compelled to move on-he just couldn't imagine that time right now.

He pulled away from the traffic light and turned onto Commonwealth Avenue, a few blocks from her hotel. How had this happened? He'd dated other women before, even had a few decent relationships. But nothing had ever felt quite like this. No matter how much time he spent with Lily, whether it was an hour or an entire day, it still didn't seem to be enough. Hell, even if they spent a week locked in a hotel room, Brian suspected he'd still want her more than his next breath.

When he pulled up in front of the hotel, he shut off the ignition, then leaned over and gently touched Lily's face. "Hey, wake up," he whispered.

She opened her eyes, then straightened, staring at him as if she wasn't sure where she was. Then she smiled sleepily. "Are we home?"

"We're at your hotel." He opened his door and handed the keys to the parking valet, then walked around to help Lily out of the car. She slipped her arm around his waist and they walked into the quiet lobby. The staff behind the desk and the maid sweeping the carpet nearby barely paid them notice as they walked to the elevators. Brian was going to leave her there, but then decided to walk her upstairs, hoping for a long kiss good-night.

They stepped into the elevator and Lily leaned back against the wall and watched him. He shifted uneasily, wondering if she was thinking the same thing he was-how easy it would be to walk into her room, drag her to the bed and make love to her all night long.

The elevator doors opened on the third floor and they both stepped out. When they reached her room, Lily handed him her key card.

"I should really go," Brian said.

"You should really stay," Lily countered. She took the key back and opened the door, then grabbed the front of his T-shirt and pulled him inside her room. "Just for a little while."

Though he knew he was playing with fire, Brian didn't care. The heat felt good and he wasn't close enough yet to get burned. He growled softly as he dragged her into his arms and kissed her. The door swung shut behind them and they were completely alone, with nothing standing between them and the bed but space. But this time, he wasn't going to let his desire run rampant. This time, he'd enjoy Lily at his own pace.

She began to tug at his T-shirt then moved up to brush his jacket off his shoulders, but Brian caught her hands and drew them up to his lips, kissing the tips of her fingers. "This is our first date," he teased. "I wouldn't want you to think I'm easy."

A tiny smile curled her lips. "I'd never think you're easy." She let her fingers drift down his chest to his belly. "You're very…" She let them drift lower, "…very…" They came to rest below the waistband of his jeans, "…hard."

Brian chuckled. "You look a little tired. Maybe I should put you to bed?"

"I am a little tired," she agreed.

With that, he reached down and scooped her into his arms. A tiny scream slipped from her lips and she giggled as he carried her through the French doors and into the bedroom. He gently set her down on the bed and she kicked off her sandals. "What do you usually wear to bed?" he asked.

Lily frowned. "Pajamas. They're in the bathroom."

Brian walked into the spacious bathroom and found the pajamas, white silk, hanging from the back of the door. He paused a moment to study the things she had spread on the counter, then picked up a bottle of her perfume and sniffed it. It smelled like sunshine, with a slight hint of citrus. As he left, he glanced over at the huge bathtub and wondered if he ought to suggest a bath-just to help her sleep. But that would have to wait for another night.

When he came out of the bathroom, Lily was sitting on the end of the bed. He tossed her pajamas beside her, then pulled her up to stand in front of him. The buttons down the front of her dress were tiny, but he began to work them open.

"What are you doing?" she murmured, leaning into him and running her fingers through his hair.

"I'm getting you ready for bed," Brian said.

"But I don't want to go to bed. I'm not sleepy."

"You fell asleep in the car on the way back here," he said, focusing on the buttons that fell between her breasts.

"That's not the way this dress comes off," she said. Lily reached down and grabbed the hem and in one smooth motion, drew the dress up and over her head. She stood in front of him in her underwear and for a long moment, Brian forgot to breathe. There was no doubt in his mind that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

He reached out and smoothed his hand along her shoulder, taking the time to memorize the way her skin felt beneath his fingers, enjoying the warmth of her flesh. "You're beautiful," he said.

She watched him as he explored her body with his fingers, testing every soft curve and lean limb until he was satisfied that he knew it all by heart. Brian slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her neck. Lily tipped her head to the side and sighed softly as he moved along her shoulder.

Since that first night in the limo, he'd dreamed about this, about making love to her, taking his time, enjoying the process. But now that he had the opportunity, Brian wasn't sure he wanted to go through with it. Seducing Lily would create more tangles in their already complicated relationship. Having sex just to satisfy a need was all right for a one-night stand. But this had turned into something more, something he couldn't quite define.

Brian's fingers drifted down to the clasp of her bra. He opened it and the lacy fabric fell away, revealing the soft swell of her breasts. A tightly-held breath slipped from his lips as he cupped the warm flesh in his hand. He teased at her nipple with his thumb, bringing it to a hard peak.

Lily tipped her head back and smiled, a silent invitation to take more. Brian sat down on the edge of the bed and spanned her waist with his hands. He hooked his fingers beneath her panties and slowly pulled them down, waiting while she stepped out of them.

His lips found a soft spot on her belly. He'd always had an ideal in his head, the perfect female body, a standard set by numerous men's magazines. But that image had shifted to a woman with soft, feminine curves, with tiny imperfections that made her more real. Lily was that woman with her pale ivory skin, soft as silk, almost luminous in a low light of the bedroom, with her slender waist and curvy hips and perfect breasts.

He wanted to have her then, but something held him back. What was it? Fear? Doubt? Insecurity? When he touched Lily, he felt so strong and aware, as if he could rule the world. But he also felt completely vulnerable, as if she could shred his heart with just one look. If he made love to her now, there would be no going back. He'd fall in love with her as sure as the sun would rise in the east.

"What are you thinking?" Lily asked.

Her words startled him and he glanced up at her, suddenly aware that she was completely naked and he was still dressed. "I was thinking about how soft your skin is." He leaned forward and drew a deep breath, his nose right above her belly button. "And how you always smell like flowers." He paused. "And I was thinking about how I wanted to make you feel."

"Make me feel," Lily said.

Brian smiled, then ran his hands along her hips and over her belly. When he moved lower, Lily sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes fluttering closed. He wrapped his arm around her thighs and pulled her toward him, until she stood between his legs.

As he touched her, she shuddered and he sensed the power he held over her. Brian wondered if she understood the power she had over him, if she knew how hard it was for him to deny his desire. His fingers were damp and slid over her sex, slowly at first, teasing at her desire.

Brian looked up at her, at the smile that curved her lips, the expression, the anticipation that made her even more beautiful than she already was. Her pale skin was flushed a rosy pink and her breasts rose and fell as her breathing quickened.

She held on to him, her fingers clutching his shoulders, her back arched. Her breath caught once, and then again, and she murmured his name. But he didn't want to let her go yet. Instead, he gentled his touch, slowed it, knowing that when she finally came, the orgasm would be more explosive.

Her expression turned intense, focused on his touch. Brian knew she was close and he slipped a finger inside of her, into her damp heat. Suddenly, a shudder rocked her body. A ragged moan tore from her throat and she cried out his name, arching toward his touch.

And then, when it was over, Lily collapsed forward, tumbling them both onto the bed. Her body stretched over his and he felt her breathing gradually come back to normal. Lily laughed sleepily, then pushed up, bracing her hands on either side of his head. "I thought you were putting me to bed."

"I just decided you might need to relax a little bit." He grabbed her waist and then rolled her over beneath him, their legs still hanging off the edge of the bed. Brian kissed her, his tongue teasing hers. "I should go," he said.

"Why? Stay."

Brian sighed. "Why?"

She frowned. "I don't know. Because I want you to."

"That's the only reason I could come up with, too. And for now, I don't think that's enough, Lily." Brian pushed up from the bed and grabbed her pajamas. "Come on," he said, dragging her up to her feet. "I'll tuck you in."

Lily stared at him with an astonished expression. "You don't want to spend the night with me?"

"Oh, I want to," Brian said. "You don't know how much I want to."

"Then why are you leaving?"

"I have absolutely no idea," he said. He fumbled with the buttons down the front of her pajamas, then stepped around her and held the top out. Lily grudgingly slipped her arms through the sleeves. Then he grabbed the bottoms and held them out in front of her. "Just trust me. It's better that I leave. It's our first date. We should at least try to follow some of the rules."

"I don't want the bottoms," she said.

Brian folded them neatly before pulling the bedcovers back. "Hop in," he said.

"Did I do something wrong?"

He chuckled softly. "Everything doesn't always have to happen at warp speed, Lily. You need to slow down. Some things are worth waiting for."

"I usually think that's true. But have you forgotten what we did in the limo that night?"

Brian rubbed her arms. "No. That's not something a guy forgets. But we were strangers then, and now we're not. And this was our first date. I don't think we should sleep together on our first date."

"Considering what you just did to me, I think that's a little ridiculous, don't you?" Lily crawled into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. "Kiss me goodnight," she demanded. "And promise you'll call me tomorrow morning."

Brian bent over her bed and brushed his lips over hers. "Sleep tight. And I'll take you to breakfast tomorrow. Then maybe we should go to church. I haven't been to confession for a while. I have plenty of sins to tell. Good sins, not bad."

She reached up and touched his cheek with her fingers. "You're a nice man, Brian Quinn. But you confuse me sometimes."

He kissed her once more, then reached over and turned off the light. As Brian stood in the doorway, he looked at Lily, the light from the living room just enough to see that she was smiling. "I don't know what it is about you, but there's something," he murmured.

As he walked to the door, Brian shook his head. This was definitely a first. It wasn't in his nature to walk away from a beautiful, naked woman, especially one who was willing and able to drive him wild in bed. But he had to trust his instincts on this one and his instincts told him that it wouldn't be wise to fall in love with Lily Gallagher. And making love to her tonight would be just that-making love.

For now, he'd need to be more careful.

The Fourth of July weekend was especially festive in Boston, a city steeped in the American Revolution. Lily had looked forward to the three-day holiday all week, assured by the hotel staff that it was the best celebration in the entire country. She didn't doubt their enthusiasm as flags flew from every house and lined the major city streets. The city was draped in red, white and blue.

Brian had picked her up at noon, and they'd spent the day walking around Back Bay, window-shopping and sightseeing, taking in some of the spots she hadn't yet visited. They'd had lunch outdoors at a restaurant on Commonwealth, then spent time at a comic book store that also sold silly novelties. Brian bought her a hat with a burst of stars coming out of the top and she wore it for the rest of the day.

The crowds grew bigger as the afternoon wore on, but Brian assured her that they would have a perfect spot to watch the fireworks. Lily couldn't believe it though. The Esplanade along the Charles River was packed with people, their blankets spread out to save a tiny bit of real estate for themselves and their families.

Finally, when it was nearly dark, Brian drew her along through the crowd. They were walking away from the river, but Lily decided to trust him since he was the one who knew Boston best. They got to Beacon Street and he pointed to a four-story house that looked like it had stood on that street for a few hundred years, its brick facade softly weathered by time. "That's it," he said.

"What?" Lily asked.

"That's where we're going." Brian grabbed her hand and drew her along. He opened the front door with a key, but when she got inside, she was surprised to find the elegant mansion completely empty. The interior was stuffy and hot, but as he flipped on the lights, she could see what a beautiful place it was. Nearly every room boasted high ceilings and marble fireplaces, beautifully carved moldings and tall, narrow windows.

"Whose house is this?" she asked.

"My brother-in-law Rafe bought it a couple months ago," he said.

"Why is it empty?"

"He and Keely are going to start to renovate it this summer. They're living in an apartment now."

"Should we be here if they aren't?"

Brian shrugged. "For tonight, the house is ours."

"But it's hot in here," Lily said as she walked along behind him. And though the atmosphere might be romantic, it would be more so with air-conditioning and a little furniture. "Maybe we could open a window?"

"We're not staying inside," Brian said.

They climbed the stairs to the second and then the third floor. And when they finally reached the fourth story, Lily's face was flushed and her spirits a bit wilted. This wasn't exactly what she had in mind for her holiday celebration. But then Brian led her up a narrow stairway and through a door and the entire world opened up. They were on the roof, high enough to see the Charles River and all the people milling about on the Esplanade.

Lily smiled. "This is beautiful," she said. "We'll be able to see everything."

"Yeah, it is," Brian agreed. "Rafe said it would be nice, but I didn't think it would be this nice."

Lily turned to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you." She caught sight of a small table set along the edge of the rooftop deck and she walked over to it. An ice bucket held a bottle of champagne in a puddle of quickly melting ice. Two boxes of old-fashioned sparklers sat next to the champagne. A cooler sat beside the table and Lily bent down and opened it, only to find it filled with food, all of it very elegantly prepared and presented. She pulled out a plate of cheeses and a box of crackers. "Did you do this?"

Brian winced. "If I say no, will you be disappointed? Rafe said he'd put something out for us, but I figured he was talking about a six-pack of beer and a bag of peanuts."

"This was awfully nice of him," Lily said, running her finger along the rim of a crystal champagne flute.

"Rafe is a nice guy. Sometimes I think he feels as if he has to try harder."

"Why is that?" Lily asked.

"He didn't have a very good beginning with the Quinns. And some of my brothers still aren't very comfortable with him. But he married Keely, so he's family now. And he treats her really well, and takes care of my ma, too."

"You'll have to thank him," Lily said softly.

Brian stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'll be sure to do just that."

"I'm glad I'm here," Lily said. "I don't know that there's any other place I'd rather be right now."

An instant later, a streak shot into the sky and the first firework of the evening burst in the darkness. Lily's breath caught in her throat as the sky gradually came alive with light and color. They watched for a long time, the sounds of music and cheers drifting up from the river, Brian holding her in his arms as they sipped champagne.

Though she and Brian had seen each other every evening that week, they hadn't allowed themselves any more than a few very long and lingering goodnight kisses since the night of their picnic with Brendan and Amy. In truth, Lily had welcomed the new, less complicated direction of their relationship, their silent plan to start back at the beginning. It hadn't changed her desire for him. She still ached for his touch and craved his kisses. But their new relationship was like dieting-though it meant a constant state of starvation, it was good for them both.

But here, with the fireworks bursting over their heads and the champagne making her nose tickle, she didn't feel quite so confident. It would be so easy to give in to desire. When Brian touched her, she lost all ability to resist. A tiny shiver skittered through her as her mind flashed back to that night in her hotel room. The things he'd done to her, the control he'd had over her body, still made her blush.

Lily knew that if she turned around and kissed him right now, she could convince him to make love to her, here on this rooftop. But things had changed between them, a subtle shift in her feelings. When she'd first met Brian, she'd been simply overcome by lust. But now, there was something more to their relationship.

She groaned inwardly. Relationship. That's exactly what she'd vowed to avoid. But there was no denying it any longer. She and Brian had crossed over from one-night stand to a… relationship. She should have felt guilty about giving up so easily on her plans for a romance-free life in Boston, but when he kissed her, she'd been forced to admit that she was probably lost before she'd ever really gotten started.

Still, Lily couldn't ignore the fact that sooner or later, they'd have to face what was happening to them and make some decisions. She sighed inwardly. Just the thought of that discussion filled her heart with dread. She had her life in Chicago, he had his in Boston.

When the fireworks were over, they sat on the roof and finished the champagne, talking softly as the crowd below them headed for home. But the day had been long and the wine only served to make Lily sleepy. She yawned and stretched her arms above her head, willing to sleep right where they were, beneath the moonlit night sky.

"Come on," he murmured. "I'll walk you back to the hotel."

Lily smiled. "I'm not letting you put me to bed unless you're willing to crawl in with me."

"Tempting," he said. "But then you wouldn't get any sleep."

"That's the point," Lily said. She stared at him for a long moment. "What are we doing?"

Brian reached out and slipped his hand over her nape, toying with her hair. "I don't know, Lily. But whatever it is, we're having fun, aren't we?"

"Yeah, we are," she agreed. "But I'm just not… I don't know…" She shook her head, unable to put her confusion into words.

"It's all right," Brian murmured, brushing his mouth against hers. "We don't have to figure it out tonight, do we?"

They walked back through the house, turning lights off as they passed. When they reached the street, they headed toward Commonwealth Avenue, walking slowly, their arms around each other. People still crowded the streets, heading toward the T stations and the bus stops, their arms filled with blankets and lawn chairs and picnic coolers.

Lily wasn't sure she'd ever spend another Independence Day without thinking about her night on a Boston rooftop with Brian Quinn. She glanced over at him, still amazed by how sweet and handsome and funny he was. Giving in to an urge, she pulled him into the doorway of a shop and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him long and hard.

Brian chuckled, then dragged her back out on the sidewalk, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "We're never going to get you home if you keep doing that." A woman stumbled into them and Lily held out her hand to keep her from falling.

"Miss Gallagher?"

Lily gasped as she recognized Richard Patterson's secretary, Mrs. Wilburn. Of all the people to run into tonight! The only person who might be higher on her list than Richard Patterson's loyal and devoted secretary was Richard Patterson himself.

Mrs. Wilburn glanced over at Brian, her gaze coming to rest on their hands, still clasped together. Lily swallowed hard and gently tugged her fingers from his. "Mrs. Wilburn, this is-"

"I know who you are," Mrs. Wilburn said, her expression unreadable, her eyebrow raised slightly.

"Brian Quinn," Lily finished.

"Did you enjoy the fireworks, Mr. Quinn?" Mrs. Wilburn asked.

"I did," he said. "We did. We watched from a rooftop on Beacon Street. They were really good this year. More… colorful, I think."

"Yes, well…" She turned back to Lily. "I'll see you at the office on Monday, Miss Gallagher. Have a pleasant weekend."

When she was out of earshot, Lily groaned then leaned back against a nearby fence post. "Oh, God, she knew we were together. She's going to tell Patterson. She's going to tell him and then he's going to fire me. I'm consorting with the enemy-in the truest sense of the word."

Lily started off down the street, weaving through the crowd. Brian quickly caught up to her. "I'm sorry, Lily. I suppose I could have just walked off, but I think she saw us together and it might have looked like we were trying to hide something."

"No!" Lily said. She stopped and turned on him. "I've spent the last week pretending that this wasn't standing between us. I actually thought I could separate my professional life from my personal life and I was doing a pretty good job of it. But we were both just kidding ourselves. We knew this would blow up in our faces at some point, so why not admit that we've reached that point."

"Lily, that's not what-"

"Why haven't you pushed your story about Patterson?" she demanded. "You've backed off, haven't you? Is it because of me?"

"No," Brian said. "I've just been working on other stories."

She drew a shaky breath. "Well, here's a news flash. Next week, we're doing the ground-breaking for the Wellston waterfront project. We pushed it up a month thinking that if we just did it, then the media would finally realize they can't stop us. As a media professional, I'd advise you to get your story on the air before people forget about the waterfront and the fishermen and start thinking about how nice it would be to eat at one of those fancy restaurants we have planned."

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.

"Are you going to run your story?"

"Yes. When I'm ready."

"Then we'll be ready for you when you do."

"Since when is it 'we'?"

"I work for Richard Patterson," Lily said. "I represent his interests, first and foremost. That's my job, remember? And if Mrs. Wilburn tells him about what she saw, he's going to consider it a betrayal and I'm going to lose my job. A job I need to pay for the damn house I just bought." She paused, calming her anger. But her frustration couldn't be contained. "You don't care about my life, do you? All you care about is what we shared that night in the limo."

"What? You think I deliberately walked in this direction knowing that we'd run into Patterson's secretary on the street? It's a bad break, but we'll deal with it."

"You'd get everything you wanted in one easy step. I'd get fired and there will be no one to refute your story."

"You're being irrational, Lily. I don't want you to lose your job. And I don't care if you counter the story with one of your own. It's just a job. It's what we do to pay the rent. It doesn't have anything to do with what we feel."

Yes, she was being irrational. But it had everything to do with what she felt. Lily couldn't ignore the fact that losing her job would suddenly destroy the barriers that stood between them. There were times when she'd been ready to quit, to put her little battle with Brian Quinn behind them and explore the feelings they shared. But she needed her job. It was who she was.

This was all happening too fast! She was ready to give up everything she had worked for to have a man she barely knew. A man she wasn't sure she could trust. "I-I have to go. I'll talk to you later."

"I'll walk you back," Brian said.

Lily shook her head. "No, I need some time to think. Time to figure out how to handle this."

"Fine," he murmured.

To Lily's relief, he didn't fight her. She started down Commonwealth Avenue, moving along with the pace of the crowd, but not really watching where she was going. She wanted to feel angry, to lash out at Brian for everything he'd done to mess up her perfectly ordered life. It was his fault she'd lost control. If he hadn't been so sweet and sexy and-Lily cursed. It was his fault!

Lily stopped on the street and covered her face with her hands. All right, she was partially to blame. In truth, maybe this whole thing was her fault. She'd invited him into the limo that wonderful, incredible night-a groan slipped from her lips. Her life was falling apart and all she could think about was spending the rest of her life in bed with Brian Quinn!

"Get a grip," she muttered. "He's still the enemy. And I'll be damned if I'm the one who's going to surrender."