What? He cursed again. I came in here to
Do it, she threatened. Or Ill knock you senseless.
Im not the one, he said, feebly pointing across the living room. It was him.
Ellie glanced in the direction he pointed and noticed a dark figure crawling along the floor toward the open door of her apartment. Her first instinct was to find another lamp and throw it at his head. But she already had one of the burglars subdued. With his help, the police would be able to track down the other.
She caught movement from the corner of her eye just in time to find the man at her feet making a lunge for her waist. With a tiny cry of alarm, she brought the remains of the lamp crashing down on his head. He hit the floor with a thud as the other intruder stumbled down the stairs. Taking in another ragged breath, Ellie hurried over to the light switch and flipped it on.
The man lying on her Oriental rug didnt look nearly as frightening as he had in the dark. She gave him a poke with her toe just to make sure he was out, then raced through the apartment to find something to bind his hands and feet. Plastic wrap and a few pair of panty hose would have to do.
She quickly trussed him up like a Thanksgiving turkey, sitting on the small of his back as she tied his feet to his hands. Then she sighed softly and began to search his pockets for some kind of identification. If he managed to escape, at least shed have his name.
He groaned softly and Ellie jumped away from him, retreating across the room. She grabbed up the phone and dialed 9-1-1. Im calling the police, she shouted. Dont try to escape.
Dont bother, he muttered. I already called them on my way over here.
What do you mean?
I was here to help. I saw that guy breaking into your apartment, so I followed him in.
Ellie frowned. I dont believe you.
Fine, he said. Let the cops sort it out.
The emergency operator answered and Ellie quickly gave her the address, only to learn that the police were already on their way. Ellie informed them that shed tied up the burglar and hed be waiting for the police when they arrived. Then she hung up and watched her captive. Deciding shed need another weapon, she ran to the kitchen and retrieved the biggest knife she could find. She perched on the arm of the sofa and watched him warily.
The burglar winced as he shifted, trying to get comfortable. These knots are a little tight.
Shut up, she said.
A long silence grew between them. Ellie tried to slow her pounding heart and replenish her courage.
So what do you think he was after? the burglar murmured.
Who?
The guy you let get away. Is anything missing? When I came in, he was going through your desk. Do you keep money in there?
Im not telling you where I keep my money, Ellie said. For a criminal he was awfully concerned about her welfare. A guy so handsome shouldnt have to make his living on the other side of the law. She opened his wallet and began to flip through it. SoLiam Quinn, what made you turn to a life of crime?
What makes you so sure Im a criminal?
Ellie wasnt sure. But what choice did she have? Criminals werent known to be the most honest people in the world. She wasnt about to fall for some line. If youre not a criminal, then what are you?
A photographer, he said. I string for the Globe and one of the news syndicates. Theres a clipping tucked in my wallet, next to the money. That was the first photo I had published.
She pulled out the folded newspaper and smoothed it on her knee. It was a photo of a little girl dressed in a huge firefighters jacket, clutching a ragged teddy bear. Her gaze dropped to the credit line. Photo by Liam Quinn.
I took that three years ago. Her house burned in a fire. Her family lost everything.
She looks so sad, Ellie murmured.
Yeah. She was. But that photo caused a lot of publicity for the family. People sent money, and by the end of the week there was a fund established to help her family replace everything theyd lost. I felt like Id done a good thing. He twisted and sighed impatiently. Can you just loosen my feet? Ive got a cramp in my thigh thats killing me. I promise I wont try to run.
Ellie hesitated, glancing down at the photo. She riffled through the rest of his wallet. She found a press pass for the Boston Globe, three credit cards and punch card for a place called Cuppa Joes. She also found a small photo of a family at a wedding, an elderly couple standing next to a beautiful bride and handsome groom. They were flanked by six tall, dark and handsome men. One was Liam Quinn.
This didnt add up. He looked like such a nice guy. Maybe he was only trying to help. I have a knife, she said. And I want you to stay on the floor.
Deal, he said.
Ellie approached him and untied his feet. Then she stepped back. He rolled onto his back and wriggled over to the sofa, then leaned back against it. For the first time she got a good look at his face and she realized that the picture of him in his wallet didnt do him justice. He was most likely the most gorgeous man, criminal or not, that shed ever set eyes on. And he also had a cut on his forehead that was dripping blood.
Youre hurt, she murmured.
Im not surprised, he said with a chuckle. You hit me pretty hard.
Ellie knew she shouldnt trust him, but he seemed content to wait for the police. She got up from the sofa and backed toward the kitchen. Dont move. She quickly grabbed the box of bandages from the drawer beside the sink, then wet a wad of paper towel. When she returned to the living room, he was right where shed left him.
Im going to bandage the cut on your forehead. If you even twitch, Ill stab you with this knife. Understood?
Understood.
She knelt beside him, setting the knife next to her on the floor. Then she leaned close and dabbed at the cut with the damp paper towel. It doesnt look too bad, she said. I dont think it will need stitches.
He winced as she pressed on the cut to slow the bleeding. I didnt twitch, he said. That was just a reaction to pain.
Ellie let her gaze drift down to his eyes, an odd mixture of green and gold. She stared at him for a long moment, her heart skipping a beat. She saw no evil in his gaze, no malicious intent. Instead she saw warmth andamusement?
Stop it, she murmured.
What?
Nothing, Ellie said. This was what always got her in trouble! Shed encounter an attractive man and, before she knew anything about him, shed fabricate a wildly romantic and dashing personality for him. She just loved being in love. It was like a sickness. In fact shed just read a self-help book, Loving Out Loud, that advised a daily reality check when it came to romance. Fracture the fairy tale, the author had written.
Love had been precisely the thing that had sent her running from New York and a job shed adored. Actually, it wasnt love, but the lack of love. Not on her side, but on She cursed inwardly. Ellie had vowed never to speak or think his name again. All right, Ronald Pettibone. When shed first met him, shed thought his name was so aristocratic. And he had a nose to match his name. And then shed
Maybe you should call the police again, Liam said. Theyre taking a long time to respond to a 9-1-1. I could have had a gun. You could be lying dead in the middle of this room right now. My brother is a cop, and I understand what kind of pressure theyre under, but this is ridiculous. My hands are starting to fall asleep.
Maybe you should call the police again, Liam said. Theyre taking a long time to respond to a 9-1-1. I could have had a gun. You could be lying dead in the middle of this room right now. My brother is a cop, and I understand what kind of pressure theyre under, but this is ridiculous. My hands are starting to fall asleep.
I suppose I could untie you and you could She hesitated. No. No, no, no. Im doing it again. I cant believe this. After Ronald, I swore off men and now Ellie ground her teeth. Youre very nice-looking. Im sure you know that. And if you did save my life, Im grateful. But Ive been entirely too trusting when it comes to men and thats got to stop. Right now.
Liam frowned. Whos Ronald?
None of your business!
Hey, Im just making conversation, Eleanor.
Ellie frowned. How did you know my name?
He paused for a moment. You gave it to the police when you called.
I said Ellie.
I assumed Ellie was short for Eleanor. Isnt it? Or are you Ellen? Eloise? Elfreida?
She tore the wrapping off the bandage and quickly covered the cut. Ellie. Thats all you need to know.
And whos Ronald?
Ellie sat back on her heels and picked up the knife again. My ex-boyfriend. But I dont want to talk about him. In fact, I dont think we should be talking at all.
We could always talk about you.
Ellie wagged her finger at him. Oh, no. Dont try to turn on the charm. Im not going to fall for that. Im impervious. Im a rock.
He chuckled softly. All right. Then maybe you could get me a glass of water. Im a little
The thud of footsteps on the stairs interrupted his request and Ellie jumped up, anxious to put as much space as she could between her and Liam Quinn. He was exactly the kind of man she always fell for. In truth, he was a whole lot nicer looking than the men in her past. And if he really was a photographer, then he was probably a lot more interesting, as well. And he had a better body and a decent fashion sense. And he knew how to choose mens cologne.
Police!
Ellie turned to the door, setting the knife on a nearby table. The two officers rushed into the room, their guns drawn. Ellie sat on the sofa and watched as they patted Liam down and pulled him to his feet. Then they shoved him up against the wall and searched him more thoroughly.
Would you like to tell us what you were doing in this ladys apartment?
I was passing by on the street and I saw an intruder slip in the front door.
Yeah, right. How did you know it was an intruder and not this ladys husband?
Oh, Im not married, Ellie piped up.
He was wearing a ski mask, Liam explained. I figured my first impression was probably right. Hey, we can clear this all up right now if you just call the downtown station house. My brother is a detective there. Conor Quinn.
They turned him around. Were from the down-town precinct, the taller officer said, and I dont know any detective named
I do, the other officer said. Conor Quinn. Hes in homicide. Tall, dark-haired guy. Wife just had a baby. In fact, this guy looks a lot like him.
Shes got my ID, Liam said, nodding toward Ellie.
Ellie quickly stood and handed the officer Liams wallet. Hes telling the truth. His name is Liam Quinn and hes a photographer. Andand I think I may have made a mistake.
The short officer cuffed Liam and shoved him toward the door. Ill take him down to the car while you take her statement, he said.
Bye! Ellie called as Liam walked through the door. It was nice meeting you. She paused. Officer, can you make sure you have a doctor look at the cut on his forehead? It could need stitches.
Maam, why dont you have a seat and well figure out what happened here? the officer suggested.
All right. But I want you to know that he was very polite and well behaved while he was here. And he told the truth. There was someone else in the apartment. I saw him run out. I thought they were partners. I didnt realize he was trying to save me.
What his intentions were arent really clear, maam. I just need your side of the story.
Ellie folded her hands on her lap and began to recount the events of that night from the moment she woke up. As she did, her mind kept returning to the instant her eyes had met Liams, to the powerful current that had passed between them. Had she simply imagined it or was the attraction mutual? As she spoke she tried to push the thought from her head.
For all she knew he was a burglar and hed end up in prison for his crime. But in her heart she hoped it wasnt true. She hoped that the story hed told was real, that a handsome stranger had come to her rescue without thought to his own safety.
Is Liam Quinn going to go to jail? she asked.
Do you want him to go to jail? the officer countered.
I really think he was telling the truth. If you think hes telling the truth, then you should let him go.
Is anything missing?
Ellie glanced around. Liam said the guy was going through my desk when he came in. But theres nothing of value there. My computer is still here and so is the television and the stereo equipment.
Well, if you find anything missing, call me and Ill put it into the report. The officer handed her a business card as he stood. And you may want to get those locks checked. Burglars sometimes come back a second time.
Ellie showed the policeman to the door, then closed it behind him, making sure to lock the dead bolt. Then she grabbed up the knife and sat on the sofa. She was afraid to go to bed now, afraid that whoever had broken in would come back. She scrambled off the sofa and picked up a chair from the dining alcove, then jammed it under the doorknob. But, given the choice, she didnt want to depend upon locks and chairs and butcher knives to protect herself.
A lot of good her white knight was doing her now, locked up in a jail cell. I should have left him tied up on the floor, Ellie said. But somehow she suspected that he wouldnt have stayed tied up for long. Liam Quinn would have convinced her to untie himand then who knows what might have happened?
2
LIAM LAY on the cold steel bench in the holding cell. Until a few moments ago, the cell had been filled with an assortment of petty criminalstwo pimps, a handful of drunk and disorderlies, and four Harvard boys whod been caught trying to climb the steeple of the Old South Meeting House. But theyd all been hustled out to central booking and then to night court, leaving Liam to the rather Spartan and smelly accommodations.
This was all his fault. Hed spent too much time listening to those stupid Mighty Quinn stories when he was a kid and the first chance he had, he decided to ride to the rescue. He could have waited for the police or alerted a neighbor or even caused enough commotion on the street to send the guy running. But instead hed felt compelled to burst into Eleanor Thorpes apartment to snatch her from the jaws of certain danger.
His mind flashed an image of her dressed in the nearly transparent nightgown. Once shed turned on the light in the living room, he could see right through the thin cotton.
Liam groaned and put his arm over his eyes, trying to banish the image from his head. But it lingered in his mind, and rather than fight it, Liam decided to enjoy it. She had incredibly long legs, slender and perfectly shaped, and hips that curved in a way that made her seem instantly seductive. And her breastsher breasts were just Liam swallowed hard, his fingers clenching into fists.