The mighty Quinns: Liam - By Kate Hoffmann Page 0,22
dragging her into the bedroom. There was something highly attractive about a woman who was completely unaware of her sexuality.
The way she smiled, the way she reached out and touched him every so often, the way she licked her lips after she took a sip of wine—all of it was driving him a little crazy. But Ellie was guileless, completely unaware of the effect she was having on him.
Liam watched as she stuck her finger into the frosting of the chocolate cake she’d served for dessert, then put her finger in her mouth. He couldn’t help but imagine what that mouth might do to him, how her lips might move over his body, how her tongue might taste. He swallowed hard. Maybe this would take more strength than he possessed. He knew enough about women to know that he could have Ellie tonight if he simply asked.
But Liam had to settle a few things before he took that step—if ever. Now that he had her good and drunk, he needed to get her talking. About her job at the bank. About Ronald Pettibone. And about the two hundred and fifty thousand that Sean suspected she’d stolen.
“So, tell me about your job in New York. Why would you leave an exciting city like that to come to Boston?” The question sounded innocuous enough, Liam thought.
“Oh, let’s not talk about New York!” Ellie replied. “Bad memories of a very bad man. Make that four or five bad men—I’ve lost count.”
“What about that guy on the sidewalk this morning?” Liam asked, unable to contain his curiosity. There had been something between them, something that hinted at a prior relationship. The more he’d thought about it, the more he’d wondered who the guy had been. He’d gotten a fairly decent look at him, but he didn’t resemble the photo of Pettibone. “Was he a bad man?”
Ellie groaned. “He was—or is—nobody.” Her frown quickly turned to a devilish smile. “Are the men better here in Boston? Please tell me they are.”
“I don’t know. Maybe you should tell me a little more about the men in New York.”
“Who do you want to know about? If I tell you, will you promise to drive to New York and beat them all up?”
Liam chuckled. “I’ll consider it. Why don’t you tell me about the man who made you decide to leave?”
“That was Ronald,” she said, crinkling her nose. “Ronald Pettibone. And, let me tell you, he didn’t have one petty bone in his body, he had about five hundred. God, I don’t know why I always pick the jerks—present company excluded.”
“What did Ron—”
“Ronald,” Ellie corrected.
“What did Ronald do?”
“He made me fall in love with him. And then he made me into something I never wanted to be. And then he dumped me. And then he had the nerve to ask me to return all the gifts he’d given me.”
Liam gazed across the table at her stricken expression. She sure didn’t look like a coldhearted criminal. But she did look like a woman who might do anything for love. And sometimes that kind of woman was more dangerous than a woman bent on a life of crime. “Any man who dumps you has got to be a little crazy.”
She smiled brightly, reached over and squeezed his hand. “That’s a nice thing to say. You’re a very nice guy. Have you ever been dumped?”
“A few times,” Liam lied.
“I have this really good book you should read.” She pushed out of her chair and turned toward the bookcase on the far wall. But the combination of the wine and the quick move caused her knees to buckle. Liam bolted out of his chair and caught her before she hit the floor.
“I think maybe we can leave the book for another time,” he murmured, pulling her against his body, his mouth just inches from hers. He could feel the warmth of her breath against his chin and he fought the impulse to capture her lips.
Ellie’s eyes fluttered shut and her head swayed from side to side. “Are we dancing?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed. “Let’s dance.”
“Let’s not. I think we better get you to bed.”
“Okay. I’m a little drunk, though. I may not remember everything in the morning—but I know it will be good.”
“There won’t be anything to remember.” Liam bent and scooped her into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder as he carried her into her bedroom.
He set her gently on the bed. Ellie