The mighty Quinns: Liam - By Kate Hoffmann Page 0,42

you’d been watching him like you were supposed to,” Liam said.

“Wait a second here,” Brian interrupted. “Sean broke into her apartment?”

“No, I had a key,” Sean said. “The other guy broke in.”

“How’d you get a key?”

“Liam gave it to me.”

Brian frowned. “I’m seriously out of the loop here, aren’t I?”

“It’s a case we’re working on,” Liam said.

“Ellie’s an embezzler,” Sean commented.

Liam bristled. “She is not.”

“She might be,” Sean snapped.

Brian got to his feet and grabbed his jacket from the end of the sofa. “I don’t think I want to be in the middle of this. I’m going down to the pub to have a pint of the black stuff. Guinness always seems to clear the head. There should be a pretty good party going on there now after the game. Da is serving free hot dogs.”

“I’ll go with you,” Sean said.

“No way,” Liam said. “You’ll go figure out what Ronald Pettibone is up to. Did you trace that license plate I gave you? I know he was the one who tried to run Ellie down.”

“Someone tried to run down Ellie?” Brian asked. “Forget the Guinness. This sounds like a good story.”

Sean grabbed his twin brother’s arm. “You’re always sniffin’ for a story, aren’t you?” Sean muttered. “Come on, I’ll let you drive. Let’s see if we can find this Ronald Pettibone.”

“And don’t come back tonight,” Liam warned. “Sleep at Brian’s.” When they’d both walked out the door, Liam flopped onto the sofa and grabbed a piece of pizza, munching on it distractedly. How the hell was he supposed to keep Ellie safe if Sean didn’t do his part? This was his case and here he was, feet up on the coffee table, eating pizza when he should have been out doing his job.

Liam tipped his head back. There were moments when he cursed the day he’d decided to help with this case and his impulse to ride to Ellie Thorpe’s rescue. Now it seemed he was pulling her out of harm’s way nearly every day.

“I’m doomed,” Liam murmured. If this wasn’t enough to bring the Quinn family curse raining down on his head, he wasn’t sure what was. He and Ellie might as well start picking out the china and monogramming the towels. Marriage couldn’t be far behind.

ELLIE STARED at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, then forced a smile. A nervous knot tightened in her stomach and she wondered if it might be better to just stay in the bathroom until morning. But then the bathroom at her place had been the scene of their last intimate encounter. Perhaps the hall closet here at Liam’s might be a better choice.

She smoothed her hands over the Patriots jersey that Liam had given her to wear to bed. Like a fool, she’d brought everything she’d needed—except a nightgown. And the last thing she wanted Liam to think was that she’d done it on purpose in the hope that a naked body in his bed might be too tempting to resist.

Ellie groaned softly. Sex. That’s what this was all about. If the opportunity presented itself, how could she refuse? Liam was just too much to resist. But her past troubles with men still nagged at her. What had she done wrong? Had she been too aggressive or maybe not aggressive enough? Had her skills in the bedroom been a disappointment? Ellie stretched the jersey tight across her breasts. Maybe it was her body.

She’d only have one chance with Liam and she didn’t want to blow it. He was the kind of man who would bring out her passionate nature. He made her feel sexy and uninhibited and a little bit naughty. She glanced down at the sink and her stomach did a little flip as she remembered that afternoon in her bathroom.

Their first intimate encounter had been…overwhelming. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to remain conscious for anything more exciting than that! Taking a deep breath, she raked her fingers through her hair, then turned for the door. When she stepped out, she found Liam smoothing a sheet over the sofa.

She pasted a smile on her face. They hadn’t discussed sleeping arrangements, but it was obvious that they wouldn’t be sharing his bed. She tried to hide her disappointment. “You don’t need to do that. I can fix it.”

Liam shrugged. “I’ll sleep out here. You can have my bed.”

Ellie reached out and took the pillow from his hands. “No, don’t be silly. I’ll be fine here. I don’t want to put you