Kate Hoffmann - Liam

“I’ll have to testify?” Ellie asked.

“Probably.”

“What if he gets off? Do you think he’ll come after me?”

“He’s not going to get off,” Sean said. “If he’s acquitted in New York, he still faces federal charges and he’ll probably be extradited to Nebraska, Washington and Texas to stand trial for those other crimes. You’ll be a grandmother before he sees the outside of a prison.”

Ellie smiled. “Knowing my history with men, that could be a life sentence for Ronald.”

Sean smiled, the first time she’d ever seen him smile. He was usually so intense, so preoccupied. But when he smiled, his whole face changed and he became the second most handsome man on the planet. Ellie had been grateful for his help over the past few days, through all the questioning and statements and explanations. Though Liam had been prickly and aloof, Sean had been steady and comforting, always there to calm her nerves. “I know he seems angry,” Sean said, “but he’s not.”

“Liam?”

“None of this is his fault,” Sean said, glancing over at her. “I talked him into taking this job. I don’t think he ever believed that you were a criminal.”

“Did he ask you to say that?”

Sean shook his head. “Liam may be charming, but he’s not that charming. I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

“I believe that about you,” Ellie said.

He took a deep breath. “Are you ready to go?”

“I’m ready,” Ellie said.

“Then let’s do it. I’ll be a few yards behind you.”

Ellie opened the car door and stepped out, then started toward the bank. As she walked, she replayed Sean’s words in her head. She wanted nothing more than to believe in Liam, to trust in a future with him. But she’d been burned so many times by men far less charming than Liam Quinn. What if she did allow herself to forgive him? How long would it be before he betrayed her again? And if he betrayed her again, would she ever recover?

Yes, he was wonderful and sweet and sexy and handsome, all those qualities that a woman should want in a man. But these things made him attractive to every other woman on the planet. How long would it be before he found someone more exciting than Eleanor Thorpe, accountant and amateur private investigator?

Ellie knew she wasn’t supermodel beautiful or accomplished in the bedroom. She wasn’t particularly sophisticated or polished. She was just an ordinary girl who wanted an ordinary guy to love. The problem was, she’d stumbled on an extraordinary guy and she wasn’t sure what to do with him.

A curse slipped from her lips. Now was not the time to review her romantic options! She had a job to do, one more task to complete before she could leave Boston and begin a new life somewhere else. Ellie crossed the street against the light and slowed her pace as she approached the front door of the bank. “I’m at the door,” she said.

One of the security guards, standing inside, pulled the door open for her and she smiled at him as she passed. Was he one of the F.B.I. agents or just a guy doing his job? When she got inside the lobby, Ellie paused and looked around, wondering where Liam was standing. Then she saw him, sitting on a bench, reading a pamphlet. Their gazes met for an instant and Ellie’s heart skipped a beat. Then she continued scanning the lobby.

Ronald was waiting at the far end, holding a leather briefcase and tapping his foot impatiently as she approached. “You’re late,” he said. “I thought maybe you weren’t coming.”

“I don’t have a car,” Ellie said. “I had to call a cab and it was late.”

“Do you have the key?”

She reached inside her purse and handed it to him. His thin lips curled up into a smile and Ellie breathed a silent sigh of relief. Her part was done.

“So, Eleanor, have you thought about my offer?”

“I have,” Ellie replied. “It’s very tempting. But I think I’ll wait and make my decision after we’ve completed this transaction. I have to know whether I can trust you.”

“Why don’t you come along and I’ll show you the rewards?” Ronald took her hand and led her to a wide stairway. “The safe-deposit boxes are on the second floor.”

Ellie couldn’t refuse without arousing his suspicions. And what could he possibly do to her in a public place? There were so many people watching her that all she had to do was scream and they’d come running. “All right,” she said. “We make the split upstairs then.”

Ronald thought about it for a while. No doubt he had some plan to cheat her out of her share. And now he had to make a choice, keep her close or take the money and run. “Come to think of it, some banks have rules about who they let in the room while a box is open. Maybe you’d better wait outside.”

“I still expect my share before we walk out of here,” Ellie said. “I’ll be waiting.”

Ronald nodded, then started up the stairs. Ellie watched him until he disappeared through a doorway, reluctant to admit that she’d once been madly in love with him. “He’s gone up,” she said. She stood at the bottom of the stairs for a long time, waiting, wondering what to do next. She was afraid to move, afraid he might be watching her from above.

Slowly she turned to search the lobby for Liam, only to find him walking toward her, concern etched across his expression. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand. “They just took him into custody upstairs. Let’s get you out of here.”

“No,” Ellie countered. “I want to stay. I want him to know who did this.”

A few seconds later Ronald reappeared at the top of the stairs, flanked by two men in dark suits. His hands were cuffed behind his back and one of the men carried the briefcase. He glared at her as he descended and when he reached the bottom, he stopped.

“I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you,” he muttered.

“I guess you really did underestimate me, Ronald.”

The agents grabbed his arms and began to drag him away. Ellie stared after him, a wave of satisfaction washing over her. It was over. She’d done what she’d had to do and now she was free to move on, to leave Boston and to make a new life somewhere else.

“Well, I guess that’s it,” Liam said.

“I guess so.” Ellie turned to him, ignoring the ache that had settled inside her. She didn’t want to say goodbye, but she made her decision. “Thank you-for everything you did. And thank Sean for me, as well.”

“You can thank him yourself. I thought maybe we’d stop by the pub and celebrate.”

Ellie knew if she went with him, she’d be drawn back in, hopelessly lost in her infatuation. Since she’d confronted him in the attic, she’d been faced with the reality that Liam had deceived her. He was no different than every other man in her life-in many ways he was far more dangerous-because he held her heart in his hands.

She’d thought about a future with Liam over and over during the past few weeks, but until now she hadn’t been faced with a decision. All of her instincts told her to walk away. The other men in her life had hurt her, but Liam Quinn had the capacity to shatter her into a million pieces. Ellie took a deep breath, gathering her resolve. Now was the time to leave, if she was ever going to leave at all. “I should get home,” she said, starting toward the door.

He followed after her, his long strides easily keeping up with hers. “Ellie, you’ve got to at least give me a chance here.”

“Why?”

He grabbed her hand and laced his fingers through hers, pulling her to a stop. “I don’t know.” He paused. “Yes, I do. I need you, Ellie. You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about before I go to sleep. And in between, I think about you a million times a day. I don’t know why I can’t get you out of my head, but it must mean something.”