Kate Hoffmann - Brian

"Every day you show me a place that's prettier than the last," she murmured.

Brian pointed to a bench. "Let's sit."

Lily took a spot on the far end, sitting just far enough away so that they wouldn't touch. Brian took a deep breath. He wasn't sure whether he was doing the right thing, but he'd know in a few seconds. Brian handed her the envelope and watched while she opened it. As Lily flipped through the photos, her eyes grew wider and wider.

"Where did you get these?"

"That doesn't really matter."

"Are you going to use them?"

"That's the head of the planning commission with him. It makes the connection I need. It's only a matter of time. He'll be up for bribery of a public official and he'll probably go to jail. I just thought you might want to know."

"Why?"

"I don't know. So you can be prepared," Brian said. "This is going to get messy, Lily. I just want us to come out all right on the other side."

She stared down at the photos. "There's no way I can… I can't tie a ribbon on this and make it look good." She stood. "I have to go."

"Lily, let's talk about this. You have to understand. He's breaking the law. I have to report the story. If it were just unfounded suspicions then I might be able to sweep it under the rug, but in a few days, I'm going to have all the proof I need."

"Do what you want," she said. "I'm finished." She started back toward the street and Brian jumped up and followed her.

"What do you mean, you're finished?"

"I'm going back to Chicago. I've got the groundbreaking in a few days and then I'm packing my bags and leaving. They can send someone else to clean up the mess."

Brian frowned, grabbing her hand and spinning her around to face him. "You can't leave."

"I can. I'll just quit. It's really quite simple. My boss will assign someone else and they can deal with the problem. And you can report your story and gather your awards."

"No," Brian said, his temper rising. This wasn't like Lily. She didn't give up so easily. But she looked so defeated, as if the photos had taken the last ounce of fight out of her.

"This is for the best," she said. "Really. From the start we knew we were on opposite sides. I just don't see any way that we can both come out of this with our integrity intact. I should have stayed away from you from the start. I should have been stronger."

"Lily, I didn't give you much of a chance."

"This is the way it's always been. I just pick the wrong kind of guy. There's always something. They always look good on the surface, but then sooner or later, I find out the truth. I thought if I tried a different approach, I wouldn't get hurt. I guess it didn't work either." She started off again toward the street, but this time when Brian went after her, she turned and held out her hand. "Just let it go. It's for the best. Really, I'm fine."

Brian watched her walk away. He wanted to follow her, to find some way to work this all out. But though his heart was willing, he knew in his head that they'd just go round and round and come out in the same place all over again.

"So much for the Quinn family curse," he muttered.

The office at Patterson Properties and Investments was quiet, the lights were dimmed and the sounds of the cleaning crew drifted through Lily's open office door. It was nearly seven, but she'd been working on the media kit for the Wellston waterfront project, readying everything for the official ground-breaking on Friday afternoon. She'd made contacts with all the news organizations and made sure that any questions would be answered in the media kit. And now, all she had to do was wait… and hope.

Lily reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a bag of peanut M &Ms. She dumped a pile on her desk and popped a few in her mouth, the chocolate immediately calming her cravings. A few days ago, the only cravings she'd had were for Brian Quinn. And now, she'd gone back to sweets. "I'll weigh two hundred pounds, but at least I won't have a broken heart," she murmured.

Lily had been waiting all week for some story-any story-to hit the news, for Brian Quinn to finally reveal his case against Richard Patterson. It was like waiting for an earthquake. She knew it would come sooner or later, but she wasn't sure just how bad it would be when it did. Lily had prepared contingency plans for every possibility, ready to jump to Patterson's defense at a moment's notice.

It was best that she'd decided to break things off with Brian. She'd ignore his messages and avoid seeing him and pretty soon, she'd wouldn't think of him at all. Lily shook her head. It was a nice little delusion, but right now, that's all she had to hang on to.

Her phone rang and Lily noticed it was her direct line. She hesitated before picking it up. She hadn't given Brian the number, but she had given it to Emma. Emma, Lily mused. She could use the advice of her best friend. She snatched up the phone. "Lily Gallagher."

"Miss Gallagher, this is the security desk downstairs. I have a gentleman here to see you." The man lowered his voice. "It's Brian Quinn, the news guy."

"Tell him I'm not in," Lily said.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." The guard cleared his throat, then whispered again. "He's standing right here."

"I'll be right down," Lily said. She dropped the phone back in the cradle, then stood and smoothed her skirt. As she walked to the elevator, she thought about what she should say, how she should explain. She'd experienced her share of breakups, but she'd always been on the receiving end. An ultimatum might work-choose her or his story. She knew he'd choose the story and it would be over between them.

"That seems too simple," Lily muttered. "But sometimes, simple is better." She walked to the elevator and punched the button, shocked when the doors actually opened up in front of her. She stepped inside and rode down, all the while telling herself to be strong. But the moment she saw him standing in the lobby, her resolve wavered.

He wore an immaculately pressed shirt and pleated trousers, his usual work attire minus the coat and tie. In all honesty, Lily thought he looked pretty amazing in just about anything he wore. She frowned. With all the intimacies they had shared, she'd yet to see him completely naked. Her heart skipped at the thought of slowly undressing him. He would be so beautiful to look at-to touch.

They slowly approached each other and Lily found his expression impossible to read. He didn't look angry, but he also didn't look happy to see her. "Hi," she murmured.

Brian grabbed her hand and drew her back toward the elevators, away from the prying ears of the security guard. "What the hell is going on here, Lily?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"I call you at the hotel, you don't answer. I leave messages at your office and you don't reply. What's with you? If you're blowing me off, then at least tell me to my face. Don't make me figure it out on my own."

Lily drew a ragged breath. "We've had a wonderful time together, but-"

"I'm not going to use those photos on the air. Hell, I'm not even going to report that they're having an affair."

"You aren't?" she murmured.

"What do you want from me Lily? Either we're going to do this or we aren't. It's up to you. Personally, I think we're pretty good together. I've never met a woman quite like you."

"You know it will have to end sometime," Lily murmured. "If it's not this story, it will be something else."

"Maybe. But maybe not. We won't know until we try. And I want to try."

She glanced up at him, surprised at the admission. She'd just assumed that he was taking their little affair much more casually than she was. Every instinct warned her to walk away. If he broadcast his story about Patterson, they would be forced to battle each other in the media, no holds barred. And if he didn't, she'd be done with her work and on her way back to Chicago next week.