Kate Hoffmann - Brian

"And why is that?" She winced. "And that wasn't one of my five questions. Just curiosity."

"Oh, now here's the test for me. I'm going to have to come up with something very poetic to say about your name or you'll realize that I'm not as smooth as I'm pretending to be."

"I'm a big fan of poetry, Brian Quinn."

He cleared his throat. "Well, unless it's a dirty limerick, I think you're out of luck with me."

"Hey, I'll take a limerick."

Brian groaned softly. "I guess I stepped in that one." He thought for a moment, all the off-color limericks he'd ever heard racing though his mind. "I'm Irish, so this could come naturally. There once was a girl dressed in gold, who I approached in a way very bold. We danced through the night, held each other so tight, and left all our sad stories untold."

Lily laughed. "That wasn't bad. But it didn't answer the question."

"That's because the only words that rhyme with Lily are filly, frilly and dilly." He paused, studying her until she was forced to avert her gaze. "Lily suits you because I like the sound of it when I say it. And I don't think I've ever met anyone named Lily, so whenever I hear that name, I'll think of you first."

A tiny sigh slipped from her lips. "That's very poetic."

He stared down at her, his gaze skimming over her pretty features. He didn't have to think before he kissed her. He simply leaned forward and she was there, waiting, her upturned mouth soft and damp and sweet. There was no hesitation and no doubt that it was the best use of that particular moment. And then he drew away and they continued dancing.

She felt good in his arms, as if she fit. His hand rested on her back in just the right spot and her fingers nestled perfectly in his palm. And their bodies brushed against each other as he pulled her near, hips against hips, her breasts pressed to his chest.

Brian couldn't remember the first time he'd been attracted to the opposite sex. It had happened so long ago and there had been so many girls and women since then. But there was something different about Lily, something that he couldn't put his finger on. Maybe it was the little game they were playing, two strangers in the night exchanging more than glances.

With each new tune the orchestra played, he learned more about her, about the way she moved and the sound of her voice, the shape of her body beneath her dress and the smell of her perfume in the curve of her neck. They talked, but not about anything important, yet each word seemed to draw him in, to make him want her more. He didn't know what she did for a living, he didn't know her favorite food or even if she had any hobbies.

But he did know where the evening might end and for the first time in his adult life, Brian wasn't sure that he wanted it to end there. He pushed the thoughts from his head, focusing on the music and scent of her hair, determined to enjoy each little moment, without regard to where it was leading.

He drew in a slow breath. Hell, that was a revelation. Maybe spending time with a woman didn't always have to be about sex. Maybe seduction could end in just a simple kiss good-night.

The music stopped and the lights in the ballroom gradually came up. Lily lifted her head from his shoulder and glanced around, her brow furrowed. "What time is it?"

"Time to go," he said. "We're the last people on the dance floor."

A faint blush crept up her cheeks. Even in the harsh light, she looked beautiful. "I didn't realize it was so late."

Brian slipped his arm around her waist and steered her toward the table where she'd left her shoes and her purse. "Let's get out of here." He picked up her shoes and bent down, helping her slip them on, then fumbling with the straps.

They started toward the lobby, but halfway there, Brian pulled her into a small alcove and kissed her, her damp lips just too tempting to resist. His hands smoothed over her face as his tongue invaded her mouth. A tiny sigh slipped from her throat and when he finally drew away, she didn't open her eyes for a long time.

"Where are we going?" she murmured.

"I don't know. Anywhere. As long as it's with you."

"I-I have a car outside," she offered.

"Let's go."

When they got to the street, Lily handed the parking attendant a card. He made a quick phone call and a few seconds later a limo pulled up to the curb.

Brian ignored the car until Lily started toward it. The parking attendant held open the door and she slipped inside, then looked back out at Brian.

"When you said car, I figured you meant Toyota or Ford," he said.

"It's a limo," she called, leaning out the door.

"I can see that," he said, getting inside.

"Do you want to take your car?"

Brian thought about the beat-up Chevy parked in a public lot a few blocks away and compared it to the luxurious leather interior. "No, this will do just fine."

"Where to?" the chauffeur asked, watching them in the rearview mirror.

Brian looked at Lily, deciding to leave it up to her. "Where would you like to go?" he asked softly, his gaze fixed on her lips.

"Just drive," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Take us to see the sights."

The privacy screen whirred as it rose, but all Brian could really hear was the thud of his heart as he pulled Lily into his arms.

He pressed her back into the soft leather seats, pulling her body beneath his, his mouth covering hers in a deep kiss. Lily moaned softly, her head spinning with the taste of him, her hands running over his body frantically. She knew she ought to stop, that she should want to stop. This was crazy!

She'd just met him a few hours before, but from the moment he'd looked at her, she'd been captivated, every nerve in her body jangling with anticipation. Lily shoved her hands beneath his jacket, pushing it over his shoulders. With a low groan, Brian tugged it off, his lips never leaving hers.

Lily knew if she asked him to stop, he would. There was something about Brian Quinn that she trusted, even if her instincts told her to be careful. But she didn't want to stop. As long as they stayed in the limo with the driver on the other side of the glass, then she'd be in complete control.

As her fingers fumbled with his bow tie, Lily felt her heart begin to race. This instant attraction they felt for each other was too much to deny. It was powerful, magnetic, an unseen force that seemed to propel them closer and closer to intimacy. She should be able to resist, but with every kiss and every touch, her inhibitions dissolved.

Was this really what she wanted, to throw herself into the arms of a stranger simply to satisfy a craving? His hands skimmed over the bodice of her dress and grasped her hips, pulling her close. Yes, Lily's brain screamed. Yes, yes, yes.

As he drew her beneath him, the fabric of her wide skirt billowed around them, creating a barrier as effective as any chastity belt. He stilled his frenetic exploration of her clothing, cursing softly. "What are you hiding under there?"

Lily giggled. "If I would have known I'd end up here, I would have chosen a different dress." Something shorter, with buttons down the front, she mused.

Brian grinned, then glanced out the window. "The PublicGarden," he murmured. "And Boston Common is coming up. There's a statue of George Washington that you might be interested in seeing."

"Forget the sights," Lily said, grabbing the front of his pleated shirt and dragging him back down. "I'll see them later."

His gaze raked over her features and settled on her lips. "Lily, are you trying to seduce me?"

"If you have to ask, then I guess I'm doing a pretty poor job of it." Lily sighed. "I've never really seduced a man before."

Brian smoothed his palm over her cheek, then let it drift down her neck. "Believe me, you're doing just fine." He slipped his fingers under the spaghetti strap of her gown, toyed with it for a moment and pushed it off her shoulder. "Tell me what you want," he murmured as he pressed his mouth to her collarbone.