Still, it didn’t matter. Memory or none, when she woke up fully dressed the next morning, Ellie knew that nothing had happened. Liam Quinn had been the perfect gentleman. Maybe it was all for the best, Ellie mused. If something were to happen between her and Liam, she’d certainly want to be in full possession of her faculties when it did.

“I’m never going to drink wine again. And I’m never going to figure out how to use this. Look at all these buttons and lights.”

“This is better than a new lock,” Liam said, handing her the manual. “It’s a whole security system. It will keep burglars out.”

Ellie groaned inwardly as she took the manual from his fingers and wandered over to the sofa. Every time she had to program her VCR, she had to spend a half hour with the manual. She’d even found a self-help book called Electronics Anxiety, written specifically for people who were frightened of their computers and VCRs and alarm clocks. But it hadn’t helped.

And now she’d be held prisoner in her apartment by a bunch of wires and circuits and a very loud alarm. She wasn’t sure she’d ever want to go out again. “But I don’t need a security system. I could just get a dog.”

A very loud dog. But then she’d have to feed it and walk it. Ellie sighed inwardly. A man would be a better choice. If she had a man in her bed every night, she’d be able to get some sleep…or maybe not. Especially if she had a man like Liam Quinn in her bed. “Stop it,” she murmured, pinching her eyes shut and driving the thoughts from her mind once again. “How much is this going to cost? I can’t afford this now.”

Liam glanced over at the security technician who was picking up the last of his tools. “Ed is a friend of my brother, Conor. He put the system in at the pub. He’s doing this one as a favor.”

“All right,” Ed said. “These are the keys for the new locks. All the directions for programming in the code are in the manual. It’s easier than programming a VCR. I’ve wired all the windows and the door, so if any of them is opened when the alarm is set, it will go off. I’ve also installed glass-break sensors. The alarm will go to the security company who will call the police.”

“Great. Thanks, Ed.”

“Yeah, thanks, Ed,” Ellie echoed.

“No problem,” he said. “Call me and we’ll set up a time for you to come over and take pictures.” After Liam shut the door behind Ed, he turned to Ellie and smiled.

“Pictures?” she asked.

“He wants some photos of him riding around town on his new motorcycle. I told him I’d take some.”

“Then this wasn’t really free.”

“It was a good trade. And now you’re safe.”

“No,” Ellie countered, “my stuff is safe. No one can get in when I’m not here.”

“And no one can get in when you are here. Or if they do, the alarm will go off and the police will come. Believe me, when that horn goes off, the burglar isn’t going to stick around.”

“I’m not sure I’m going to be able to work this.”

“Come here,” he said. “I’ll show you how. It’s easy.” Reluctantly, Ellie got off the sofa and crossed the room to the door. “You just push the star key twice, then wait for the red light, then punch in your code. We’ll do 3-5-5-4. See, that spells ‘E-L-L-I.’ Ellie. That turns it on and shuts it off. I’ll make an extra copy of your new keys to leave with the security company. If the alarm goes off when you’re out, they’ll come over and check the apartment.”

“I guess,” Ellie said. “But this whole thing scares me.”

“It’s meant to keep you safe,” Liam replied.

“Safe from what? Do you think that burglar will be back?”

“Probably not. But it’s better safe than sorry.”

“You’re right,” Ellie said. She stared at the keypad, a tiny sliver of fear niggling at her brain. What if the burglar did come back and Liam wasn’t here to save her? The burglar obviously hadn’t gotten what he’d come for.

Liam’s finger hooked beneath her chin and he lifted her gaze up to his. “You don’t have to be afraid, Ellie.”

“I know. Thank you.”

Liam leaned closer and touched his lips to hers in the gentlest of kisses. He kissed her as if it had been the most natural thing in the world, as if he hadn’t even thought about it before acting on the impulse.

“Feel better?”

“Not really. Can you do it again?” It was only after the words left her mouth that she realized what she’d said. He’d wanted to know if she felt better about the security system not if the kiss made her feel better.

“I’ll try,” Liam said. He slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her toward him. The instant his lips touched hers, Ellie’s limbs went weak, her heart fluttered in her chest and she thought she might just hyperventilate.

It was clear from the way he brought his mouth down on hers that Liam Quinn was a very accomplished kisser. She tried not to think about all the women he must have kissed to get so good at it, yet she had to give credit for what they’d contributed to his rather formidable talent.

His tongue slipped along the crease of her lips and Ellie took it as an invitation to open her mouth. When she did, he deepened the kiss, and suddenly she realized just how unprepared for this she was. Desire snaked through her body, coiling in the pit of her stomach. This was need like she’d never felt it before, a deep physical ache that only seemed to be exacerbated by his taste and his touch.

Ellie smoothed her hands over his broad chest, her fingers searching the contours of flesh and bone. He was perfect, more perfect than she deserved, and Ellie wondered at the luck that had brought him running into her apartment that night. She wasn’t about to question it, and instead decided to revel in it. A girl like her usually didn’t get a chance with a guy like Liam.

He slowly pulled away, stealing one last kiss before he spoke. “I have to go,” he murmured.

Ellie’s heart sank. She’d imagined that she could continue kissing him for the rest of the afternoon and well into the night.

“I have to go photograph a rally outside Faneuil Hall,” he continued, brushing his lips over hers. “It has something to do with…sweatshop labor in…Third World countries.”

“That’s a serious problem,” Ellie murmured, pushing up on her toes and kissing him again.

“The Globe called this morning. It’s a nice assignment.” His lips found the curve of her neck and lingered there for a moment.

“I have to type up a few more letters and send out some résumés,” Ellie said. “And I’m going over to the library to get online. I thought I’d post my résumé with a few of the sites on the Web.”

“How’s the job hunt going?” Liam asked.

“Not great. I’ve hit all the major banks in Boston and now I’m going to have to start on the minor ones. I’ve had four years in banking but maybe I should consider a change. I could get my C.P.A. and work for an accounting firm. Or maybe find a position with a small business.”

“You’ll find something,” Liam said, reaching out to smooth his hand along her cheek. “You’re smart and you’re capable and you’re awfully pretty to look at.”

“And if you kiss me again, I promise to believe that,” Ellie murmured.

He did as he was told, then grabbed his jacket and bid her goodbye, promising to call her later that evening. Ellie closed the door behind him and smiled. She touched her lips, still damp from his kiss, then tried to remember exactly how wonderful it felt. Later on, she could summon that memory and relish it all over again.

It felt good to be kissed again. And touched and held. Though she’d tried so hard to resist him, Ellie had known going in that she’d once again be putting her heart at risk. And now that feeling was even more acute. She was falling hard and fast for Liam Quinn and she couldn’t seem to stop herself.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was that made him so irresistible, but he had a certain charm that she found incredibly attractive. He always knew just the right thing to say, yet he never tried too hard. There were moments when she felt as if he was madly in love with her and then other times when he’d pull away and keep her guessing. It was like a little dance between them, each advancing and retreating at different times, trying to read the subtleties in every word and action.

She’d come to Boston to get away from her rather disastrous history with men. And then, against all odds, she’d stumbled across the man who very well could be the man of her dreams. Ellie hurried over to her bookshelf and ran her fingers along the rows of books until she found what she wanted. “Find the Man of Your Dreams,” she said, pulling out a volume she’d purchased three years ago.

She settled down on the sofa, tucking her feet up underneath her. Now that she’d found him, Ellie would have to figure out how to keep him. Maybe the book would have some good advice.

THE IMAGE appeared slowly, the grays intensifying as Liam swirled the photo around in the developer. This was the best part of photography, he mused. That moment of anticipation, waiting to see what the camera had captured.

He’d shut himself in the darkroom that occupied the spare bedroom in the apartment, ready to catch up on some film he’d taken a few weeks before. After all, there wasn’t much he could do once Ellie went to sleep. She was safe inside her apartment, the security system set to warn her of any intruders. But instead of grabbing the film he’d taken of children playing on Boston Common, he’d grabbed the roll he’d taken that first night in the attic.

An outline of a figure appeared first on the photo paper and then more and more detail. “Come on, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Show yourself.” He’d taken the photo that first night and until now hadn’t thought about developing it. But after a week of Ellie, the curiosity had been too much to resist.