Catch Your Breath (7 page)

“Thanks.” She took a sip and then said, “Now tell me why you invented an imaginary
wife for Jimmy.”

Moira brushed her hands on her lap, which drew Jimmy’s attention to her bare legs.
To distract himself, he studied his burger.

“I don’t know who you’re investigating, and let me tell you, it would be a whole lot
easier to help if I did know, but I saw the group he was standing with. They’re all
married pervs. If he wants in, he kind of needs to be like them. Birds of a feather,
you know.”

That caught Jimmy’s attention. “Besides the obvious fact they ogle you, why do you
call them pervs?”

“They do more than ogle.”

He hadn’t expected that. The thought of one of those assholes manhandling Moira pissed
him off again. “What did they do?”

“Nothing to me. Sometimes they forget I’m there or something. Which never happens
with the wives. They’re always on top of it, making sure they say just the right thing.
The men, on the other hand, get a few drinks in them, and they chat with each other
regardless of who might be standing around.”

He rolled his eyes. What he wouldn’t give for a straight answer. “Get to the point,
Moira.”

She shook her head and talked to Gabby. “They cheat. Every last one of them. Their
wives probably know, but I don’t have confirmation. I mean, they can’t be that clueless,
can they? Or maybe they just don’t care.”

Moira had given them the link they’d been searching for. If these guys were all adulterers
and were robbed while with a mistress, it would explain why they wouldn’t come forward
to report the crime. They didn’t want to account for their whereabouts. He could kiss
Moira.

She gave him an odd look. “I know, ‘shut up, Moira, you talk too much.’ Forget it.
I’m going to get a burger.”

She stood before he could process his thoughts.

Gabby moved closer. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

“They’re being targeted when they’re with their mistresses. The wives don’t know,
so they don’t report.”

Gabby took a gulp of beer. “The thieves must be pretty sophisticated to follow these
guys around to know when they won’t be home. That’s a lot of surveillance.”

Moira came back and sat beside Gabby, looking pitiful with a plate full of salad.

“I thought you were getting a burger,” he said.

“They’re gone. I knew I should’ve grabbed one, but I saw Gabby and wanted to bring
her a beer. Then, as usual, I got distracted talking. You’d think by now I’d know
better.”

He thrust his second burger at her. “Here.”

She stared at it.

“I only took one bite.” He waved it a little to get her to take it.

“I’m not taking your food.”

“I already had one. You know you want it.”

She took it and sank her teeth in, not bothered by the missing bite. Moira was a girl
who liked food. She gave a moan of appreciation over the burger.

“I can’t wait until Liam opens his own place and I can eat like this whenever I want.”

Jimmy picked at a chip. “Is he finally looking?”

“Not really. He’s thinking about it. If he thinks much longer, he’ll be eighty by
the time he decides.” She took another bite.

“He’s being cautious.” Something Moira knew nothing about.

Gabby interrupted. “Back to getting you a wife, O’Malley. What are we gonna do?”

“Marry me, Gabby.”

“Go to hell. Why would I marry you knowing you hang out with adulterers?”

“You guys are weird,” Moira said with a mouthful of burger.

Gabby turned her attention to Moira. “So tell me more about the pervs.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Are there more than the four that Jimmy was hanging with?”

“Nope. Just the four, I think, but I don’t go to every event and watch them.” Her
eyebrows shot up. “Are you investigating them? What’d they do? Corporate espionage?
Fraud? Ooo . . . murder?”

He couldn’t believe she was getting excited talking about possible crime. “We’re not
telling you.”

“Come on, Jimmy. I’m trying to help. I haven’t said anything to anyone. Nothing. I
think I deserve information based on that alone. You know how much I like to talk.”
She chewed on the burger and chased it with beer.

He remained silent. Telling Moira details would make her rabid. She never could keep
a secret.

“Go get me a refill, Jimmy.” Gabby put her cup in his face.

He stood and set his plate on his chair. Looking pointedly at Moira, he asked, “You
need a refill too?”

“That would be lovely, thanks.” She held her cup up to him.

He walked to the keg with all three cups in hand. After getting the refills, he looked
back at the women. They huddled together in deep conversation like they’d known each
other for years. Not surprising, since Moira made friends everywhere.

When he returned to his spot, he asked, “So what’d I miss?”

“Girl talk,” Gabby answered, taking her cup from him.

Moira’s cheeks were pink as she accepted her cup. Maybe they hadn’t been discussing
the case. What were they talking about then? They didn’t know each other, and the
only thing they had in common besides the case was . . . oh shit. Him.

He quickly grabbed his plate and mumbled, “I’m going to talk to Liam.”

No way did he want to have anything to do with whatever Gabby and Moira were talking
about.

“A
re you sure there’s nothing going on between you and Jimmy?”

Moira stared at Gabby. “I’m sure.” She hoped she covered her crush. “Why do you ask?”

“I’ve never seen him this bent out of shape, and I don’t get what’s causing it.”

Moira laughed. “I have that effect on him. I have since adolescence. He finds me annoying.”

“Annoyed is only a fraction of what he’s feeling. We haven’t been partners long, but
we’ve logged a lot of hours. I was sure he had something going with you and it was
throwing him off his game. Especially after he stayed in your apartment the other
day.”

Moira felt her face flush. Damn pale skin gave everything away. “Don’t go there. I
didn’t lock my door, so he let himself in and scared the crap out of me.”

“He did what?”

“You heard me. He just stood in my hallway, waiting for me to come out of the bedroom.”
Moira shook her head at the memory. “I screamed and threw my leg wax at him.”

Gabby spit beer out as she laughed.

Moira smacked her on the arm. “It’s not funny. I was mortified.”

“Not a very effective weapon. Unless of course it was hot wax?”

She shook her head again. “A jar.”

Tears streamed down Gabby’s cheeks. “What . . .” She took a halting breath. “What
did he do then?”

“I yelled at him.”

“I would’ve paid to see that. No one yells at Jimmy and lives to tell the tale.”

Moira thought about that for a minute. Jimmy had always been a tough guy, but not
for a second did she feel afraid around him. “If he did anything to me, he’d have
to answer to my brothers.” She pointed in the direction of the O’Leary boys.

“I think he could hold his own.”

Something about the way Gabby talked about Jimmy made her think that maybe something
was going on between the partners. But Jimmy wouldn’t date his partner. He wouldn’t
cross those lines. At least she didn’t think so.

“Can I ask you something?”

Moira looked at Gabby, who had finally regained her composure. “You’ve been asking
me things since you got here. Why stop now?”

“How hard is it going to be for me to blend with this crowd as Jimmy’s wife?”

Moira noticed the uncomfortable shift in Gabby’s eyes. She was nervous about playing
Jimmy’s wife. Maybe she had a thing for Jimmy. “I don’t know. I’ve never had to blend
exactly. I have to play a part. Lord knows I wouldn’t dress like that if I weren’t
at one of those parties. But once you know the players, it’s easy. You learn one or
two things about each person, and you always have a starting point for conversation.
Let them take the lead.”

Gabby’s lips thinned.

“What? All you have to do is look pretty, pretend to be in love with Jimmy, and make
superficial small talk.”

“I don’t think I can pull it off. I’m not the dress up and look pretty type.” She
stared at her cup. “Shit. I’m empty again.”

“I’ll get refills.”

Moira walked down the block. A breeze kicked up, knocking strands from her ponytail.
She swiped at them with her forearm and looked at the sky. The weather hadn’t called
for any rain, and she hoped a storm wasn’t rolling in. They still had to start a bonfire
and roast marshmallows. And she was nowhere near drunk enough yet.

At the keg, she filled their cups and eavesdropped on conversations. Quinn and Ryan
were arguing about how much longer they were going to stay. Griffin paced with his
phone to his ear. Then she heard the low timbre of Jimmy’s voice, so she strained
to listen. He was talking to Liam.

“Try dating someone your own age,” Liam said.

“I have. At our age, women are set with careers. I want a wife who will build a home
and raise our kids.”

Damn. Hey, Jimmy, 1950 called. They want their ideals back.
Beer overflowed the cup and trickled on her fingers.

“Shit, Moira. Didn’t anyone ever teach you to pour a beer?” Colin asked.

“I got distracted.” She licked the drops from her hand. “Elizabeth here yet?”

“On her way.”

“What kind of guy sends his girlfriend off to work while he parties ? Isn’t it your
business too?”

“I told her the place would be fine for one day without us. You know how she is.”
He filled his own cup.

“Tell her to find me when she gets here.”

“Who’s that you’ve been talking to?”

“Jimmy O’Malley’s partner.”

“You’ve been talking to him a lot lately. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I bumped into him at a work function. That’s all.” She left before Colin
could ask more questions. Although she was better at keeping secrets than anyone gave
her credit for, she wasn’t good at lying to people, especially her family.

She sat back on the curb next to Gabby. She should go dig out more lawn chairs. They
were all getting too old to be sitting on concrete all night.

“Are you going to be at the Lincoln Park Zoo fund-raiser thing next weekend?”

“Yep. It’s one of my favorites. I go every year.”

Conversation across the street drew Moira’s attention. Sean O’Malley was talking to
some guy. While Sean’s voice was low, Moira read his body language. Something heated
was going on.

“Hey, why don’t I introduce you to Jimmy’s younger brother?” Moira hoped the interruption
would cool things down. Having a fight break out during the block party was never
a good thing. Most years they were fine, but every now and then, someone got drunk
and belligerent.

Drunk and belligerent meeting an O’Malley would never end well.

When they crossed the street, Moira said, “Hi, Sean. This is Gabby, Jimmy’s partner.”

Gabby raised a hand in greeting, but Sean didn’t notice.

“Who the fuck do you think you are, asshole?” Sean’s voice was tight and controlled.
He wasn’t drunk.

The other man—Foster?—from down the block wove in place. “Shut up, jagoff.”

Gabby tugged her sleeve. “Go get Jimmy.”

Moira looked at Gabby, who was well on her way to buzzed. “You get Jimmy. I know these
guys.” Moira pointed her in the direction where she’d last seen Jimmy sitting with
Liam.

When Gabby took off at a stumbling jog, Moira stepped between the two men. “Hey, guys,
how about some more food?”

“Moira, step out of the way.” Sean stood a foot taller than her, like all the O’Malleys.
His right hand was already bunched in a fist.

“Sean, please. Don’t ruin the party with a fight.”

Foster stood behind her and slurred, “Listen to the little lady. You don’t want to
get your ass kicked.”

From the corner of her eye, Moira saw Jimmy running over. Two seconds, that’s all
she needed to stall, but even as she had the thought, Sean reached past her.

“Sean,” Jimmy yelled loud and sharp.

Sean turned his head slightly. It was enough of a distraction that drunk Foster thought
he’d get in a cheap shot. He stepped around Moira, and when he pulled back for the
punch, his elbow smacked into her head, knocking her on her ass.

Moira wasn’t sure if he connected with Sean because that boy moved fast. Sean was
on him and pounding away. Jimmy yanked Sean off like he held a kitten by the scruff.
Foster scrambled back like a crab. His lip was bleeding.

Jimmy barked orders. “Liam, walk Bradley home.”

Liam helped Bradley Foster stand, practically lifting him under his shoulders. As
they passed her, Liam asked, “You okay?”

She nodded. A throbbing pain beat on the side of her head, but she was okay.

Jimmy continued yelling. She assumed he was aiming for Sean until he lowered himself
to meet her face. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”

From behind him, Sean said, “It wasn’t her fault, man. She was trying to defuse the
situation.”

Jimmy barely glanced back, but snapped, “Stay out of this.”

“I sent Gabby to get you. I was trying to stop them before it got physical.”

“How? With your face?” His fingers traveled along her jawline.

She swatted him away. She couldn’t hold on to being mad at him if he was gentle. Her
head might explode if she saw both sides of Jimmy at once. Pushing up from the ground,
she felt the throbbing worsen.

Jimmy grabbed her elbow to help her stand. “You’re a damn menace.”

“Everything was fine until you distracted Sean. That gave Bradley his opening. Sean
wouldn’t have thrown a punch with me standing in between them.”

“Hell, no, I wouldn’t. The O’Learys outnumber everyone.”

“But you didn’t account for the drunk in the equation.” He held her chin and tilted
her head to see if there was damage.

“I said I’m fine.” She yanked away from him. What she really needed was some ice and
another beer. Her cup had been a casualty of the brief fight, the red plastic cracked
in multiple spots.

As she walked away, she saw her brothers all running toward her. She rolled her eyes.
They all looked pissed. She thought to stop them, but remembered Jimmy and Sean were
big boys.
Let them deal with it themselves.

Colin and Ryan led the pack. All she heard as she walked by was, “What the fuck, O’Malley?
How the hell did our sister get hit?”

She definitely needed a beer.

Jimmy sent Gabby after Moira to make sure she put ice on her head. He needed to deal
with her crazy brothers. Sean already stepped out in front of it, explaining what
had happened. He apologized, but quickly pointed out that he didn’t throw the first
punch or hit Moira.

They calmed down. Irritated, but accepting of the situation. Colin, Ryan, and Michael
headed back to where they were setting up a fire pit. Tommy and Kevin had emerged
from wherever they’d been hiding, and Sean began telling them about the fight.

Jimmy crossed his arms as he stood beside Liam. He watched his brothers reenact the
brief brawl and then looked over at the O’Learys, who were simultaneously checking
on Moira and rallying the family to make s’mores. “Do you see what I see?” he asked
Liam.

“What do you mean?”

“Look at your family and look at mine. Is it any wonder why I’m looking for a wife
who will be at home to raise my kids? We’re pretty fucked up.” His brothers were congratulating
Sean on his win, if that’s what you could call it when fighting a drunk.

“Our families are different, but my mom worked, remember? She worked at the bar all
the time when we were young.”

“But she was always there for you guys. I remember your mom always being around.”

Liam shrugged. “Your mom would’ve been around if she could’ve. Having a job isn’t
what killed her.”

“I know, but if she hadn’t been forced to work to help support us, she wouldn’t have
been walking home late at night. She wouldn’t have gotten mugged. She wouldn’t have
been killed.”

“That’s some faulty logic. She could’ve just as easily been attacked coming home from
the grocery store.”

Jimmy didn’t have an answer. He knew it didn’t make sense, but he needed to have some
control over the variables in his life. He could provide for a family. It’s what he
wanted to do.

“Come on. I’ll buy you a beer. You look like you could use one.”

Liam led the way back to the fire pit and pulled up two lawn chairs. The plastic weave
was old and fraying, and Jimmy worried about whether it would hold him. He sat and
immediately regretted it. The spot put in him Moira’s line of glaring. And she was
shooting some dirty looks in his direction. What the hell had he done to piss her
off? He didn’t hit her. He hadn’t even been part of the fight. He’d simply pointed
out the carelessness of her actions.

Yeah, that’s what a woman wanted to hear when she was hurt. Tell her how it was her
fault. Dumb ass. Jimmy knew better, and if it had been anyone else, he still would’ve
been upset, but he would’ve held his tongue. Something about Moira made him cross
the line. Every time.

He couldn’t tell her the panic he’d felt seeing her get hit.

Brushing aside the thought and the image that went with it, he took a gulp of the
beer Liam handed him.

Griffin’s wife, Indy, stood from her spot in the grass and said, “Okay, most of the
kids are gone or they’re with their parents at their own fire. I think it’s time for
some fun. What game should we play?”

Moira’s eyes narrowed. “Truth or dare.”

“Ooo . . . that’s good. I’ll start.” She tapped her lips like she needed to plan something.
“Moira, truth or dare?”

Moira got a cocky glint in her eye, and he knew he was in trouble. “Truth.”

Indy’s face lit up. “Who was the last guy you made out with and was it any good?”

All four of her brothers plus Griffin cringed. Liam spoke for them all. “You can’t
ask those kinds of questions. We don’t want to hear any details.”

Colin added, “She’s a virgin until marriage.”

Moira snorted. “First”—she made eye contact with each brother—“you all need to recognize
that I am a grown woman. Second, his name was Rick. I picked him up at a bar. We made
out next to my car, but he didn’t do it for me. I’m still looking for the guy that
can make my toes curl with a kiss. Elizabeth swears such guys exist.”