Catch Your Breath Page 6

  She smirked. “It’s sad that someone has to pretend.”

  Gabby laughed.

  Moira handed her a plastic cup. “I thought you might want a beer.”

  “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.

  CHAPTER 4

  “Are 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 Jim
my’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 wi
fe 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.”