He waited, but she didn’t respond. “Sean and Tommy will leave you alone. Get some rest and we’ll talk tomorrow.”
Jimmy grabbed some clothes from the laundry room and shoved them in a gym bag. “I’ll sleep at Kevin’s tonight and fill him in. Tomorrow after work, we’ll deal with Norah. Find someplace for Dad to hang out tomorrow.”
Sean nodded and gulped the rest of his beer. “I’ll take him to work.”
“Thanks, man. Don’t forget his meds.”
Sitting in his car, Jimmy felt overwhelmed by everything. He needed to let Kevin know about Norah, but he wasn’t ready to go there. Kevin never wanted her to leave Chicago, so this would just be another fight. Instead of heading to Kevin’s, he pointed his car toward Moira’s apartment and hoped she wasn’t as pissed as his family was.
Moira sat curled on her couch with a huge bowl of buttered popcorn and His Girl Friday popped into the DVD player. It might not be the best date in history, but it didn’t suck either. The opening credits rolled and Moira studied the frame.
It talked about how in the good old days, reporters did anything short of murder to get the story. There was something romantic about that idea. She wanted the fire of a great story to hunt down. She glanced at the mess she’d made earlier and still hadn’t cleaned up. Her time would come for a great story.
Then, on the screen, Hildy entered and Moira was immediately caught up in the banter and fun.
A few minutes in, as Hildy ranted about Walter basically stalking her, a knock on the door almost caused Moira to drop her bowl of popcorn. She hit pause and went to the door.
She swung it open to see Jimmy leaning on the doorjamb. “Hi.”
“You didn’t check the peephole.”
“Of course I did,” she answered quickly, hoping he’d believe her lie. “Why else would I open the door?”
He pushed off the wall. “I had my hand over the hole. You had no idea it was me.”
Knowing she was busted, she said, “Well, at least I had the door locked.”
“You need to be more careful, Moira.”
She crossed her arms. She did not need a lecture from a man who’d stood her up. “What are you doing here, Jimmy?”
“I came to apologize.” He held up a brown paper bag. “I really was working. We got a break in the case and I couldn’t leave.”
She believed him. At least she wanted to. “What’s in the bag?”
“Ice cream. Chocolate fudge brownie.” He waved the bag. “It’s Sunday, so Super Cup closes early. Otherwise I would’ve brought one of their brownies.”
She snatched the bag from his hand and then took a long look at him. For a guy who should be celebrating a break in the case, he looked beaten down. “Want to come in?”
He nodded, so she stepped aside. Waiting for him to get in, she made sure he heard the lock click.
“What the hell happened in here?”
“That?” She pointed at the piles of crap. “I was searching for something.” She didn’t need another lecture about butting into his case.
“Any luck?”
“Not yet.”
He stood in her living room, like he didn’t know what to do or why he’d come.
“You can sit down. I just started His Girl Friday, but I can turn it off if you’d rather watch something else.” She waited a beat, holding her breath. His answer would tell her a lot. She liked to use her choice in movies as a litmus test for guys.
Any guy who would let her watch an old black-and-white movie was definitely worth a second look. If a guy asked her to turn it off, he would not likely get another date. A guy who showed an appreciation for the movie would probably be a keeper.
Jimmy looked at the screen. “Cary Grant?”
“Yeah.” Not too many men could recognize Cary Grant.
“I don’t think I know that one.” He settled on her couch, which was really more like a love seat given the size of her apartment. He took up more than half, especially when he spread his arms across the back.
Moira ducked into the kitchen to grab a couple of spoons. When she came back, she eyed the single chair that was more for appearance than comfort, but decided she could sit beside Jimmy without too much discomfort.
She sat and pried the lid off the ice cream, then handed him a spoon.
“I don’t rate a bowl?”
“Why dirty a dish? This isn’t going to take long.” She dug her spoon in and scooped.
He did the same but waited until she sampled before he put it in his mouth.
She licked her lips. “Are you waiting to see if it’s poison?”
“No, I wanted to see if it’s worth extra miles of running to make up for the calories.”
She scooped more. “Life’s too short to worry about calories.” She reached for the remote.
“Before you start again . . .” Jimmy reached and took the ice cream from her hand.
That wasn’t a good sign.
“I’m sorry about blowing you off earlier.”
“You didn’t really stand me up. You called. That’s more than I’ve gotten from some guys.”
A muscle near his eye twitched. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“What? Sharing ice cream and an old movie?”
“Yeah. Us, dating.”
“But if I get Liam’s blessing, then we’d be okay?”
He shook his head and let out a small laugh. She grabbed her phone and dialed.
He looked over at her. “What are you doing?”
“Calling Liam.”
“Christ.” He reached over to grab the phone, but she scooted farther away. “Moira, hang up.”
Liam’s voice mail answered, so she disconnected.
His jaw clenched, which sent her into a fit of giggles. He rubbed a hand over his face, drawing out the look of exhaustion.
“I’m trying here, Jimmy. What do you want from me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, you need to figure it out.” She pressed play on the remote and grabbed the ice cream off the table.
He glanced at the ice cream but picked up her forgotten bowl of popcorn. Walter and Hildy continued their banter, and Jimmy settled back against the couch. Like everything else he did, Jimmy watched the movie intently.
While he did, she stole moments to stare at him. Something troubled him, and she worried it was her. Maybe she shouldn’t have pressured him into a date. But really, how long should a girl have to wait? If she were smart, she would’ve never given him a chance. They’d known each other for years, yet Jimmy hadn’t made a move until he saw her dressed up playing a role that was far from her real life.
Maybe that caused his confusion. He was attracted to the Moira who schmoozed, but he knew the real her, the girl who talked too fast and too much.
Halfway through the pint of ice cream, she tapped his shoulder and held out the carton to him. He handed her the popcorn.
She ate a handful, but what she really had a taste for was him. She shifted closer to get his attention, and when he looked at her, she leaned in and planted her lips against his.
He bobbled the ice cream, and she leaned closer, swiping her tongue against his lips, urging them open. Salty sweetness, chocolate and popcorn. Delicious.
He touched her shoulder with his free hand and gently pushed her away. For a third time, they shared a kiss and he pushed her away. The message couldn’t get any clearer.
“Sorry,” she said, and retreated to her corner of the couch.
“No, Moira,” he started, but then cradled his forehead.
“I get it, Jimmy. You’re not sure if you want to go on a date with me. Kissing me makes you all kinds of uncomfortable. It—”
For such a big man, he moved fast. Suddenly, she pressed uncomfortably against the arm of the couch as he ravaged her mouth. The length of his body lay against hers, and muscles flexed and throbbed all around her.
He pulled away for a second, and she was sure she’d lost him again. But he
took a slow breath and came back to her lips and slowed his kiss. He rubbed his lips against hers gently and licked the seam. Then he traveled across her jaw and down her throat. His teeth scraped her pulse, causing it to ratchet up even more. He tugged her earlobe between his teeth and she arched against him. She wanted more. She wanted him to do this all over her body.
When they were both panting, he slowly backed away. His body still pressed hers, but he moved his face to meet her eyes. “You’re right, Moira.” His voice was ragged. “I am uncomfortable kissing you, but not for whatever reason you’ve cooked up in your head. I don’t think I can do this right now.”
Her heart sank. Jimmy was attracted to her. Never in a million years would she have guessed he would be. She felt it now in every move he made as he lay on top of her, but he was letting her down easy. What next? The it’s-me-not-you speech? She stared into his eyes, willing him to tell her something, anything but the excuses he seemed ready to dole out.
He stroked her cheek. “I can almost see the thoughts in your head. Don’t. This whole thing is far beyond what I know how to handle.”
“It’s not something to handle. It’s life. We like each other. Let’s see where it goes.”
Now he did pull completely away from her. He sat back and sighed while looking at the ceiling.
She touched his thigh and he jumped. “What’s going on?”
“Norah’s back.”
Moira hadn’t expected that. “That’s good, right?”
“She’s pregnant and hasn’t finished college yet.”
Moira stared and tried not look as shocked as she felt. “Wow.”
He shifted again. “Don’t say anything to anyone. She showed up tonight. Tommy and Sean flipped out. She was crying and locked herself in my room.”
Shit. His family was pretty screwed up. But then, she’d always known that. “You can stay here if you want.”
He looked at her.
“I’ll sleep on the couch and promise to keep my hormones to myself.” She smiled brightly, maybe a little too brightly, but he looked miserable. She knew that look. Ryan had it every time he thought about Maggie.
What was it with older brothers thinking they could solve everyone’s problems?
“Thanks for the offer.” He tucked some hair behind her ear, skimming the sensitive spot he’d aroused with his tongue, and she shivered. “I’m going to Kevin’s. I’ll break the news to him and spend the night there.”
“Want to at least finish the movie?”
He put forth the effort to give her a smile, but it was weak. “Absolutely.”
Then he did something completely unJimmy-like: he pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. She sank against him and couldn’t focus on the rest of the movie to save her life.
The final credits on the movie rolled, and Jimmy was afraid to move. Moira had fallen asleep on him, nestled against his chest. He didn’t want to wake her, but he couldn’t stay. Even if he had the willpower to control himself, he needed to talk to Kevin before Tommy did.
He slid out from under Moira and settled her on the couch with a pillow under her head. She stretched and moaned and snuggled the pillow. He wanted to be the damn pillow.
For all his misgivings about getting involved with Moira, tonight made him feel the possibility. Everyone, including him, had a hard time seeing Moira as more than a kid sister. She was a woman, and every kiss they shared emphasized that. If he could deal with Norah, maybe he and Moira could have something.
He covered her with a blanket and tried to imagine a life with Moira. Could they be a forever thing? He shook his head. His thoughts were running as crazy as hers usually did. He didn’t even know if they wanted the same things.
And if they didn’t?
She stirred again, and her eyes fluttered open. “Leaving?”
“Yeah. Good night.”
She sat up, knocking the blanket off. She stood and stretched. Her shirt rode up, baring her stomach and tightening across her braless chest.
“Sorry I woke you.” He kissed the top of her head and walked to the door. “Lock up.”
She followed him and stood beside the open door.
He looked at her sleepy face and felt the pull to stay again. “I want a rain check for tonight.”
“Rain check?”
“I didn’t get my date, remember?”
The look of shock gave him pleasure. It wasn’t too often he surprised her. He pulled the door closed and waited. She must’ve still been standing in shock. He thumped the door. “Lock up now, Moira.”
The clunk of the lock was the only answer he got. He sent a text to Kevin to make sure he’d be awake. The ease of his evening with Moira dissipated with each mile he gained toward Kevin’s apartment.
Kevin didn’t respond to his text but met him at the door, wearing nothing but boxers.
“What’s wrong?”
“I need to crash here. You don’t have company, do you?”
Kevin walked away from the door. “Sean called.”
Fuck. He’d asked them not to. “He told you?”
“He just said you’d be here, although that was hours ago, and that Norah was home.” Kevin crossed his arms. “He didn’t make it sound like she was visiting.”
“She’s pregnant. Very pregnant. Tommy flipped out because she wouldn’t tell him who the father is.”
“The fuck she won’t.” Kevin started moving around as if to get dressed.
“Sit your ass down.” Jimmy flopped on the couch, exhausted. “She’s home. She’s safe. And she’s scared.”
“I told you we shouldn’t have sent her to Boston. If she was here, we would’ve been able to watch her. This never would’ve happened.” Kevin paced while he talked, making Jimmy even more tired.
“I was overseas, and Tommy and Sean were doing nothing but getting into trouble. You weren’t much better. Who was going to stay on top of Norah? At least Aunt Bridget made sure she stayed in school. Norah could’ve come home for college. She wanted to stay in Boston. She made a life there.” He leaned his head against the back of the couch and closed his eyes.
“More like Aunt Bridget is so old, she wouldn’t know when Norah snuck out. At least if she was here, no guy would ever get near her. We all would’ve made sure of that.”
An image of Moira yelling at her brothers over the bonfire reminding them she was an adult rang through his mind. Norah was technically an adult too. Maybe they all needed to accept it.
He heard the shuffling of Kevin’s feet as he paced.
“Are we flying or driving?”
“Where?” Jimmy asked without raising his head.
“To Boston. We need to find this asshole and drag him here.”
With great effort, Jimmy sat straight. “We’re not going anywhere.”
When Kevin looked like he wanted to pounce, Jimmy held up a hand.
“She came home because she needs us. When she’s ready to talk, she will. Like it or not, she’s an adult and she has to make her own decisions.” He sounded rational, which was not at all how he felt. Mostly he wanted to drive to Boston tonight, as if he had the energy for a ten-hour drive, and beat the shit out of whoever took advantage of his little sister. But he knew that was irrational. They didn’t even know she had a boyfriend, or whatever. Jimmy talked to Norah weekly, sometimes more. It’s not like he dumped her in Boston and forgot about her.
She had a life there that she enjoyed. He’d thought it was a good move.
Kevin continued to pace like he was stuck in a cage. All Jimmy wanted to do was reclaim some of the peace he’d had an hour ago. The thought struck him as odd—peace with Moira O’Leary? He almost laughed.
He really needed to get some sleep. “Where can I crash? I’ve got an early morning meeting with my boss.”
“The spare room is open. If there’s stuff on the futon, shove it off.”
“What, no fresh sheets and a mint on my pillow?” Jimmy asked as he heaved himself off the c
ouch.
“I might consider it if you were sucking my dick, but since I’m not getting lucky, you can set up your own damn bed.”
Jimmy grabbed his bag and headed to the futon. Shove the shit off? Kevin had a pile of laundry Jimmy feared might not be clean. He swept it all into the corner of the room and flopped down. The hard mattress was far from comfortable, but his eyes closed and he drifted off before he could think about how much he missed his own bed. Moira’s couch would’ve been a better choice.
The following morning, Moira woke up, excitement still buzzing in her veins. Not only had Jimmy shown up to hang out with her, but he’d also watched His Girl Friday all the way through. She’d fallen asleep, and he could’ve stopped the disk and changed the channel, but he didn’t. She’d known he was a keeper.
Plus, he wanted a rain check for their date. A date she worried she shouldn’t have tried to force. She didn’t know what change had taken place between her and Jimmy, but she was definitely on board for it.
She spent the morning straightening up the mess she’d made of her apartment yesterday. As she put away piles of papers and business cards, she made an attempt to organize them and maybe even file a few. The thing was, organization didn’t come naturally to her. Controlled chaos was the order of her life. She attributed it to being the fifth child in a big family.
Flipping through another stack of cards, she realized she probably threw away the escort card. She remembered being insulted by the woman’s assumption about her. And the card had no information other than a phone number. Maybe her best bet would be to seek the woman out. She checked her calendar for upcoming events. Moira knew the woman was particular about the events she attended. Moira never saw her at the smaller, more intimate parties. She needed to blend and hide.
The thing about summer in Chicago, though, was that the list of things to do was endless. It might be a total crapshoot, but if Moira packed her schedule and hit as many of the events as possible, she’d increase her odds of finding the woman. All she had to do was find her. Then she’d be able to get information and build a story.
Catch Your Breath Page 12