Catch Your Breath

by Shannyn Schroeder

  “Want a kiss for good luck?”

  He looked at her from the corner of his eyes. “Luck has nothing to do with it, but I’ll take a kiss anyway.”

  She moved closer and waited for him to lower his face to hers. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him. Their lips interlocked, but he kept it pretty innocent.

  When he stepped away, he said, “Stand behind me so I don’t get distracted.”

  She ran her fingers up his bicep. “You find me distracting?”

  “Always.” He shoved her hips gently to get her moving.

  She stood behind him, a little off to the side so she could see. If she stood directly behind him, it would’ve been like trying to see through a mountain. The set of his shoulders told her he was in deep concentration.

  Slowly, methodically, he started picking off targets—ping, ping, ping—not missing one.

  When all of the darts were gone, he pointed at the lion and the teen took it down. “Great shooting, man. That’s the first big prize I’ve handed out all weekend.”

  Jimmy turned and handed her the lion. Figures. The man did everything perfectly. She hugged the stuffed animal, which was harder than it appeared, much like Jimmy. This was not a snuggly animal.

  “Where to now?” Jimmy asked.

  “Let’s stay here. Teach me how you won.” She set her lion on the counter.

  Jimmy laid a ten-dollar bill beside it. While the teen gathered her darts, Jimmy picked up the gun and handed it to Moira. Then he stood directly behind her and wrapped his body around hers. Maybe he was a bit snuggly after all.

  As if oblivious to how quickly her heart began beating and how nicely she fit into his frame, Jimmy lowered his mouth to her ear. He started talking about lining up sights and aiming. Squeeze. Don’t pull. It took everything she had not to laugh.

  When he was done instructing, he put a dart in the gun and guided her hands back toward the target. She pulled the trigger—correction, squeezed—and jumped a little when the gun popped. The dart went wild, and Jimmy sighed in her ear, causing a tingle to dance down her spine.

  “I said squeeze the trigger.”

  “I did. Maybe I could focus better if you weren’t literally breathing down my neck.” She shifted her shoulders like she needed to make space.

  Instead of indulging her, Jimmy kissed her neck and worked his way over to her earlobe. Moira’s eyes fluttered shut, and she didn’t care that the horny teenager stood in front of them staring. Jimmy’s quiet breath in her ear made her knees weak, so she leaned on him.

  Then he grabbed her hips and thrust them forward, away from the warmth of his body. “You have a few more shots to take. I’ll try not to crowd you.”

  She forced her eyes open and focused on the circling targets. The sudden realization hit her that she wouldn’t be able to beat Jimmy at this game or any other. She squinted at the targets and attempted to aim, but all she wanted was to feel Jimmy’s body around hers again, his tongue exploring, making her weak.

  Releasing a pent-up breath, she tried to relax. The dart flew from the gun and pinged off the target. Since she missed the bull’s-eye, the target didn’t fly back.

  “Not bad,” Jimmy said.

  She shot a look over her shoulder. “Better than you thought I’d do.”

  “Even Lois Lane had her good days.”

  Moira aimed the gun again. “And Superman had his off days.” She shot the rest of her darts without hitting any of the targets hard enough to win.

  Jimmy handed her the lion.

  “How’d you manage to hit all of them?”

  “I can’t share my secrets.” He led her away from the booth.

  “Spill.”

  “The gun pulls down and to the left. I adjusted, knowing where it wanted to go, so I aimed high and to the right.”

  Moira slugged his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

  He put his arm around her shoulder again. “I tried, but you were too busy panting to listen. I didn’t want you to hyperventilate.”

  Oh, God. He wasn’t as oblivious as she’d thought. Now she felt foolish because he knew exactly how turned on she’d gotten just standing in his arms and having him whisper in her ear.

  “You’re pretty when you blush,” he said and stroked his finger down the side of her neck. He pulled her closer and whispered, “If it makes you feel any better, you do the same to me. It just takes more to make me blush.”

  She smiled and wondered what it would take to make Jimmy blush. “Let’s go to the Ferris wheel.”

  The line for the ride was shorter than most. Moira knew that comparatively, the Ferris wheel wasn’t exciting, but she always thought it was romantic. To be up above the city with a guy you like, maybe stealing a few kisses where no one but the stars could watch. While they waited for the cars to empty so they could get on, Moira turned slightly while in Jimmy’s arms. She shifted the lion to her left arm, so she could wrap her right arm around his waist. Her hand encountered a hard lump, and she realized he had his gun with him.

  She yanked her hand back.

  He stiffened, but his hands rubbed her shoulders. “Don’t freak.”

  In a whisper that came out more like a hiss, she said, “Why do you need to have a gun on our date? What do you think is going to happen?”

  “I feel better knowing it’s there, that I’m prepared for anything. I never know what’s going to happen, so I’m ready.” He kissed the top of her head. “It’s no big deal. It’s part of who I am.”

  They moved forward in line, next to get a car. “Do you always carry it with you?”

  “Pretty much.”

  She inhaled deeply. Jimmy was a cop, before that a soldier. She shouldn’t be surprised that he carried a gun.

  With his hand at her lower back, the same place he carried a gun, he ushered her toward the Ferris wheel. He held her hand while she climbed in and then sat beside her. She squished the lion between her hip and the side, trying to give Jimmy as much room as possible. Sometimes she forgot how big he was.

  Jimmy settled in with one arm along the back of the car behind her head. His knee bumped hers and the crisp hair on his leg tickled her. The attendant slammed the bar shut to lock them in, and the car jolted forward.

  “You okay?” Jimmy asked.

  “Yeah, just processing. I never thought about you carrying a gun all the time. I thought it was something you took off, like your badge.” She twisted her body, further squishing the lion so she could look into Jimmy’s eyes.

  “I can. I choose not to.”

  “Doesn’t it make it easier for you to stay in cop mode, though? Harder to be a regular guy?”

  “I’m never a regular guy, I guess. I’m always a cop.” He cocked his head. “You’re always a reporter.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Sure you are. You might not print everything, but you’re always interviewing people, getting their stories. It’s as natural to you as scanning for danger is for me.”

  He had her there. She never quite thought about the fact that she was always a reporter. It was so much more than just what she did; it was part of who she was.

  “Speaking of which, Liam said you weren’t happy with your current job. Do you have a plan?”

  The Ferris wheel had picked up all of the new occupants and began to increase speed. The cool air smelling of an impending storm rushed up at her, flinging her hair around her face. She shoved it behind her ears, buying time to answer Jimmy’s question. “It’s not that I don’t like my job. I like it a whole lot, actually. I’m just not sure it’s enough. Everyone thinks it’s not a real job, that all I do is party and then slap some words on the page.”

  She waited, sure he would agree with the statement, but he didn’t. “I’m thinking about other possibilities, articles I could sell that will carry more weight and allow me to break into more serious markets. I have you to thank for that.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, running into you because of this
case has given me ideas.”

  The car reached the top of the wheel and paused.

  “You need to stay out of my investigation.”

  “What I’m working on has nothing to do with your job.”

  Swoosh over the arc and down the back side.

  “Then what is it?” He toyed with her hair that was still flying around.

  Should she tell him? She never talked about stories with anyone, mostly because she always feared someone stealing her ideas. But this was Jimmy, not a fellow reporter. “It’s a slightly different angle. I’m looking into sex for hire in the Viagra Triangle.”

  He laughed and the sound echoed across the carnival. The sound was rich and full and big, just like him. “Do I need to worry about the research you might be conducting for this story?”

  She slapped his chest—his very hard chest—and let her hand linger. His hand caught hers and he leaned over for a kiss. His lips were warm and insistent. He didn’t use his tongue at first, just his lips as if the kiss was a preview. She immediately wanted more.

  Her hand dropped from his chest and landed on his thigh. When he deepened the kiss, she caressed his leg, moving higher, wanting to feel more of him. He stopped her progress without breaking the kiss. She felt his lips curve into a smile.

  The ride stopped as they were halfway to the top. More people getting off. How she wanted to be one of those people. She wiggled her fingers beneath Jimmy’s palm, and he pulled away from her mouth.

  “I’m not going to let you stroke me on a ride in public.” He laced his fingers through hers.

  “Shows what you know. I was thinking of a hand job.”

  He groaned and moved in for another kiss.

  Between the rush of her blood and the air swirling around them as the ride picked up speed once again, Moira felt dizzy. His kisses turned her on so much, she was ready to get naked in public.

  Jimmy pulled away again and shifted, causing the car to rock. “This is getting out of hand.”

  “Out of hand can be fun.”

  His chest rose with a deep breath and his smile was strained. “Tell me more about your plans for work.”

  “I don’t really know. I get restless easily, but I’ve always known I wanted to be a journalist.”

  “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

  She sat back in the car, still holding his hand, but staring up into the cloudy sky. When did she last think about a five-year plan? College ?

  In five years, she’d be thirty-three. In the back of her mind, she’d expected to be married with kids, doing the mom thing. She’d never separated her job from that, though. Part of her assumed she’d always work.

  “I think that’s the longest you’ve ever been so quiet. I didn’t mean for the question to freeze your brain.” His fingers rubbed her gently.

  “I got caught up in thinking about it. I realized I no longer have a plan. I have some hopes and dreams, but no real plan.” Plenty for her to think about later. “How about you?”

  “I’ll still be a detective, making my way up the ranks. One day, I plan to be a commander, maybe even chief, although the politics of the position might be too much for me.”

  She liked hearing him talk. Jimmy had never been much of a talker, at least not while she was around, so having him open up warmed something deep in her chest. The conversation she’d overheard him having with Liam at the block party pushed her to probe. “What about personally?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have a plan for your career. What about your personal life?”

  “I know what I want, but that’s not something you can really plan for. I want to be married, soon, so we can have two kids.”

  The car shuddered, and Moira knew their ride was almost at an end. “What about your dad?”

  “Tommy and Sean are both living in the house. Hopefully by the time I get married, they can handle taking care of my dad.”

  The car swooshed again and stopped in front of the attendant. The man yanked the bar and Jimmy stepped off. He held a hand out to help Moira. Always the gentleman. Except for when he’d had her pressed against her door. She decided she really liked both sides of Jimmy.

  Jimmy’s head swam in a haze of testosterone. The chemistry between him and Moira was more explosive every time they were alone. He tried his damnedest to keep it in check, but she didn’t make it easy.

  Discussing his plans with her was easier than expected. He’d had similar conversations with other women, and it usually ended in one of two ways: they either hit the road running or immediately looked for a diamond. Moira just listened.

  “Where to now?”

  She shrugged. A sudden flash of lightning blazed across the sky followed by a crack of thunder. It looked like their luck had run out.

  “We should probably head to the car so we don’t get stuck in a downpour. Let me get some cotton candy for Norah first.” He pulled her toward the concession stand. “You want anything?”

  Her eyes lit when she looked at the menu. “They have funnel cakes. Yes! Extra powdered sugar and chocolate drizzle.”

  Jimmy placed the order and added a lemonade for them to share. He handed Moira the paper plate with her funnel cake and grabbed the bagged candy and lemonade. Glancing at the sky, he said, “You want to take a chance and eat it here, or eat while we walk?”

  “There isn’t any rain yet. Plus, you still have tickets. They’re not going to give you your money back.”

  “That’s not a big deal. The neighborhood’s going to be a zoo if a storm hits. Everyone will try to leave at once.”

  She ripped off a piece of fried dough and then looked up at the sky. “I say we chance it.”

  Her wicked grin returned as she tugged at the dough and held out a piece to him. “Want some?”

  He let her feed him, her fingers grazing his lips as she put the dough in his mouth. He licked the chocolate glaze and sugar from her finger and the air around them electrified. The dough squished in his mouth, the sweetness reminding him of their kisses.

  Moira stared at his mouth for a moment and then broke the spell by turning away. The beer garden was nearby with a few picnic tables spread out, so she took a seat.

  He straddled the bench beside her and took a long drink from the lemonade. He reminded himself that this was technically their first date. Moira deserved more respect than for him to spend his time imagining the many ways he’d like to taste her body.

  She held up another piece, but he said, “That’s not a good idea.”

  She smirked and popped it into her own mouth. “You don’t know what you’re missing. The first taste isn’t nearly enough.”

  Shit. He already knew that.

  Leaning over the lemonade, she sucked through the straw. Her lips puckered and she arched her eyebrow as if she knew exactly where his mind was.

  Another flash of lightning lit the sky and the boom of thunder shook the ground.

  Moira grunted. “Fine. You win. Let’s go.” She stood suddenly, threw the plate away, and folded the remaining piece of cake and bit it. Her lion was safely tucked under her arm.

  He liked a practical woman. He tossed the lemonade and led the way out of the carnival area, pausing to give his leftover tickets to a few teens he figured would brave the storm. As a teen, he would’ve too. The carnival would restart rides as soon as the rain cleared and then the crowds would be gone. He was too old for that shit.

  Moira made quick work of her dessert while walking. He tried to slow his pace to accommodate her short legs, but she did a good job of keeping up.

  A block down, the clouds opened and dumped rain. There was no warning drizzle or slow raindrops. Just buckets splashing all around them. He grabbed Moira’s hand and pulled her into a doorway of a closed business.

  Her T-shirt plastered against her skin and her hair hung in waves around her face. Water dripped down her cheek, but she was smiling.

  She tilted her head. “Guess you were right. We should’ve
started walking sooner.”

  Looking at her now, he couldn’t be sorry she’d taken the chance. The wetness of the shirt outlined her bra, and her nipples protruded through the cotton. When she shivered, he realized he was staring. “I’m sorry. Do you want to wait here while I get the car?”

  She leaned out of the doorway a little and glanced down the block, then up at the sky. Looking down at how drenched she was, she said, “What’s the point? I’m already soaked. Wanna run for it?”

  Was she serious?

  She didn’t wait for an answer, but took off running down the block yelling and squealing in the rain. The woman was nuts. He took off, knowing it wouldn’t take long to catch and even bypass her. He sprinted and then slowed to stay by her side. This was probably the stupidest thing he’d done in a long time. As soon as the car came into sight, he pressed the button to unlock it so they could get in as quickly as possible.

  Reaching the car first, he opened the door for her and she jumped in. By the time he got behind the wheel, her whole body was shivering even though the temperature had been in the mid-eighties when they’d left for their date. He reached behind his seat and hoped he had a sweatshirt or jacket for her.

  He found a sweatshirt, gave it a quick sniff, and passed it to her. “It’s dry.”

  She pulled it over her head and then fastened her buckle. Her stuffed lion dripped in her lap, so she tossed it on the floor at her feet.

  “Sorry our date was ruined again. I’m beginning to think we’re cursed.”

  “Are you kidding? That was awesome. I haven’t had that much fun on a first date in a long time.”

  He turned the key in the ignition. “Your dating life might be sadder than even mine.”

  She laughed. He drove back to his house trying to figure out how to keep the date from ending.

  Her car was at her mom’s house, so he didn’t need to drive her home. Bringing her to his house didn’t sound too appealing. Norah had taken over his living space, and he never knew what his dad would be up to. That was the best case. Worst case, Tommy and Sean would be sitting in the living room with Dad to rib him about his date.