Free Catch Your Breath by Shannyn Schroeder Page B

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.”
    A woman with long dark hair, Colin’s girlfriend, he believed, answered. “Well, I was
     referring to your brother, so maybe it’s genetic.”
    Moira screwed up her face. “Ewww.Now that’s gross.” Elizabeth laughed and Colin kissed
     her .
    “My turn.” Moira scanned the group. “Jimmy. Truth or dare?”
    “I’m not playing.”
    “You have to.”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “Come on, Jimmy. Lighten up,” Gabby said.
    He shot her a look that told her to shut up. He knew playing this game with Moira
     would be a mistake. There was no way for him to win.
    “Ask someone else.”
    “You’re here, so you have to play.” She leaned forward in her chair and put her elbows
     on her knees.
    “Then that’s my cue to leave.” He stood and picked up his beer from the ground.
    “ Bawkk, bawkk . . . who would’ve thought Jimmy O’Malley would be afraid of a kids’ game?” Moira
     taunted.
    He walked toward his house and heard her ask Liam a question about his social life.
     Glad to have escaped the fire, he sat on his porch. The spot put him in the shadows
     as night fell.
    He had all of a minute of peace until Moira sauntered up. It was a fabulous thing
     that she no longer lived with her mother. He’d never survive if he still had to live
     across the street from her and her relentless hounding.
    She leaned against the wobbly wrought iron rail of his porch. Which reminded him he
     needed to fix it.
    “How’s your head?”
    “What’s your problem with me?”
    The words were meant to sound angry, but he heard the hurt behind them. “I don’t have
     a problem with you.”
    Other than you make me insane.
    “Then why are you mean to me?”
    “I’m not mean to you.”
    She crossed her arms, and he thought of her being about eleven and doing the same
     thing when he convinced Liam not to bring her with them when they went to the park
     or the mall. He was mean to her.
    “I don’t mean to be mean to you.”
    “Why’d you leave the fire?”
    “You told me I had to play the game if I stayed. I didn’t want to play.” He set his
     beer on the cement step behind him. He shifted over to make room for her to sit.
    “You didn’t want to play, or you didn’t want to play with me?”
    “Honestly?” He waited for her to nod, as he knew she would. “It was mostly you.”
    “Why?”
    “What would you have had me do for a dare?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Liar. You had a truth and a dare ready for me before Indy even picked you.”
    Even in the dark he saw the corners of her mouth quirk up. “If you picked truth, I
     planned to ask why you don’t like me.”
    “I like you.”
    She snorted again. He’d heard that sound countless times as a teenager.
    “What would’ve been the dare?”
    “I was going to dare you to kiss me.”
    Air locked in his lungs and his heart stopped. He had no way of responding. At least
     his instincts had kept him safe by retreating from the game.
    “The thought’s so awful you can’t even speak?” Her voice, usually so strong and full
     of energy, became quiet and meek.
    “Why would you want me to kiss you? Trying to get your brothers to beat my ass?” With
     any luck, his joke would break the spell she wove between them. He needed another
     escape.
    “I’m looking for that kiss. The toe-curling kiss while fully dressed.”
    “So you’re sampling every guy you can get your hands on?” He picked up his beer and
     took a long drink to wet his overly dry throat.
    “No. I have a feeling about you. I’m thinking the kiss would be like fireworks.