Catch Your Breath by Shannyn Schroeder Read Free Book Online

he started to walk, she released her grip. It was best that they not seem too friendly
     and he knew that, but he liked her touch. He followed her across the lawn. It couldn’t
     hurt to look.

CHAPTER 3
    M oira wrapped the last bowl of salad and shoved it into her mom’s refrigerator. This
     was the only part of the annual summer block party that she absolutely despised. As
     soon as she’d grown tall enough to see over the kitchen counter, she’d been expected
     to help with the preparations. The annual tradition had been going on longer than
     she’d been alive, and it was her favorite part about summer.
    The block party was the celebration of the season. While their soiree wouldn’t compete
     with the champagne shindigs she attended for work, it was more fun than all of the
     other events she went to combined.
    And she was pretty sure that Jimmy would be there this year.
    He’d missed half a dozen block parties while he was in the army, and since his return,
     he only showed up if he had the day off. He probably never requested the day off like
     everyone else in the neighborhood. He would rely on the luck of the draw.
    This was her chance to work on him in a relaxed atmosphere to get information about
     the case. Although the entire block would be filled with families, the O’Learys and
     the O’Malleys always hung together. Liam and Jimmy had been friends since kindergarten,
     and much to her dismay, she and Kevin had been in the same class through elementary
     school. Plus, they were the two big families of the neighborhood. Most others only
     had two or three kids. The O’Malleys had five and the O’Learys six, so they created
     the foundation for the football game.
    The block party brought everyone back to the neighborhood where they grew up. They
     returned with spouses and significant others, kids, and pets. From early morning until
     past midnight, it was the ultimate reunion.
    Satisfied that the bowls of food were balanced and the fridge door would close, Moira
     washed her hands and pulled her hair into a ponytail. The guys were all outside setting
     up tables and grills and party games for the kids. The older kids—not that there were
     many—were tasked with filling water balloons. When her jobs were done, there was nothing
     about this day she wouldn’t enjoy.
    She stepped outside and took a deep breath. The air was warm but not terribly humid,
     the sky clear blue, and the sound of kids laughing rang in the streets.
    The day would be perfect.
    Liam came thumping up the steps with bags of groceries and mumbled a hello as he went
     into the house. Moira’s mouth watered at the thought of one of Liam’s burgers. Colin
     and Ryan were flipping over the folding table they’d assembled. Quinn stood by with
     a rag and spray bottle to clean it. Griffin and Indy spread a huge blanket on the
     grass. The scene reminded her just how much things could change in one year.
    Last year, Colin had returned home, Ryan and Quinn were only friends, and Griffin
     and Indy barely knew each other. Now, they were all paired off and both Ryan and Griffin
     had kids. Which made her an aunt twice over. She began to wonder where her life might
     be in a year.
    “Hey,” she called. “Where are Michael, Brianna, and Elizabeth?”
    “Michael’s on his way,” Ryan answered.
    Colin looked over at her. “Elizabeth’s at the bar. She’ll be here later.”
    “Man, I was counting on having her for the football game.”
    Colin laughed. “Trust me, you don’t want her playing football.”
    “Stop being mean, or I’ll tell her you said that.”
    He shrugged. “Go ahead. It’s not like she can deny being dangerous.”
    “How about you, Quinn? Are you playing?”
    Quinn’s eyes widened. “Football? I don’t think so. I’ll watch the kids.”
    “I’m in,” Indy called from the blanket where she set up a tiny tent to house the babies.
     She started braiding her hair, and as soon as she had it pulled aside,