Jimmy and Moira are at another charity event. He sees her flirting with other guys and it makes Jimmy a little nuts. He interrupts her walk with a guy named Mike.
Once Mike was out of earshot, she asked, “What the hell are you doing?”
He glanced over his shoulder at the number of people still milling around. He grabbed Moira’s elbow and guided her farther away.
She struggled in his grasp, which caused her dress to gap and then tighten in all the places that shouldn’t draw his attention but did.
“Let go of me. What are you doing?”
When they were safely ensconced in shadows, he released her. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“I’m doing my job. Same as you.” The moonlight peeking through the foliage made her white skin glow. Her chest rose and fell fast; he knew she was getting wound up.
Well, so was he. “Your job is to flirt with every single guy you come across?”
“What do you care who I flirt with? You barely like me.”
Why did she keep going there? “I told you I like you just fine.”
“Funny way of showing it. You ruined a nice walk I was having with Mike. I don’t need another big brother. I’ve got that covered.”
He wasn’t looking at her like a little sister right now. In fact, he was having a hard time remembering she was a little sister. “You’re making me nuts. What are you trying to do?”
She sighed heavily and leaned against the rock outcropping behind her. “My friend Kathy—”
“Hendricks?”
“Yeah. She pointed out that the events I attend have plenty of bachelors.”
Christ. She was taking dating advice from Hendricks? The woman briefly dated Kevin, which didn’t say much about her taste.
“Then something you said the other day stuck with me. Remember at the block party, you mentioned kissing every guy possible to find the one who would set off fireworks? Well, that got me to thinking. Maybe I was being too selective in trying to find the right guy. So I figured I’d give it a shot. It shouldn’t be a conflict of interest if I don’t write about the guys I date. And I might be able to find the one to make my toes curl—”
He lost the ability to think. Dropping his coat, he pushed against her, one hand bringing her hips toward him. He braced an arm against the rough rock to keep balance as he lowered himself to align his mouth with hers. His movement caused blessed silence from her except for a quick, sharp intake of breath.
God, she tasted just like he’d always imagined: like sweet sunshine and smiles. Pushing his tongue into her mouth to seek out hers elicited a moan from her, and it made him want to take more. His hand traveled up her back, pushing her more firmly against him and the softness of her chest pressed against him.
As her arms twined around his neck and her fingers rubbed his head, he could’ve sworn that he did indeed see fireworks. Like some damn kid.
He nipped her full lower lip and was about to dive in for more when the sound of laughter behind them caught his attention and he remembered where they were.
Shoving away as quickly as he’d moved in, he mumbled, “Fuck.”
“Not quite, but that was a hell of a start.”
He heard the smile in her voice, along with a hint of I told you so.
He took a full step back from her. “I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.”
“Just what every girl likes to hear after being kissed senseless. Why not?”
“You mean besides the fact that you’re Liam’s little sister?”
“Definitely besides that. Liam doesn’t decide who I date, much less who I kiss or sleep with.”
He couldn’t think about her kissing or sleeping with anyone right now, even him. Especially him. “I’m supposed to be married, remember? Fuck. I don’t know how I let you do this to me.”
“So sorry to be an inconvenience.” Her voice didn’t hold an ounce of apology.
“I need to get back to the party.”
“So do I.” She took a few steps away from him until she stood in a pool of light. Her skin continued to glow and her hair was still in place, but her face was flush and her lips kiss swollen. “I’ve had some interesting conversations. You know, if you tell me what kind of information you’re looking for, I can probably find things out for you.”
Fury crept in quickly and he grabbed her elbow. “Stay out of my investigation.”
“I’m a reporter. I ask questions. It’s what I do for a living.”
“I’m not kidding, Moira. Stop playing Lois Lane. Leave it.”
Again with the snort. “If I’m Lois, it makes you who? Superman?”
“We don’t know what we’re dealing with. You’ll get your damn story. Stay away from it.”
“Whatever. I have people to meet.” She turned away to leave again.
“No more men tonight, Moira.”
“We’ll see,” she said without turning around. And he was certain she added a bit of sway to her hips just to make him crazier.
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