“What do you do to stay dedicated?” she asks, packing the empty juice bottles back in the cooler bag.
My eyes latch onto hers. “Knowing they need to be removed from the streets is enough motivation for me.”
JJ seems impressed by my answer. We wait until Berisha and his men leave before climbing into the front of the van and heading back to the bureau where I left my Camero.
Chapter 6
JJ
I’ve been with the team for six weeks, and I’m still trying to get used to O’Brien. He’s the most unpredictable person I’ve ever encountered.
Today, we’re getting to relax, and I plan on enjoying the BBQ with the other teams and their families.
We’re also having a baseball match against the other teams, so I’m dressed in shorts, a t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers.
Lindsay grins at me, excitement dancing in her brown eyes.
My gaze scans over the male agents as we walk toward my team, and I place a protective arm around Lindsay’s lower back to show them she’s off-limits.
“Oh my gosh,” she gasps. “O’Brien looks hot in a pair of sweatpants.”
My eyes dart around until they settle on O’Brien, then the now-familiar fluttering in my stomach erupts in full force.
“Damn, JJ,” my sister mutters. “You’re so screwed.”
“Tell me about it,” I mumble, still trying to get the hang of all the emotions O’Brien makes me feel. I don’t think he’s caught on to my attraction for him, and I want to keep it that way.
Joining my team, I smile as I proudly introduce Lindsay to them. She instantly has them all taken with her as she tries to guess who’s who.
O’Brien gives Lindsay a hug then his eyes lock on me. You’d think I’d be used to the fluttering and tingling sensations I have whenever I’m near O’Brien, but they still catch me off guard, every single time.
His gaze slowly drops lower, sweeping over my body, then a slight frown forms on his forehead. “Your sweatpants in the laundry?”
Huh?
I look at the rest of the team and see Briggs is also wearing shorts. Glancing over my shoulder, easily half of the other groups are dressed in shorts.
Turning my gaze back to O’Brien’s, I say. “No. Why?”
His eyes drop down to my legs before flicking back to my face. “No reason.”
“JJ!” someone calls and looking in the direction of the voice, a smile splits over my face when I see Kelvin. Tugging Lindsay toward him, we hug my friend from Quantico.
Not seeing his fiancée, I ask, “Where’s Ally?”
“She had to stop by the office and will be here soon.” His smile fades, then he asks, “Holy shit. Is that him?”
“Who?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder. The second I lock eyes with O’Brien, he heads our way.
“Oh fuck,” Kelvin mutters, instantly nervous. He forces a polite smile to his face and quickly reaches a hand out to O’Brien when he joins us, rambling, “Sir, it’s such an honor. I’m Kelvin Banks from the Cyber Crime Unit. You’re a legend. God, this is such an honor.”
“Hey.” O’Brien shakes his hand, then looks at me. “A friend from Quantico?”
“Yes.”
Ally comes up behind Kelvin and first hugs me before she plasters herself to her fiancé’s side.
O’Brien visibly relaxes, and I figure it’s just because he’s overprotective of everyone in the team. He’ll probably grill the hell out of a guy if I ever had to go on a date.
I almost chuckle at the silly thought but then think how sad it would actually be. I doubt I’ll be going on any dates unless I can find a man who can live up to the image of O’Brien, which I highly doubt.
I’m so screwed.
Trust me to have a crush on the one man who’s totally off-limits. Besides, he probably considers me a sister, or even worse, a daughter.
Ugh.
Focusing on my friends, I ask, “How are the wedding plans coming along?”
A happy smile sparkles over Ally’s face. “Oh my gosh, it’s so much fun. I have the prettiest dress picked out.” Reaching across, she places her hand on my arm. “Did you get your invitation? I can’t remember if you replied. You’re still coming, right?”
“Yes, I won’t miss it for the world.”
Looking more than a little starstruck, Kelvin’s eyes keep darting to O’Brien.
God, I probably looked like that my first week at the bureau.
“JJ doesn’t have a plus one,” Kelvin tells O’Brien. “If you don’t have plans, we’d love it if you could come to our wedding.”
I give Kelvin a what-the-hell look which he doesn’t see.
O’Brien moves in behind Lindsay and me, wrapping an arm around each of our shoulders. I have to suppress the urge to burrow closer to the heat coming from his body.
“I’ll see if I can make it and let JJ know. Enjoy the day, guys.” His voice is a deep rumble, and I feel it vibrating through me.
When he steers us back to our team, I glance up at him, trying to figure out if this extra-possessive side of him is just because of his protective nature… or more.
Don’t look for a deeper meaning, JJ. O’Brien just feels responsible for you because he’s mentoring you.
O’Brien
Today is fucking torture.
JJ’s ass… Christ, those firm cheeks look biteable in the tight shorts. It doesn’t help a single fuck that her breasts are perky, the t-shirt doing nothing to hide the swells and hard nipples as she shivers beside me.
Grabbing my FBI-issued jacket from the back of my chair, I place it over her shoulders.
She gives me a thankful look, quickly shoving her arms through the sleeves and zipping up. “Thanks. I didn’t think it would be so chilly.”
“It will warm up soon.” I glance at Lindsay. “You okay, Lindsay? I can grab the chief’s jacket for you.”
She’s dressed in a pair of jeans and a soft sweater. Much more sensible than the fucking outfit JJ’s got on.
“I’m good. Thanks, Daniel.”
A smile tugs at my mouth. “Still adamant not to call me O’Brien?”
“Yep.” She has the same excited grin as JJ that has slowly dug its way into my heart the past six weeks. “It feels disrespectful calling you by your last name.”
“Whatever you’re comfortable with,” I murmur.
Feeling a little better now that my jacket’s swallowing JJ’s hot as fuck body, I can breathe easier, and my muscles relax.
It still surprises me how quickly I got used to having her at my side. Besides our rocky start, she’s followed every order and soaked up information like a dry sponge.
She’s sharp as fuck, which is one hell of an asset. She calls our informants out if they’re trying to bullshit us. There’s no lying to her.
I know she’s aware I’m overprotective of her, but luckily I’ve been able to hide my growing feelings for her behind a big brother act that’s tougher than any undercover operation I’ve ever been on.
Then there’s the constant tension. I can’t figure out if JJ feels it too, or if it’s one-sided. She’s not giving me anything to work with. Not that it matters. Even if she felt it, nothing would come of it. JJ’s just starting out, and for her to get into a relationship with another agent would end her career. Especially if that agent’s me.