Lifeline

I nod in agreement. “We need to find out which bar they like to hang out at.”

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I send a quick text to my informant to meet at the usual gas station tomorrow morning with the information I need.

JJ gives me a happy grin. “Finally, we got something.”

I let out a chuckle as I start to switch off the surveillance equipment. “It’s only been a week. Once I had to sit for seven months before I got something we could use.”

“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.