Stealing Justice (The Justice Team) by Misty Evans, Adrienne Giordano Page B

off, not cover everything up.”
    Oh, he wanted her to take off her clothes, but...”I don’t doubt that.”
    “But, if it’ll make you happy…” She fastened the button. “Better?”
    He laughed. “Not sure.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, you’re a goddamned headcase. First you tell me you don’t want the buttons open, now you do want them open. So, basically, for your own personal pleasure, you want the buttons open? Am I right?”
    He laughed again. “Yes.”
    “Perfect. Then what do I get?”
    “My undying appreciation?”
    “Not what I was thinking. Although, that wouldn’t be bad.”
    “You have that anyway for working this sting with me. Not many women would.”
    “Why not?”
    How much to tell? She already knew enough. “There’s not one agent in the FBI right now, male or female, who will work with me after my firing. And what I’m asking you to do—throw yourself at a serial killer with no formal training—is sick. Reckless even. No man in his right mind would ask you to do this. And no woman in her right mind would agree to it.”
    “I’m not most women. I have my reasons. And no, I’m not ready to talk about those reasons. I just want us to be on the same page—or at least in the vicinity. We have two completely different styles. Sometimes your way will work better, sometimes mine will. Can we compromise? Agree to disagree?”
    He liked this Sydney as much as the no-holds-barred version. “I can compromise. Not much. But for you, I’ll try. As long as you agree not to put yourself in unnecessary jeopardy and give me a heart attack.”
    “Agreed.” Then she stepped up, undid two buttons, grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him.
    Like lightning in a spring storm, the kiss was too soon, too fast and way too much.
    But her lips were soft, her show of bravado so strong, it did him in. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and Jesus help him, he wanted to unbutton the rest of her shirt, touch her bare skin.
    Where he was careful and meticulous, Sydney was impetuous and cavalier.
    Monroe, his former partner, was the same way. That’s why they’d made a good team.
    Until they hadn’t.
    Stupid, stupid, stupid . Grey drew back, although doing so cost him dearly, but they couldn’t do this. Not here, not ...
    Oh, hell. Why not? He wasn’t a federal agent anymore. Sydney was a grown woman who knew her mind.
    Definitely.
    Without a doubt.
    Right?
    But the voice in his head would never leave him alone. He was a screw-up. Mixing sex with this mission was just asking for another round of see Grey ruin his career. Not to mention, Sydney deserved someone better. Not a man who’d gotten his ass fired and was working a black ops mission in order to climb out of FBI purgatory. Sydney was special.
    Taking a deep breath, he set her back away from him. “This is a bad, bad idea, partner. You better think this over before you commit to something you’ll regret tomorrow.”
    Her breath came in little hitches as she righted her shirt and stared at him from under half-lidded eyes. “See, here’s where we’re different. I never have regrets. For me everything is a learning experience. Maybe I’ll learn that I could do better next time, but I never regret my mistakes. But that’s just me going to the wall every time. Full speed ahead. You’re different. And that, Grey, is what’s magical about you.”
    Grey’s knees threatened to buckle. Him, magical? He had so many regrets, he couldn’t keep track of them all. “You called me Grey.”
    “We’re friends, aren’t we? Didn’t you say your friends call you Grey?”
    Friends. The exact thing he’d wanted them to be. Only now, he wanted more. Much more. “Yes, we’re friends. I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine.” He hoped he’d have her front soon as well.
    “I’ve never had that before. Someone to take care of me. Well, I did once. With my mother. Not since. It’s good to know I have it again. Like I said, one step at a