Surviving Brooklyn (Brooklyn Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

strong feelings for you.”
    I did it, I told him. I wanted to do a cartwheel and give myself a high five. I had always buckled under the pressure unless it was in a courtroom, but here and now I had excelled. It was like I was breathing fresh air for the first time in a long time after the words left my lips. Then I realized the hard part had only just begun, that Mark still had to reply. I held my breath as I watched his brows draw together, and his eyes became focused as the words left his mouth.
    “What kind of feelings?”
    I couldn’t run from his question. He was like gravity holding me in place where I belonged. He was holding me against him and demanding my soul to open up and pour my heart out.
    “Mark, I have fallen in love with you,” I whispered as his eyes burned into me.
    “How long?” Mark replied.
    “Since the day we met,” I whispered softly.
    The silence in my apartment was deafening as I waited for his response. Every second that ticked on the clock seemed like hours, and the minutes felt like years. I took a deep breath and began to shelter my heart when Mark placed his finger under my chin to hold my head up.
    “Mark, I don’t expect anything from you. I was never even going to tell you. I just—”
    He placed his finger over my lips to quiet me. He moved his hand to the side of my cheek, and brushed away the tear that flowed. Slipping his other hand behind my neck, he continued to caress my cheek.
    My stomach quivered, and my pulse quickened. My body shivered as he neared me. I truthfully questioned how far this would really go until his lips brushed mine.
    His kiss was soft and warm. His tongue brushed against my lips, and I parted for him to gain entry into my mouth. I returned his caresses as his tongue invaded me, and I tasted coffee and whipped cream as I felt his fear, his happiness, and even his need in his kiss. More importantly, I felt his love for me. I threaded my fingers in his silky brown hair.
    Mark lifted me and set me on the television stand I had been standing against. My margarita glass toppled and shattered on the floor. I would have cared if I didn’t have this man between my legs.
    I reached for his belt as his velvet kiss stole my breath once more. Every time I thought he was ending the kiss, he came at me again. I was ready to go much further when the phone rang.
    First his phone, and then mine. This was not a good sign. Mark pulled his mouth away, but rested his forehead to mine as we caught our breaths. We let the phones go to voicemail. We would deal with it in a minute.
    “You should always tell me everything. Stay here. We will discuss this later.” Mark pulled his phone from the clip on his belt.
    I watched as he put on his shield. When he was on duty, he was Detective Stone and wore an invisible shield around his heart. When he was off duty, he was fun-loving Mark. I adored both sides of him. It felt weird to even say it in my head. I had denied what I felt for so long that admitting it was like coming up to breathe while swimming in deep water. He hadn’t said he loved me. He hadn’t really said anything. We would have to make sure our friendship would survive, but it would have to wait as the phones rang again.
    Mark stood in my doorway as I looked at my phone. Another victim had been found. It was a nauseating realization, but it was time to go to work because the killer had struck again. As I watched Mark walk out the door, I wondered if I would remain inside or go to the crime scene, and let the world see that I had taken over this case.
    Was I ready for this? 

Chapter 4
     
    I had a cab drop me off on the corner of 59 th and Park. I was standing across the street in front of one of the entrances to Central Park while I watched the scene unfold.
    It was like watching a ballet. Everyone was in their place, doing their job, moving in coordination with the leader. I watched, mesmerized, as an officer in a black jacket took photos of a girl who lay