Surviving Brooklyn (Brooklyn Series Book 1) by Elizabeth York Read Free Book Online

tonight, but it can wait until dinner is ready. I want to know about the crime scene.” Mark sighed before continuing. “You know I got sick at the first violent crime scene I ever went to. You never get used to it, but you learn how to adapt and overcome it.”
    Mark stirred the food as the sauce began to thicken. I felt at home with him here, but discussing the crime scene was not something I ever envisioned or fantasized about.
    “All the press will write stories about how the new prosecutor could not handle a crime scene,” I said. “They will replace me before I even get a chance to try.”
    Mark leaned over the counter and brushed his thumb across my cheek. He seemed to empathize with me. Then he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my lips. With the island between us, it was hard to deepen the kiss and I wanted to. I pushed my coffee cup aside and climbed up on the island.
    I crawled on my hands and knees over to Mark. With my lips never leaving his, I twisted my body around to hang my legs off the island with him in between them. I threaded my fingers through his hair and poured my emotions into the kiss.
    I could taste the Alfredo sauce on his tongue, giving away his inability to control his taste-testing. He pulled me into his waist as a moan left my lips. All at once, he tugged my hair, and my head fell back. He lightly bit down on my neck. I wanted to mount him then and there, but instead he pulled away.
    I stared at him while he turned his back to stir the pasta. He switched off the burner and turned back around to see the confusion that I was sure was evident on my face.
    “Mark.” I wanted him, but more importantly I wanted him to want me. The way he kissed me, I could have sworn he felt something for me, but the way he could just let go made me wonder if maybe I was invading someone else’s territory. He said he wasn’t with Mary anymore, but he never said if he was with someone else, and I hadn’t asked.
    “Brook, we can’t do this,” Mark whispered, as if talking would shatter me.
    “I understand,” I murmured as a tear rolled down my face. I really didn’t understand, but lying was better than hearing the words ‘I don’t want you’ or even worse, ‘I just don’t feel that way about you.’
    I climbed off the island and walked into my bedroom, then closed the door to put some distance between us. My heart was breaking. I cried into my pillow, wishing I could pull back my earlier admission. Wishing he didn’t know how I felt. He was the one thing in my life I wanted but could never have.
    It was already so late that by the time I dried my tears, I was getting up to shower for work. I needed to get adjusted to the office.
    I climbed into the shower and began singing a song that lifted my spirits when I heard my bedroom door open. I quickly rinsed and grabbed the towel to exit. Mark was standing in the shower door when I pulled back the curtain.
    I took a glance to see the effect my wet naked body was having on his pants, and felt a little better about the situation. He was standing there with a bowl of food and a fresh cup of coffee.
    “I will get dressed and meet you in the kitchen. Give me about ten minutes.”
    Mark nodded and walked out of the bathroom. I quickly towel dried my hair and turned on my straightener. I applied my make-up, and then straightened my long black hair. I stared into the mirror and saw the dead girl staring back at me.
    I shook it off and got dressed in a black pencil skirt with a silk lilac button-down shirt, placing my favorite black blazer on top. I put my crisscross strapped heels on, and made my way to my door.
    Mark was sitting at the island. He turned to look my way as I stood in the doorway. I sat down on a stool, and Mark made me a new bowl of pasta since the other had grown cold.
    “You should really get a few hours of sleep before you head into work.” Mark’s voice reverberated through me like a hot flash. I loved it when he spoke with that