The Officer's Promise (Brothers in Blue Book 1) by K. Langston Read Free Book Online Page B

of a lot happier now than he was then, that’s for sure.”
    “Good for him.”
    “You’d hardly recognize him now. He’s covered in tattoos.”
    “Really? Asher?”
    “Yep.”
    Asher was somewhat the nerd of the bunch growing up. He was quiet. Kept to himself. Read a lot. But his eyes were like the rest of the Cunningham brothers, sharp and intensely expressive, but I never would have guessed there was a rebel living underneath the pressed khaki pants and collared shirts.
    “That’s crazy.”
    “I know.”
    He finished my pinky toe then set the polish aside. Lifting my other foot to his lap, he puckered his lips and began to blow.
    Oh my goodness.
    I tried to think of anything else besides the desire simmering beneath my skin.
    “What about Benson?” I asked.
    I needed him to keep talking and stop blowing.
    “He graduated NYU with a bachelor’s degree then went to the academy. After that, he moved to Washington and went through the required training to become a secret service agent.”
    “Benson is secret service?”
    “Was. Not anymore. He worked detail for the secretary of state for about a year, but there was some kind of falling out between him and one of the other agents. So he stepped down from his post and joined the Metropolitan PD. He’s worked his way up to commander now.”
    “Wow, commander.”
    “Yep.”
    “So he hasn’t settled down with anyone yet either?”
    “I think there was someone. He mentioned her a few times, Karmen, I think her name was. But nothing ever came of it I guess.” He shrugged. “He has his fair share of lady friends though, as he likes to call them.”
    “Lady friends?”
    “Friends with benefits.”
    “Oh.”
    “What about you? Do you have any lady friends?”
    He raised a brow, a smirk toying with his lips. “That’s not how I roll, baby. You should know that.”
    “I know. Which makes me wonder why you’re not with anyone. You’re such an amazing guy, Ryker. Any woman would be a fool not to make you hers.”
    “True. But none of them have been you.” The comment made my heart flutter but his next question had it sinking to my stomach. “I just have one question. Why didn’t you ever call?”
    Looking down at my hands, I avoided his gaze. “I was afraid.”
    “Of what?”
    “That you forgot about me.”
    “MaryAnn, look at me. I could never forget you. Never.”
    “Then why didn’t you ever call or write?”
    “I did. I called and wrote you every day for months. Your grandmother said you didn’t want to talk to me, and all my letters were returned unopened.”
    I gasped. “What?”
    Ryker looked as confused as I was. “You didn’t get them?”
    “Of course I didn’t. I would have called you back. Wrote back. I ached for you. Wondered why you never called. Losing my parents, you, and Reese, it nearly killed me.”
    “Jesus, MaryAnn. I reached out for months. The last time I called I spoke to your grandmother, and she told me to stop calling. Since I hadn’t heard from you, I backed off.”
    The disbelief and outrage tore a sob from my chest. “How could she do something like that? Why? You were all I had. You and Reese and your family.”
    “Shh…come here,” he said, hooking a hand to the back of my neck before pressing his forehead to mine. “You’re here now, that’s all that matters.”
    “I feel like I’ve been alone for so long. You have no idea what it’s like to have no one to turn to. No one to lean on. I just want to be loved, Ryker. Is that too much to ask? I just want to be loved.”
    “Baby, I never fucking stopped.”
    Air froze in my chest, the look in his eyes conveying far more than those words ever could. I found myself wanting to swim in the dark pools. Dive in headfirst.
    Then maybe I could breathe .
    His heavy gaze moved from my eyes down to my lips then back again.
    I leaned in closer, giving him permission. Closing my eyes on a blessed sigh, his nose ran down the slope of mine as his breath fanned my