Atonement (The Atonement Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

a long satisfying swig from my drink and realized I was happier and calmer than I’d been in a while.
    I could have easily blamed it on Colin’s good looks, laid back attitude and a refreshing change from the constant “mothering” Drew had a habit of doing. He treated me more like a wayward child he had to look after than an equal roomie and most of the time, I found that behavior to be okay. I didn’t mind because I felt so lost and if it wasn’t for him keeping me constantly grounded, I might have found myself down a path I would rather have not gone down.
    “You’re quiet. What’s on your mind?”
    I looked up and met Colin’s crystal blue eyes. They were magnetic and strong, irresistible and the right combination of nice and naughty. I wonder if he had any idea what kind of pull he had over women?
    “Well, I’m just thinking I don’t know much about you. Drew has only mentioned you a handful of times and all the sudden he decides to invite you over for dinner? It just seemed a bit strange.”
    He leaned toward me and stared deep into my eyes. “What do you want to know? Drew and I work together but it isn’t like he knows all my deepest darkest secrets. Besides, I think I would find it much more pleasurable to tell you myself.”
    I couldn’t help but smile as I shook my head. “You’re incorrigible, you know that? Okay, to start off, are you a Seattle native?”
    Colin nodded his head affirmatively. “Born and raised here although not in the city. I spent my formative years on Mercer Island but my parents relocated to Hunts Point when I was ten. I don’t remember meeting you but I know we both lived in HP.”
    “That’s because my parents sent me to Seattle Lutheran High School. Both Caitlyn and I attended there as they wanted us to grow up with a more well rounded view of the world, enough religious education to give us a moral compass but not too much. Why, where did you attend high school?”
    “Liam and I attended EAA in Bellevue. It was interesting to say the least but nothing I would really like to discuss in detail at the end of the day. High school…is pretty much all the same, don’t you think? Once you enter the ‘real’ world and attend university, you just discover it is more of the same except with a hell of a lot more sex, drugs and alcohol into the mix,” he explained with bored detachment.
    “You and Liam? Is he your younger brother?” I inquired out loud.
    Before he could answer, his doorbell rang and he stood. “That’s him right now if I hazard a guess. Why don’t you two just meet one another? Describing Liam to anyone who doesn’t already know him is…hard.”
    My stomach lurched as my heart began to beat with an intensity I hadn’t imagined was possible. What the hell had I gotten myself into now?

Chapter Four

     
    WILLIAM “LIAM” VAN der Meer was like a force of nature, a hurricane of energy and destruction no one could stop. Unfortunately, I had to learn this the hard way. He breezed in to Colin’s condo like he owned the place. His tie had been removed and he’d undone the first few buttons of his dress shirt.
    The man was sex on a stick with his brown hair interspersed with subtle blond streaks, killer sky blue eyes and a body made for sin. It was obvious he worked out and although he was tall and built, he was definitely more Alexander Skarsgård fused with Ian Somerhalder. Obviously unlike us two slackers, he had a high-powered job and decided a trip to his brother’s would be the best way to unwind.
    They both walked into the patio area and took seats cater-corner to me. “Liam, I would like you to meet my traveling partner to Europe, Deirdre Bardot. Deirdre, this is my wayward older brother, Liam.”
    I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.” I licked my lips self-consciously. “I am definitely thinking he should not be introduced to Caitlyn as she would tear you alive.”
    Liam and Colin exchanged cryptic glances before his brother managed to