Sinful Purity (Sinful Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

adulterous scandals and alien abductions,” Kelly responded, unscathed.
    “Well, next time, Liz, I’ll bring you something special,” Brett promised.
    I couldn’t believe it.
Next time.
Would there be a next time? There had to be. He told me there would be. My heart fluttered at the thought. Brett would come back and when he did he was going to bring me “something special.” I was so happy I could have split in two. No one had ever given me a gift, especially no one like Brett.
    “Hey, Liz, you okay?” Brett asked.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. I just spaced out for a second. Something special would be great. But don’t go to any trouble. I really love the things you have already sent.”
    “Look, sweetheart,” Brett said. “I have never seen books beg for retirement like these poor guys. Half the pages aren’t even glued to the binding anymore. And don’t get me started on the covers.”
    My concentration had trailed off after he called me sweetheart. I felt ridiculous. I was his sister’s best friend and so much younger than he was. I was sure he was always this smooth with girls. It was just his charm, and it was like a faucet stuck in the on position. Disarmingly charming all the time, that was Brett. Maybe he didn’t know how to turn it on and off. All I knew was it wasn’t me he cared about. It couldn’t be.
    “What can I say, it gets pretty boring here,” I muttered.
    “Don’t listen to her, Brett. She’s always running around with her nose stuck in a book. Even on the rare occasion that there is something better to do, still—nose in a book,” Kelly ridiculed.
    “Hey, now. You could use a little more time in a book yourself, Miss Busybody,” Brett defended. Then there it was again, the sly wink. God, I loved when he winked at me. Granted, it had only been twice. I was still pretty sure I would like it just as much if it had been a hundred times. It was like we had our own private little secret.
    Seven o’clock came so quickly. It seemed like Brett had just gotten there, yet it was already time for him to go. I stayed behind in the courtyard while Kelly walked him to the gate. I figured they’d want some time together to say their goodbyes. After all, they had let me hang out with them all day. I watched Kelly in the distance as she stood on her tiptoes and hugged her brother one last time. Brett then climbed atop his motorcycle and sped off into the night. As Kelly walked back through the courtyard, the light caught the wet tracks the tears had left down each of her cheeks. I could see them even from a distance. As she walked closer, I turned around as if distracted by something behind me, giving her time to wipe the remnants from her face. When I turned back around, I could see the pools of tears brimming in her eyes, waiting for any sudden movement so they could break forth, overflowing. I never said a word. I just squeezed her arm as we walked silently, heading to dinner.
    It was over a month before Brett came to visit again, but had called and spoke to Kelly regularly. He just never had the time to make the drive backout, not with school. Partly I think it was just too hard for him to see his sister in a place like this. After all, he had a beautiful private dorm room at a prestigious school. For him it was like being on a permanent vacation. There were sports, recreational activities, regular fieldtrips, and socials, all for his enjoyment. The schoolwork, while demanding, was also very rewarding. Kelly had none of that, and he knew it. I think the idea of having to spend time at MIQ was even more depressing to Brett than it was to us, and we lived there.
    Nevertheless, Brett kept his promise, and the last Saturday in November he once again rode up in front of the big black gates of Mary Immaculate Queen.
    “What’s up, Marilyn?” Brett asked as he effortlessly strolled through the gates.
    “That’s not my name,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment that he had completely forgotten