Page 42 of Cocky Brutal Sinner

“She’d get over it,” I say, lying shamelessly. “If you think Giulia’s hot, go for it.”

“Why don’t you go for it?” Luke asks. “You’re single, she’s single. You cook, she cooks. What’s the issue?”

The issue is I’m in love with your little sister.

“I just don’t want my mom getting involved with my love life,” I say, stopping the treadmill and getting off to stretch. “Mama Bishop already has enough trouble with boundaries as it is.”

“Fair enough,” Luke concedes.

“Let me know if you change your mind about going out with Giulia, though. It would really help me get my mom off my back. She hasn’t stopped texting me about it.”

“Still not going there. I value my life, and Mama Bishop is scary.” Luke pulls his headphones out of his pocket. “I better get to actually running.”

He turns on his music, and I can hear Megadeth blasting out of his headphones. I shake my head. I have no idea where Luke got a taste for thrash metal. My own phone buzzes in my pocket.

Brinley

What are you doing right now?

I send her a sweaty selfie, flexing a little in the mirror.

Brinley

Of course you are. I’m up at Maura’s apartment. She had me over to look at paint colors for the nursery. Think you could sneak away to meet me in Terrace?

Beau

What if someone sees you?

Brinley

I told Maura I thought I left a sweater there at dinner the other night.

I run the excuse through my inner bullshit detector. It seems like an airtight backstory to me.

Beau

Be there in five minutes.

Brinley

Don’t you want to shower first?

Beau

I know you love me all sweaty ;)

I can practically see her rolling her eyes at that, even though it’s totally true. I finish stretching, wave goodbye to Luke, and take the elevator up to Terrace. Brinley stands outside the locked glass door in jeans and a purple henley, looking so fucking adorable that I want to kiss her right here.

“Hey, Beau,” she says. “I think I left my sweater here the other night.”

She’s still performing, even though there’s nobody on the floor to hear us. “Come on in,” I tell her, rolling my eyes. “You can check the lost and found.”

I unlock the door and lead her inside. The place is completely closed, chairs upside down on top of the tables. Once we’re safely hidden in the kitchen, I take Brinley’s face in my hands and steal a kiss. I feel her smiling against my lips.

“Hi,” she says, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“Hi.” I brush my lips against hers again. “I missed you.”