Page 100 of Cocky Brutal Sinner

Mama’s lips part, then press firmly together. Spinning on her heel, she stalks out of the gym.

Once she’s gone, I sink back on the rowing machine seat. Now I can add my mother to the ever-growing list of people who aren’t speaking to me. But at least I said the truth, out loud, to the one person whose approval I’ve spent my life chasing.

And the sky didn’t fall.

36

BRINLEY

When I get back to my apartment, I’m greeted by my favorite sight—Beau’s muscular back shifting under his white T-shirt as he reaches for something on a high shelf in the kitchen. Even better, the aroma of something delicious floats from the stove.

I should be distant, keeping him away from me, the lingering purchase of the Copper Cup hanging between us. I need him to take an honest accounting of our relationship and decide whether everything he had to give up is worth it. But after the mindfuck of a day I just had, I give in to my desire to just let my boyfriend cook for me.

“I could get used to coming home to this,” I sigh, coming up behind Beau and wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Reformed-rake-cooks-for-bookshop-owner is officially my favorite trope. Five stars.”

He chuckles. “Careful. I’ll start thinking you only like me for my food.”

“But I do only like you for your food.”

“Liar. You also like me for my body.”

I grin. “Very true.”

“Figured I’d make you a nice eggplant parm for your first day back in business. How was everything at the shop? If it sucked, there’s a bottle of wine open right by the fridge.”

“It was fine, actually.” I pour myself a glass anyway. “We had a ton of customers, and a lot of them are Peppermint fans.”

“Whoa, really?”

I fill him in on everything while he chops tomatoes. All the people who were drawn to my story of revenge and regret, and my idea on building the Copper Cup into a romance-focused bookstore.

“You have to do it!” he says immediately. “Half your store is already dedicated to romance, anyway. You might as well fully commit.”

“What if it drives away some of my customers?”

“It might. I’m sure there’s a small group that doesn’t read romance and doesn’t come for the coffee. But there are also tons of customers who don’t know you exist yet, who will come when they learn that the Copper Cup has the books they love. It’s always good to find a niche as a brick-and-mortar store. I think your instinct is right, Brin.”

“I hope so.” I sip my wine. “What if I pivot and I lose the whole business, though?”

“It could happen, but that’s a risk with any small business. What if you pivot and become even more wildly successful than you already are?”

“You have a lot of faith in me.”

“Because I’ve seen how you run your business, and I know from experience how hard it is to keep a place afloat. You know what you’re doing.”

“I hope so.”

There’s a loaf of focaccia on the table, partially sliced next to a small bowl of olive oil for dipping. I grab a slice eagerly and moan with pleasure as I take a bite. It’s oily, airy, and delicious. “This bread is amazing, Beau. See, I told you you could bake!”

“Actually, my mother made it,” he says.

I freeze mid-chew. It doesn’t make sense that I would even care about him seeing his mom. But it makes me wonder something I haven’t let myself think about yet. “Does she know about us?”

He nods but looks away. “Yeah.”

When he doesn’t elaborate, the pit in my stomach just grows larger.