Filthy Beautiful Lust (Filthy Beautiful Lies, #3)

I remain rooted in the driveway until she pulls away and I can no longer see her taillights. It hasn’t even been two minutes, and I’m already plotting out ways to see her again.

Inside I find Sophie stationed at the kitchen island, her mouth stuffed full of a bite of cake.

I grin when I spot her and her eyes widen like she’s been caught.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she says, licking the frosting from her thumb. “I barely got to eat with all the mingling and talking.”

Holding up my hands, I motion for her to continue. “Don’t stop on my account.” I grab a slice of the cake with my fingers. “Here, I’ll even join you. Cheers.”

“Cheers.” She touches the edge of her cake to mine and we eat in silence, enjoying the comfortable moment between us. Sophie already feels like family, so much more so than Colton’s ex. That was one woman I couldn’t stand being near. Sophie, I wouldn’t mind cloning. That thought instantly makes me sad. She had a twin sister that she lost. I can still see a touch of sadness in her eyes, but considering everything, she’s doing great.

We eat, moving on to the appetizer trays containing cheese puffs and crab rolls, while Sophie tells me stories of all the extended relatives and friends of the family she met tonight.

“I need your opinion on something,” I say, wiping my hands on a cloth napkin.

“Wow, Pace needs me for something…I feel honored,” she says, grinning at me. “What is it?”

“There’s a woman I’m interested in,” I start.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Footsteps behind me cause me to turn. It’s Colton, looking for his bride-to-be, no doubt.

“As long as it’s not Kylie, go to town,” he says.

I hiss out a breath. “I like her, dude. What’s your problem?” I’d intended to have a calm, rational conversation with Sophie. I already know my brother’s views on this, and it pisses me off.

“She’s a single mom,” Colton says, like I don’t know this fact.

“I’m well aware. Do you think I missed the mini-human who was attached to her hip all night?” I actually viewed him as a sort of bonus.

Sophie’s watching all of this, her eyes whipping back and forth between us as she struggles to catch up. “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, Colton,” she says, placing her hand on his arm. “Pace is a nice guy. Kylie’s a sweet girl.”

Colton laughs out loud. The fucker. “Pace is not a nice guy.”

Sophie’s eyes fly to mine again, and her lips purse out as if she’s weighing this information.

“The only reason I’m not going to kill you is because it would upset Sophie,” I bit out, glaring at him.

“He’s sweet, Colton,” she says, as if trying to convince us both. Her innocence is adorable.

“He’s nice to you, sweetness, because he knows I’d kill him otherwise,” Colton tells her, planting a kiss on her neck.

“Pace?” she asks.

“Don’t listen to him, cupcake. I can be nice. I’ll be the first to admit, a lot of the girls I’ve gone out with in the past have been…temporary playthings.”

Sophie’s eyebrows dart up.

I shrug. “I’m just speaking the truth. But I understand the difference between that and a quality girl like Kylie.”

“Colt, will you give us a minute, darling? I just want to talk to Pace,” Sophie says.

He presses his lips to hers, and grunts out a reply. Reluctantly dragging his mouth away from hers, he finally leaves us alone.

Sophie turns back to me, her expression serious. “So you like her?” she asks.

“I do.” There’s just something about her. Maybe I’m starting to outgrow the sloppy drunken hookups that my weekends usually consist of. Maybe I’m ready for something real.

“So what’s the problem? I know you won’t let Colton’s opinion stand in your way.”

“Nah. He’ll get over it. I wanted your advice because Kylie doesn’t seem interested in me. Which is something quite new for me.” I grin crookedly and shrug. I sound like a cocky asshole, but it’s the truth.

“My advice? Honestly? Go get her, tiger.” She gives me a playful smirk.

“With all due respect, what the hell do you mean, cupcake?”

“I’m going to let you in on a secret.” She pats the stool beside her, indicating I should sit. I do. “A girl likes it when her man goes all alpha male on her ass,” she continues.

“What are you saying?”

“Like when Colton refused to accept that I had left. He flew to Italy to win me back.”

I remember that trip well. I’d actually tried to talk him out of it. It’s great to woo the girl you love, but he was married at the time. I told him he should deal with his baggage first, but his plan had worked. “You’re saying I shouldn’t take no for an answer?”

“Exactly. Go win her over. Show her why you two would be great together.”

How the hell do I do that? I rub my temples. I picture her and her baby son. An idea takes hold, and refuses to let go.

“I got this, Soph.”

She grins at me adoringly. “I always knew you did.”