Sinful Brothers (Sinful Reads)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

TAYLOR

Swiping my book and keys off the side unit, I drop them into my Sinful Reads tote bag. Rushing for the door, then down the hallway and pressing the button for the lift continuously.

I am late for work.

Big presentation, late night, you know the drill.

Never wanted to be in marketing, but here we are. Working for the gods of marketing, Lucas and Theodore Russell.

Well known, absolute assholes.

Had the deprivilege of meeting them twice. Both times awful.

But that didn’t stop me fancying the hell out of them and picturing them as every single book boyfriend I have had the pleasure of reading. They may also be my muse for when I get hot and heavy with myself and my toys.

There is an air of arrogance with the Russell brothers, and they know it.

The devils wrapped in the perfect suit.

After today is over with, I’ll be going straight from the centre of London to the small coffee shop Harper runs. Deep green wood door, flowers decorating the outside of one side of the building. You see, it’s not just a coffee shop. It’s a coffee shop, bakery and book cubby. It’s called Cake & Roses. The boss, Cody, put Harper in charge of the coffee shop and bakery a year ago. She loves it and it suits her down to the ground.

Quaint, pretty and just what you need after a long, shitty day in the office.

I’m out of my apartment block and within five minutes of leaving my house, while I’m holding my hand out to hail a taxi, a rumble of thunder echoes around the sky and I groan as the heavens open.

Of course it’s raining. Nothing like the British summer.

I see a taxi rolling to a halt, light on and I am already standing on the edge of the kerb waiting for them to stop.

I see a well-dressed gentleman, umbrella in hand picking up the steps in his stride a little quicker to steal it.

Not today.

I am soaked already.

Drowned rat kind of look going on.

My cropped black cigarette trousers are damp, my feet are wet in my stupidly heeled pumps, my white chiffon blouse now even more see-through than it once was and my brown hair no longer softly curled, but somehow flat and dripping down my clothes. Running my finger under my delicate pearl necklace, I sigh.

I snap my head to the side, eyes narrowed on him as I give him my best dagger glare which has him holding his hand up and shrinking back towards the pavement.

With that, I give a soft, curt nod as a thank you as I slip into the back of the taxi.

“Where to Miss?”

“Russell Marketing, Co…”

“Yeah I know it.”

He taps the meter and pulls out into the steady stream of traffic only to get half a mile up the road and roll to a stop.

Great.

Pulling my phone out of my bag, I see numerous messages, but before I get to them, I am calling my desk praying and hoping that James picks it up.

“Taylor Moss’ office, how may I help?” his posh tone floats through my ear.

“James!” I hiss, reaching for my compact mirror to check how bad my make-up looks.

“Taylor!” he whisper shouts, “Where the fuck are you?”

All poshness to his voice gone in an instant.

“In traffic, are the demon twins in yet?”

I hear a small commotion and rustling down the line.

“They’re walking in now and man oh man do they look angry.”

“Great,” I groan, running my ring finger under my eyes to try and wipe the smudged mascara away.

“How far out are you?”

I look through the middle of the taxi.

“Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes…” I trail off just as the taxi driver’s eyes meet mine in the rearview with raised eyebrows.

“Just get here as quick as you can, I’ll stall them for as long as I can.”

“Thanks James.”

I cut the phone off then slide into my book club group.

Bella

Already over today, roll on tonight. Xo

Harper

I can’t wait for you to come! I’ve got some lemon and poppyseed muffins baking at the moment, also me and Cody have been experimenting with some bookish themed cocktails!

Hallie

Is it five p.m. yet? I cannot wait to delve into this book with you guys… did you get to chapter fourteen yet??!?!

Flora

Noooo!! I am on chapter three! I’m all for the dad’s best friend trope though… *sigh* oh to be a leading female book character.

Lily

Chapter fourteen!? How have you not got to the ice scene yet…

Bella

Ice!? Brb, going to try and sneak a couple of pages in

Lily

Yeah… ice.

Me

Ugh, I am so jealous. Didn’t get much read last night because of my presentation, but I will try and get some read during lunch!! Gtg, so late for work xoxox.

I lock my phone and slip it back into my bag.

“Be real with me here, just how late am I going to be?” I ask the taxi driver and he raises his brows.