by Eden Summers
“Yeah. I get it.” Leo rubbed the tension from the back of his neck and let his last ounce of excitement fade away.
He owed T.J. and Brute peace of mind. Hell, if one of them were shacking up with a staff member, Leo would probably feel the same apprehension. Each of them had a cross to bear in relation to their desires. Brute had been open and honest about his sexual activities, not holding back with his friends and family when they found out. He’d taken their disapproval in his stride, closing himself off to each and every one of them, becoming more heartless with every lost tie and no longer giving a shit about who he offended.
While T.J. had done the opposite and run before he could inflict pain on himself or others. He’d left a beautiful wife and a promising future because he couldn’t stand to taint the woman he loved. And neither Leo nor Brute blamed him. People had strong beliefs when it came to sex. Many of which couldn’t be swayed. Only he couldn’t walk away from Shay with no explanation and expect her to be waiting for him at the end of the week.
“I need to give her a heads up,” he murmured, already dreading the conversation. “I’ll catch her in the parking lot before she leaves tonight.”
“Do what you need to do.”
“Just be mindful of all the players involved,” Brute added.
Right. Leo turned on his heel and made his way back toward the Shot of Sin entrance.
“It’ll work out for the best,” T.J. called.
Leo scoffed. Women never wanted to be pushed away, and he’d already seen firsthand how Shay reacted to rejection. Too bad for him, he’d used all his luck on her over the weekend. What he needed now was a miracle.
Chapter Thirteen
Shay sauntered across the parking lot, smothering her elated grin at the sight of Leo leaning against the side of her car. The sun was fading, the birds chirping, and there he stood, a sight to behold in his suit pants and business shirt.
Wakey, wakey, uncontrollable hormones.
She’d been worried earlier, not knowing how Brute and T.J. would react to the storeroom issue or their relationship in general. But Leo hadn’t come back to speak to her, so she assumed everything had worked out for the best. Good thing too, because she didn’t know how they were going to hide this connection between them when they couldn’t even keep their hands off each other.
“I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
The idea of him waiting at all made her belly flutter. Never before had she been a giddy girlfriend…or lover…or whatever the hell this was. The mere sight of Leo had her body on high alert.
“No.”
She ignored his gruff tone and sidled up to him, yanking her handbag strap onto her shoulder. They’d only spent one night together, yet he’d instilled enough confidence in their future for her to wrap her hands around his neck and press her body into his. “Do you want to come back to my place tonight?”
Her stomach dropped when he stiffened, his lips thinning to a tight line. He was looking straight through her. There was no heat or passion in his expression. Nothing. Only cold disengagement. “Leo?” When he remained silent, she dropped her hands and stepped back. “What’s going on?”
“Sorry.” He blinked the light back into his eyes and reached for her. “Nothing’s wrong. I just need to discuss a few things with you.”
She brushed away his touch and remained out of reach. “That sounds delightfully ominous.”
“It isn’t.” His words lacked the enthusiasm to back up the statement.
“Well, spill.” She crossed her hands over her chest and it didn’t skip her attention that he ignored the intentional plumping of her breasts. Something was wrong. Big time.
“I’m going to be in the office all week, so we probably won’t get a chance to hang out.”
She frowned, fixing him with a what-the-fuck expression. “That’s it?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. I told you it was nothing.” The indifference in his voice said otherwise. “I doubt if I’ll get the chance to see you until Saturday night. I need to plow through a heap of book work.”
And I won’t be plowing you at all. “Right. So in other words, Brute and T.J. are pissed.” Alarm bells started to ring when he broke eye contact. “Or maybe this is you backtracking. Again.”
“No.” His tone was harsh as their gazes met. “I’m not backtracking. I just need to figure some shit out.”
He reached for her, and this time she went willingly into his arms, needing his touch. She didn’t want to lose him this time. Even though her own emotions had her threatening to run at the thought of Vault of Sin, she didn’t want to be rejected by him again. Not when she knew they could be great together.
“I’m serious about us. But T.J. and Brute made me realize there’s a lot to lose if this doesn’t work. We both need to appreciate what’s at stake.”
Shay could understand the need for caution. Hell, she had already come to terms with resigning from her job if things turned sour. What clenched her heart was his waning enthusiasm. After this afternoon, she’d expected to move forward with increased flirting and maybe more heated moments in more secluded areas. Not the cold shoulder currently being shoved down her throat.
“I understand what’s at stake.”
He inclined his head. “Well, then take the time to contemplate what will happen in Vault of Sin. Not only as an employee, but how you will feel when you finally let me take you down there as my partner.”
She shuddered at the image. The internet research she’d done on sex clubs during her days off hadn’t bettered her opinion of the erotic scene. Every site had a different outlook, and none sat favorably. One even claimed most clubs ran like brothels, with all single females in attendance being paid sex workers to heighten the chance of men getting their money’s worth. Distaste had accompanied her Google search. It hadn’t stopped her fingers tapping the keys though. She spent hours reading through lurid information, searching for a place like Vault of Sin. Leo, Travis and even the woman who’d approached her in the bathroom had spoken of a respectful environment. One Shay could probably grow to enjoy. Yet all the pages she found contained sleazy information more focused on male bragging rights.
“I know it won’t happen for a while.” Leo ran a hand through her loose hair and focused his gaze on her lips. “But it’s better for you to determine you don’t want to be part of the lifestyle now instead of becoming disgusted with yourself, or me, later.”
She gave a jerky nod, wishing she could argue or rally against him and confidently say she was happy to move forward. Only her anxiety over sex in that sort of environment still plagued her. “Okay. So the plan is to ignore each other until Saturday?”
“Like I said, I’ll be in my office concentrating on orders and tax bullshit. I won’t be ignoring you, but I doubt I’ll see you either.”
Another nod. She was the weaker party in this duo and the realization didn’t sit favorably. Men usually fawned over her, clinging to every opportunity to smother her. Leo’s ability to brush her away so easily was like a kick in her overly sensitized ovaries. The grass definitely didn’t seem so crisp on this side of the fence.
Time apart might be a good thing though. It would give her space to strengthen herself against his appeal. It could even work in her favor, if he began to miss her. All she could do was hope he succumbed to the memory of her charms and came running for her before she did it first.
“No problem,” she lied and retreated from his embrace. “I guess I’ll see you Saturday then.”
“Yeah.”
She smiled through the disappointment and unlocked her car. “Bye.”
He grabbed her hand as she made to leave and pulled her back into his arms. She had a second to catch her breath before his lips brushed hers, delicately sweeping and disappearing just as quickly. Shay inwardly cursed her need to take things further, to run her hands under his shirt a
nd mark his skin with her nails. Instead, she strode the remaining steps to her car, not bothering to wait for another farewell as she ignored the devil on her shoulder who chanted she’d just been ditched by Leo.
Again.
Chapter Fourteen
Shay spent days realizing what was at stake. She thought getting through Tuesday to Thursday had been harrowing. Her body no longer ached from the sex high of the weekend. And the hours spent away from Leo, when he was only mere meters away, gave her doubts time to multiply. Yet Friday night was worse.
She was working the main Shot of Sin bar, as usual, passing the time by trying to send Leo telepathic messages to come see her. Only he didn’t. Not in the four hours since the club opened, or any other time during the past three days.
Her aggression had grown to a fever pitch. She was pissed off to the point of shaking, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop the ache in her chest demanding her to go in search of her damn annoying boss.
She didn’t need space. She needed encouragement. Grounding. Maybe a little attention to relieve her apprehension. Now, after almost a week spent on the razor’s edge of trepidation, she wasn’t sure how she’d hold back her frustration when they finally did come face to face.
“Raspberry and vodka in a tall glass, please.”
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
Shay ground her teeth at the same loner who came to her bar every damn week. He needed to learn that pretty pink drinks were never going to get him laid. Breathing deep, she grabbed a short glass from the tray, filled it and slid it toward him with a scowl.
“This isn’t what I ordered,” he frowned, raising his voice over the heavy bass music.
“No, it’s not.” Shay pointed to the scotch and dry in front of him. “This is what us bartenders like to call a man’s drink.” She paused, waiting for his ire. When none came, she smiled—all teeth and no charm. “That’s all I’ll be serving you from now on. So drink up or find someone else to fill your order.”
A scowl marred his usually smooth brow, yet he still handed over payment.
His inability to stick up for himself pissed her off even more. She was beyond frustrated. At the loner. At herself. And most of all, at Leo. He’d wrecked her, turning her into a pathetic, weak and second-guessing Nancy.
Her heart thumped in her chest. The strain from the previous week hit her with full force. “I’m not finished.” The words spilled out without her control. “You’re also going to undo the top button of your straight-laced shirt, ruffle the fuck outta your nerdy hair, and for the love of God, walk around with a little pride. Stop sulking like you’re handing over your balls every time you ask a woman if she wants a drink. You hear me?”
Her throat dried and her hands shook as she tried in vain to pull herself together. This was all Leo’s fault. He was ignoring her. Flicking her away like a used candy wrapper. Not even sparing a moment to call, or send a freaking text message.
“Fucking asshole,” she muttered and cringed when the customer’s now angry gaze drifted past her shoulder.
“Shay.”
She stiffened at the authoritative tone. Christ. The last thing she needed was Brute and all his heartless arrogance.
“Storeroom. Now,” he growled.
She straightened her shoulders and swung around, not bothering to acknowledge her boss’s existence before trudging away. As soon as they were alone in the small room, she began to crumple, her eyes burning with despised weakness.
“What’s your problem?” he asked without inflection.
She didn’t know how he contained himself. How he held all his feelings inside, never to be seen. Clearly, she didn’t have his strength. “Nothing.”
He raised a brow. That was all it took, a haughty, impatient brow telling her to hurry up and spill.
“You know I slept with Leo.” There, she’d admitted it. Now she didn’t have to pretend like her emotions weren’t on the spin cycle anymore. Professionalism be damned, she was a woman with a bruised ego, everyone prepare for hysterics.
“Yeah, I know.”
She waited, for something, anything, only he continued to stand there with his haughty brow.
“Well, he’s avoiding me.” She threw her hands up in frustration. “I’m introduced to all the secrecy downstairs, he comes to my rescue when some guy follows my car, he takes me home and fucks me silly, vowing he wants to be with me. Then all of a sudden, I don’t exist.”
She paused, hoping for comfort she knew better than to expect. The longer Brute remained quiet, the more worthless she felt. “If he made a mistake, fine,” she lowered her voice in defeat. “He just needs to tell me. Not to keep dragging me along for days. Man up and let me have it.”
“I told him to give you space,” Brute drawled.
“You what?”
His gaze hardened, piercing her with annoyance. “I warned you a long time ago to stay away from Leo. You didn’t listen, now you need to step back and realize what will happen when this doesn’t work out.”
When, not if.
“I’m aware I’ll lose my job.”
“Yeah. You will,” he said without regret. “But what about Leo? What about Vault of Sin?”
She frowned, suddenly defensive. “What about it?”
“You’re strong, Shay, but you’re also a temperamental bitch at times, and quick to fly off the handle. If you leave here in a snit, how do we know you won’t blab our secrets to the world?”
She jerked back as if he’d slapped her. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“Maybe not.” He shrugged. “I’m not convinced you’d leave amicably though. Then there’s Leo. He’ll drop the ball at work, and T.J. and I will have to pick up the slack. It’ll increase the popularity downstairs because he’ll start plowing through the women like he’s on death row, but it won’t make my job easier.”
Her heart shot to her throat at the image of Leo surrounded by a sea of naked women, all of them vying for his attention. “You’re such a bastard.”
“Just proving my point, sweetheart. You’re the jealous type. And I think knowing he’s currently downstairs at a private party would be enough to spark you into a rage.”
The heart in her throat stopped beating and plummeted to the base of her stomach. “You’re lying.”
What had she done to deserve this from Brute? She’d always respected him, had even gone to him for advice because he didn’t disguise the truth with bullshit. Finding out their friendship was a one-way street was just another kick in the teeth.
“Why would I bother?” The lack of sentiment in his eyes told her he was telling the truth. “It’s an intimate party and the host specifically requested Leo to be the overseer. Apparently, I’m not chummy enough with the patrons.” He smirked, showing pride in his asshole reputation. “And T.J. isn’t known for his participation.”
Shay clenched her stomach to stop herself from doubling over. “He should’ve told me,” she whispered. Leo had promised fidelity, and she would take him at his word, but picturing him surrounded by temptation and easy offerings made her second-guess everything—her confidence, her job, even their future together.
“He can’t start asking you for permission to do his job.”
She gulped in a breath and nodded. He was right. It didn’t stop her feeling betrayed though. Leo had told her last week that she could never go downstairs without him. Would the demand ever run both ways?
“Shay.” Brute softened his tone. “It’s not too late to change your mind. Go home. Think things through. If you decide you don’t want to be with him, then we’ll shuffle the shifts around so you don’t have to work together for a while. It’ll blow over in no time, and work can go back to the way it’s always been.” He pinned her with his stare. “Things won’t be as easy once the two of you become close.”
“And what if
I can’t walk away?”
Brute looked at her with sympathy, the first heartfelt emotion she’d ever seen cross his face. “Then we all take it a day at a time.”
She gave a derisive chuckle. “This isn’t a group relationship.”
He stood silent for a long moment, the heavy beat of bass echoing the thump of her heart. “You haven’t thought this through, because you’re not seeing the bigger picture. I don’t think you realize what a life with Leo will mean.”
“I’m sure I don’t.” He’d surprised her enough already. “But isn’t my willingness to try a good indication of where my heart’s at?”
“Go home, Shay. Picture your future with him from every angle.” He stepped forward and briefly squeezed her shoulder. “And don’t worry if you aren’t ready for tomorrow night. If you don’t show up, I’ll know you need more time.”
She rolled her eyes, trying to lessen the tension in the room. “You’re just driving me away so you get to spend more time downstairs with the ladies.”
“Bloody oath.” He smirked, yet the jubilation soon faded. “We don’t want to lose you.”
The sorrow in his voice cut deep, and finally she understood how a woman could’ve broken him so badly. “It’s because of Vault of Sin, isn’t it?” she spoke almost to herself. His harshness, the reaction to her being with Leo, it was all because of the way one of his previous lovers had treated him.
“What do you mean?” His voice regained its emotionless tone.
Shay gazed up into his blue eyes, noticing for the first time the tiny gray flecks around his pupils. She wanted to run a hand through the blond, chin-length hair combed back from his face or gently glide her palm along the light beard covering his chiseled jaw.
Without the damaged soul, he could be a gorgeous man. Only he wore his hatred like a shield, rarely smiling or softening the bitterness from his features. It would take a strong woman to heal him, and she hoped one day he would find her.