“What’s the plan of attack?” Shay rubbed her hands together and rested back into the dining room chair.
“No plan.” Not yet anyway, and she was running out of time. “I thought you weren’t meant to get involved.”
“It seems I have a problem with authority. Usually, when I’m told not to do something, it makes it impossible for me to stay away. And besides, making Leo angry is a major turn-on.”
“Is he the one who told you where I live?” Having Leo on her side would be a step in the right direction. Whatever T.J. was going through, he needed his friends, and if those friends were supporting her endeavors to win him back, it would make her life easier.
“I can’t divulge how I came about that information. Let’s just say I’d be in a lot of trouble if your husband or my boyfriend found out.”
Cassie nodded, trying to hide her disappointment.
“So where are you going from here? I thought I might see you back at the club on Saturday night.”
“No. I wasn’t interested in making the same mistake twice.” She’d tried and failed in her first attempt to get close to her husband. “On Friday, I went in search of legal representative to help fight the divorce. Everyone I called was enthusiastic about taking my money to gain more assets in the settlement, but that’s not what I’m after. I want my husband. I want my marriage. Nobody could understand that.”
Cassie stared blankly into her coffee, seeing nothing but T.J. in her vision. “The only way I can stop the proceedings is to convince him to change his mind, and I’m no longer confident I can do that.”
“Hey.” Shay’s voice was strong. Firm. Even a little angry. “You can’t give up.”
Cassie lifted her gaze and was hit with the determination in Shay’s fierce brown eyes. “I don’t want to give up. But at some point, I’m going to have to. I know he’s making a mistake, and one day he’ll realize it, too. I’m just not sure how long I’m willing to fight while I wait for him to figure it out. I’ve lost a year of my life anticipating the return of our perfect marriage.” She swallowed over the tightness in her throat. “When am I allowed to give up?”
“Not yet, that’s for sure. You need to try harder.”
Cassie sighed. “I don’t know if I can. It hurts too much.” The worst of it came at night, when she was alone in her bed, nothing but blankets to comfort her.
“It’ll hurt more once there’s no hope. The divorce isn’t final yet.”
“No, but he kissed someone else. At least that’s what he thinks. He’s already moving on.”
Shay leaned forward, demanding Cassie’s full attention. “He’s struggling. He won’t talk to anyone. Whatever that kiss meant to him wasn’t good, I assure you. I think he hates himself for it.”
Cassie winced. She didn’t want to take pleasure in his suffering, but a tiny part of her did. Something inside her burned to life with the knowledge he was as miserable as she was. “What can I do?”
A sly grin tilted Shay’s lips. “You hinted the other night that you owned part of the business. That you were a partner. Is that true?”
Cassie shrugged slowly. “I’m a silent partner. T.J. and I share a third of the business. I kept my own full-time job because we weren’t sure the club and restaurant were going to be successful.”
“Are you legally required to remain a silent partner?”
“Not that I know of.” Cassie drew out her words, uncertain where the conversation was heading. “It was never really discussed. Not between T.J. and I, anyway. I’m not sure what was said to Leo and Brute.” A shiver ran down her spine as Shay’s lips quirked into a conniving smile. “Why? What are you thinking?”
“T.J. is trying to shut himself off to any thoughts or memories of you. He hates being reminded of his marriage. I’m sure he’s striving to get you out of his mind so he can move on.”
“Awesome,” Cassie drawled. The realization stung. She’d never be able to get him out of her mind. In time, she may be able to dull the hurt with a fling or two, but he would always be in her heart. He’d always be a major part of her life.
“Let me finish.” Shay held up a hand. “Being part owner means you can claim your rightful place as a manager of the club. Tell him you no longer want to remain a silent partner. Demand a position within the business.”
Cassie shook her head. “I can’t. He’s left me a substantial amount of assets in the divorce in return for my share. Soon, I’ll have no right to be there at all.”
“Soon. But not yet. The divorce isn’t final. You still have a few weeks, right?”
“Yeah…” She refused to count down the days.
“You know, the economy isn’t great at the moment. Unemployment is at an all-time high.” Shay gave a theatrical gasp and covered a hand over her mouth. “Oh, my gosh, Cass, what would you do if you lost your job? There’d be no choice. You’d have to work with your husband, at least until you found another form of income.”
“You want me to quit my job?” No way. No way in hell. She was consumed with the need to fix her marriage, but she wasn’t this conniving.
Shay shrugged. “How badly do you want your husband back?”
Her phone trilled from the kitchen counter, announcing an incoming message…or maybe acknowledging a winning idea. She stood and dragged her feet toward the device to cradle it in her palm. “They’ll refuse. Not only T.J., Brute and Leo, too. None of them will want me there. They’ll fight to make sure I can’t step foot inside their club.”
“Your club,” Shay clarified. “And leave Leo to me. I have ways of encouraging his compliance.”
Cassie released a halfhearted laugh. “That still leaves two.”
“Lucky for us, Brute’s heartlessness runs both ways. If he thinks it’s in T.J.’s best interest to stay married, he’ll support you.” Shay rolled her eyes. “Not that he’ll go out of his way to show it. I just need to convince him that T.J. doesn’t want a divorce. What he really needs is a kick in the ass.”
Shay made it sound easy, and maybe, for a woman like her, it would be. Cassie wasn’t as prone to making decisions that would hurt or annoy others. It was one thing to push T.J. out of his comfort zone in an effort to win him back. It was entirely another to turn his best friends against him and work her way into their business.
“I don’t know…” She unlocked her phone, needing time to think, and held her breath at the sight of T.J.’s name on her screen.
“Can I come over today?”
“What is it?”
Cassie didn’t realize she was smiling until she met Shay’s gaze. “It’s T.J. He wants to come over.”
“Why?” Shay frowned.
“I don’t know. I guess to talk. Maybe he’s changed his mind.” That was her first thought, and the one she’d cling to. Her heart was already aflutter, her belly filling with longing.
“Ask him.” Shay stood and walked forward. “Don’t make assumptions. Especially when the other possibilities could hurt. You need to stay in the game. Remain strong.”
Cassie didn’t want to think about the potential reasons for the message. She would remain positive. She had to. “So, what do I send back?”
“Give it here.” Shay grabbed the phone from Cassie’s hand and began typing. “There.”
“Wait. Don’t send anything.” She snatched the device back and read the message Shay had already sent. “Why? I’m kinda busy today and I thought you’d already gotten everything off your chest.”
Jesus Christ. “He’ll know that didn’t come from me. I’ve never spoken to him like that before.” She wasn’t a ballbuster like Shay.
“He needs to know you’re not waiting around, spending every minute trying to work out ways to get him back. He’s—”
“But I am.” The last thing she wanted was for her husband to think she was moving on, giving him more of an excuse to do the same.
“What he doesn’t know can only help our cause. Play hardball. If he thinks you’re busy, he’ll wonder who
with. At least until we find out what he wants.”
The phone vibrated in her hands seconds before the trill of the incoming message.
“It doesn’t need to be today. I only want to pick up my stuff and get it out of your way.”
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Shay asked.
Bad. Horrifying. Devastating. Cassie swallowed, determined not to let the tingle in her nose turn into tears. “He’s ready to move all his belongings out.”
His shirts were what got her through the lonely nights. His scent still lingered in the threads. The soft cotton against her skin helped to create the fantasy he was still there. Still in their marriage bed. What would she do without the constant reminders?
“You’re right,” Cassie murmured. “I need to play dirty. At least until this is over.”
“So, you’re going to come to work at Shot of Sin.”
Cassie raised her chin and met the mischief in Shay’s eyes. “Yep. I’m going to quit my job.”
Chapter Eleven
“Wasn’t it a beautiful day today?”
T.J. raised a brow at Shay’s uncharacteristic chipper voice. “Are you high?”
“Nope.” She grinned. “Just happy to be alive.”
Not high, but clearly up to no good. Nobody should be happy stuck at the Shot of Sin bar on a Thursday night when they’d usually be taking it easy, helping out at Taste of Sin. The two of them had been assigned to a private twenty-first birthday party for a spoiled brat with too much money. None of the kids had manners, and T.J. was certain none of them would be standing once the clock struck midnight. They would either be cut off because they couldn’t handle their alcohol consumption or booted from the club for a misdemeanor.
“You know,” she started, looking at him thoughtfully, “this place needs more of a woman’s touch. There’s only so much magic I can add to drown out all the uber-masculine feels.”
“The club is fine, Shay.” He handed over a raspberry and vodka to a woman who seemed far too young to be legal. “And so is downstairs, and the restaurant, too.”
She shrugged. “It was just a thought.”
If only she could keep her thoughts to herself, life would be sweet. Well, nowhere near saccharine, but a whole lot better than when she ran her mouth about his personal problems. “I’m going to check on the restaurant. I’ll be back later.”
He strode around the bar, moving into the small crowd and winced when her voice hit his ears.
“Aren’t you meant to be having a meeting with Leo and Brute right about now?”
He turned back to her in confusion. She was focused on her watch, her forehead set in a frown.
“Yep.” She met his gaze. “I’m sure Leo said nine pm.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
A firm slap landed on his shoulder before Brute strolled around him. “What’s with the meeting? I see your ass too much already.”
“Me?” T.J. frowned as Leo walked past on his other side. “I didn’t ask for a meeting.”
He glanced from Brute’s scowl to Leo, who shrugged before diverting his attention to Shay. The bartender was wiping down the counter, pretending to ignore their conversation. He had a sinking feeling she knew more about what was going on than he did. “Shay?”
She raised her gaze, the confidence in her stare wavering as she opened her mouth. “Yeah?”
His hearing honed, blocking out the music of the D.J. and chattering drinkers to the sexy clap of heels approaching from behind him. Leo and Brute glanced over his shoulder, their attention landing on the same spot, their expressions tightening almost imperceptibly.
“Good evening, gentleman.”
T.J closed his eyes at the sound of Cassie’s voice. He didn’t turn, didn’t even bother to meet her gaze as her footsteps came to a stop beside him.
“Thank you for meeting me.”
“You organized this?” Brute crossed his arms over his chest—his usual defensive stance.
“Oh.” Cassie released a gasp and raised her voice to compete with the people dancing around them. “Didn’t I write my name at the bottom of the email? Damn it, I could’ve sworn I did.”
Feigning ignorance didn’t suit her. She wasn’t stupid, and they all knew it. He wanted to call her on it, only he couldn’t open his mouth, not without spilling fractured words that would deny the adamant position he was trying to maintain with their divorce.
“I hope you didn’t mind me using your email, T.J., I don’t have a business account of my own and needed to get in contact with you all as soon as possible.”
“Of course not,” he ground out, still unable to look at her. He couldn’t. He’d begun to live with the pain of being away from her. If he met her sweet stare, he’d have to start all over again. Ripping open barely healed wounds.
“What can we do for you, Cassie?” Leo asked.
She sighed, the feminine sound sinking into his ears and sending an ache through his chest.
“I’ve lost my job.”
T.J.’s heart sank and he finally turned to her. She didn’t seem distraught, not when her position at the hotel had been a former source of pride. Instead, she was beautiful, her blonde hair hanging over her shoulders, her black skirt exposing legs he loved entwining with his own. She had the glow of determination in her eyes and confidence showed in her perfect posture.
“With the divorce moving forward and my own income now non-existent, I’ve had to rethink my position as silent partner.”
His heart was throbbing, pounding. His mind was a mass of thoughts, trying to figure out what was going to fall from her precious lips next.
“I’ve spent days thinking over my options, and every time I come to the same conclusion. I have no choice but to come work here. At least until I find another job.”
Nobody spoke. He wasn’t sure if his friends were stunned into silence or waiting for his restraint to crack so they could step in. Either way, he was in hot water, unable to let Cassie nudge her way back into his life, yet also incapable of turning away from her when she needed help.
“What a coincidence,” Shay chuckled. “I was telling T.J. a few minutes ago how badly we need more of a feminine touch around here.”
He glared at Shay, his blood pressure rising with the smug way she met his stare as she continued to serve people lined along the bar.
“Shay,” Leo warned.
“It’s not permanent.” Cassie’s voice was sweet and awkwardly comforting. “I’m already seeking other employment. Things are just slow in my line of work at the moment.”
“I’ll give you the money,” T.J. grated. He’d give her anything, now and after the divorce, she only had to ask. What he couldn’t give her was access to his life. Being around her, unable to touch or taste, would tear his already fractured restraint into pieces.
“No,” she insisted. “I’m not going to take your money. I need to re-establish my independence.”
He remained still. Unwilling to rake a hand through his hair to expose his trembling fingers.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Shay called from the bar, striding away to the opposite end to serve the birthday girl. “Welcome to the team.”
T.J.’s nostrils flared. Leo wasn’t happy either. He was glaring at his girlfriend, his jaw set in a stubborn line, while Brute carried his usual air of disinterest.
“When do you plan on starting?” Leo murmured.
“Actually, I came prepared to learn the ropes tonight. There’s been a lot of changes to the club since I was last here, and I thought I could spend the next few hours familiarizing myself.”
A tick formed under T.J.’s eye, the nervous twitch causing him to blink. He knew exactly where Cassie wanted to go, and he wouldn’t allow it. Not if he couldn’t be with her. The Vault of Sin was a place of pleasure, and he could never take her down there and leave her wanting.
It had been his sexual aspiration to introduce her to the club. To show the world how beautiful and responsive she was—t
he perfect wife. He didn’t brag. He didn’t boast. But he’d always envisaged the moment when he’d escort her downstairs and the patrons could see for themselves just how lucky he was.
“Maybe another time.” Preferably when he was dead and buried. “Go home. Leave us to figure out how to address this.”
“I’m afraid you don’t understand.” She turned to him. “This is my business, too. Anything you need to figure out should be done with my involvement.”
Brute cleared his throat. “Let’s not make this into an issue. I’ll show her around. She can work the restaurant bar on slow nights, or help with the books. No big deal.”
T.J. kept his gaze on her, wishing he could ignore the silent threat hidden beneath the innocent light blue of her eyes. “She’s not going downstairs.”
“There’s no need to refer to me like I’m not here. We can both be adults about this.”
“Can we?” He cocked a brow. She wasn’t acting like herself. He’d first noticed it in the way she’d replied to his message on Sunday. He was unfamiliar with her spite. He was used to sweet, nurturing, breathtaking Cassie. The woman before him was someone different, with a smile carved of malice. “You won’t go downstairs while you’re here.”
“This is my business, too. Where I go and what I do is none of your concern, as long as I do my job.”
He released a caustic laugh. That’s where she was wrong. She’d always be his concern—today, tomorrow and twenty years from now. That was the problem. He couldn’t let her go. But he was trying. Every inch of him hurt, every single day, in an effort to let go. If she came to work here, he’d be consumed with the need to be around her. He’d lose his mind. No doubt about it.
He broke away from her gaze and focused on Brute and Leo in turn. “She’s not to go down there. Hear me?”
He didn’t wait for a reply. He turned and stalked from the Shot of Sin dance floor to head for the upstairs office, as far away from Cassie as possible. There were many things he was capable of right now—madness, mayhem, murder—what he couldn’t do was keep pretending he didn’t love her with all his heart.
The Vault Box Set Page 25