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 yards 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.

She 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.”

“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 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.”

“Sure am.” He smirked, yet the jubilation quickly 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 and 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.

“Nothing.”

He shrugged. “Okay. I’ll let the rest of the staff know you’re knocking off early.”

She nodded as he turned to the door and slid it open. “Hey, Brute…”

He paused and glanced over his shoulder.

“You’re not as heartless as you want us all to believe.”

He laughed without humor. “Think what you like, sweetheart. But I assure you, I’m only looking out for myself.”

Then he was gone, leaving Shay to shrink under the weight of her thoughts.