Leo slid onto one of the bar stools and kept his head lowered, his hands fisted into tight balls below the counter. He was on the cusp of losing his shit. He’d never been this angry in his life. His heart was pounding, his head throbbing, and if he clenched his teeth any tighter, he was sure he’d crack a tooth.

“Scotch,” he barked at Travis.

Shay continued to come out swinging, and he only had himself to blame. He was the reason she was acting like a wounded animal backed into a corner. He should’ve waited until she came out of the bathroom, into the open, instead of storming in on her. Only he hadn’t been able to curb his worry when he couldn’t find her behind the bar. He let panic choose his actions instead of common sense, and yet again, he was nursing wounded pride.

“Here you go, boss.”

Leo grasped the glass that slid in front of him and downed it in two burning gulps. Sweet Jesus, that stung. He wanted to order another, to get shit-faced and bury his troubles in the depths of another woman’s body just to piss Shay off. It wouldn’t take much for him to be the asshole she thought he was. But no matter how angry he became, he wouldn’t stoop that low.

He had a heart. And although he wanted to, he couldn’t blame Shay for her backhanded comments. She was in shock and always flew off the handle when she didn’t have tight control of her emotions. He’d seen it happen too many times to count. It was one of her not-so-endearing charms—the way she showed she was hurting by shooting out a rapid, uncensored response.

“I’m going home.” Her voice broke his thoughts.

He held tight to his glass, trying hard not to raise his gaze. She wasn’t speaking to him anyway. From his periphery, he watched her grab her cell from the counter and shove it in her pocket. “I hope to see you again, Travis.”

“You too, Sas-Shay.”

Quit the endearments, Travis, or I’ll break your face.

She strode back around the counter, not acknowledging Leo’s existence, not bothering with a see you later, asshole, and stormed away. The need to chase after her clawed at his back. He even had to fight not to glance over his shoulder and watch her leave.

“Fuck that.”

He’d walked down this shitty path before. He was stronger than this. She was only a woman, after all. Nobody should have a tight rein on his dick like she did. Then again, she’d always been more than a typical woman to him. He’d been attracted to her since the day she’d handed in her employment application.

Tempting looks aside, he was drawn to her for too many reasons. She worked hard, played even harder, and owned her independence. She didn’t placate others and never hid behind a fake façade. He needed a strong-willed woman like that. He needed her, period.

“Want to talk about it?” Travis asked.

Leo raised his gaze and glared.

The bartender held up his hands in surrender. “I guess not.” He began polishing the beer taps. “Let me know when you cool down. I need to speak to you about a minor issue with Shay earlier.”

Issue? As if he wasn’t going to bite at that statement. “What issue?”

“It isn’t major, and she didn’t want me to make a big deal about it.” He shrugged. “Glenn kept staring at her from the corner while he jerked off. I don’t think she was prepared for that sort of thing. It freaked her out.”

Of course she wasn’t fucking prepared. Leo hadn’t given her the time to be. He’d crumpled under Brute and T.J.’s suggestion, not wanting to out his infatuation for her and completely cocked up the situation. He pushed from his stool, ready to…he didn’t know what, and stepped back into a human wall.

“It’s just me,” T.J. spoke from behind him. “Where’s Shay?”

“Shh,” Leo snapped and raised his brows at Travis to continue.

“There was no issue,” he reiterated. “She was cool about it and made it clear she didn’t want anything said to you or Glenn. But I thought I’d let you know, I had a quiet word with him anyway. I told him tonight was her first night and she was a little skittish.”

“Fuck.” Leo huffed out a breath and rubbed his forehead. “We’re going to lose our best bartender.” He was going to lose her. “Shay’s out of her fucking mind.” He rounded on T.J. “And it’s all your fault.”

He ignored his friend’s frown of annoyance and scoped the room. “Where is he? I want to speak to him.”

“I dunno,” Travis answered. “Maybe he left. Everything was fine, though. Glenn was apologetic. He didn’t realize she was new.”

“Well, he should’ve fucking realized.” Leo hoped to hell Glenn had gone home, otherwise the target of his frustrations would wish he’d never showed up tonight.

“Calm down,” T.J. muttered. “Travis took care of it.”

But what about Shay? Who was taking care of her?

Leo slumped back onto the bar stool. “Tonight was a total fuck up.”

“Why?” T.J. asked. “Couldn’t she hack it?”

“I thought she did a great job,” Travis added.

Leo glanced over his shoulder at T.J., not bothering to hide the vulnerability itching to break free. “No.” He shook his head. “It didn’t go well. I’m not sure if she’ll come back.” To the club, or back into his life. And after all the women who’d dismissed him due to his sexual proclivities, Shay’s rejection was by far the worst to take.

* * *

Shay fled up the staircase and rushed through the Shot of Sin dance crowd. Without a word to her bar staff, she snatched her handbag from the main bar storeroom and headed for the entrance of the club. She needed to blow this pop stand. Fast. Her chest was throbbing with regret, a sensation she was too familiar with but unfortunately couldn’t control because of her shitty temper.

It was her one downfall. She couldn’t hide her emotions. It was either blow up or tear up, and she fucking hated crying. But she would apologize. She always did. All she needed was a little time to ditch the fuzzy, blindsided sensation, then she’d make amends.

Once she sucked in a few deep breaths of clean, night air, she would calm down. The hope of relaxation almost had her running through the crowded entry hall to the lights illuminating the street outside.

“Leaving so soon?” Brute stepped away from the small group of females and blocked her path. His gaze narrowed, the slightest hint of concern tightening his brows. “You look ticked.”

“I am ticked.” Deep breath. Deep breath. “You could’ve warned me.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “I did. I told you to stay away from Leo months ago. You didn’t listen.”

What?

“Was tonight about proving a point?” Her eyes burned with humiliation. “Was Leo in on this?”

“No on both counts. Tonight was about filling in for Tracy. But I admit it was an added bonus that I didn’t have to spell out why the two of you aren’t compatible.”

Shay let out an angry breath. “Nice, Brute. Real nice.” She shook her head and stepped around him.

“I care about you. We all do.”

His admission made her halt. She kept her gaze on the street light beckoning her to flee. Defeat had firmly set in. She’d been humiliated, devalued and heartbroken, all in one night. And the worst part was the waning hold she had on her confidence.

“Believe me, Shay, if you two had any chance of being together, I’d be the first in line to give my congratulations. But it’s not going to happen. Leo doesn’t do normal. None of us do.”

She released a derisive laugh. “I never knew being normal was such a repulsive attribute. I suppose I should thank you for the reality check.” She turned to him with a raise brow and a fake smile. There was still no emotion to his features, no comforting smile, no pleading eyes. “Good night, Brute.”

She strode away, trying to rebuild her broken walls. This wasn’t the end of the world. It was only the death of an infatuation. It didn’t change the love she had for her job. It didn’t make her less of a person because she hadn’t experienced the joys of communal fucking. All she had to do was go home, pull on her big-girl panties and spend some time online looking at Gandy candy. Mr. David Gandy would fix everything. He always did.

The cool night air comforted her as she stepped outside, not bothering to acknowledge the bouncers standing at the door.

“You need an escort?” one of them called.

She shook her head, unable to speak. They usually made sure she reached her car safely, but she didn’t want the company tonight. The two-minute walk to the staff parking lot at the back of the building wasn’t going to kill her.

She needed to get home. And the sooner the better. The thin material of her figure-hugging top was making her skin crawl. Even the light breeze against her cheeks was beginning to make her whimper.

What a fucking disaster.

Turning the corner, she slowed her pace, needing to calm herself before sliding behind the wheel.

“Hey, miss.”

Her gaze snapped around at the deep voice. Oh, shit. It was the guy from Vault of Sin, the one who’d thought she was God’s gift to masturbation. She ignored him and increased her pace. Adrenaline spurred her faster, her legs almost breaking into a run.

“I just want to talk.”

In a darkened parking lot? In the early hours of the morning? After jerking off in front of her?

No thanks.

“I’m not interested.” She palmed her keys, ready for anything. Everything.

Turning the far corner of the building, she chanced another glance over her shoulder and stumbled across the loose asphalt. Her bag slid from her shoulder, falling to the ground, and the spike of fear almost had her doubling over.

With a squeal, she yanked the handbag strap from the ground and began to run to her car. She fumbled with the button in her hand, finally unlocking the doors as she reached for the handle. He was right behind her, she could feel it. Her senses were on red alert, waiting for a rough hand to grab her.

She yanked the door open, jumped inside and pressed the lock as fast as she could. Her hands shook trying to get the key in the ignition, and she almost sobbed in relief when they slid into place. Without pause, she gunned the engine, yanked her gearstick into reverse and floored it.

God help anyone behind me.

As she pulled out, she caught the shadow of the man standing at the corner of the building, one hand raised, asking her to stop. Okay, so maybe he wasn’t right behind her, but he had more chance getting a blowjob from one of the alley cats than he did of her hitting the brakes.

Buh bye, asshole.

She watched him jog after her car from the rear-view mirror, following her to the front of the building. Pressing harder on the accelerator, she pulled onto the road, thankful for no oncoming traffic.

Two blocks down the road, she was still breathing heavy, her heart gradually descending from her throat. What a douche. Mr. Masturbator was the perfect ending to an equally perfect day. There wasn’t a hope in hell she would sleep tonight, or the rest of the week for that matter. She would dread seeing Leo on Tuesday when she worked the lunch shift at the Taste of Sin restaurant. Even if she did regain her confidence, it would take a lot of effort to hide her wounded pride.

Flicking on her indicator, she pulled to a stop at the traffic lights and inwardly cursed her stupidity. If only she’d kept her mouth shut. Leo wasn’t a jerk, he’d probably had no intention of sleeping with anyone tonight…until she’d overreacted and driven him to it. And who knew, in the light of day she might’ve been able to understand what the whole sex-club thing was about.

She wasn’t a prude. Her mind was as open as a hooker’s thighs. He’d shocked her, that’s all. She’d never seen him with another woman, and having the mental image of him diddling the masses was heart shattering.

“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”

She blinked back the sting in her eyes and winced when the lights from a car behind her entered her rear-vision mirror. They flashed their high beams and she glanced up to confirm the traffic lights hadn’t changed.

“Nope,” she muttered. “What’s your problem?”

Focusing back on her mirror, her skin prickled as she zeroed in on the car behind her. No way. It was the guy from the parking lot. He’d followed her.

“Son of a bitch.”

He opened his car door and her heart stopped in fear. She had no intention of sticking around. She checked for traffic and then turned through the red light, reaching for her bag as she pulled onto the main road.

He was going to follow her home and then rape and murder her. Holy shit, she was going to die. She riffled through her bag for her phone and unlocked the screen as she drove. Calling Leo wasn’t an option. He already thought she was weak, and she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of rubbing it in. Instead, she clicked on T.J.’s contact and bit her lip as the phone rang.

“Hey, Shay, what’s up?”

Flashing lights glared at her through the rear-view mirror, and she whimpered. “Please help me. A guy from the club came after me in the parking lot. He’s following me home. I don’t know what to do.”

“Baby, calm down.” Concern laced his words. “Where are you?”

“I’m on the main road, a few blocks from work, heading toward the city.”

“Can you turn around and come back?”

She shook her head and puffed out an anxious breath. “I don’t want to take a side street and risk him running me off the road. Please, T.J., I don’t know what to do.”

“Don’t worry, I’m coming after you. Stay on the main road and slow down so I can catch up. But don’t stop. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Okay.” Her voice waivered. She lifted her foot off the accelerator, slowing the car well below the speed limit. The guy behind her continued to flash his lights, his arm now waving out the window, his finger pointing to the side of the road.

This was karma. She’d been a raging bitch to Leo, and now she was paying the price. Either her stalker was going to ram into her car and drag her out the door, or she’d have a heart attack while she waited.

Chill.

She sucked in a shaky breath, let it out slowly and turned on the radio. The lethargic, early morning music did nothing to soothe her. All she could do was continue to hyperventilate and wait.

As she reached a yield sign, a horn blasted, startling her. A car sped up beside her on the wrong side of the road, and Leo’s face stared at her from the passenger window. Shit. She didn’t know if she should be relieved or more frightened from the heat in his eyes.

“Pull over,” he mouthed, his lips set in a solemn line.

She did as instructed, driving through the intersection and pulling to the curb in front of the next street light. T.J.’s car parked behind her, and the other guy followed. Before she had time to cut the engine, she saw Leo in her rear-view mirror. He flung open his door and climbed from the car with his shoulders broad with menace. There wasn’t an ounce of softness to his features as he turned his back and jogged to the stranger’s car.

“Oh, shit.” She watched in horror as he yanked the guy out by his shirt and thrust him against the side of the vehicle.

“Shay.”

She screamed and then clasped a hand over her mouth. T.J. stood outside her car, one hand on the door handle while the other tapped on her window until she released the lock. He opened the door as she unclicked her seatbelt and then reached down to help her out.

“Come here.”

She could hear Leo yelling as she went willingly into T.J.’s arms.

“It was just a misunderstanding,” he cooed in her ear.

Misunderstanding?

She tilted her head, listening to Leo verbally abuse the man. “Well, you don’t fucking chase after her. You drop the keys with the bouncers and let her figure out she’s lost them. Why did you follow her into the parking lot anyway?”

Keys?

“Travis came to me in the club and said I freaked her out. I felt like shit and wanted to apologize.” The man was almost talking too fast for her to understand, yet, all the awkward pieces began falling into place. “I gathered I was scaring her, so I stopped following, but she dropped her handbag and didn’t pick up her keys. I’m sorry. It was my initial reaction to go after her.”

Shay winced. “I’m such a tool.”

“No, you’re not.” T.J. hugged her tight. “He should’ve known better than to go after you. You had every reason to be frightened.”

She whimpered and closed her eyes, resting her head against his shoulder. The jingle of keys sounded and then a car door slammed. She closed her lids tighter as the stranger’s car sped off and heavy footsteps approached.

When the crunch against the asphalt stopped, she held her breath in the silence. She couldn’t look at Leo, couldn’t take the anger in his eyes or the annoyance at her stupidity. Instead, she burrowed deeper into T.J., hoping he’d hold her a little longer, until she recovered enough from her embarrassment to drive home.

“I’ll take it from here,” Leo spoke softly.

Her lids fluttered open and her lips trembled with the need to protest as T.J. retreated a step. He gave a sad smile and stroked a lazy hand through her hair. “I’ll head back to the club and close things up for the night. Call me if you need anything.”

No. Don’t leave me.

She stared wide-eyed, silently begging him not to bail on her. Especially when Leo didn’t look like he was going anywhere. “I’ll be fine,” she croaked, hoping the two of them would leave together. “Thank you both.” She kept her focus on T.J., no matter how hard Leo’s gaze bore into the side of her face. “I’ll see you both next week.”

T.J. waited, scrutinizing her.

“I said I’d take care of it,” Leo growled. “Just go.”

A shiver ran down her spine at his command, and she twisted around to her car, ready to flee. She pulled open the door to the sound of T.J.’s retreating steps, then the air left her lungs as a heavy hand wove around her waist and slammed it shut again.

He was right behind her, his chest at her back, his breath in her hair. “I’ll drive you home,” he murmured, making her come undone, dragging the uncontrollable emotions higher up her throat.

She shook her head. They’d fought enough tonight. The battle scars still stung across her heart. Being around him now would make it ten times harder to stop the tears she despised from flowing. She wasn’t a fucking crier. The last time she’d shed tears was years ago. And she’d be damned if she broke the achievement by blubbering over an enthusiastic masturbator and a case of mistaken intentions.

“I’m a big girl. I can drive myself home.” She stood rigid, waiting for him to back off, hoping the warmth sinking under her skin would quickly vanish.

“Please, Shay.”

His plea undid her. He didn’t say another word, just continued to lean into her, his breath fanning her neck, his scent driving her crazy as T.J. pulled out from behind them. Leo placed his hand on her hip, sending a shudder through her stomach and higher to her nipples. She closed her eyes again, wishing the darkness would give her strength. But it didn’t, it only gave her the image of him in her mind, the light dusting of stubble, the tempting lips she’d fall to her knees to taste.

She couldn’t take it any longer, couldn’t find the strength she hoped beyond hope to find. She turned in his arms, leaned against the cold metal of the car and stared up at him. Fragility stared back at her. His eyes were now a darker shade of blue, his forehead creased with a slight frown.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

There, she’d apologized, so why did she still feel terrible?

“It’s not your fault. Glenn knows better than to approach someone outside the club, no matter what the circumstances.”

“No.” She shook her head and lowered her gaze to the tanned skin exposed above the top button of his shirt. “I’m sorry for being such a bitch.”

“Don’t be.” His response was immediate, without reservation.

Her guilt increased at his sudden acceptance of her apology.

“Your sexuality is none of my business,” she continued. She deserved his wrath, and getting it over and done with now would make it easier to return to work next week.

“I kinda made it your business.” The side of his lips tilted in a sly grin.

“It still doesn’t excuse the way I acted.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Seriousness entered his features. “But as your boss, I should’ve prepared you better. And—don’t roll your eyes at me—because we’re friends, I should’ve prepared you better. I’m not letting you get away with being a bitch. I’m just saying that I know you, and I should’ve expected the jabs at my ego. It’s what you do when you’re upset.”

“You don’t know me that well,” she retorted. He didn’t know her at all if he thought her side of their relationship was based on mere friendship. “I thought I knew you too…” She let the sentence hang.

“You do know me, Shay.” He placed his hands on her hips, holding her tight, bringing them pelvis to hard, unyielding pelvis. “There’s just one tiny aspect of my life you didn’t know about.”

“Tiny aspect?” She wanted to snort. A hidden tattoo equated to a tiny aspect. Owning and participating in a sex club was such an enormous part of his life that it deserved its own zip code.

“My sex life doesn’t define me. I’m still the guy…”

She quirked a brow. Did he really not know how she felt? Or did saying it aloud make him uncomfortable?

“I fell in love with?” she answered for him. She was too tired for games, and maybe exposing how she felt would make him understand why Vault of Sin had rocked her foundations so hard. It wasn’t all the cock swinging around, or all the screaming, squealing and grunting. It was the loss of love she now knew would never be returned.

Leo stared at her with narrowing eyes.

Yeah, asshole. Those overreactions were because of love, not my so-called normalness.

“I need to get home.” She turned away from his scrutiny. “I’ll drop you back at the club.”

“No.”

He grabbed her hand and led her to the other side of the car. She was helpless, her body craving his touch so much she didn’t protest when he opened the passenger-side door and waited for her to climb in. As she clasped her belt, he loomed over her, his focus growing with intent.

“I’ll get you home. Hopefully by then I’ll have some semblance of mental capacity after the bomb you just dropped. Then I’ll make us some coffee, ’cause we sure as shit aren’t finished with this conversation.”