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 eighteenth 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.