Shutout (The Renegades Series Book 5) (10 page)

“Well Romeo, it doesn’t seem like she wants much to do with you.”

He flashed Kaden a grin. “That’s too bad, because I think this is my new favorite hangout.” If her overreaction to seeing him again was any indication, she still had feelings for him. Dominic dug into the nachos and also grabbed a chicken finger. “Outstanding nachos, don’t you think?”

He was going to figure out why she was so mad at him, one way or another. And if this was how he had to do it, so be it. Naked girls and all.

Hailee

“They’re really going to sit there and eat nachos and chicken after what he did? The only reason security didn’t throw his ass out of here is because he plays for the Renegades.”
He plays for the Renegades. Ugh
. The words made her head hurt.
How did I not know that when I moved here
?

“That’d be a good enough reason for me. Damn. So the tattooed one isn’t with you then? Because he might just be able to make me into a hockey fan,” Evie said, her red hair falling over her shoulder as she drooled over Dominic from across the room. Evie was a new dancer at The Cat House. “I mean, the other one isn’t half bad either. I wouldn’t kick him out of bed for eating crackers.”

“Where do you get your weird sayings?” Sasha laughed and shook her head.

Heat rushed into Hailee’s cheeks and made her dizzy. Mentally shaking off this territorial feeling about Dominic and his teammate, she glanced in their direction.

Evie pushed up her boobs and fixed her lipstick, but before she could strut off in the boys’ direction, Sasha put her hand out to stop her. “Hold it, Red. What about Marty? You know, the boy who put that ring on your finger?”

Evie huffed and pushed her bottom lip out into a pout. “I’m engaged, not dead.”

“Exactly, so remember, look, don’t touch,” Sasha added.

“Boring!” Evie called as she stomped off backstage.

“Honey, what was that look on your face when she was drooling over the hockey hunks over there?” Sasha asked. She took a drink of her bottled water.

“What look? I didn’t have a look. There was no look.” Hailee turned her back on Sasha and walked over to the kitchen food window. “Where’s my damn food?”

“Girl, you’ve got the look of a jealous girlfriend.” Sasha sang. Moving closer, she lowered her voice dramatically. “Hockey players have big egos. Better not let him see you looking like that. He’ll never let you forget it.”

“Too late for that, she already has.” Max, the cook, was a greasy, dark haired man with a thick European accent. Hailee never knew exactly what kind, and she had no intention of asking him. He was known for his inappropriate comments and sexual advances to the girls. He peered out of the pick-up window then slid the two plates of food onto the ledge. “But he probably didn’t notice since he was busy ogling her tattoos. And who could blame him?” His eyes ran over her exposed skin.

“Shut up Max! No he wasn’t,” Hailee said a little too loudly.

“Too bad you’re not dancing tonight, Hailee. You could probably make a ton of money off those two. Just sayin’… You in that outfit and them with those deep pockets.” Max just shrugged his shoulders and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Sasha sent her a look of agreement, eyebrows raised and smile on her lips.

Hailee pointed at her friend. “Don’t get used to them and their deep pockets, as Max says, because I’m sure today is a one-time visit. He said he just had to be sure it was actually me. He came, he saw, it’s over.” Realizing what words she used in combination with the fact they were in a strip club, and the fact that her strip tease for him the other night almost went too far, she gasped and added, “In that order!”

Sasha chuckled. “If you say so, girl.”

Hailee grabbed her plate of food for Dominic’s table and headed out on to the floor. She didn’t like what they were saying, and there was no way it was true. She had left any feelings for him behind long ago, and there was no way he could still have feelings left for her. And if he did, well…

“The extra food’s here. That was quick,” Dominic said with a smile.

“I don’t stay in the kitchen for anyone!” she blurted out.

“What?” Dominic messed his face up in question. “Why were you in the kitchen?”

“What? Oh, nothing. Enjoy. And here’s your check. If you need anything else, Sasha will be over. I’m going on break.” She turned away quickly, but before she could leave, Dominic spoke up.

“Hang on, Hailee.” Dominic held up a one-hundred-dollar bill. His smirk made her question if this was just a sick joke, but his words cut too deep, joke or not. “How about a lap dance?”

Her heart thudded to a stop.
Oh hell no
… “Sorry, you can put your money away unless you want one of the other girls, because I’m only waitressing tonight, not dancing. Have a good night,
gentlemen
.” Hailee hurried to the back as fast as her heels would take her.

* * *

Hailee’s alarm went off at three in the afternoon. Her morning at the pet salon had been a rough one. She had to shampoo a Great Dane who hated water. Too bad that he hated the dryer even more. Then there was the Chihuahua that peed on her. She’d never seen a little dog pee so much. Ever. Then there was the Black Lab that puked on her. Fun times. Plus, she had to fight to concentrate on the job because her mind had kept drifting to thoughts of Dominic. This nap was much needed and deserved.

After a quick shower and a turkey sandwich, it was time to get ready for work. She liked to put the majority of her makeup on at home so she only had to get changed once she got there. Sweats and UGGs were her go-to outfit, comfortable and warm. The weather was starting to break so she didn’t need to bundle up. She straightened her hair and applied the dark eyeshadow and eyeliner to shape her cat eyes. One final check in the mirror before she left.

She could’ve easily dressed in her work gear and put sweats over the top since she only had to walk downstairs to the club. But she preferred to keep all club business in the club. She wasn’t ashamed, but it also wasn’t who she really was, and sitting around in her apartment in her dancing get-up just didn’t feel right.

When she walked through the doors into the dark room, her eyes took a while to adjust from the sunlight. The place was already filling up, which was something that created a lump in her throat; she hated the big crowds. It might mean more money in her pocket, but it also meant a long hot shower afterwards, scrubbing the grubby handprints off her.

Taking a long breath, she paused before she moved towards the bar. Kit was operating the bar tonight. Beautiful didn’t begin to describe Kit with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail, trailing onto her shoulders and curled around, and her chunky thick bangs made her look like a 1960s pin up girl.

“Hey there, sunshine.” Kit smiled at Hailee, before adjusting her pink polka dot retro push-up crop top. “Ready to rock-and-roll tonight?”

She meant it literally. At seven o’clock tonight, there was a band playing, which accounted for most of the business. The bad thing was those folks would stay after and continue drinking. Drunk requests for lap dances were the worst. They tipped big, because they didn’t know what they were doing, but they were very handsy, and security had a harder time catching that when the place was packed.

“Ready as I’m gonna be. I hate these things.” Hailee winced. She swiped her badge in the time clock before grabbing a bottle of water. “You here all night, Kit?”

“I am. Hopefully they tip well tonight.” She winked at Hailee, and wiggled her hips. As bartender, Kit didn’t need to dress as scantily as the others, but she liked to wear super short shorts that showed off her cheeks and the bow tattoos on the backs of her thighs.

“In that outfit, I don’t doubt they will. See ya in a minute. Time to get dressed!” She made her way into the back room. After securing her purse in her locker, she started to get undressed. She had a rolling rack of outfits to choose from, but sometimes brought her own, especially when she was waitressing. Tonight she was table dancing, and she crossed her fingers there’d be no lap dances or private dances. Not her favorite; even though the tips were better than waitressing, the downfall was less clothing, only slightly more fabric than if she was up on stage.

Some girls went for lingerie, lacy, cute and see through. The guys loved it. She chose a light pink plaid pleated skirt no more than six inches long, and a sexy white peasant top that tied in the front. She paired it with a matching G-string and clear stiletto heels. It was a cute outfit with all the pink, but her tattoos made it look badass. Giving her makeup one last check, she decided she needed more eye shadow and liner. She liked a very dramatic look when she was working.

She closed her eyes for a moment and calmed her nerves. Every time she walked out on the floor, she had to remind herself that it was just a job, that someday all the grabbing and drooling would be well worth it. When she was standing in her own gallery, her artwork would be her only means of income and she’d be more than comfortable. Opening her eyes, she was still in the Club, knowing it was temporary.

Time to do this
.

Sashaying out onto the crowded floor, she tried to ignore the drunken male faces as she sought out her section. The band was playing on the main stage and girls danced on the smaller ones. She shook and gyrated her way through the crowd, stopping at each table and moving around each guy. Some put all their attention on her as she ran her fingertips over their shoulders or across their chests, and they showed their appreciation in the form of bills tucked in her bottoms. Before going on to the next table, she collected all of the bills and folded them neatly into a little pocket on the inside of her skirt.

The band was about halfway through their set, when she noticed a few guys file into the Club and sit in the back overlooking the whole room. They were large, muscular, and familiar looking. She narrowed her eyes, giving them a closer look, and she realized they were Renegades players.
Oh no, not tonight
. She looked down at her outfit and broke into a cold sweat.

“Foxy!” her boss yelled. “Get out on the floor!”

She was stalling, frozen where she stood.

“Hey, cutie! Bring those tattoos over here,” a guy called from a nearby table.

Turning her back on the hockey boys, she danced around the beckoning table, moving between the seats and around each man. She was well aware of the eyes on her.
Dominic.
She did her best to show each of the men at the table tons of attention, and went as far as blowing them kisses. But it was time to move on to the next table, and the closer she got to the team’s table, the more nervous she got.

The stern glance from the manager and his motioning to the back of the room meant she needed to keep moving. The band was almost done with their set.

“Finally!” one of them called as she approached the table.

“I hear I’m in demand?” She smiled, but her heart was racing.
Why does he keep coming in here?
“You guys win or something tonight?”

“Sure did, and it was all Dom,” Kaden said with a smile.

“Nah, I’m just the keeper of the goal.” Dominic looked embarrassed. “So, you doing private dances tonight?”

“Um, uh, maybe. None yet though.”
Why was he asking? Please don’t ask for one, please
. Maybe he was being protective, exactly what she didn’t need him to be. She wasn’t his property.

Her manager was watching, which meant she had better start dancing.

Hailee danced around the guys, thinking only of her well-rehearsed moves and pretending to ignore Dominic. But all her senses were tuned in to him. She could see his face tighten more, his posture become more rigid with each dance she gave. It was probably an unkind reality for him to see her like this, but with her boss always watching, she had no choice. Besides, she needed to break Dominic out of whatever it was he thought he was accomplishing by continuing to turn up here.

That thought fueled her fire. It had turned into a game for her. She stopped by Kaden and quickly put her shoe on his chair between his legs. The guys hooted and hollered. All of them but Dominic.

The waitress came around and refilled all of their beers. Dominic already had two empty bottles sitting by him. She wasn’t used to seeing him drink like that, but they had been so young when they were together. Shaking her boobs in Kaden’s face got a good roar out of the guys, and made the goaltender’s face pink as well.

The song ended and she moved on to the next man, then the next. Finally, Dominic was the only one left. By the time she got to him, his eyes were glassy from all the alcohol. He eyed all the cash stuck in her skirt. She quickly folded the bills up and tucked them away with the others.

The manager was looking her way as she hesitated in front of Dom. She had no reason not to give him his turn, plus her boss would notice if she only left Dominic out.

She started to dance around him, her body seeming to move closer without her permission. She ran her fingers through his hair in a practiced move, but the touch seemed too intimate, and her hands trembled. Pulling them away, she avoided looking at his handsome face, and turned her back to him and swayed her hips in front of him.

The guys shouted cat calls at her, and the ones close by tucked a few bills into her skirt. She accidentally caught Dom’s glance and was shocked at what came out of his mouth.

“Here.” He handed her a fifty. “I want a private dance.”

“You go, Meatball!” Matt called. Looking around, he added, “I need to find me one of those, too. Lap dance? Can I get a lap dance?” he shouted to the closest girl.