Shutout (The Renegades Series Book 5) (8 page)

Hailee

Alison looked at Hailee with big eyes and a gaping mouth. “Why did you give Kurt your number?”

“I didn’t know how he’d react if I said no, and I just wanted to get out of there fast. I have no intention of going out with Kurt; you know he’s not my type. He’s way too
just stepped out of a catalog
for me. There’s no edge to him, or that frat-boy friend of his. Speaking of my type, why would you set me up with someone like frat-boy?”

Alison shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought it would be fun.” Alison finished rinsing off a German Shepherd.

“It wasn’t.” Hailee turned off her water and quickly grabbed a towel before the Basset Hound she was washing had a chance to shake off all over her.

“No, not really. But you weren’t trying.”

“I didn’t realize my birthday celebration was going to end like that. With frat-boy drooling all over me, then Ken doll all up in this.” She motioned towards her face and chest.

Another girl, Sally, took both dogs to be dried and brushed.

“Frat-boy was kind of sleazy,” Alison agreed with a chuckle. “I had no idea they were like that.”

“You mean douchey?”

“Hailee!” Alison giggled like an embarrassed schoolgirl. “You don’t normally say things like that!”

“Sorry, but that’s what they were.”

“Has Kurt tried to call you yet?” Alison dried her arms off and patted her damp shirt.

“Yep, a few times. I have my phone set to go right to voicemail.” She sensed a sadness to Alison’s inquiry, and it wasn’t just the puppy dog look in her eyes. “You can have him if you want him, Ali. I still don’t know why he approached me.”

Alison’s face didn’t change. “Nah, he’s not my type. I just thought it would be fun for us to date friends, you know?”

“I understand what you’re saying, but you can’t rush romance, and a computer doesn’t always find the perfect match. Sorry. We’ll find nice guys one of these days, don’t worry. And we’ll make them friends, whether they like it or not!”

Her stomach felt sour and her chest hurt as she said the words. She’d had a perfect guy, one who only wanted to take care of her, and she’d lost her damn mind because of it. Then she had come face to face with him the other night with her boobs in his face. Her head throbbed, her face burned, and she thought she might puke as acid rushed around her stomach as if it were happening to her all over again.

“Hello? Hailee?” Alison waved her hand in front of Hailee’s face.

“What?” Her thoughts had her distracted, and she’d missed what Ali was saying.

“I said, there are no more dogs until four, and I’m leaving at five to go teach a skating lesson, so why don’t you head home and get ready for work? Don’t you work early tonight? I have more than enough help here now.”

“Yeah, I do. It’ll be nice to work an earlier shift for once, get out of there before the super shady men come in.” She rinsed her hands and arms, cleaning off the last little bit of dog fur before she dried off and pulled on her sweatshirt.

“You were thinking about him again, weren’t you?”

“Who?”

“You know who. You were thinking about your run in with your ex-hockey-player-boyfriend. Don’t lie either, because I know you too well.”

“Yeah, I can’t get that moment out of my head. I mean, I was all… and he was shocked… and… ugh. I think I’d rather have all creeps drooling on me tonight than to deal with that again.” That wasn’t true. As much as it was freaky that the man she’d been dancing up on was Dominic, something about looking into his eyes again got to her. Not to mention touching him, feeling his desire, and having his hands on her. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought about it. Remembered how much she had wanted it.

“Well, for your sake, I hope you don’t get any of the creeps tonight. Maybe coming face to face with him again would be good for you?”

“Thanks, girl. But somehow I don’t think he’ll be showing his face there again. I broke his heart once; I don’t think he’ll be coming back for a repeat, especially with how he ran into me. All right, I’m out. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” She hugged Ali goodbye and headed home.

* * *

The afternoon was chilly in Pittsburgh; spring couldn’t make up its mind if it was ready to get warm or wanting to snow again. Wearing only a sweatshirt was a poor decision, since it wouldn’t be enough protection against the blustery wind.

There was a girl and a guy cuddling together at the bus stop; they looked as though they were keeping each other warm. It brought back memories of a day she and Dominic had walked into town. His truck was in the shop and they wanted to get a late breakfast at the diner. The wind was gusty and cold, ripping through the city streets, picking up loose pieces of paper and swirling them round and round.

She had shivered in the wall of cold air that hit her, cut through her coat, and chilled her to the bone. Dominic had wrapped his arms around her, shielding her from the breeze, and had pressed his lips against hers. His body molded to hers, and between his body heat and the fire of his kiss, he warmed her to the core.

Then, unwrapping his scarf from his own neck, he had placed it around hers, slid off his gloves and put them on her already gloved hands. She knew he had to be cold, but he never showed it. He’d just wanted to make sure she was warm. As always, he took care of her.

Shaking her head, she winced. This was the most she’d thought about old times in years.

She was early for work and the place was pretty empty. There was always a lull at about three in the afternoon due to the lunch crowd thinning out and the dinner folks not coming in yet. The lights were dimmed in the main room, no one sat at the bar, and only a handful of tables were occupied as one girl danced at either side of the stage.

“Hey Sash, you early today?” She walked behind the bar and clocked in.

Sasha flipped her black hair with its bright blue highlights over her shoulder as a big smile crossed her face. “Hey girl! I sure am. You too, I see. Or are you pulling a double?”

“Yep, I’m early. For once I’ll get in and out before all the craziness starts.”

“Hailee, you’re in section ten tonight,” Leo the manager called from the other end of the bar.

“Alright, Sash, I better go get changed.”

“Yeah, don’t want to piss the boss-man off.” Sasha waved before greeting a customer who just walked in the door.

The dressing room was quiet, and it was nice to get ready for once with no one else in here. She changed into her tiny, why-bother-wearing skirt that consisted of black fringe attached to a black bikini bottom, and a matching black bra with fringe, then adjusted her black fishnet stockings and slid on her thigh high lace up black leather boots. They laced up from the peek-a-boo toe all the way up to her thigh. It took a long time to put them on, but they looked hot with her teeny-tiny fringe get-up.

“Waitressing tonight?” Lyssa closed the dressing room door behind her.

“Yep. You’re here early.” Seeing Lyssa brought back chilling memories of the other night and seeing Dominic. The only person Hailee had told about Dominic was Sasha, and rumor had it that Lyssa had been a little too friendly with him that night, and Leo wasn’t happy. Their boss didn’t like the girls stealing his cut; he wanted all activity to be on his time so he made money off it.

“I’m dancing a double tonight. Yay.”

“Have fun with that.” Hailee checked her makeup and fluffed her hair in the mirror.

“I always do. See you out there, chick.”

Cold air hit Hailee’s ass as she closed the door behind her. Making a pit stop at the bar, she grabbed an order pad and pen, gave Sasha a quick smile, and went to her section.

She noticed two men sit down there while she was over at the bar. She checked on the only other two tables that were occupied, but they were close to the stage and still had full drinks. Probably solely there for the naked girls, and if sipping their drinks was going to ensure they spent lots of money on the girls, Leo was always okay with that.

Maybe she’d have better luck getting the new table to actually order some food. “Hey fellas, how are you guys today? I’m Foxy. Can I start you off with a drink? Maybe some pretzels and cheese?” Her eyes were glued to her order pad, waiting for their answer or some sleazy remark.

“It really was you the other night,” a familiar voice said. A voice so familiar, that warmth pooled in the pit of her stomach. Her heart did an uncomfortable extra beat.

She hesitated to look up. That voice told her all she needed to know about who she was going to see sitting there. Dominic.

“I knew my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.”

She lifted her head and her breath caught. His smile was wide and bright. Heart melting. That used to be one of her favorite things about him — no matter how miserable of a day she was having, that damn smile would brighten up her day.

His dark eyes ran over her body. She could feel him examining her and taking in every inch. As much as his flirty smile made her self-conscious, she kind of liked it. She’d missed it. To be honest, she craved it. After everything she had done to him in the past, that mischievous grin made her forget it all.

“Hailee?”

“Oh… Yes… Drinks?” She’d been staring at him, taking him in, his hair, the crinkles around his eyes, the broad set of his shoulders… And she was still staring.

“We’ll get to that. Hailee, this is Kaden O’Conner, a fellow teammate. Kaden, this is Hailee Valentine.”

“Nice to meet you, Hailee.” Kaden shook his shaggy blond hair out of his face, then put his hand out to her.

“Nice to meet you too, Kaden.”

“Hailee is my—”

“We were friends back home,” she interrupted. No one else needed to know what they were back then.

Dom pressed his mouth into a wry smile. “Yeah, friends.”

She cleared her throat and moved her attention to her order pad. “So, what can I get you guys?”

“I’ll take a beer.”

She couldn’t help herself and wanted to kick her own ass as the words trickled out of her mouth. “Are you allowed to have alcohol today? Is there a game tonight?”
Dammit
.
Not my place to say that
.
I can only imagine what he’s thinking, with that stupid grin on his face
.

The dopey smile played on his lips,
his perfect lips… Oh what the hell — no, I refuse to see how hot he is, even if he is
. Taking a deep breath, she tried to collect herself. She had chosen to leave him; she wasn’t going to be anyone’s woman waiting in the kitchen baking whatever it was that Sally Homemakers baked. His amazing looks and awesome lips weren’t going to have that effect on her. Not anymore. “Beers for both of you? Bottle, or what’s on tap?” She quickly recovered, hoping they’d miss her slip up.

Kaden shook his head with a confused look, and then pushed his hair out of his face. “Beer is fine. Bottle.”

“It’s okay, sweet-tart, we’re allowed beer today. And bottle is fine for me, too. Make it an Iron City.” His eyes ran down her body, creating a rush of heat through her every muscle.

Why couldn’t she just tuck her feelings back in and get on with it? Instead, they were falling out all over the place.
Because I touched him, rubbed on him, and I wanted more. Just, no.
“Iron City beer it is.” Not giving them a chance to order anything else, she spun around and hurried away, her fringe flying up in the air as she twirled. She was well aware that only showed off more to Dom. That wasn’t what she wanted to do, but it just happened.
Oh well.

She could hear them calling from behind her, something about nachos, but they could wait. Thank goodness she saw two more men sit down in her section, closer to the stage. Quickly she went to take their order. “Gentlemen, what can I get for you?”

“You in that outfit served up on a silver platter would be nice.”

That voice sent a chill through her, and not a good kind of chill. Afraid to look up, she knew who it was before she even saw him. “Hang on guys, I’ll be right back.” She moved as fast as her heels would take her, practically running to the bar.

“Sash!” she said through her rapid breathing. She was rattled. What were the odds of them turning up here? They were the guys from the cupcake shop the other night. Ken Doll and creepy frat-boy.

“What can I get for you, Hailee?” Sasha leaned over the bar.

“You can hide me.”

“Oh no, why now? Is the hockey player here again?”

“Well, yes, but that’s not why I—” She stopped abruptly as someone pressed against her back, molding his body to hers as well as pushing her into the bar. A bulge pushed against her lower back.

She knew it wasn’t Dominic; his body was larger and harder, but right now, she wished it was Dom. The only thing keeping her calm and collected was knowing there had to be a bouncer watching and waiting to tear this douche off her. He’d already broken a big rule — no touching. “Hands off, buddy.”

She looked up at Sasha for any sort of help, but Sasha’s nervous glare was trained on the person standing behind her. Hailee searched the room for the closest bouncer. The fact that she didn’t see anyone made her heart jump in her throat and her pulse race. Sliding against the bar, she slipped out from under the guy and turned to get away, putting some attitude into saying, “Can I help you?” only to run smack into another body.