Shutout (The Renegades Series Book 5)

by Melody Heck Gatto

  “All right Sam!” Dom yelled. But now he was up. Quickly his focus was on Ty, who was racing up the ice at him, eyes trained on the back of the net. Ty had a habit of looking right through you. His body turned to the left but his eyes flinched to the right. Dom knew that meant Ty was going to try to fake him out. Nope, not today Kidd. Dom lunged to his left; the puck bounced off his blocker, up and over the goal.

  “Boom! No goal, Ty!” One more goal for white and they would win.

  Luc was up next. Barely pausing at the blue line, he sped to the puck, then toward Kaden. With a quick movement, he flipped the puck over his left shoulder to the back of the net. “That’s what I’m talking about!” Luc pumped his fist in the air in celebration.

  Coach blew his whistle. “Gray team, laps! White team, hit the showers.”

  “Hey Kaden, I’ll wait for you in the locker room. I know just the place for lunch!”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  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 earl
y.” 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.

  The second body was frat-boy, Dex. She looked up into his creepy face. “Excuse me, I have to—” As she backed up, she hit into the first guy again. She had no doubt that it was Kurt. Now pressed between them, she fought to keep from trembling with the fear that was bubbling up inside her. Where the hell is security?

  “Sash!” she tried to call, but Dex put his finger to her lips.

  “Damn, girl. I didn’t know that you worked in a strip club.” Kurt ran his hand between them down her body, stopping to cup her ass. “It looks hella good on you.”

  Hella good? Who even says that? She could only assume his body hid his movements, or he would already be tossed out the door for touching her. His hands on her made her skin crawl.

  Trying to keep calm, she cleared her throat and asked again. “Can I help you?” There was no way security was going to let this go on much longer.

  She could feel Kurt’s hot breath on the back of her neck. “You can definitely help us, Hailee. You can help us into one of those secret back rooms and show us both a good time. An off-the-books kind of good time. You never did answer my calls, and that made me very unhappy. But I know a way you can make it up to me.” He flashed two one-hundred-dollar bills into her face. The tone of his voice made the bile back up into her throat, and the cash he ran over her shoulder and down to her chest made her want to puke.

  “Get. Off. Me.” Hailee hissed through clenched teeth.

  “Alright guys, that’s enough,” Bruno from security said, as he walked towards them. He was still a few feet away from them, and Kurt and Dex were still way too close for her comfort.

  “You heard sec
urity, get off me!” Hailee’s blood was boiling, but being sandwiched between the two men, she still couldn’t move.

  She tried to wiggle away, and as she squirmed towards the bar, a booming voice said, “She said to get the fuck off her, asshole!”

  Tripping over Dex’s foot, she grabbed for the bar. Turning around she saw one fist hit Kurt, tossing him to the ground, and then another fist hit Dex.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Dominic

  Dom’s eyes never left her as she walked back to the bar. When the two douchebags approached her, his blood began to boil, and the instant they trapped her between them, he jumped up out of his seat and to Hailee’s aid. He didn’t even stop to think about it. Security was almost where she was pinned between their bodies, but the urge to make sure she was okay took over. “She said to get the fuck off her, asshole!”

  The dark-haired one grabbed her wrist to secure her where she stood when she tried to squirm away. That was all Dom needed to see. Nobody puts their hands on Hailee.

  His fist connected with one, then both of their faces. Pretty-boy one grabbed at his nose and whined about it being broken, and Pretty-boy two was too busy picking himself up off the floor. Heat filled Dominic’s face and he shook his now aching hand. Hailee sat there with large eyes just staring as she pulled herself off the bar.

  “Hailee, you okay?” He barely got the words out before girls were at her side, asking the same question and holding her tight as she stood up. Security had already dragged both men halfway to the exit, telling them they weren’t to come back.

  “Dom, you alright, bro?” Kaden asked, coming up next to him. “I tried to stop you, but I was pretty sure you didn’t hear me. Your face was red and it was like you were on a mission, the way you bolted over here. Are you sure your hand is okay? You better damn well hope it’s okay.”

  The thought of Coach Walker and the owners of the Renegades finding out about this little debacle made him quickly search the room for anyone with a cell phone recording this fiasco. Paige would not be happy, and pissing Paige off was not really on his to-do list. Nope, not a cell phone camera in sight; the few guys that were here were too busy shoving bills in girls’ G-strings.