Secret Seduction (Undercover Lovers #5)

Prologue

SHAE

Two Weeks Earlier

“ H ey, Shae, how’s your day going?” Lyric walks in through the studio doors, a smile on her face and a pep in her step.

She’s here three times a week and part of the reason I’ve seen an influx of new clients.

Between her and the girls, Lennie, Kenny, Winnie, and Maci, word of mouth has gotten around Oak County, the neighboring towns around Oak View, where my studio is situated.

When I opened up LITHE a year ago, I barely had two nickels to rub together, especially after installing the mirrors, floors, and speakers throughout the once art gallery.

It truly helped when I looked at the space with the realtor that the plan was completely open.

My parents being the most supportive helped in the way of elbow grease.

They couldn’t help me financially, yet they pulled their weight in what I needed most. Dad built the walls for three separate rooms for different classes to be held, saving me a butt load of cash.

He also did similar for the reception area, where I’m standing now.

The reception desk and area were also built by him.

“Hi, Lyric, not too bad. What about yours?” I don’t tell her that I’m waffling between closing the studio down for the afternoon and having to refund or credit the next classes for the day.

One of my instructors turned in her notice this morning and didn’t feel the need to give me her two weeks, either.

Needless to say, I truly hope she won’t be using my name as a reference or that her next place of employment chooses not to call me.

“Oh, you know, same old, same old.” She shrugs her shoulders. I notice the iced coffee with the Oak the slurping tells me more than she ever needed to.

“Crack in the form of caffeine. You are not wrong.” Tomorrow morning, I’ll be waking up earlier than usual to get a fix of my own.

“Nope. Where are the others?” Lyric asks .

“Well, my sister is on vacation with her girlfriends. They take an annual trip, and this is their week.” They’re younger than I am by about six years or so; my sister, Coralynn, is what my older brother, Zane, likes to call the oops baby.

Whereas we’re two years apart, he and our baby sister are eight years apart.

At least she doesn’t get the never-ending older brother tales that she’s adopted or is the milkman’s baby.

I swear he’s a pain in the ass, yet I still love him even with his dumb jokes. “As for Blair, she quit this morning.”

Lyric’s mouth opens and closes. That’s about the size of it. I’d felt like a fish out of water as well. Trying to come up with a new instructor on the fly isn’t as easy as you’d think. Which means I’ll be working all of the classes and somehow finagling changing the schedule if I can.

“Are you looking for someone to replace her?” Lyric recovers, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“I would like to, but with the short notice she gave me and Coralynn being out of town, it’s going to be hard.” Coralynn helps out with the dance classes, contemporary and ballet. I know she’d help if she weren’t boozing and sunning it up with her girl gang.

“Damn.” I nod, agreeing with her just as the phone on the desk rings.

“Hi, thank you for calling LITHE. This is Shae, how can I help you?” Lyric stays where she is, leaning on the counter while pulling out her phone to text someone.

I think it’s safe to assume she’s texting either Jagger, her man, or the girls in her group.

Winnie brings her son, Sebastian, in, and she’s probably letting her know the toddler classes might be canceled for the time being .

“This is C not only because she’s Lyric Skye, almost Steele, but she’s also genuinely sweet.

“Are you sure? I mean, this is a big favor, and of course, I’ll pay you.

” There’s a reason I’m hoping Lyric will pull through.

I’ve had my period for longer than normal, above normal, really.

It started happening a couple of months ago.

The normal three-to-five-day menstrual cycle went to two weeks.

I let it roll off my back, figuring stress could have caused it.

When it ended, I put the notes in my period tracker app and went about my day.

Then the damn thing came back a week later.

I called the gynecologist immediately, and with the clashing of schedules, this has been the first available appointment.

“Yes, now, tell the nice lady on the phone that you’ll be there tomorrow.” I do as Lyric says, breathing a sigh of relief when it’s all said and done.

“Hi, sorry about the wait.” I wait for her to respond.

“No problem. Do we need to reschedule your appointment,” she questions.

“Nope, I’ll be there.” We say our goodbyes and hang up, then I immediately return my attention to Lyric. “Thank you. Are you looking for a job?” She laughs. I’m not sure what she’s thinking, because I’m being one hundred percent serious.

“Kind of. Maybe. But”—she puts her finger up in the air—“I don’t want full-time. I especially don’t want later in the evening or weekends. God, I sound like a brat.” This time, it’s me who laughs.

“Well, we can see how you like tomorrow and go from there. The mommy and me classes are during the day, so you wouldn’t work late evenings, plus we don’t have them on weekends, either.

” Lyric probably knows the schedule backward and forward; she’s been here enough times with Winnie and Sebastian.

Especially when we run our summer program and all the moms are looking to get the littles out of the heat while still burning off their energy.

“I can totally do this. I mean, it’s basically coordinated chaos.

But show me the ropes just in case. That way, we’re not rushing tomorrow, and you won’t feel overwhelmed to get out the door.

” The reason I’m seeing Doctor Gallo in the first place is from her recommendation to begin with.

I’d bled through my tampon, making a mess of my light-colored leggings.

Lyric mentioned it before I could notice, being the type of real friend everyone wants, and then I proceeded to break down on her.

“Exactly that. Come on, I’ll show you everything and grab you a shirt. The bottoms are up to you, seriously, leggings, shorts, or joggers are fine.” My clothes are mainly athleisure wear, and today is no different. I’m wearing a pair of dark teal leggings and matching tank top.

“Are biker shorts okay?”

“Definitely.” I have another thirty minutes before the next class, enough time to show Lyric the ins and outs, hand over an application in case she decides to join the employee side of LITHE, and take care of my womanhood problem that’s slowly trying to kill me.

“Perfect.” She tosses her cup in the trash on the way to the back before we get into what I’ll be paying her tomorrow and the rates she could potentially make if she comes to work for me on a more permanent basis.

“How much longer until you go on maternity leave?” I ask the next day while following Lennie through the halls of the gynecologist office.

It’s nice to see a face I’m already familiar with; it helps calm my otherwise haywire nerves.

When I told my mom I had an appointment today, she asked the usual of what, when where, and why.

We went down the list, and she hummed for a moment before telling me to keep her posted.

I was already more than aware my mother had a hysterectomy two days after giving birth to Coralynn at the age of twenty-eight.

“This is my last week. I wanted to work until my delivery date, but Asher isn’t having any of that,” she says, holding the door open to my exam room.

We’ve already been through the intake forms, my weight, a urine sample, and now she’ll finish the rest of what I’m sure is taking my pulse, temperature, and blood pressure once inside.

“You look amazing, and you’ve been able to keep up with the classes you’ve been taking, too.

I’m sure that will help with labor and delivery.

” I sit down on a chair, preferring it over the exam table.

My palms are sweating, and no matter how many times I wipe them down on the pair of jeans I’m wearing, nothing helps.

“It better. Doctor Gallo said staying active and hydrated is key. I swear between him and my husband, they’re force feeding me water.

I’m either peeing, eating, or sleeping.” She gives a soft chuckle, acting put off, but you can tell there’s excitement in her tone.

Lennie goes about getting everything ready, pulling out a gown and the instruments used for the pelvic exam just in case.

“Knock, knock. Hey, Lennie.” I’m lost in my own little word when the door opens and my eyes swing to the door. My mouth goes dry. His voice is dripping with a calm control, thick and slow, drawing you deeper into the sound.

“Hey, everything okay?” she asks, looking over her shoulder .

“Yes, can you help me in Room Three when you get a minute?” His gaze swings from Lennie’s to mine, and he gives me a quick nod yet doesn’t look away.

“Of course. I won’t be but another minute or so.” Lennie’s response pulls him away.

“Thanks.” He backs out of the entrance, closing the door on his way out.

“Please tell me that’s not Doctor Gallo,” I say quietly in order for the mystery man not to hear me.

“No, that’s Luke. Well, Doctor Camden. He’s a friend of my husband’s. Well, he’s all of our friends now. Once you’re in the fold, you’re in the fold. None of the women see Luke, which is probably why Lyric suggested Gallo for you.

“Thank god. That might have been awkward.” I fan myself. The man is sex on a stick, and stringing two words together would probably take me out.

“Honey, if you think he’s hot, wait until you meet the rest of the guys. Every last one of them is good looking. Just don’t tell my husband I told you that. I’ll deny it and take it to my grave,” Lennie replies.

“Your secret is safe with me.” She goes about taking my vitals. Sadly, we both have to remain quiet while doing so, which might be for the better. I may insert my foot into my mouth and make a complete fool out of myself.

“Everything looks good. Doctor Gallo will be in with you shortly. I’d stay in your clothes for the time being, and if he decides to do a pelvic exam, a nurse will be in the room with you.”

“Thank you.” I sit back in the chair, crossing my legs, and try to think calming thoughts like I would while teaching a class in my studio.

Too bad when I close my eyes, the only man I can see is Luke Camden.