“Lucky me.”

  Chapter Three

  Seren’s usual gym didn’t have a pool. That was a good enough reason to switch over to Aqua Fitness Zone. The other reason, however, was that she had clients at her old gym and wanted a break from being recognized in the locker room.

  One step into Aqua Fitness and she knew the change would also mean working out with less stress. Nearly everyone in the place was older and less muscley. Plus, the club centered around the pool, with only a small room of weights and another slightly larger room of treadmills and bikes. The locker room didn’t look as if it’d been updated since the seventies but Seren had no problem with that. Less froofy amenities meant less froofy people.

  She changed into her suit, tossed her things into an empty locker, and followed the signs to the pool. The guy on the phone who’d recommended she come early must have given everyone the same advice. The pool was already packed. Everyone had pink pool noodles and fluorescent purple dumbbells, but the marked bins for the items were empty. She looked around for where extras might be, and before she could ask, a woman with an impressive gray beehive pointed to a door marked Storage.

  “Saturday’s always a full class, honey. You gotta come early. Everyone loves Miss Bea.”

  “Yes, yes, we do,” echoed several swimmers.

  Laughing and happy chatter followed. The group all clearly knew each other. They’d also, Seren noticed, gotten the memo to wear water shoes. She looked down at her bare feet, toes newly polished, and hoped it wouldn’t be a problem going commando, as it were.

  Nervous that class was about to start and not wanting to be the holdup, although she didn’t see any sign of an instructor, she hurried over to the storage closet. Yellow noodles spilled out as soon as she opened the door. She picked one, trying not to worry about the fact that she’d be the odd one out with the only wrong-colored noodle, and then dug through the closet until she found a set of purple dumbbells. Once she’d scooted all the noodles back into the closet, she slammed the door only to have it catch on a noodle. One second later, they all spilled out again. She looked down at her feet, noodles scattered everywhere, but did not risk a glance around to see if anyone was watching. Hopefully not.

  “You got this,” she murmured, jamming all the noodles in a second time. Bracing one hand on the stack, she swung the door closed. The latch clicked and she exhaled. No escapees. At least she’d accomplished that hurdle. Was it more pathetic that she now celebrated small successes, or a sign her general anxiety was improving? She bent to scoop up her chosen noodle and weights, turned around, and walked right into some guy in a hoodie.

  At the same moment she recognized that the person she’d bumped into wasn’t a guy but a very attractive queer woman—if her gaydar was working anymore—she realized the woman was stumbling backward to the pool.

  “Watch out!” Seren lunged forward to grab her. Between the woman’s flailing arms and her pool noodle, the only thing she accomplished was adding forward energy to the slow-motion fall. The splash was impressively loud, echoing in the enclosed space.

  Seren stared, not breathing, as a flurry of seniors coalesced on the spot where the woman had landed. Shit, shit, shit. She’d pushed a total stranger into the pool. What if the woman hit her head and drowned? Did she need to be rescued? With the splashing and everyone talking at once, she couldn’t tell what was happening under the water. She finally took a breath when the woman’s head surfaced.

  “I’m so sorry.” She rushed the words, but the woman showed no sign of hearing her. The noise of everyone asking if she was okay overwhelmed her apology.

  The woman tried to make her way over to the stairs but the crowd around her slowed her movement. It was a sight to see—more than a dozen older ladies all surrounding one dyke. Under other circumstances, it might have been funny.

  The “are you okays?” made an awful cacophony, and despite the woman’s nodding, the questions didn’t stop. She plodded her way through the water, drenched clothes, drenched hair, and a dour expression on her face. But she didn’t look mad. Weirdly, she also didn’t seem all that surprised. More, she looked resigned to her fate.

  Everyone who hadn’t witnessed the actual fall—push—was trying to figure out what had happened while those who had seen it were talking over each other to tell the story. The woman slopped her way up the stairs and Seren hurried over.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you and then suddenly you were falling.”

  It was a pitiable excuse, but the woman gave her a curt nod and then began peeling layers of clothing off. Shoes first, then socks, then her sweatshirt. Seren half wondered if she’d keep stripping all the way down to her underwear, but when she got to the wet tank top, she tugged the bottom edge and shook her head. The white cotton clung to her body exposing a dark sports bra she had on underneath. And the rest of her? Broad shoulders, well-muscled arms, and toned legs below dripping gym shorts.

  Seren swallowed. Fuck. Why did she have to push a hot dyke into the pool? Of all people?

  Beehive Lady stepped forward with a towel extended. “That was quite a splash. Here you go.”

  The woman nodded her thanks and started drying her face.

  Why hadn’t she thought to hand the woman a towel? Instead, she’d simply stood there with her pool noodle, numbly transfixed by the strip show. God, how embarrassing. She didn’t think it could get any worse, but then the woman looked up. Amber-brown eyes framed in dark lashes locked on to her. She didn’t look away, and Seren went from being mortified at what she’d done to inexplicably turned-on. Not a little turned-on either. But aroused to the point where heat flooded her body and she had to shift her legs closer together to admonish the pulse at her center.

  “I really am sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I’m kind of a klutz.” The woman gave a half-smile that made her look more adorable than sexy. Although the clingy wet tank top was doing a bang-up job keeping the sexy vibe going.

  “You’re not a klutz. I pushed you into the pool.”

  “I was standing in the wrong spot.” She finished toweling off her head—leaving the short dark brown waves more tousled than dry—and returned the towel to Beehive Lady.

  “Bea did tell me I should remind you to stay back from the edge. I thought she was being dramatic.” Beehive Lady shook her head. “By the way, I’m Rita.”

  “I’m Paige. But you knew that.” Paige exhaled. “My mom said you were CPR certified?”

  “I am, and I thought I’d have to test my skills when you divebombed Leann.” Rita set her hand on Paige’s shoulder. “Wasn’t sure which one of you I was going to be rescuing.”

  Seren hadn’t even noticed that there was someone near where Paige had fallen. Clearly, she’d been too focused on Paige.

  Rita continued, “That was some stumble.”

  Paige glanced down at the puddle under her feet. “As surprising as this may sound, that was not the first time I’ve fallen into a pool.”

  “Your mom sent me three texts this morning—two of which said: ‘make sure Paige doesn’t get too close to the edge.’ I wondered why.”

  “It really wasn’t your fault,” Seren interrupted. “I turned right into you.”

  “Yeah…But…”

  Rita pursed her lips as Paige stammered. For some reason, Paige looked guilty. Seren didn’t know what to make of it and quickly added, “You would have been fine but then my pool noodle smacked you.”

  Paige shook her head. “I wasn’t paying attention to where I was standing.”

  “But I pushed you.” Why did Paige think this was somehow her fault?

  “After she took one look at you and stopped thinking.” Rita pushed her own bosom up, accentuating the line of matronly cleavage and winked. “Weapons of mind control.”

  Paige turned the same color as the safety telephone on the wall behind her. Crimson. And only then did Seren put the whole picture together. Paige had been checking her out. Well, her boobs, anyway. And then she’d pushed Paige—accidentally of course. Talk about instant karma. Still, she felt bad for her part in the mess. Even if maybe there was a little pride mixed in.

  “I’m still sorry I pushed you.”

  “Well, now you know it wasn’t completely your fault.”

  Rita cleared her throat. “So, gals, are we having class today?”

  “Right.” Paige sighed. “I have to teach.”

  “You’re the teacher?” Seren wanted to take back the words, or at least change her tone of surprise, when Paige gave a shy shrug.

  “Usually my mom runs this class, but she broke her tailbone last night. No one else could sub for her.” Paige went over to a boom box and pressed the play button, and as soon as the music started, she straightened and met Seren’s gaze. “Wish me luck.”

  Since she looked like she was about to walk the plank to her death, Seren said the words she didn’t truly believe: “I’m sure you’re gonna be great.”

  Chapter Four

  Considering her mom’s playlist started with “Baby Got Back” and half the class hollered at her to stick out her butt, things could have gone worse. Paige wasn’t certain how many times she blushed—over the hooting from a few of the older ladies when certain songs came up and when she’d accidentally glanced at the left side of the pool.

  The left side was where the woman with the yellow pool noodle was and, god, she was beautiful. Like, brain-zappingly beautiful. Wavy blond hair done up in a loose ponytail with wisps falling all around her face, sculpted features, and arresting gray-blue eyes. Paige had felt those eyes size her up. How did she measure? She could only guess after she’d been found guilty of checking out the woman’s breasts like some creepy old dude. But, damn, the woman had amazing curves.

  In her defense, Paige wished she could say, she’d been distracted rehearsing the routine she’d planned in her head, and then directly in front of her she’d been stopped by a perfect bent-over butt. She’d tried to shake herself out of the trance, but one second later the woman turned and—holy smokes, did she have nice boobs. If only Rita hadn’t called her out on it. At least there was minimal chance she’d ever see the woman again. Unless she came to tomorrow’s class.

  Paige groaned when she remembered she had to teach again tomorrow. She’d been awkward as shit, stiff-armed, and only managed to pull off the marching, but everyone thanked her afterward. Including yellow pool noodle woman. If Paige had been smooth, she would have met her eyes at least. But she’d pretended to be busy with unhooking the boom box and only murmured, “You’re welcome.”

  Smooth was definitely not her. Not today anyway. She tugged on her wet socks and then laced her wet tennis shoes. Each step made a squelching sound. When she picked up her sopping sweatshirt and wrung it out, she managed to get half the water on her shoes.

  At least she’d worked up a sweat leading the class through all the moves and her tank top was half dry. Her shorts and her underwear, unfortunately, were not. Since she had nothing dry to change into anyway, she bypassed the locker room and headed out to the parking lot.

  “Hey.”

  Paige stopped. Yellow pool noodle woman was standing next to her truck. She’d switched out the sexy bathing suit for an equally attractive flowery sundress. Big sunglasses gave her a movie star look. A very sexy movie star.

  “I’m Seren. You might remember me because I pushed you into the pool?”

  Yellow pool noodle lady—Seren—had waited to talk to her? It didn’t seem possible, but… “I do remember.” Paige’s smile widened. She probably looked like a doofus, still half wet and grinning like a hyena, but she couldn’t help it. “You don’t have to say sorry again. I’m fine.”

  “Oh, I wasn’t waiting to say sorry. Although I am.” Seren pointed to a silver Subaru. “That’s my car. Some asshole truck driver pinned me in. I’m waiting for the guy at the front desk to figure out whose truck it is so they can move it.”

  Paige glanced at her truck and then at the Subaru. So much for thinking the attraction went both ways. “You can’t get in?”

  “Not on the driver’s side. Well, not without dinging asshole’s truck. And I’m too close to that wall on the passenger side.”

  Paige eyed the landscape retaining wall that Seren pointed to and then the white parking lines. The Subaru was in a tiny parking spot. Unfortunately, she’d made the spot even smaller by parking over the line on her side. “I’m the asshole truck driver.”

  “This is your truck?”

  She wished it weren’t true, but neither of them was going anywhere until she pulled out. “I’m usually very good at parking my beast, but I was a little stressed this morning. Give me a sec and I’ll get out of your way.”

  “I’m sorry I called you an asshole.” Seren’s eyebrows bunched together. “It’s a big truck and it’s probably hard to find parking spots for it.”

  “No, it’s fine. I took up more than my fair share of space.”

  “You’re a veterinarian?”

  Paige nodded. It wasn’t hard to guess her occupation. Her truck bed was outfitted to carry all of her supplies, and a veterinary caduceus was stamped on the back. Not only that, she had a bumper sticker for the vet school. But Seren had asked like she was genuinely surprised. “In case you’re worried, I’m a way better vet than I am water aerobics instructor.”

  “I thought you did a good job—especially considering you’ve never done it before. Of course, it was also my first class, so what do I know?”

  “You could have stopped at the first part.”

  “True. But I wouldn’t want you to get a big head.”

  Seren’s flirty look made her feel heady. Wait, were they flirting?

  “The ladies in the locker room mentioned there’s a Sunday class. Is your mom going to be back to teach that, or will it be you?”

  “It’ll be me again. I think my mom tweaked her back too when she broke her tailbone. She’s on a lot of pain meds, but I know she won’t be feeling good enough to teach tomorrow.”

  “That’s terrible.” Seren shook her head. “The part about your mom. Not you teaching.”

  “Well, class was pretty terrible today.” Paige couldn’t deny it. “Rita made me swear to have more footwork next time. She said she’d march me right into the pool otherwise.”

  Seren grinned. “You weren’t terrible. Really.”

  “I’m pretty sure that I was. But. I promise I’ll be better tomorrow.”

  “In that case, I promise I’ll be in class tomorrow.”

  The promise packed a punch when it was followed up by a perfect smile. Paige managed a nod and a “see you then” as she fumbled for her keys. She could hardly feel her legs as she floated over to her truck. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t ever flirted with women—but it’d been a long time and Seren was in a whole different category of pretty. She unlocked the door and settled into the driver’s seat, her cheeks aching from the ridiculously huge grin on her face. She wanted to sit in her truck and enjoy the moment. Then she remembered Seren wasn’t going anywhere until she did.

  She backed out, watching her mirrors like a hawk. When she pulled past Seren, she lifted a hand. Seren’s head tilted and a little smile lifted her lips.

  “Well, damn.” As unbelievable as it was, she couldn’t wait to teach water aerobics again.

  Chapter Five

  Seren didn’t pull out of her parking spot at Aqua Fitness after Paige left. At first it was because she wasn’t in a rush to let go of all the happy feelings dancing in her chest, but then it was because she was quickly aware that she needed to eat. She rolled down all the windows and got out the box of granola bars.

  What a morning.

  She’d felt properly sexy for the first time in ages. She smiled again at the way Paige had looked at her when she’d pulled past in her truck. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed someone looking at her like that. But now that the adrenaline had ebbed and her blood sugar plummeted, the wave of nausea made her worry she’d have to puke out the side of her car. Classy.

  Hoping to stay ahead of it, she stuffed the bar into her mouth. Eating to stop herself from vomiting was her new reality. Sadly, she’d vomited so many times in the last two months that she had all the logistics worked out along with a case of granola bars for the car, one for work, and more snack packs in her purse than a mom with a toddler.

  Surprisingly, she hadn’t felt nauseous once in water aerobics. Of course she’d been so distracted during class she hadn’t realized that fact until after. And the distraction was all Paige’s fault.

  She pictured Paige marching on the side of the pool and a fresh smile strained her cheeks. Then she pictured Paige punching the air, not at all in time to Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk,” but adorable nonetheless for how hard she was trying. And finally, she pictured Paige’s sheepish wave. She smiled again at that. No two ways about it, Paige was into her. When was the last time she’d randomly met someone attractive who was also into her? No awkward setup, no weeks of working out details online for a first meet. Just a chance connection.

  Unfortunately, the timing was absolute crap. She sighed, staring at the half-eaten granola bar. She had no business even thinking about liking someone at the moment. It wasn’t only the baby that made sure she ate every two hours. Okay, it was mostly the baby. But there was also the problem of not knowing where she’d be living after she sold her mom’s house. Nor when that would happen. On top of that, were the uncertainties about her job. She had to figure out a plan to drop the news about the pregnancy. But as an independent contractor, nothing felt guaranteed. Would they hold a place for her after she went out on maternity leave?

  She thought again of Paige and the rest faded into the background. “She’s so damn hot.”