Page 19 of Seduced at Stevens Street
Since Kenzie had married Andy, she had initiated a weekly emailed member newsletter that highlighted different aspects of the gym, employees, and members. Me and the yoga studio had been talked about over the past two weeks prominently in it. She was working on a member service directory to further the feeling of community that they were trying to provide and promote.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted. I decided to stay at Kenzie and Andy’s house, so I didn’t have to drive to Sara’s as planned. Plus, I had an early morning class to teach, which I’m sure would be full, so staying this close would allow me to sleep a little later. I grabbed my bag from my car, deciding to leave it in the back parking lot of the gym, and walked with Kenzie to their house. She was such a sweetheart! She told me Andy’s mom was at their house babysitting and would have dinner made for us. On that short walk, I learned about their four-year-old daughter, Trina. She was Andy’s from a prior relationship, but Kenzie was her full-time mommy.
“She used to call me her Kenzie-Mommy, it was so cute, but now it’s just Mommy because she doesn’t want anyone to know she didn’t come from my tummy like her brother or sister here,” she said clutching her belly.
“So, you’re not finding out if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“No, I really want to be surprised when he or she is born. I think Andy would like to know, but he is honoring that I don’t. Maybe with our next I will,” she said with a shrug.
I was almost jealous of Kenzie. Not only was she one of the nicest people I had ever met, but she had it all; married to a great guy, part of this special group of people at the gym, a daughter she obviously adored and a baby on the way. I knew she and Andy had only been married a few months and she was obviously pregnant before they got married. Not that I was judging that! I really felt that she and I had gotten close over the past two weeks, and I hoped that the friendship would deepen over time.
We came to her house, a big brick two-story in the great neighborhood. They even had a little white picket fence! We went in through the side door by the garage, which led into a mud room off the kitchen. Within the kitchen, a cherub-faced little girl with Kenzie’s black hair and Andy’s intense green eyes screamed, “Mommy!” when she saw Kenzie. She ran to her and engulfed her in the biggest hug.
“Hey Kiddo,” Kenzie greeted, picking her up and giving her a big hug. “I missed you today. Were you good for Grandma?”
“Always,” a petite older, female version of Andy replied turning from the stove.
The room smelled amazing. I wasn’t sure what Andy’s mom was cooking, but I was thankful I would get to enjoy it.
“Sheri, Trina, this is Gia,” Kenzie introduced me. “She’s our new yoga instructor at the gym and a friend.”
I greeted them both. Andy’s mom, Sheri, gave me a hug and welcomed me. She spent a lot of time at Andy and Kenzie’s house, so I would be seeing her a lot. Kenzie and Trina took me upstairs and showed me the guest room I’d be staying in that had its own bathroom. Kenzie gave me a key to the house. Then she gave me a tour of the entire house. It was a beautiful and welcoming home. She reiterated several times to please make myself at home. When we returned to the kitchen, Andy and Logan stepped through the door.
Trina jumped on her daddy and was lifted into his arms for a big hug and a kiss. I wasn’t surprised by the warm greeting he gave her. I could see that he was a great father. Then she leaned towards Logan. “Uncle Logan, you’re here too!” He took her from Andy’s arms so naturally and comfortably, I was taken aback. He snuggled her and then dangled her upside down; Trina laughed the whole time. After he set her to her feet, she tugged his hand towards me. “Uncle Logan, do you know Gia?”
Logan smiled at me and for the first time I saw a crack in his armor that separated work and us. “I do, Trina. We all work at the gym together.”
“She’s staying with us,” Trina said. “In the gray bedroom.”
Logan flashed me that smirk that was full of desire. It was gone just as fast as it had appeared, and I don’t think anyone else had seen it. “It looked like you had a great launch of the yoga studio,” he said.
“I was very happy with the many new faces,” I said. “I knew at least half of the members from Pure Body would be there, but I was surprised by how many others I’d never met came to try my classes. I still have to pinch myself that this is really happening.”
“Gia and I have final interviews tomorrow with two women who we are considering hiring as part-time yoga instructors,” Kenzie said. “If today was any indication of the interest in the program, we need to get you some help ASAP! It’ll be months before Ashley finishes her training to get certified.”
I smiled, hoping the interest would continue. “A lot of the women that I talked with today asked about the limited class schedule. I took a few notes of times they asked to be added. I told them we would expand as we could, and this schedule was temporary.”
“Yes, I had similar discussions with more than a few women. I know as soon as we can get the babysitting room open, we will be able to offer more. I have Sheri to help me with Trina. Many moms don’t have that.”
“And dads,” Andy added. “Many dads are the primary caregivers to their kids, at least for specific times throughout the week.”
“If you need to hold off building my new apartment, it’s fine,” Logan said. “Build the daycare room out first. There are guys in my program that would benefit from it too.”
“Thanks Logan, we just may,” Kenzie said. Her eyes met mine. “We’re planning to build several apartments in that backspace where yours will be.”
So, Logan was to have an apartment near mine. That would be convenient. I couldn’t contain the smile that spread on my face. I knew I had to cover my reaction as Kenzie stared at me. “I still can’t believe a new apartment with all the utilities is included, comes with my employment. And it is so nice of you and Andy to welcome me into your home like this.”
Logan
Andy’s mom made a delicious meal, chicken marsala. She was a great cook, and I was always happy to be invited to dinner and spend time with Trina. I loved how they always made me feel as though I was a member of the family. Andy’s mom had accepted me as if I was one of her sons the first time that I met her. She could not possibly have understood how much of a gift it had been to me at the time, nor did she know what it still meant to me.
Tonight was different, though, with Gia sitting across the table from me. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I loved that she was here in my world openly, but without anyone knowing that wewere involved. It gave me more opportunity to spend time with her, which was something I found myself craving. Yes, another of my rules broken, kind of, as she’d been invited here by Kenzie, not me.
I had sneaked glimpses of her all afternoon during the grand opening, watching her teach her yoga classes. I knew she was flexible and had strong, toned muscles, but watching her hold the poses and encourage her students while she did them, easily transitioning from one pose to another, made her more attractive to me. Teaching my bootcamp classes was something that I took great pride in and seeing her excel at teaching fitness classes too, made me appreciate her on a different level.
And watching her interact with Trina, a little girl I loved, made me feel something inside I couldn’t identify. I could see how Andy fell for Kenzie so fast after he saw her with his little girl. I’m sure Gia had no clue how I felt about Trina, so she wouldn’t know that her kindness and attention to Trina endeared her to me.
There was no doubt I was attracted to Gia unlike I had been any other woman, ever. I was honest enough to admit that to myself. I also knew that I was playing with fire, continuing to see her as I was. She would think it was a relationship, which I couldn’t be a part of.
