Page 37 of Best Kept Secret

As Kelsey followed Jenna to her station, she listened to Sonia talking to Lexie. It might have been her imagination, but she thought Lexie seemed friendlier toward Sonia than her. Maybe it was because Sonia had an air of sophistication about her, unlike Kelsey, who’d been playing Nancy Drew. Sophisticated, she was not!

She slid into the chair, which was still warm from Sonia’s butt. As Jenna was putting a black cape on her, Kelsey glanced over and saw Sonia and her butt (a nicely shaped one to coincide with her pretty hair and eyes) stroll out of the salon.

“So, what’s new?” Jenna asked as she assessed Kelsey’s hair from various angles.

Jenna asked her this every time, but until recently, Kelsey hadn’t had much to report. Today she did, though, and she was happy to share her news.

“I have a date this weekend.”

“Oh yeah? Who’s the lucky guy?”

“Hudson Burke.”

“Isn’t he your brother’s roommate?”

Why must everyone keep pointing that out? “Yes. And before you ask, no, Jared doesn’t know about it.”

“Uh-oh. A secret romance. Sounds like some of the books we read.”

Kelsey, Jenna, Stacy, and a few of their friends had established a book club based on their shared love of romance novels. They called themselves the Kiss & Tell Book Club, and they met once a month to select and discuss romance books. Unlike some book clubs, which spent most of their time eating, drinking, and gossiping, Stacy had designated rules that ensured they actually talked about books.

“Jared would probably have a fit if he knew,” she said, rolling her eyes. “He claims that Hudson’s a player, and he’s worried I’ll get hurt.”

“My previous client got into trouble with a guy like that. Just be careful, okay?”

Kelsey nodded instead of admitting that she’d overheard Jenna and Sonia’s entire conversation.

Then Jenna got down to business. “So, what do you want done with your hair?”

“I was thinking about highlights,” Kelsey said, studying her reflection in the mirror.

“That’s a great idea, especially with summer coming. Your hair will naturally lighten up in the sun, but we can give it a head start.”

“Nothing too crazy, though. I don’t want to leave here looking like a totally different person.”

Jenna laughed. “Trust me. I’ll take good care of you.”

Trust. That word seemed to be popping up a lot lately. Sonia had mentioned not trusting her baby’s daddy, and Hudson had complained that Emily didn’t always trust him with her baby, either.

Trust was a vital component of every relationship, and Kelsey was happy that she had that with Hudson. She trusted him implicitly as he’d never given her a reason not to.

“I’ll go prepare the mixture for your highlights. Be right back,” Jenna said.

After she walked away, Kelsey’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her purse and saw a new text from Hudson.

Is now a good time to talk about our date?

Not really. I’m at the hair salon.

You’re not cutting it all off, are you?

She chuckled, unconcerned about being overheard. She wasn’t at the office anymore, and she’d laugh aloud all she wanted to. She replied, No! Just a trim and some highlights.

I like your hair the way it is.

She warmed as she recalled him playing with her hair the other night. I promise you’ll still recognize me. It’ll just be a better version of me.

Her phone was quiet for a moment, and then…