Single Mom's Secret Baby: This Secret Baby, #4

By Rachel Foster

Amber has a 6-year-old girl and has been a single mom the last 4 years because her husband left her and their kid. However, they aren't divorced because he told her he was leaving her and never contacted her again. When she decides to start dating Nick she does not tell him she is still married or that she has a kid. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: 3rd Publishing
• Release date: Mar 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215710920

Book preview

Single Mom's Secret Baby

Rachel Foster

Copyright © 2018 by Rachel Foster

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Epilogue

1

A

MBER

I’d been a dancer at Diamonds for years. And as much as I had my misgivings about the job, there was never a dull moment.

Like right now, for example.

I was seated in my assigned chair in the dressing room – the one I’d earned by climbing my way to one of the top dancer positions – watching one of the new girls try and figure out where she was supposed to be.

I know you didn’t just sit in my damn spot. Kisha, a tall, bottle-blonde with a big set of fake boobs and lips that’d been inflated to balloon size, had her hands on her hips as she stared down one of the new girls, her heels giving her an even more intimidating height.

I... I need to get ready. The new girl, whatever her name was, had big blue eyes, the innocent kind you’d see on a woodland creature in a Disney movie. Her hair was straight and brown, her figure slender.

She couldn’t have been older than twenty. Everything about her radiated innocence. But if there was one thing Diamonds was good at, it was taking naïve girls eager for some easy money and turning them hard, sucking out that innocence until there was nothing left.

Then get your skinny ass out of my chair and get ready someplace else.

The other girls in the dressing room laughed, happy to see the newbie get chewed out.

The girl looked around, her big eyes scanning the room. But...all the other chairs are taken.

Kisha wasn’t swayed. "Go to the fucking bathroom then. I don’t give a shit. I earned that chair, and you aren’t coming anywhere near it. Now move!"

The girl let out a surprised squeal, the other girls laughing again as she scrambled to her feet and tried to find someplace else to go. But, none of the other girls seemed interested in offering a helping hand. And, it was about all the torture I could stand to see inflicted on the poor thing.

I stood up. Here, I said. Take mine.

The girl regarded me with those big blue eyes, as if not sure whether or not it was some kind of trick. ...What?

I’m about ready. Go ahead, take my spot.

The girl was cute, dressed in a silver micro-mini skirt and a matching bikini top, some black platforms on her tiny feet. Truth be told, it kind of killed me to see a girl like her working at a place like Diamonds. She had girl next door written all over that face of hers.

She approached me hesitantly, like I might pounce at her and shout boo! when she got close. When she was near, she quickly slid into the seat and looked up at me.

Kisha, still standing by her chair, scoffed. I swear, Amber – you’re too soft on these fucking newbies. Her eyes, along with those of the other dozen girls in the dressing room, were all on me.

You were a newbie once, too, I said. We all were.

Right, said Kisha. And, that’s how you learn to toughen up. You’re not doing Ms. Barely Legal any favors over there holding her hand.

You treat the newbies how you want, I said. And, I’ll do the same. Got it?

Kisha scoffed again. Whatever. You want to make them think it’s easy to work here, that’s your business. They’ll learn in time.

Silence filled the air of the dressing room, the bass from the EDM music playing on the main floor thudding through the walls at a steady beat.

Kisha scoffed and shook her head one last time before dropping into her chair and starting her makeup. The spat over, the rest of the girls did the same.

Th...thank you, said the girl, still looking up at me.

Don’t worry about it. What’s your name?

Um, Maddie, she said.

I laughed. "No, kid – your stage name. And, you better not tell me you’re that’s your stage name. ‘Maddie’ isn’t exactly going to inspire the men to bust open their wallets."

Her face tinged red. Oh! she said. Um, I hadn’t picked out one yet.

Is that right? First night here at Diamonds, you’re about to go on, and you haven’t picked out a stage name?

Lucien told me I was supposed to, but I just got so, um, overwhelmed with everything. I guess I forgot.

I looked her up and down, still in awe of how young and out-of-her-depth she looked. Maddie was pretty, no doubt about that, but with looks that, she would’ve been more suited to a small-town beauty pageant than the stage at one of the biggest strip clubs in Los Angeles.

Well, first thing’s first, I said. We need to get your makeup sorted out.

It’s not good?

I laughed. Girlie, not even close. You look like you’re trying to make yourself cute for a date with your upperclassman boyfriend.

"Um, my boyfriend is an upperclassman."

I raised my eyebrows. And, does he know you’re working here?

No. She glanced down, as if ashamed of this reveal.

Let me ask you something, kid, I said. "Why the hell are you working here?"

I set to work on her makeup as I asked. She was wearing a little bit of understated eyeliner, some lipstick, and a touch of blush. Maddie was going to need a hell of a lot more than that.

Well, she said, her eyes fixed on her reflection. I was working at this coffeeshop in Hollywood, and Mr. Dupree came in one day and asked me how much money I was making there.

Lucien Dupree was the owner of Diamonds, a sleazy man who took pride in having a keen eye for new talent. And, there was nothing he loved more than to take innocent girls like Maddie and make them, well, not so innocent.

Uh huh, I said, already knowing where the story was going. Let me guess – he said he could make you a star, really get you out there so the world could appreciate what you have to offer?

I knew because it was the same thing he’d said to be all those years ago, back when I wasn’t much older than Maddie.

She smiled, blushing. Lucien was a jerk, but the man had a way of talking to women that never failed to get them wrapped around his ring-clad finger.

He did. He said I could make tons of money and get famous all at the same time. It’s why I moved here from Iowa.

I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head. Kid, I don’t want to be too rough on you, but let me ask you this – is anyone here famous?

She looked around, as if a celebrity might’ve been working there that she’d managed to not notice. Um, no.

Hey, said Shauna, one of the girls getting dressed nearby. I won that award for pole dancing last year.

I don’t think that’s the kind of ‘famous’ she has in mind, Shauna, I said with a smirk.

Listen, I said, getting in close and applying some blood-red lipstick to Maddie’s full lips. "Lucien promises girls the world to get them to work here. But, I’m going to give it to you straight. You can make some killer money working here – don’t get it twisted. You won’t, however, get famous. You’ll work shitty hours, get pawed at by gross men who know they’re not supposed to be touching you."

But, we don’t have to get naked, right? she asked. That’s what Lucien said.

We’re a thong-and-bra kind of place, I said. Classy like that. Don’t ask me what some of the other girls get up to in their personal time – that’s a whole other matter. But, being thong-and-bra doesn’t mean you don’t have to deal with sleazeball men.

I...see.

And, something else – your upperclassman boyfriend. Tell me about him.

She smiled broadly in that googly-eyed, cute way only a girl who was totally in love and hadn’t had her heart broken yet could smile. "His name’s Carter. He’s so handsome. And, he’s funny. And, he’s the second-string wide receiver for the Bruins."

A UCLA guy, huh? Sounds like a real catch.

"He so is."

You want to marry this guy some day?

Of course, I do. And, have lots of babies.

After finishing up the lipstick, I started on the blush, adding enough to take her look from coy and surprised to in the middle of coming.

And, he doesn’t know about this.

No. I don’t have a scholarship like him, so I have to pay for college somehow.

I’m going to be straight with you – guys like that aren’t all that interested in stripper girlfriends.

Shauna piped up. I don’t know about that, she said with a grin.

"Let me rephrase that – they’re not interested in marrying stripper girlfriends. When you get into this lifestyle, the kinds of men you run around with are going to change. Fewer ‘all-American football players’ and more sleazy lowlifes who want to see how much they can get away with."

Are you saying he’s going to break up with me if he finds out? Maddie was worried.

I don’t know the guy, so who knows? All I’m saying is this gig’s going to take you places you never thought it would. And, you might look up one day, the thrill of the money and the attention wearing off, and not recognize the life you’ve made for yourself.

Oh...

I put the fishing touches on her makeup.

Perfect. You’re all set. Now, you’re going to have your first night out there. Remember – don’t take any shit. Some guy tries to touch you, get one of the bouncers. And, if someone wants to pay you for a private after-hours dance, remember that he’s going to be expecting more than dancing.

Her eyes were wide, as if she’d realized in that moment she’d gotten in over her head.

Good. It was exactly what I wanted.

Before the conversation could continue, the door opened and Sean, one of the interchangeable fridge-shaped bouncers, stepped inside. Ariel! he said, looking at me. "You’re up!’

Ariel, said Maddie. Is that your stage name?

I grinned. Red hair, I said, grabbing a handful of my red curls. Like the little mermaid. I looked her up and down, focusing on those big, blue eyes. And, you’re Sapphire. Thank me later.

With that, I was on my way.

Well, almost. Kisha stood by the door, her arms crossed under her big, fake boobs and her eyes locked onto me. What the hell are you doing with that girl? she asked. Trying to scare her off?

Nope. Just giving her the honest run-down of the place.

You ought to keep it to yourself. If Lucien found out what you were saying to the newbies...

If he’s got a problem, he can tell me himself.

Maybe he will.

I cocked my head to the side, confused. What?

He told me to tell you to come to his office after your dance. Said he had something important to talk to you about.

Did he say what?

She grinned, sensing I was antsy. Nope. But, have fun. I’m sure he’s only got good things to say.

Sean flicked his chin up toward me. Yo, Ariel! Move it!

Hey, I said, blasting past Kisha and toward the door. Take that tone with me again, and you’re going to get your little balls snipped off with these press-ons. I made a snip-snip motion with my fake nails, the rest of the girls laughing as I left the room.

Then, I was in the hallway, the lights low as I got my game face on, making my way to the stage. Once I reached backstage, the EDM music loud and thumping all around me, I took a breath and readied myself.

"Alllllllright, boys, said the DJ, whatever jackass they had spinning tracks tonight. This next girl’s going to be a blast of cool, cool water – a little treat from under the sea. You’ve seen the Little Mermaid before, but you’ve never seen her quite like this! Feast your eyes on Ariel!"

With that, I stepped out on stage.

Diamonds was awash in purple neon light, the T-shaped stage shooting out into the packed crowd of rowdy men. They cheered as I took the stage, sticking out my ample breasts and swaying my hips to the beat of the music.

The next hour passed in a blur. I was damn good at my job and was soon in the zone. I knew how to work those men – how to dance and tease and do whatever it took to separate them from their money.

A few tried to get grabby, sure, thinking my lapdances were an invitation to touch and fondle. A playful nice try along with a finger-wag was usually enough, but a few needed a hard look from whatever bouncer was nearby in order to really get it in their heads.

During my dance, I kept thinking about Lucien and trying to determine what hell he wanted. The window to his office was on the second floor, visible from the stage. But it was dark, one-way glass. He could see us, but we couldn’t see him.

Say thank you to Ariel! called the DJ as I finished my hour.

The men cheered as I collected all the cash from stage and went back. Maddie was backstage, her eyes lighting up as she took in the sight of the wads of money in my hand.

There’s always a cost, I told her, tucking the thick stack of hundreds into my thong. Never forget that.

As I strode away, the DJ announced Sapphire, the newest addition to Diamonds. That girl’s life was about to change forever. Whatever happened next was up to her.

Lucien. I still had to meet with that jackass. On the way back to my dressing room, I slipped my money out of my thong and counted it. It was easily over a thousand. Not bad for an hour’s work. And, I’d be up on stage a couple more times that night.

But, what I’d said to Maddie was true – there was always a cost.

After stopping into the dressing room to put away my money, I went up the stairs toward Lucien’s office. I gave the door a quick knock, my gut tensing in anticipation of the meeting.

Come in, he said, his voice low and smooth.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Lucien Dupree, dressed in his usual dark, expensive suit, his ink-black hair slicked back, his razor-sharp widow’s peak cutting into the top of his tall forehead, regarded me with a sly smile.

Amber, he said. Come in.

He rose, his height towering. Lucien was tall, handsome, and well-dressed – his wealthy lifestyle and Hollywood Hills home courtesy of the money he’d earned from Diamonds. He wore a gold watch and several expensive rings, though none of them of the wedding variety.

The window behind him looked out onto the purple-light-washed main floor, the hundreds of men in attendance shifting like an ocean.

Lucien turned his gaze toward the stage. Maddie was there, moving her slender body somewhat awkwardly to the music.

Come, he said, inviting me to stand at his side, the scent of expensive cologne wrapping around me like fingers as I approached.

What’s up? I asked. I noticed there was someone else in the room with us. It was another well-dressed man, this one regarding me with narrow eyes and a sly smile.

So, he said, his eyes on Maddie. You think she’s got what it takes?

You’re the boss, I said. Pretty sure that call’s up to you.

"I do think she’s got what it takes. But, getting there’s a matter of reaching her full potential. And, do you know what will directly stand in the way of that?"

Tell me. I knew where this was going.

Senior dancers putting ideas in her head about how bad this business is.

What did Kisha tell you?

Enough. Now sit down.

But-

Sit down. His voice was firm.

I sighed, doing as he instructed, taking a seat across from his desk.

I’ve treated you well over the years, haven’t I? he asked, sitting on the far end of his desk.

Who’s he? I asked, pointing to the man in the room.

Answer the question.

Sure. You’ve treated me alright.

And, this lifestyle’s treated you alright, correct?

I... I guess so.

And, don’t you think it’s fair that a new generation of women get a chance to have that lifestyle treat them well, too?

I said nothing.

Because, Amber, not to put too fine a point on it, but you’re not going to be dancing forever. You’re how old now...twenty-eight?

Twenty-seven.

Hmm. Now, I’ve seen dancers past thirty try to make it. And...it’s not pretty. Just something to keep in mind.

Alright, I said. I’ll try not to scare the new girls off.

Good, he said with a smile. Just want to make sure you’re playing ball.

"Now, will you please tell me what this is all about? And, why this guy’s sitting here not saying a word?"

This, he said. Is Adrien Pine. He’s from one of our sister clubs in Seattle.

Okay...

Let’s just say he’s a big fan of yours.

I knew where this was going, and I didn’t like it.

"And, he’s very, very interested in paying you for some private entertainment."

Lucien, I said. You know that’s not how I do things.

Oh, I know. Such a good girl – a single mom looking out for her girl and her aging mother, never deigning to really give our guests a good time.

Because I’m not a prostitute, I said.

"It’s not prostitution, he said with a sigh. It’s specialized entertainment. It’s giving a guest a private, customized experience. And if sparks fly, so be it."

I stood up, narrowing my eyes. Lucien, it’s not going to happen. I don’t give a fuck who this guy is – I don’t do that.

Not deterred, Lucien turned toward the man and nodded. Adrien, why don’t you let her know what you’re offering.

He smiled and nodded, taking a notepad out of his pocket, along with a very fancy-looking pen. He jotted down something and handed the pad over.

I’m not-

Just look at it, said Lucien.

I sighed, snatching the notepad out of Adrien’s hand and looked it over. Holy... Holy shit.

See? asked Lucien. I think that’s more than fair.

It was a hell of a lot of money – easily more than I’d make in the next few months. All I could think about as I took in the sight of the amount was what I could do with it. I could pay for day care for Jamie, my little girl. I could afford regular doctor visits for my mom.

All it would cost was a part of my soul.

I sighed, tossing the notepad onto the desk. Not going to do it. That’s not who I am.

You don’t want to decide now, said Lucien. That’s fine. But, think about it. Let the idea...marinate.

I’m a very patient man, said Adrien. "Simply tell Lucien if – when – you’ve changed your mind."

I won’t, but thanks. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a long night ahead of me.

Time’s ticking, Amber, Lucien said as I turned to leave. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

Without another word, I left the office, taking a deep breath as soon as I shut the door.

One more year. One more year. I repeated the words to myself as I went back downstairs, the night looming over me.

One more year.

2

N

ICK

The party was as fucking insane as they came. The booze flowed, the music blasted, and the dozens – if not hundreds – of people there carried on like it was the last night before the end of the world.

The pool was packed with people, mostly guys carrying women around on their shoulders, the girls letting out the woo! noise they couldn’t seem to resist making whenever they got a few drinks in them.

More than a few were getting up to the standard drunk-girl antics, kissing one another for the enjoyment of the guys around them, a few even lifting up their shirts and showing off their bras...or lack of bras.

But, I was bored.

Truth be told, I wasn’t sure why I’d bothered to throw the party at my place. As I sipped my beer, leaning against the railing of the huge deck I’d built with my own two hands, all I could think about was how much I wasn’t into it.

You know, spoke a familiar voice. "Just because you are bored, doesn’t mean you have to look bored."

I glanced over my shoulder. Damon Reed, my best friend, approached through the crowd of people behind me. He had a beer in his hand and a grin on his face.

Damon was tall and built, with a handsome face, square jaw, and sharp green eyes. He was dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans on below. He came over to me, slapping me on the back before leaning against the railing at my side.

Together, we watched the party, another girl letting out a woo! and lifting her shirt, her enormous breasts on full display.

You’re really bored with all this? he asked.

I don’t know. You ever think there’s more than this? I asked, sweeping my hand before the party.

You mean beers and girls and friends and fun? I mean, maybe. But, who cares about any of that?

Funny thing is, I said. When I was younger, just getting started, nights like tonight where exactly what I’d dreamed about.

Right, said Damon. You’ve got money, a huge house on Venice Beach, and I’d bet you any of the women where would kill for the chance to get into bed with you. What’s there to complain about?

Not complaining, I said. "Just...surprised. This was supposed to be it – a night like tonight was how I’d know I’d made it. But now that I’ve got it..."

Man, you know what your problem is? asked Damon before taking a swig of his beer.

What’s that?

"You think too much. Look at all the people here. They’re having fun, right?"

Sure.

"And, you know the number one thing they’ve all got in common? They’re not thinking. That’s the whole point of parties like this, dude. You get a few beers in you, loosen up, end up in bed with some pretty thing, and have some good memories the next day."

I’ve been in that spot before, I said. "And trust me – good memories aren’t what you have. You barely remember anything, in fact."

You get the idea, he said. The point I’m trying to make is the two of us don’t have a thing to worry about. We’ve got money, freedom, and the whole city out there waiting for us.

My expression turned grim.

Damon knew right away what was on my mind. "You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?"

Can you blame me?