Page 10 of Love Like This

Spencer nearly spit out her coffee. “A month for sketches, or amonth for samples?”

Hadley winced. “Samples would be ideal.”

“You realize we’re talking about fashion. Clothes. Not pancakesyou just sent back to the kitchen.”

“I do.” Hadley reached across the table and covered Spencer’s handwhich, in a weird way, seemed to quickly calm her. She wasn’t a casual toucher,and the gesture caught her off guard. But her breathing slowed, as did herheart rate. She focused on Hadley’s kind eyes and that helped focus her. “Ithink this could be a very good thing for everyone, and I just want to help allI can.”

Spencer nodded, her thoughts shooting off in a million differentdirections like a batch of wayward fireworks. She ran her index finger aroundthe ring of her mug, letting the heat from the coffee warm her wrist. Sheflicked her gaze to Hadley. “Can I think about it? Mull it over?”

“Of course, but we don’t have a lot of time.”

“You did mention that. How about I call you tomorrow?”

Hadley nodded. “Perfect. Tomorrow would be great. I will wait tohear from you and hope desperately that you say yes.”

There was that contagious optimism again. Spencer stood, downedthe rest of her cappuccino, and met Hadley’s gaze. “Thanks for going out ofyour way for me. You didn’t have to.” She felt everything in her tighten forthis next part, as she dropped her tone. “And I don’t know if anyone has evertold you this, but you look killer in a simple pair of jeans.”

Hadley’s mouth formed a smallO,their eye contact unbroken.

The comment seemed to have stolen her words, which was rare as faras Spencer could tell. “Professionally speaking, of course.”

“Of course.” Hadley blinked several times in succession.

Spencer chuckled quietly at her own brazenness. “I better go bangmy head against a wall about this Trudy thing. Talk to you tomorrow, Hadley.”

Hadley nodded, still not saying anything. She did, however, raiseher hand in farewell. Spencer made her way to her fairly new Nissan Altima,bright red, purchased just six months ago with all the bells and whistles. Thiscar had been Spencer’s one indulgence when she started making waves, and cash,via her online store. She’d played it conservative with money in every otheraspect of her life, storing away as much as she could, but this car was her ownlittle celebration. She wondered if maybe, someday, there might be anotherreason to celebrate.

She pulled her phone from her bag and dialed. “Hi, Mama. You freefor breakfast tomorrow? I have something I’d love to talk over with you.”

* * *

Hadley hadn’t moved since Spencer knocked her over with thatcompliment and then took off. She stared out the window, watching the trafficfly past as she floated back to herself. She’d been complimented before. Thishad felt markedly different. The way Spencer had said it, in her lower registerwith a twinkle in her eye left Hadley…tingly. She had wiggled her toes boththen and now. She was becoming a toe wiggler out of nowhere.

“Who was that?” Autumn asked.

Hadley blinked and then blinked again. “What? I missed what yousaid.”

“The hot girl you were just having coffee with? Did you forgetabout her already, or is that who you’re daydreaming about all starryeyed-like?”

“What?”

Autumn patted Hadley’s head. “Who were you just meeting with,sweetie?” she said more gently.

“Oh, that was Spencer Adair. The friend of Elle’s, you know, thedesigner I told you about? I’m still trying to get her stuff into the store.Trudy’s not making that easy.”

Autumn pointed at the empty chair and then back at Hadley. “Thatwas work?” Hadley nodded, and Autumn held up her hands in surrender. “I totallymistook that for a date. I could feel the chemistry from across the room.”

“No,” Hadley said, smothering a grin. “Just a meeting. She isattractive, though. I can’t lie about that.”

“Well, I don’t know what it’s worth, but you two make a strikingpair. Even Steve thought so.”

Hadley felt the blush but didn’t fight it. “She’s very attractive.Very.”

“Do you want to sayveryagain?” Autumn asked with a tilt of her head. “Not sure you’ve made the pointenough.”

“No, I think that’s plenty. She is, you know.”

Autumn placed a finger on her cheek. “I heard that somewhere.But?”

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