Page 1 of Love Like This

Chapter One

Hadley Cooper turned the page at lightning speed. She had only fourminutes before she needed to grab her bag and leave for work. Unfortunately,this also happened to be the exact moment the time machine ran out of fuel andthe portal to return to the present was slowly closing on her band of new book friends.She read quickly, her eyes sweeping across each sentence, gobbling up whathappened next in the story as fast as she could. Her heart leapt into herthroat as the suspense climbed to a terrifying crescendo. Janika, theprotagonist, mashed the buttons, playing the control panel like a piano,anything to find a backup source that would give them enough power to make ithome. Hadley exhaled and rolled her shoulders to ease the increasing tension.It didn’t work. They weren’t going to make it. With her hand covering herheart, she checked the clock.

“Oh no,” she breathed. While the characters were out of time, sowas she. She sadly closed the book, reminding herself that, on the bright side,she had something to look forward to later that night. After holding the bookto her chest for a few tender moments, she placed it gently on her coffee tableand gathered her belongings for the day ahead.

Silhouette, the posh boutique on Rodeo Drive that Hadley proudlyassistant managed, would open for the day at eleven. She would need to be thereby ten to ensure the displays were updated and her staff briefed on the weekahead. She had an extra burst of energy, however, as today was the day shewould meet in person with the up-and-coming designer she was convinced wouldhelp change the image of the store. The store’s owner and general manager,Trudy, had been hounding her for months about revising their current list ofdesigners. Trudy wanted new lines that weren’t stuffy, weren’t geared to theover-forty-five crowd exclusively, and would give Silhouette an edgier appeal.No designer Hadley had presented her with thus far had fit the bill, and thepressure seemed to grow exponentially with each day that ticked by.

But this one was different. Spencer Adair came with a design bookthat left Hadley drooling. She would be new on the LA retail scene and camewith a cult following on social media where she promoted her work, which shesold entirely from her own website. Making the leap to retail was a big deal,and Hadley wanted to be on the inside track. She was confident that once Trudysaw the same innovation that Hadley had, she’d be thrilled with Hadley’s find,and Silhouette would burst onto the forefront of the younger market, shootingit into the stratosphere of Rodeo history. At least, that’s how she imagined itwould all play out, and dreaming was everything to Hadley. She lived for thosepie-in-the-sky possibilities.

“Someone’s in a hurry,” Gia Malone said, as Hadley dashed from herapartment. The two had been next-door neighbors on the second floor of theSeven Shores apartment complex for close to three years now and best friendsfor nearly all of that time. Gia’s long dark hair was down that morning and shewore cut-off shorts and a bikini top, blending nicely with the Augusttemperatures. In her right hand, she carried the remnants of what Hadleyrecognized as a protein smoothie that would usher Gia into her workout. As aprofessional surfer, she kept in tip-top shape.

“I got lost in my book,” Hadley said remorsefully. “I should havebeen on the road and sitting in traffic fifteen minutes ago, but it was so goodI couldn’t stop.”

“I have a feeling you’ll smile your way out of any trueconsequence.”

Hadley sighed, straightening her designer black dress paired withdesigner heels, aka her upscale work clothes, not to be confused with her morecomfortable Hadley-at-home persona. “But I’m also meeting with that newdesigner this morning, the one Elle recommended.” Elle Britton was Gia’s fellowsurfer on the Women’s Pro Tour. The two were major competitors. She alsohappened to be Gia’s girlfriend, and the love of her life.

“Oh yeah? I didn’t realize that had panned out.”

“It hasn’t yet, but it will!” Hadley said with a smile andsprinkle of determination. “This is gonna be the one that gets Trudy off myback and puts Silhouette on the map.” She headed down the outdoor stairs to thecentral courtyard of the complex. “Gonna be a fantastic day, G,” she calledover her shoulder.

“Yeah, it is. You’re gonna rock this meeting. Hit me up latertonight with all the details. We’re gonna want to hear all about it.”

She realized that meant Elle would be over, which was perfect! Sheadored Elle.

“Off to work, I take it,” Autumn Carpenter said as Hadley scurriedpast the adjacent coffee shop, the Cat’s Pajamas, on the way to the parkinglot. Hadley beamed at Autumn, another of her three best friends. Autumn stoodon the sidewalk, phone in hand, wearing her work apron over her ginormousstomach. The twins she was carrying were due the following week, and Hadley wasabout ready to burst herself—in her case from warm fuzzies and uncontrolledexcitement.

“Yes!” Hadley said, with a smile. “I have a much-anticipatedmeeting with a designer before opening. Any signs of labor? Contractions?Nesting?” It was her standard series of questions.

Autumn touched her stomach. “While there is certainly a one-on-onesoccer match going on in there, no labor pains yet.”

Hadley nodded. “You know that the second you feel them—”

“I am to call you immediately.” Autumn ran a probably tired handthrough her untamed red curls. “I know the drill, Had. You remind me daily.”

Hadley kissed her cheek with a smack. “I adore you, so pleasedon’t spend too much time on your feet today. Call that firefighting wife ofyours for backup. You need to rest up for the big day.”

“Yes, ma’am. Have a great day at work.”

Hadley beamed, warmed by the sentiment. “Thanks! You, too.” With afinal touch of Autumn’s stomach, aka her future honorary niece and nephew, shewas on her way to work, singing loudly to eighties music as she maneuveredthrough the tangled traffic of LA. Making good time, she arrived at the storejust a minute or two after ten.

Silhouette was a posh boutique, decorated very simply on purpose, witha black and white color scheme. Trudy was emphatic that minimalism was the wayto go. The 800-square-foot store came with retail space on a lower level and aset of four wide stairs that led to a plush sitting area of white couchesaround a grouping of full-length and well-lit mirrors, allowing their clientsto lounge with friends as they tried on a variety of pieces, with the help of astore attendant at their beck and call, of course. A little white wine neverhurt a sale either. On Saturdays, the store was strictly appointment only, witha less formal structure during the week, in which the retail space was open tofoot traffic from Rodeo Drive. Sometimes that meant traffic from tour busesthat never bought anything, but secretly, Hadley liked the tourist visits. Thefriendly faces always managed to brighten her day.

“Good morning!” Hadley said with a smile, as she strolled throughthe retail space.

Daisy, one of her most valued employees, was already hard at workorganizing their newest shipment of designer gloves for display. The handmannequins were always such a pain that she was grateful Daisy had taken theinitiative without having been asked. Daisy was a keeper.

“Morning, Had. Hey, have you seen the new Gucci blacks?” She heldup a striking pair of long leather gloves. Hadley felt herself light up allover as she took the new arrivals in her hands reverently. She examined oneside and then the other, taking in the richness of the leather and theintricate stitching.

“Wow! They’re even softer than last year.” She took a deep inhale,never tiring of that expensive leather aroma. She couldn’t afford gloves likethese herself, but she could certainly enjoy being in their presence for alittle while. “I predict we’re out by the end of next week.”

“At the latest,” Daisy said with a grin. “Even with my storediscount, I sadly cannot justify these guys.”

“Yeah, but there are knockoffs all over town.”

Daisy winked. “Don’t think I’m not already putting out feelers.”

Hadley had always liked Daisy. Petite in size and barely five footone, she wore her curly brown hair in a variety of interesting styles that keptHadley impressed at her skill with a brush. But it was Daisy’s positive,willing-to-try-anything-for-the-good-of-the-team mentality that kept Hadley gratefulfor her support at Silhouette. They dealt with a lot of demanding clients, richwomen who were used to getting exactly what they wanted. Some employees didn’tdo so well in that arena and balked at being talked to a certain way. Workingon Rodeo Drive required a certain finesse, Hadley had learned over the years,and a willingness to bounce back from an afternoon with a difficult customer.Daisy, however, with her great big smile and patience for weeks, was theperfect person for their sales floor. In fact, Hadley saw a lot of herself inDaisy. They’d both graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design andMerchandising right there in LA. They’d both started in sales, with Hadleyworking her way up to management. She had no doubt that Daisy, if she put inthe time, could do the same.

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