Page 11 of Love Like This

“She’s a client, you know? It feels weird to say she’s pretty.”

“Except you’ve easily said it three times. And she’s only a clientuntil she’s not.” Autumn chuckled again and headed back behind the counterwhere she wasn’t supposed to be anymore, due to maternity leave. She always hadbeen stubborn. Hadley followed her.

“What do you think it means when you have to wiggle your toes?”

“That you need new shoes?”

“No, it’s a good wiggle. What does good wiggling signal?”

Autumn stared at her. “I have no idea what that means.”

“No, and how could you?” Hadley gave her head a shake and tried toexplain herself. “When I’m around Spencer, I wiggle my toes. I’ve never donethat before, but it’s rampant! I’m this overzealous wiggler who keeps tellingpeople Spencer’s attractive, like a maniac. I’m a wiggling maniac.”

“Finally, we have a name for you! Interesting. Steve, do youwiggle your toes when you have the hots for some girl?” Autumn asked.

Steve’s eyes went wide, and he paused mid-cappuccino-preparation.“Not that I know of. Am I supposed to? Maybe that’s part of my problem. I couldtry.” He was so cute in all his nerdy glory. Hadley wanted to pinch his cheekin spite of her present dilemma.

“Who knows?” Autumn asked. “Had does when she’s all hot andbothered. She just said so.”

Hadley scoffed. “I amnothot and bothered.”

“Are, too.”

“Fine. A little bothered. A tad hot. Without the two mingling.”

“Semantics, Cooper, but if you prefer we can stipulate to the nomingling.”

Hadley followed Autumn into the storage room behind the counter.“I don’t think it means I have a crush on her, though. She just has an effecton me I haven’t figured out. A physical one.”

“That’s fair. What do you think a possible reason might be? Let’sbreak it down.” Autumn rifled through a shelf of supplies, looking for who knewwhat coffee accoutrement.

“Maybe because I’m uncomfortable with how pretty she is? Thatcould be it. What’s the scoopy thing?” she asked, pointing at the thingamabobon the shelf.

“For measuring ground coffee. Does the rest of you feeluncomfortable?”

She thought on this and the answer was easy. She liked Spencer,admired her. There was no unease, though. “No.”

“Do you feel excited, and tingly, and happy when she’s around? Imean, you’re always happy, but extra happy in any way?”

Hadley squinted. “Yes, but that’s probably just the clothes thatare making me happy. Don’t you think? Clothes always get me worked up.” Sherolled her shoulders, channeling the energy the reflected passion brought on.She really did live for good fashion, and that’s exactly what Spencer broughtto the table.

Autumn nodded sagely. “Then maybe it’s the killer combination ofthe two. Her looks and her talent. Bear with me.”

“Bearing.”

“Some killer clothes. A killer bod, which I can attest to, andsome killer chemistry might have your toes a-wiggling. Ever think of that?”

“Not until right now. It’s not impossible,” Hadley said. She tookthe silver canister Autumn handed her and followed her back to the front of theshop.

“Biscotti?” Autumn offered, stealing one from the jar on thecounter and biting into it herself. “I’m a ravenous pregnant woman in the wild.Pay no attention.”

“No thanks. Hey, why are you here, by the way? Aren’t you supposedto be temporarily retired? You promised.”

“I was retired, that part’s true, and enjoying it like a boss.Bath bombs, apple juice, which I’ve been craving like you have no idea, feet upand all. Then I just got this surge of energy, like I had todo stuff. So here I am.Doing all the things I can think of. The energy surge is amazing. I figured Ishould use it while it’s here. I’m about to reorganize this whole shop. Myapartment’s already done.”

“Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness!”

Autumn stared at her. “What is that about? You sound like anorphan inAnnie.”

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