Page 26 of Love Like This

Hadley tilted her head from side to side in consideration. “I’llwork on remembering that. Minus the goddamn.”

“I suggest you work on it with Spencer. Ask her out. Tonight.”

“Absolutely not.” Hadley’s jaw fell open at the suggestion. “Doyou even know me? I can’t ask someone out. I just…can’t. No.”

“You’re confident in every other area of your life, and as we’veseen here tonight, you offer fantastic advice on the subject of love and allthings connected. Time to put your money where your mouth is, blondie.”

Hadley nodded, and sucked in air. “Maybe.”

“Aha! A semi-commitment, I can accept,” Isabel said, as she ledthem down to the first floor. Hadley allowed herself to trail behind her a bitto catch her breath. For whatever reason, talking about her stupid little crushleft her more nervous than ever. That didn’t seem fair! Talking about thingswas supposed to help alleviate them. She placed a hand on her flutteringstomach and checked the clock. Spencer would arrive soon, and they would work.She would not wiggle her toes, or allow herself to acknowledge how attractiveSpencer was or how her determination really got Hadley going in…all of theimportant ways. This was her job, and she would remain professional and ontopic. “Well, it’s now time for me to hike my way to the parking garage forreal people who don’t actually shop in Beverly Hills.”

Hadley brightened. “I’m so glad you came. And you know what? Thisis only the beginning of what’s going to be a fantastic life with Taylor.You’re so lucky.”

The comment seemed to land and Isabel grew an inch or two taller.“I think so, too. Bouncing things off you really helped, Had, you superstar ofall things mushy. Now go fluff your hair for your meeting. And do what you toldme to do. Don’t overthink it.” But before she left, Isabel thrust her armsaround Hadley’s neck for an unexpected hug. For a minute, the two of them juststood there as all the wonderful things Isabel had brought into her life sincearriving in LA flooded Hadley’s memory: the laughs, the sarcastic wit, and thenever-ending friendship. She could safely say that Isabel would be her friendfor the rest of her life. She would have it no other way. “Getting out of yourhair now,” Isabel said, with a sheepish smile. “Thanks for the Dr. Phil sesh.”

“Anytime,” Hadley called, from the doorway of Silhouette.

Once she was alone, she turned back to the deserted store and didsomething she never saw coming, she fluffed her hair. “Oh, dear goodness,” shemuttered, shaking her head. Who exactly was she becoming?

“Knock, knock,” Spencer called from the entryway twenty minuteslater. “You didn’t lock the door,” she said, with a sly look on her face. “Ithought this place was always bolted up tight after hours.” She wore blue andgreen camo capris and a short-sleeve lace-up green top that she paired witharmy green heels. Stunning. Her dark hair had been styled so that it framed herface, brushing her shoulders, which was new.

“Hi,” Hadley said, realizing she was thrilled to see Spencer, tospend the evening talking to her, or arguing with her, depending on thedirection they took. Either was welcome.

“I brought clothes,” she said, glancing over her shoulder towardthe thick garment bag. “But I was thinking maybe we could ditch that plan andtalk sketches over drinks. Would you be game for that?”

“For drinks? With you?” Hadley was hopeful she hadn’t squeaked theresponse.

Spencer glanced around the store lightheartedly. “You would be theone I’m asking. Correct.”

“A working-drinks-get-together is what you’re proposing?”

“Kind of.”

Oh, that wasn’t enough. Hadley, in her newly jumbled nervousdisposition, needed more details than that. A girl needed clarification whencrushing on another girl who then went and asked her to a public place. Withalcohol. “Not entirely business?” Hadley asked.

Spencer took a few steps into the store, taking her time decidingwhat she would say next, apparently. She came with such a confident swagger,which was sexy for days. Whether she was choosing words or just drawing outsaying them wasn’t clear. Hadley felt the seconds tick. “I really want to showyou some ideas that have popped into my head since we last spoke, and I’d alsolike to just talk. With you. About anything.” She leveled that stare on Hadley,and damn it all, her toes took over.

“That could be fun,” she heard herself say. “Let me just turn offa few lights and grab my bag. I’ll drop these in my car and meet you out frontin a few?”

“I’ll be there.”

“Perfect. It’s a date,” Hadley said, and then covered her mouth atthe utterance.

Spencer didn’t seem fazed. In fact, she grinned, nodded, and left.

“Oh, my dear goodness,” she whispered to the empty store. “Heregoes nothing.” She walked from Silhouette with a self-assured strut she wasonly just beginning to feel. Look out, LA. Maybe little Hadley Cooper was aboutto embrace the saucy side of life.

Chapter Six

The quiet little jazz club Spencer suggested was sultry, dimly lit,and surprisingly not that far from Silhouette. The sign out front blazed redwith the club’s name, Notes, in a lazy script. Though outside was nondescript,the inside came with a lot of personality. Small tables dotted the main floor,flanked by an elevated perimeter of additional tables looking down on the mainfloor. A lantern-like candle sat on each of the white tablecloths, andattentive waitstaff carried trays of drinks. Sophisticated ones.

She and Spencer nestled themselves at a quiet table near the backwhere they could still hear the music but converse easily enough. The place wasabout three-quarters full, but night had just fallen. Hadley imagined it’d beoverflowing within the next two hours. She very much enjoyed the vibe.

“Where did you hear about this place?” Hadley asked.

“Spencer, where have you been?” a glamorous-looking woman in herfifties asked as she approached their table. Spencer stood and embraced thewoman who kissed her cheek. “We thought you’d taken off for Europe orsomeplace, never to be heard from again.”

“One can only dream,” Spencer said with a wink, and took her seat.“Just been busy is all. You know how that grind can be.” She turned to Hadley.“Hadley Cooper, meet Mabel Van Muir. She’s one of the club’s owners and a veryimpressive vocalist. Also, a friend of my mother’s.”

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