Page 28 of Love Like This

“Last year, I lied a little on my taxes about how many businessdinners I’d had. I don’t feel bad about that.”

Hadley held up her hand in guilt. “I’m obsessed with chunky peanutbutter andDays of OurLives. Mainly in combination. One isn’t the same without the other.”

“I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. I turned down an internshipthere once and have always regretted it.”

“Me, too.” Hadley leaned forward at the mere mention and placed ahand over her heart to show her abiding love. “About Paris, I’ve always dreamedof going. I’ve traveled close but never made it to the city itself. One day.”

They paused. “Would you look at that?” Spencer said. “Unexpectedcommon ground. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“You don’t want to run screaming yet?” Hadley asked, with a smile.“Even about the Barry Manilow thing?”

Spencer shook her head. “I can deal with Manilow. Does make youextra white, though.”

Hadley nodded solemnly. “I’ve heard that before.”

Their drinks arrived and they enjoyed them while listening to themusic. At one point, several songs in, Spencer slid her chair around the roundtable so she was sitting next to Hadley, which allowed them to watch together.The band transitioned into a mellow slow song, and Spencer slipped her handinto Hadley’s. It was so natural, so discreet, and so wonderful that Hadleycouldn’t seem to wipe the smile off her face and play it cool. Who was shekidding? She would never be that kind of cool. She was Hadley Cooper, and shewore her emotions on her sleeve. And with Spencer this close to her, she coulddetect the scent that always seemed to follow Spencer into every room,strawberries and cream. Her shampoo? A lotion? She wasn’t sure, but it remindedher of summers growing up and movie nights outside. She loved strawberries andcream. She secretly wondered what Spencer’s lips tasted like. Wouldstrawberries come through in a stolen kiss? And that did it. “Is it warm inhere?” she whispered, fanning herself ineffectively with the limp cloth napkin.

Spencer nodded, downed her drink, and leaned into Hadley’s ear.“Want to get out of here?”

Hadley didn’t even hesitate. “Sure.” They walked the streets thatsurrounded the club, looking in closed-for-the-night store windows, pointingout fascinating trinkets, restaurants they’d like to come back and try, andnodding to the occasional fellow pedestrian. Hadley took a deep inhale and letthe warmer summer air fill her lungs. She’d long ditched the white jacket she’dworn over black pants, leaving her in a sleeveless charcoal blouse that let herbody breathe.

“You seemed to like the club,” Spencer pointed out, as theycontinued their circling of the block.

“The guy on the piano!” Hadley marveled. “He has so much talent,and it looks so effortless up there, as if he wasn’t even thinking that hardabout what he was doing. That right there is an honest to Godgift.” She looked overat Spencer. “Reminds me of you, actually.”

Spencer balked. “In what way am I like Freddy, whiz of the keys?”

“Your talent. It amazes me. The minute I looked you up and saw howmany people were talking about your designs, I was impressed. When I saw theline itself? Blown away. That’s when I knew I had to meet you. You’re going tobe the next big thing. Only a matter of time.”

They walked in silence for a moment. Spencer looked over at her.“Ever since you called me that first day, I’ve felt…” She shook her head as ifsearching for the word. “Empowered. That someone like you, with ties to thehigh end, the best of the best, sees promise in my work. In fact”—she glancedover at Hadley—“I’ve never felt more inspired in my whole life. You, forwhatever reason, bring that out in me.”

“I had no idea,” Hadley said, floored.

“I’ve been sketching nonstop, and part of that comes from youchallenging me the other night. Forcing me to look at things I know in a wholenew light and toss my stubborn opinion out the damn window.”

Hadley laughed. “Does that mean we’re toning down the lime green?”

“It does.” They arrived at their cars that were parked on thestreet, one in front of the other. This was where they would say good night,and what a nice evening it had been. “Before you go, I want to send this withyou.” Spencer pulled a sketch pad from her bag. “Some of the redesigns, and acouple new ideas to go with them. No rush. I thought maybe you could take alook and tell me what you think.”

Hadley accepted the pad. “I’d be happy to. And, Spencer?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for tonight. I needed this, I think. Best time I’ve had ina really long time.” And then she did something awful. She took a step back,clearly breaking their connection, and offered Spencer a wave. A wave? Why?“See you soon.” And without so much as waiting for a reply wave, she hastilyheaded to her own car, a nice safe distance away from the heat she’d feltbouncing between them all night. She already missed it. “No,” she said outloud, with hand on the handle of her car door. “Not like this.” She tapped thehood and turned, looking over at Spencer, who still stood in front of her owncar door. She looked back in mystification. Channeling Kate’s confidence orGia’s or Wonder Woman’s herself, Hadley decided to act. She walked herself backto Spencer’s car and paused briefly in front of her before doing the one thing she’dwanted to do for over a week now. She cradled Spencer’s face in her handsmomentarily, and holy goodness, she kissed her, losing herself then and therein front of that car in the warmth of those amazing lips. The soft, surprisedmurmur that escaped Spencer went right through Hadley, escalating theconfidence she didn’t have just two minutes ago. She slanted her mouth overSpencer’s and deepened the kiss, surprised by Spencer’s eager participation.Hadley had allowed herself to secretly wonder if the reality would be as goodas her imagination. It was better. Spencer tasted every bit as sweet as she’dhoped, and she pressed her incredible body up against Hadley’s in welcomeconnection. She could feel Spencer’s heart beating along with her own. The intoxicatingrhythm swept her away to places wonderful and foreign…and very, very sexy. Sheno longer remembered where they were, or what brought them to this amazingmoment in time, but she didn’t want it to end.

When she reluctantly pulled back, Spencer seemed softer than everbefore. Her gaze held a new quality: innocence. But also vulnerability, andthat had Hadley’s heart hammering for her all the more. Her world was rocked,forever affected, and all she could do was blink back at Spencer in surprise atwhat she’d just done and subsequently experienced.

Not only had Spencer allowed Hadley to kiss her, but she’d meltedright there in her arms. Now what? Was she supposed to just turn and go back toher car, her life, as originally scheduled? They’d see each other again for awork meeting in a few days? Before she had a moment to answer those questions,Spencer leaned back against the car, caught Hadley around the waist, and pulledher back in. As hard as it was for Hadley to believe that the second kiss was morescorching than the first, it most certainly was. Spencer held her close, theirweight against the car, as her mouth angled and opened wider across Hadley’s.Her tongue explored skillfully, deliciously. Right on cue, Hadley scrunched hertoes as arousal hit hot and fast. She took everything Spencer gave and cravedso much more.

Distantly there was the sound of a car honking and voicesapproaching. Spencer released her, and Hadley remembered that they were rightthere on a public street. How easy it had been to lose track. Still dazed, shemanaged a foggy smile and gestured to her car. “I should get going.”

Spencer nodded, her gaze intently trained on Hadley’s. They wereboth breathing erratically. “Can I call you? About work. And other things.”

“Yes. I hope you will.”

Spencer straightened, looking alluring as could be with swollenlips and a satisfied smile. “Good night, then.”

“Good night,” Hadley said, though there were five hundred otherwords ready to gush from her lips at any moment. Play it cool, she remindedherself, and headed to her car.

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