Page 54 of Love Like This

“No, no. You have her content and cry-free. I’ll just sit overthere until there’s a crisis.” On that last word, he shot daggers in Spencer’sdirection, making it very clear where said crisis would likely emerge.

An hour later and the door to the apartment opened slowly and twovery smiley mothers entered the space, holding hands. “How’s everything inhere?” Autumn asked quietly, glancing around the room. She took in Carriesleeping against Hadley’s chest, Will curled up in Spencer’s arms, and Larryworking a crossword puzzle in theWallStreet Journalhe’d brought with him. “What in hell happened toLarry? That’s my shirt!”

“Your shirt is unharmed,” Hadley said calmly, with awe-did-what-had-to-be-done look. “Larry is taking good care of it.”

“The boy child vomited.” He glanced down at his ensemble.“Emergency measures were called for.” He stood. “You’re home now. I’ll take myleave. Ms. Cooper,” he said, nodding politely to Hadley as he passed. “Backup,”he bit out to Spencer. “Good night, both Mrs. Carpenters.”

Kate knocked him on the shoulder. “Thanks for your help, Larry.Because of you, Autumn and I got to have a nice dinner out. I think we neededit.”

“Yeah, thanks, Larry,” Autumn said with a warm smile.

Larry’s entire demeanor shifted, inspiring him to soften andappear sheepish and sweet. You didn’t see that side of Larry too often, butHadley had always understood that’s who he really was underneath all the odd,intense bravado. “Just wanted to do the noble thing.”

“Well, we couldn’t have done it without you,” Hadley said. “I meanthat.”

He nodded to her chivalrously and now seemed embarrassed and beetred. “Good night, all.”

“Wait, Larry,” Autumn called after him. “Your clothes.”

But he was already around the corner and on his way, escaping theperceived limelight. They looked at each other.

“Well…it is Venice,” Hadley offered. “He’ll blend.”

“So how about ten dollars an hour?” Kate asked, thumbing throughher cash.

Hadley placed her free hand over her wounded heart. “How dare youoffer me money for the care of my honorary niece and nephew, even if you’recoming from a very good place because you’re Kate. I refuse any and allmonetary gestures!”

“Are you sure?” Kate asked. She gestured with the money toSpencer, who shook her head and held up a hand.

Autumn waved off Hadley’s theatrics. “Free labor. Don’t argue.”She turned her attention to the babies, racing over to Carrie and pulling hergently into her arms. “It was so strange to be out in the world and not herewith them. It’s like some sort of parallel universe out there. How did theydo?”

“Luckily, we had Spencer the baby whisperer along for the ride.They’ve been asleep for the past hour.”

Autumn’s eyebrows rose and she turned in appreciation to Spencer.“What are you doing tomorrow? I don’t know what very successful designers makeby way of salary, but I’m willing to try and match it.”

“Don’t you try and poach her from me!” Hadley stepped betweenthem. “We have big plans for Spencer at Silhouette, and she can’t moonlight asa babysitter and keep a clear head.”

“It’s not awful to be fought over,” Spencer said quietly, to Will.

“Let me steal him from you,” Kate said, gently taking the sleepingboy in her arms. “You’re off the clock. Big plans tonight?”

Hadley exchanged a look with Spencer. “Not sure yet.”

Autumn shook her head vehemently as if that answer were not at allacceptable. “It’s still early. Get out there and cause trouble, dammit. Dance ontables and wave your shirts over your heads. You have no children. Live, forGod’s sake.” She looked from Hadley to Spencer in desperation. “Promise me.”

“We promise,” Spencer said solemnly. It’s possible she was afraid.

“Already on it,” Hadley said, pulling Autumn into a hug. This wasa transitional time in Autumn’s life and she needed all the support she couldget. “Did you have fun tonight?” she asked her quietly.

The undisputable smile that hit and grew did all the talking forAutumn. “The best time. It was like we were dating all over again. We kissed atthe car. For a really long time, too. I owe you one, Had.”

“Anytime. And I mean that.” She gave Autumn’s hand a squeeze,pulled Kate into a hug, and then with Spencer at her side, left the new little familyto the rest of their evening.

“That was fun,” Spencer said, once they hit the courtyard. “But Idon’t think Larry and I will be reprising our partnership.”

Hadley scrunched an eye in apology. “He’s jealous.”

“I can completely see why,” Spencer said, taking her hand. “Andbecause I just promised a woman that I would live, for God’s sake, I have to dothis.” Hadley grinned as Spencer closed the distance between them and caughtHadley’s mouth with hers. She’d been longing to kiss Spencer all night and thereality was every bit as gratifying as she’d hoped. In fact, it knocked her outof the socks she wasn’t wearing. The crackle, the sizzle, the chemistry did notlet her down. Her spirits soared even as she tried to maintain control. Itwasn’t just the kiss itself that had shepherded her to this inarguable high. Itwas everything leading up to it, their give and take, the fashion overlap thatleft them so much to talk about, the amazing night they’d spent together, andthe domesticity of the last two hours. She was losing custody of her own heartand it was thrilling and terrifying like a roller coaster you didn’t want toget off. She was on a path to something big.

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