Page 60 of Love Like This

“Trudy just gave me the paperwork. It’s a done deal.”

Silence on the other end of the line. Hadley knew Spencer wasn’tnearly as demonstrative as she was when it came to expressing big emotion, butknew that this kind of news would rock even her. When she did speak again, hervoice was laced with emotion. “I can’t believe it,” she said quietly. “We’rethere. This is a big moment for me.”

“Enjoy it,” Hadley said, tears pooling in her own eyes at thesound of Spencer’s vulnerability. “You deserve it.”

“I am. I just wish we were together right now, you know. You madethis happen just as much as I did.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Hadley said. “You put in a little morework, I’d say.”

“I want to see you. Can you come to my mom’s house for dinnertonight?”

The invitation was one she’d been waiting on since they’d firstbroached the subject two weeks ago. She grinned at the ceiling and turned in asmall circle in the office. “I would love that.” Spencer rattled off theaddress and time as Hadley took notes. “What can I bring? I want tocontribute.”

“Absolutely nothing. My mother would never allow it. Just you.”

“Easy enough. I’ll see you tonight, superstar.”

“Hadley.”

“Yep?”

“Thank you. Just…thank you. If you were in front of me right now,there would be kissing, and hugging, and more kissing.”

Warmth hit her chest and spread. “I would hope so. And you’rewelcome.” Hadley clicked off the call on a high, looking forward to the nightahead. Heck, the days ahead! The weeks! She floated out of the showroom toadjust the display Trudy had asked about. She didn’t even mind the grunt work.There was nothing that could tear her down from this high.

* * *

Spencer grabbed the strainer and tossed in the asparagus, doingwhat she could to help with dinner, which smelled amazing.

“You’re not going to overwhelm her, right?” she asked her mother,who came around the corner in a beautiful yellow dress, one Spencer haddesigned personally the year prior. “Oh, Mama, you look gorgeous. I love thatpiece on you! Your photo should go on the website.”

“Just a little something to celebrate the last few semi-warm dayswe’ll have for a while. The cold hits next week and never leaves. Plus, this isa big day! An official order for Rodeo Drive, and I get to meet the new womanin your life who’s been keeping you so busy lately. It felt like theappropriate day to go all out and wear a nice dress.” Her mother grabbedSpencer’s head and kissed the side of it with a smack as she passed.

“Stop the manhandling.”

“I will not. I’m your mama and will manhandle my child whenever Iso please,” her mother said calmly, checking on her pot roast.

“She here yet?” her father yelled from the entryway.

Spencer closed her eyes a moment. “What if she had been? You can’tcome in here hollering. That’s embarrassing.” She loved her parents to death,but she was now seeing how they might appear to an outsider, and that had heron edge, which was dumb. Hadley loved all people, and that’s why she lovedHadley.

What?

God.

Where had that popped up from? Hadley’s acceptance of everyone waswhy shelikedHadley so much. Why she was into her. She pinched the bridge of her nose.Better.

“It’s our job as your elders to be embarrassing,” her mother said,with an authoritative stare. “You’ll do it to your kids one day. It’s the cycleof life.”

Her father strolled into the kitchen wearing his work clothes.Slacks, a short-sleeve button-up, and a sweater vest. His standard. “I lookokay. Don’t I, Sparky?” He adjusted his vest, and Spencer smiled at how cute hewas.

“You look great, Pop.”

That’s when the doorbell sounded. They all three turned insynchronized anticipation. Spencer held up a hand. “Let me.” When she openedthe door, Hadley didn’t just smile, she vibrated happiness. She wore an A-linepurple dress that Spencer just knew her mother was going to love, and had herhair down and swept all to one side.

“For you,” Hadley said, presenting Spencer with a bottle ofChampagne. “Welcome to the Silhouette family.”

“You didn’t have to go to any trouble.” She met Hadley’s eyes andgrinned, touched by the gesture. Throwing a glance behind her to make sure theywere alone, she stepped out onto the porch. “My parents are lively butloveable. Just know that in case they venture into appearing nosy, which coulddefinitely happen. Did I mention they can be loud?”

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