Page 68 of Love Like This

“It is.” Spencer walked farther into the room. “I have the best ofintentions and then they fly right out the door anytime anything scary happens.Can you identify with that?” she asked the daughter, who stared at herself inthe three-way mirror.

“All the time,” she said. “You should see me on the first day ofeach semester. I’m a lunatic with no direction.”

Hadley looked at her clients in hesitation and back to Spencer.“Spencer, you don’t have to—”

“I’m actually here because I did just that. I acted like a lunaticto Hadley here, who didn’t deserve it.” Both mother and daughter swiveled toHadley, who smiled at them nervously. “She’s pretty great.”

“We love her,” the daughter said.

“Not a hard thing to do.” She met Hadley’s eyes and watched as shesoftened. “I’m finding that out firsthand.” She pulled herself from theweighted moment. “I vote yes on the outfit and the jacket, by the way.”

“That’s three votes. We’ll take all of it,” the mother said,standing.

Hadley grinned. “I’ll have Daisy ring you up at the desk, and I’llmeet you down there with boxed packages shortly.”

As the mother passed Spencer, she waggled her finger just shy ofher face. “You be good from now on. Understand?”

“That’s the plan.”

When the daughter disappeared into the changing room, Spencerwalked slowly to Hadley. “I’m sorry I crashed your fitting.”

“You seem to have won some fans in the process,” Hadley saidconservatively.

Spencer still couldn’t tell where her head was. “No, I’d say thoseare your fans. I’m just a supporting player, who happens to be very, verysorry.”

Hadley allowed Spencer to take her hand.

“I want you to have a drawer.”

“You don’t have to say that.”

“And if you outgrow it, I will clear space in my closet.”

A pause. “But that petrifies you. Can we just admit that?”

Spencer sighed, not wanting to lie to Hadley, ever, if she couldhelp it. “You’re not wrong. It turns out that maybe I have a few more issues tosort through than I’d planned on. But I’m working through them. I want to.”

Hadley didn’t say anything, making it feel like the jury was aboutto deliver a verdict on the most important of cases. “Okay. That’s important toknow.”

“I should have been more open with you about all of it. I promiseto communicate more, even when it’s hard.” They paused for the daughter to passthrough the room. Hadley smiled at her. “Be right down.”

“Take your time,” she said, allowing her arm to trail along therailing as she descended the stairs, smiling back at the both of themknowingly. Hadley laughed. Once the girl turned and they were fully alone,Spencer didn’t hesitate. She kissed Hadley, willing everything she felt for herto flow into their connection. Hadley murmured pleasantly, and relaxed into thekiss, holding Spencer in place with a hand to the back of her head.

“My toes are wiggling,” Hadley said, coming up for air. “Dammit. Ilove it when my toes wiggle, but I have to finish that sale. Then maybe therecan be more wiggling. Later.”

“I’ll live with later.” She cradled Hadley’s cheek. “I’ll let youget back to work, then. As for tonight, don’t make plans.” She stole anotherlong, lingering, hot as hell kiss that she could carry with her throughout herafternoon. “I’ll call you later.”

“Okay,” Hadley said with a small smile.

Good. Yes. She needed to see that smile. They were going to beokay.

At least it felt like theymightbe.

* * *

Isabel sashayed into the courtyard wearing Winnie-the-Pooh ears, ared crop top, and Wonder Woman bikini bottoms. Hadley squinted at her mid-punchpour. “Izzy! What in the world?” She scurried over to her.

“What?” Isabel asked casually, hands on her mostly bare hips.

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