Page 91 of Love Like This

Hadley blushed and followed her back inside. In moments, she wason the phone ordering strawberries, chocolate, and Champagne. While she spokein the best French she could, Spencer looked on, removing one piece of clothingat a time, while Hadley watched in captivation. By the time she hung up,Spencer was in lingerie on the bed waiting for her.

Hadley sat next to her and placed one finger on her cheek.“There’s a sexy woman, who I happen to be in love with, waiting for me in bedin the center of Paris.” She tapped her cheek.

“What would Captain Janika do?” Spencer asked, sweetly. She ran ahand from her breast to her stomach and watched as Hadley swallowed noticeably.

She closed her eyes and opened them. “Captain who?”

Spencer laughed. “Kiss me. You own my heart, now own the rest ofme.”

Hadley didn’t hesitate.

They came up for air only briefly when the room service arrived.Hadley answered after hastily stepping into her robe, which she quickly droppedas she returned to bed.

“Disneyland on fire,” Spencer murmured.

The chocolate and strawberries made a nice addition to their fun.Spencer dipped a strawberry and ran it down Hadley’s body, chasing the resultswith her tongue as Hadley moaned quietly, moving her hips. Tasting Hadleyherself was much sweeter, and she relished taking her to the brink only to pullher right back in.

“You are torturing me, and it’s wonderful,” Hadley said, backarched in their now-darkened hotel room. The outline of the Eiffel Tower wasstill visible through their window and offered the small amount of illuminationwhich Spencer used to navigate. She took her time and worked slowly, touching,caressing, and making love to every inch of Hadley Cooper.

When they were happy and tired, Hadley pulled her into her armswhere they lay as sleep hovered. “What do you think we’ll do tomorrow?”

“I want to walk the streets with you. Explore. Find a café and donothing but watch the world go by.”

She felt Hadley smile up against her cheek. “That sounds like oneof the best days of my life.” She paused and looked down at Spencer in herarms. “I’m starting to imagine a lot of those ahead.”

Spencer crawled up the bed until she lay face-to-face with Hadley.“It’s not imagination anymore. It’s our life, and it’s only just gettingstarted.” She reached across Hadley. “Chocolate-covered strawberry?”

“Yes, please.”

They stayed up most of the night talking, catching up on all thethings that had happened since they’d parted, and when the sun came up the nextmorning and drenched the suite in its magnificent show of color, Spencersnuggled further into Hadley, lost, happy, and sure.

Epilogue

Summertime

No two people had ever looked more beautiful. Hadley was sure ofit.

As Isabel and Taylor walked hand in hand down the beach togetherto the sound of a solo violin, Hadley was a goner. Remembering to breathe inthe midst of all of this beauty would be a task. The brides were barefoot andeach carried a single white calla lily, which perfectly accentuated thesimplicity of the dresses Spencer had designed for the ceremony. Isabel’s dresswas more casual in nature, short and lacy with an asymmetrical hemline andV-neck. It was amazing how accurately the dress captured who Isabel was—part ofSpencer’s talent. Taylor’s dress was longer and fuller and fell just above herbare feet. While also white, it transitioned into a beautiful light blue ombréas the fabric neared the hemline. They held hands and gazed at each other as aphotographer snapped a photo.

The wedding on Venice Beach was a small affair, attended by just ahandful of friends and family. Instead of assembling and sitting formally,everyone stood, looking on, as the sun met the water and the rings wereprepared. The sunset arrived on time and did not disappoint, haloing the couplein amazing pinks, oranges, purples. Hadley squeezed Spencer’s hand just in timefor the vows, her very favorite part.

“Isabel, you are the most unexpected gift,” Taylor said, as sheheld Isabel’s ring in her hand. “Never once did I imagine my life could be asfull and wonderful as it became the moment you walked into it. I hope, with allI have, that you will continue spilling coffee on my belongings, encouraging meto eat junk food, and challenging me, making me think, and coloring in my lifeuntil the end of our time on Earth. I love you, and with this ring promise tocontinue loving you always. I vow to support you, stand by you, and be therefor you even on the most difficult of days. In fact, it’s the most naturalthing I could imagine doing. You’re my everything.” Isabel’s hand shook asTaylor slid the ring onto her finger. They exchanged a watery smile.

Okay, it was time! Hadley knew Isabel was nervous about this partand willed all of the courage in the world her direction. “You got this,” shemouthed, and squeezed Spencer’s hand extra hard to punctuate. Isabel noddedback and accepted Taylor’s ring from the officiant. “I have no idea what you’redoing with me,” Isabel blurted, pulling an unexpected laugh from the guests, aswell as Taylor. “Seriously. You may have the wrong girl.” Taylor shook herhead. “But since you’re still here, I’m not about to let you get away. TaylorAndrews, you are the kindest among kind, the smartest among the brilliant, andthe most beautiful woman on the planet. If you hadn’t agreed to marry me, Idon’t know where I’d be. This is infinitely better. I’ve never been so excitedto wake up each morning as I have been since you came into my life and changedit forever.” This time it was Spencer’s turn to squeeze Hadley’s hand. Theirgazes collided in warmth. “I guarantee there will be more coffee spilling andswear words at the most inappropriate of times.” She held up the ring inpledge. “But there will also be continued love, and tenderness, and kindness,and loyalty. I’m yours forever, Taylor. My heart beats for you.” There weretears running down Taylor’s face, just as there were Hadley’s. She rejected thetissue Gia offered her and embraced the happy emotion.

When it was time for the brides to kiss, the small group of guestserupted in applause. Will, in his tiny little man suit, burst into tears at theshock of noise. Spencer graciously took him in her arms and shushed him back tocalm with her soothing words, as Autumn bounced a dressed-to-the-nines Carrie,who it turned out loved clothes and who babbled away constantly these days.

“That was a game-changer ceremony,” Spencer said, as they waitedfor the variety of photos to be taken after its conclusion.

“What do you mean, game changer?” Hadley asked.

She shook her head in awe. “I’ve never seen one so sincere, someaningful. All the weddings I’ve been to were stuffy and inside a church. Thisone was so heartfelt and honest andthem.I want ours to be more like that one. Likeus.”

“Ours?” Hadley asked, as she accepted a glass of Champagne from Scarlett,who was on pouring duty.

“Yes, ours,” Spencer said, leaning in for a kiss. “And we probablyshouldn’t wait too long either. Though my mama is gonna want to be veryinvolved, and that’s gonna be a whole separate can of worms.”

“My dads, too. Get ready. They’ve had ideas about my wedding sinceI was nine.”

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