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She nodded. “Hey. I’m Kate.”

Gia grinned. “Your reputation precedes you.”

Kate didn’t know what to say to that.

“You coming with us?”

“To the beach?” Kate asked.

Gia looked around. “On a day like today, it’sthe only place to be.”

Kate hesitated. “Ah, you know, I haven’tgotten around to buying a suit.”

“Follow me,” Hadley said, without missing abeat. “Bring Grisham.”

Kate did as she was told and followed Gia andHadley to the second floor and Hadley’s apartment, which, she had to say, wasway nicer than the one she’d rented. Except maybe it was just everything Hadleyhad done to it. Beautiful drapes, matching furniture, and soft, serene colors.She had a knack.

Hadley studied her. “You don’t strike me as awoman who would wear any sort of pattern.”

“No to the pattern,” Kate said confidently.“Basic is best for me.”

“I’m thinking two pieces, all black. Done.”Hadley didn’t wait for a response and hurried off to a bureau in the corner ofher bedroom on a very serious mission, returning just moments later with thesuit she’d described.

Kate hesitated at the two-piece component.She opened her mouth to say so, but Hadley held up a finger. “No. I’m good atfashion. You’re gonna have to trust me on this.”

Gia sat on the arm of the couch with a grinon her face. Out of the sun, Kate could see that her long dark hair and browneyes were accentuated by a deep, and flattering, tan. “I find it’s best just tolisten to her. She’s rarely wrong about these kinds of things.”

Kate, knowing full well this was not herarea, nodded. “Black two-piece it is.”

“You can change down the hall and to theleft,” Hadley said, pointing down a short hallway.

So, she was heading to Venice Beach with twopeople she barely knew, wearing a bathing suit that she never would have pickedout for herself, in the middle of what would normally have been a workday. Lifefelt foreign, but for whatever reason, Kate wasn’t the least bit fazed. Whatwas even crazier? She didn’t look half bad in the suit. She made it a point tostay in shape for work but never really wore anything that required it.Apparently, Hadley was the real deal. She put her jeans on over the suitbottoms for the walk to the beach and exited Hadley’s bedroom.

Hadley’s eyes went wide when Kate returned tothe living room, and she turned to Gia. “Am I good at my job or am I good atmy job?”

Gia nodded and raised her eyebrows inappreciation. “After this, you need a promotion.”

* * *

The Eagles, bless them, serenaded Autumn asshe took one order after another, pleased with the groove she’d established forher afternoon.

“Hey, Kev. Medium iced Americano for you?”

“You got it,” Kevin said, and forked over thecash, sliding down the counter to wait for Steve to prepare his drink.

“Stacy Q from Best Buy!” Autumn said happily.“What’ll it be?”

“My usual, but I need to add a couple ofrazzmatazz iced teas for my coworkers.”

“On it,” Autumn said, and charged her card.“How’s Jack?”

“Away on business. I’m single for the week.”

“Live it up, girl.”

“Wine and poker in his absence.”

“Nice!”