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“I also want you to meet with a friend of mine who’ll be in townnext month. I think she’d be a great connection for developing an overseasstrategy. Let’s do lunch.”

She shrugged. “Yeah, sure. I’d love to.”

“I’ll have my assistant set it up. We need to get going on thosesamples for me to make this happen.”

She stood and offered a salute. “Let me get finished up, then.”

“Don’t let me stop you.”

She tapped on the doorframe a couple times. “You’re a keeper,Dezzy. I’m sending you a gift basket.”

He straightened his tie. “Make sure it’s full of high-end booze.”

She laughed. “Way ahead of you.”

Walking victoriously through the office building, Spencer marveledat how all the difficult pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. Shedidn’t hesitate when the instinct hit to call Hadley, who answered after onlytwo rings.

“Spencer?” she said.

“I’m an idiot for calling because no one calls anyone anymore, butI wanted to tell you that my manufacturing guy thinks he can make Trudy’sdeadline. We’re a go!” She couldn’t smother her smile at the good news, andHadley was the first person she wanted to share it with.

“Do you know how amazing that is?” Hadley asked, almost yellinginto the phone. Her excitement was contagious. “Sorry, ma’am. Just heard somebig news from a friend. I’ll send Daisy over to help you with that shapewear.”

Spencer laughed.

A moment later, “How are you not freaking out right now?”

“I am. I just freak out on a lower key than most people. Minimalmovement, a little bit of grinning. Some blinking.”

“Well, forget that. We need to celebrate. Are you free later?”

She had plans with Kendra and a handful of their friends. They’dgenerally get together at someone’s house and head out on the town from there.But she’d make herself available if it meant she’d get to see Hadley who, let’sbe honest, took up a lot of her brain space lately in the most unexpected way.“Yes. I’m most assuredly free. I’ll pick you up. Venice, near the beach,right?”

“The complex next to the coffee shop. Meet me in the courtyard atseven?”

“Where are we going?”

“I thought we’d figure it out together. Somewhere carefree whereyou can do more than blink.”

Spencer chuckled. “Sounds intriguing. I’m in.”

“Ohhh! I’ve never been called intriguing before.” She imaginedHadley smoldering playfully as she’d done before. “I accept that descriptor andwill attempt to do it justice tonight.”

“Well, now you’re just teasing me.” Spencer shook her head at howfrivolous she felt lately. Who was she exactly? Didn’t matter. She was enjoyingherself, and the last time she looked, that wasn’t a crime. “See you at seven.”

“Wait! Don’t outdress me. You’re always more stylish. Never mind.I happen to love that. Do your thing. See you tonight!”

“Goodbye, Hadley.”

“Bye, Spence.”

She exhaled where she stood on the corner of Sunset and Doheny, alreadythrumming with anticipation of the evening ahead. Where would they go? Whatmight they discuss? Would she kiss Hadley again? Whatever they did, she wasconfident they’d have fun together. Seeing the world through Hadley’s eyes, asshe had the other night, was an entirely new and addictive venture. But first,she had a mountain of work waiting for her back home. Her online shop had hit anew sales record and she and Minnie had more than a few orders to fill.

Those damn blue eyes would have to wait until later.

Chapter Seven

Hadley dashed inside Autumn and Kate’s apartment mere millisecondsafter Autumn opened the door. “Don’t mind me!” Hadley said. “Just got home fromwork, and I need a quick fix before my plans tonight. Are they up?”