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“Of course you do.” Spencer dropped her head back and stared atthe ceiling. “I don’t want to put you in a bad position, Had. I would neverwant to do that.”

“Then don’t. I understand this is a great opportunity, but don’tdiscount what you have going. You’re creating a name for yourself, and this isjust further proof that people are noticing. If you design for Bertrand, it’stheir brand you’re enhancing, not your own.”

“That part hasn’t escaped me. But how do I say no to this?”

Hadley held out her hand. “I’m not sure.”

Spencer crossed her arms. “I haven’t told you all of it.”

Hadley blinked as if not believing there was more. “Okay.”

“The job is in Paris.”

“Paris,” Hadley whispered. She swallowed and stared at the floor.“So, you’d be moving?”

Spencer nodded. “I would have to. On the flip side, I’d bedesigning alongside some fantastic mentors and they wouldn’t drop my namecompletely.”

But it was like Hadley couldn’t hear her anymore. “I don’t knowwhat to say. I need to get ready for work.”

“Can you tell me what you’re thinking first?”

“I’m thinking I feel ill.” Hadley stared at her, dejected, sad.

It felt like Spencer had been hit with a two-by-four. She couldn’tstand that anything she’d said or done had put that look there.

“I’m also thinking I should get to work. It sounds like I’m goingto have some cleanup to do if I want to save our season and likely my job.”

Spencer moved to Hadley and placed her hands lightly on her waist.“I didn’t say I was taking the offer.”

Hadley smiled up at her wanly. It killed her. “You didn’t haveto.”

Spencer dropped her hands. “I’m not going to. Decided.”

Hadley studied her. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to anymore.” Spencer kissed her hand. “You’reright on all counts. I just needed to see your face, hear your voice to bereminded of where I should be, and that’s here with you. I don’t want to goanywhere.” She kissed Hadley, who kissed her back, and before she knew it theywere kissing their way to the bed. Clothes came off in a fury and they madelove with a new urgency that morning, as if seeking to reassure each other andreaffirm what they had after the difficult conversation. Spencer needed thatconnection and reveled in it that morning, holding Hadley close.

“I don’t want to go to work. I want to stay here with you,” Hadleysaid, touching Spencer’s face.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Spencer murmured into Hadley’s hair.“Okay?”

As she held on to her tightly, Hadley nodded and kissed hersoftly. “Are you sure? I need you to be sure.”

“Yes.” Spencer kissed her again. They lay like that for the nextfew minutes, staring into each other’s eyes, sharing soft touches, not wantingto separate. She didn’t allow herself to think about the offer, or theconfusion, or even her professional future. She gave herself permission to getlost in Hadley, her favorite place to be. The rest would work itself out, andshe would be okay. There would be more opportunities like this one in the future.She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of Hadley’s fresh hibiscus shampoo.There would be other chances, wouldn’t there? She opened her eyes and studiedthe paint pattern on Hadley’s ceiling and wondered one thing: Why dideverything have to come at such a significant price?

Chapter Thirteen

Hadley felt Daisy watching her as she worked quietly at the retaildesk, adrift in her battling emotions. She used the numbers in front of her asa distraction. She glanced to her right at Daisy and then went back to sortingthe receipts from the day before. Daisy didn’t waver. “Did you need something,Daisy?” Her tone came without her usual patience and she hated that. It feltlike her emotions weren’t exactly hers to control, and she hated that, too. Infact, she hated everything about today.

“Not so much, no,” Daisy said, delicately. “I just wanted toremind you that I sorted those last night, remember? You asked me to.”

Hadley nodded once and let the folder drop in frustration. “Right.Okay, great. I just wasted a half hour. Good to know.” She passed the folder toDaisy and moved onto the showroom floor, which seemed crowded anduncomfortable. “We have too much out here,” she said, to no one in particular.

“Sales have been down,” Daisy offered.

“I know sales have been low,” she said calmly. “But that doesn’tmean we can let the inventory clutter the space. If anything, that’s likely thereason. Help me thin some of this out for a more pleasing aesthetic?”

“Of course,” Daisy said, dashing over. They worked steadily forthe next two hours, pausing only to assist customers, until the store waslooking sharp, elegant, and pristine once again. The solid work and achievablegoal kept Hadley sane and out of her own tortuous head. Well, as much aspossible.