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An hour later, Spencer pushed open the door to a funky littlecoffee shop in Venice with a cat, of all things, playing a guitar and wearingwhat looked to be crazy pajamas on the sign out front. Points for creativity.She dug the vibe. If the coffee held up, she would make note of this place. Shescanned the half-full portion of the cafe space and found Hadley in less thantwo seconds, waving with a friendly smile on her face. One thing was notablydifferent about her, however. Gone were the upscale designer clothes, heels,and fancy hairstyle. This version of Hadley wore jeans, flip-flops, a softpurple T-shirt, with her hair down. Subtle waves caressed her face and felldown her back. It took Spencer a minute to adjust. The transformation wasso…pleasing. Hadley was a person in the real world, living life, and a reallybeautiful one at that. This felt a little bit like running into your teacher atthe mall and bracing against the impending crush.

Hadley stood, beaming as Spencer approached. “Hi, there! Anytrouble finding the place?”

“Not at all. I’m pretty handy with my phone.”

Hadley shook her head. “No one ever needs directions anymore.Technology is awesome. We’re lucky.” Hadley, Spencer realized, thought a lot ofthings were awesome. In fact, she was perpetually cheerful and optimistic inevery conversation they’d had thus far. She couldn’t decide if that was anendearing quality or annoying one. Not that it mattered. This was business.“What can I get you to drink?” Hadley asked.

“Oh,” Spencer said, and waved her hand. “I can get it.”

“No, no, no. I invitedyou.Entirely on my dime. I insist. I will throw a fit right here if I have to.”

Spencer gave in. “To avoid the fit, I’ll take a cappuccino.”

“Good choice.”

Hadley walked to the counter, and Spencer watched her go, onlyrealizing moments later that she was blatantly staring. She gave her head ashake and scolded herself, deciding she needed to get out more, and maybe notcheck out her potential clients. She exhaled slowly, ruminating on what thenext few minutes might mean for her future, her career, and her bank account,which, let’s be honest, could use a boost.

“One cappuccino and one caramel mocha,” Hadley said, placing thedrinks on the table. The part in her hair left a strand drifting across one eyeas she leaned over. She brushed it to the side, revealing her big, blue eyes.The action caused a pleasant stirring in Spencer. Hadley was really pretty.

“Thank you,” Spencer said, and lifted the hot mug to her lips.

“Wait,” Hadley said, eyebrows near her hairline.

Spencer froze.

“You’re going to burn your mouth.”

“I’ll risk it,” she told Hadley, and took a sip. The hot liquidsettled on her tongue, and the flavor spread out strong and bold. “This placeis no joke,” she said, as much to the cup itself as to Hadley. She lifted themug. “Amazing brew.”

“Everyone says that. My friend, Autumn, is the owner and spendshours coming up with the perfect flavor profiles and roasting times. It’s herlife’s passion.”

Spencer nodded, identifying entirely. “I suppose we all havethose.”

“Speaking of yours, I have good and bad news.”

“Bad first.” She exhaled, not liking the direction this washeading. “Tell me.”

Hadley didn’t hesitate, but her features softened to sooth theblow. “Trudy didn’t go for the line as is.”

Just as she’d thought. Her clothes didn’t fit in at Silhouette.Her gut instinct had been correct. “How is there good news after that?” Hergaze fell to the table as she attempted to recover. Her spirits catapulted.

Hadley nodded sympathetically. “I get that you’re probablydemoralized and a little pissed off about that, but the door isn’t closed,which is why I called. She’s willing to take another look at the line with afew small changes.”

Spencer sighed, not sure she could stomach this. “What kind ofchanges? I’ve never really compromised myself for a client.”

“A slight tone down in color, and maybe the subtraction of apattern or two.” Spencer opened her mouth to object, but Hadley held up herhand. “I get it. This is your work, your vision,yourpassion, which is why I’m offering tohelp.”

Spencer made sure not to balk visibly, but in her head was apretty aggressivehell no.“I don’t collaborate. It’s not my thing. No offense.”

“It wouldn’t be that. Think of it as a temporary consultation. I’ma fan of what you do, Spencer, and I also have a great big desire to seeSilhouette move into a more accessible direction. I think I might be able tohelp bring those two things a little closer together.”

While everything in Spencer wanted to push back, finish hercappuccino, thank Hadley for her time, and get the hell out of there, there wasa viable part of her that wanted to take the next big step, and seize theopportunity. Was she capable of swallowing her pride and making a fewadjustments to her work in order make it out of a niche market and into thelarger fashion world? Damn it. She was actually considering this crazy thing.“We’re not talking an entire redesign, because if that’s the case I have torespectfully decline.”

“No,” Hadley said. “Some adjusting, which admittedly will takesome work.”

“You’re telling me.”

“You have a month.”