Chapter Six
The quiet little jazz club Spencer suggested was sultry, dimly lit, and surprisingly not that far from Silhouette. The sign out front blazed red with the club’s name, Notes, in a lazy script. Though outside was nondescript, the inside came with a lot of personality. Small tables dotted the main floor, flanked by an elevated perimeter of additional tables looking down on the main floor. A lantern-like candle sat on each of the white tablecloths, and attentive waitstaff carried trays of drinks. Sophisticated ones.
She and Spencer nestled themselves at a quiet table near the back where they could still hear the music but converse easily enough. The place was about three-quarters full, but night had just fallen. Hadley imagined it’d be overflowing within the next two hours. She very much enjoyed the vibe.
“Where did you hear about this place?” Hadley asked.
“Spencer, where have you been?” a glamorous-looking woman in her fifties asked as she approached their table. Spencer stood and embraced the woman who kissed her cheek. “We thought you’d taken off for Europe or someplace, never to be heard from again.”
“One can only dream,” Spencer said with a wink, and took her seat. “Just been busy is all. You know how that grind can be.” She turned to Hadley. “Hadley Cooper, meet Mabel Van Muir. She’s one of the club’s owners and a very impressive vocalist. Also, a friend of my mother’s.”
“Now you’re just tossin’ flattery. So very nice to meet you, Hadley. What can I send over for you two from the bar?”
Spencer gestured to Hadley to order first. “I’ll take a glass of the house white.”
Mabel nodded.
“Old Fashioned for me,” Spencer said. “Extra cherry tossed in, if you don’t mind.”
“As usual,” Mabel said, with a wink. “I’ll send Ted over with the drinks and a snack on the house. You two enjoy yourself. We got the Miller Trio up next and Fred’s on the keys.”
“Then we arrived at the right time,” Spencer said. “Thanks, Mabel.”
“You must come here a lot,” Hadley said, once they were alone.
“Once in a while. It’s a nice place to escape to. Clear my head, have a drink, and listen to some good music. I can still sketch in the low light, and the music undoes the world for me. Just don’t know much about it is all, so don’t expect me to expound on it.”
“Well, you know that you enjoy it. That’s enough.”
They stared at each other for a weighted moment. Nothing could have made Hadley look away. Spencer, she was beginning to understand, was able to cast a spell. One that she didn’t mind at all.
“You make a valid point. I think I just like chasing the melody. With jazz, you never know where it’s going to go.”
“Reminds me of real life.”
Spencer pointed at her. “I get that.” Another pause. “We should get to work.”
“Yes,” Hadley said, her focus still on Spencer, who had the most expressive eyes and perfect mouth. Her eyebrows had been delicately sculpted, Hadley decided. The results were subtle but effective, as was her hint of rose lipstick. Enough to make a difference but never stealing the show. Spencer Adair was all balanced style and certainty wrapped up together. Two qualities Hadley admired very much. Neither one of them had moved. “We’re not working,” she said, finally, leaning back in her leather club chair.
“We’re not.” Spencer blinked, dipped her head, and smiled. “But I’m glad we’re doing this.”
“And what is this, exactly?” Hadley asked, still on uneven footing and searching for a way to right herself. She could fly by the seat of her pants in a lot of circumstances. This wasn’t one of them.
“You called it a date. I’m just following your lead.”
“I’m not to be relied upon for diagnostics,” Hadley said. “There’s a top half of a groundhog costume on a mannequin in my closet, and I’m not even making that up.”
Spencer nearly spat her water back into the glass. “That is an entirely random statement. And why the display? Fan of the groundhog?”
“A fan of anything celebratory. I head up a theme night each month for my friends and neighbors. You probably think that’s lame, but that’s who you’re dealing with. I need you to know now. Someone who likes frivolous parties, and anything warm and fuzzy. Is that someone you’d want to date?” Hadley blinked, awaiting Spencer’s response.
Spencer sat taller. “Well, this is getting interesting. Are you trying to talk me out of it?”
“I don’t know,” Hadley said. It was a truthful answer. “I also tend to believe whatever people tell me. That might make me naïve, but I like to think it’s my attempt to see the good in everyone. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, either. I’m keeping it.”
“It’s not a bad thing,” Spencer said, intrigued. “But it’s helpful that you’re laying out all your quirks so early.” She seemed to make a decision. “I can’t stand roller coasters. They’re impractical.”
Hadley nodded, and reciprocated. “I make up songs about my friends’ pets. They don’t always rhyme and I’m fine with that. It’s about the effort you put in.”
“I’m a fantastic soccer player, but can’t stand running. The internal conflict is rough.”
“I’m not so great at Ms. Pac-Man. Or any video game, for that matter.”
Spencer squinted. “I burn Rice-A-Roni. Every. Damn. Time. Even when I have the best of intentions. San Francisco must detest me and has sent its treat to sabotage my kitchen.”
“I adore Barry Manilow in any possible incarnation. I will fight for him.” Hadley placed a hand on her heart. “‘Mandy’ makes me cry. She gave without taking.”
“I don’t cry often, but when I do, it’s because I’m deeply affected. And it’s not pretty either. I ugly cry for the record books.”
“I love to roller-skate even though I’m an adult. Once in a while I’ll do so in the courtyard of my apartment complex. My neighbor, Stephanie, calls me Starlight Express and rolls her eyes in disgust. She hates most things and people.”
“Last year, I lied a little on my taxes about how many business dinners I’d had. I don’t feel bad about that.”
Hadley held up her hand in guilt. “I’m obsessed with chunky peanut butter and Days of Our Lives. Mainly in combination. One isn’t the same without the other.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. I turned down an internship there once and have always regretted it.”
“Me, too.” Hadley leaned forward at the mere mention and placed a hand over her heart to show her abiding love. “About Paris, I’ve always dreamed of going. I’ve traveled close but never made it to the city itself. One day.”
They paused. “Would you look at that?” Spencer said. “Unexpected common ground. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“You don’t want to run screaming yet?” Hadley asked, with a smile. “Even about the Barry Manilow thing?”
Spencer shook her head. “I can deal with Manilow. Does make you extra white, though.”
Hadley nodded solemnly. “I’ve heard that before.”
Their drinks arrived and they enjoyed them while listening to the music. At one point, several songs in, Spencer slid her chair around the round table so she was sitting next to Hadley, which allowed them to watch together. The band transitioned into a mellow slow song, and Spencer slipped her hand into Hadley’s. It was so natural, so discreet, and so wonderful that Hadley couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off her face and play it cool. Who was she kidding? She would never be that kind of cool. She was Hadley Cooper, and she wore her emotions on her sleeve. And with Spencer this close to her, she could detect the scent that always seemed to follow Spencer into every room, strawberries and cream. Her shampoo? A lotion? She wasn’t sure, but it reminded her of summers growing up and movie nights outside. She loved strawberries and cream. She secretly wondered what Spencer’s lips tasted like. Would strawberries come through in a stolen kiss? And that did it. “Is it warm in here?” she whispered, fanning herself ineffectively with the limp cloth napkin.
Spencer nodded, downed her drink, and leaned into Hadley’s ear. “Want to get out of here?”
Hadley didn’t even hesitate. “Sure.” They walked the streets that surrounded the club, looking in closed-for-the-night store windows, pointing out fascinating trinkets, restaurants they’d like to come back and try, and nodding to the occasional fellow pedestrian. Hadley took a deep inhale and let the warmer summer air fill her lungs. She’d long ditched the white jacket she’d worn over black pants, leaving her in a sleeveless charcoal blouse that let her body breathe.
“You seemed to like the club,” Spencer pointed out, as they continued their circling of the block.
“The guy on the piano!” Hadley marveled. “He has so much talent, and it looks so effortless up there, as if he wasn’t even thinking that hard about what he was doing. That right there is an honest to God gift.” She looked over at Spencer. “Reminds me of you, actually.”
Spencer balked. “In what way am I like Freddy, whiz of the keys?”
“Your talent. It amazes me. The minute I looked you up and saw how many people were talking about your designs, I was impressed. When I saw the line itself? Blown away. That’s when I knew I had to meet you. You’re going to be the next big thing. Only a matter of time.”
They walked in silence for a moment. Spencer looked over at her. “Ever since you called me that first day, I’ve felt…” She shook her head as if searching for the word. “Empowered. That someone like you, with ties to the high end, the best of the best, sees promise in my work. In fact”—she glanced over at Hadley—“I’ve never felt more inspired in my whole life. You, for whatever reason, bring that out in me.”
“I had no idea,” Hadley said, floored.
“I’ve been sketching nonstop, and part of that comes from you challenging me the other night. Forcing me to look at things I know in a whole new light and toss my stubborn opinion out the damn window.”
Hadley laughed. “Does that mean we’re toning down the lime green?”
“It does.” They arrived at their cars that were parked on the street, one in front of the other. This was where they would say good night, and what a nice evening it had been. “Before you go, I want to send this with you.” Spencer pulled a sketch pad from her bag. “Some of the redesigns, and a couple new ideas to go with them. No rush. I thought maybe you could take a look and tell me what you think.”
Hadley accepted the pad. “I’d be happy to. And, Spencer?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for tonight. I needed this, I think. Best time I’ve had in a really long time.” And then she did something awful. She took a step back, clearly breaking their connection, and offered Spencer a wave. A wave? Why? “See you soon.” And without so much as waiting for a reply wave, she hastily headed to her own car, a nice safe distance away from the heat she’d felt bouncing between them all night. She already missed it. “No,” she said out loud, with hand on the handle of her car door. “Not like this.” She tapped the hood and turned, looking over at Spencer, who still stood in front of her own car door. She looked back in mystification. Channeling Kate’s confidence or Gia’s or Wonder Woman’s herself, Hadley decided to act. She walked herself back to Spencer’s car and paused briefly in front of her before doing the one thing she’d wanted to do for over a week now. She cradled Spencer’s face in her hands momentarily, and holy goodness, she kissed her, losing herself then and there in front of that car in the warmth of those amazing lips. The soft, surprised murmur that escaped Spencer went right through Hadley, escalating the confidence she didn’t have just two minutes ago. She slanted her mouth over Spencer’s and deepened the kiss, surprised by Spencer’s eager participation. Hadley had allowed herself to secretly wonder if the reality would be as good as her imagination. It was better. Spencer tasted every bit as sweet as she’d hoped, and she pressed her incredible body up against Hadley’s in welcome connection. She could feel Spencer’s heart beating along with her own. The intoxicating rhythm swept her away to places wonderful and foreign…and very, very sexy. She no longer remembered where they were, or what brought them to this amazing moment in time, but she didn’t want it to end.
When she reluctantly pulled back, Spencer seemed softer than ever before. Her gaze held a new quality: innocence. But also vulnerability, and that had Hadley’s heart hammering for her all the more. Her world was rocked, forever affected, and all she could do was blink back at Spencer in surprise at what she’d just done and subsequently experienced.
Not only had Spencer allowed Hadley to kiss her, but she’d melted right there in her arms. Now what? Was she supposed to just turn and go back to her car, her life, as originally scheduled? They’d see each other again for a work meeting in a few days? Before she had a moment to answer those questions, Spencer leaned back against the car, caught Hadley around the waist, and pulled her back in. As hard as it was for Hadley to believe that the second kiss was more scorching than the first, it most certainly was. Spencer held her close, their weight against the car, as her mouth angled and opened wider across Hadley’s. Her tongue explored skillfully, deliciously. Right on cue, Hadley scrunched her toes as arousal hit hot and fast. She took everything Spencer gave and craved so much more.
Distantly there was the sound of a car honking and voices approaching. Spencer released her, and Hadley remembered that they were right there on a public street. How easy it had been to lose track. Still dazed, she managed a foggy smile and gestured to her car. “I should get going.”
Spencer nodded, her gaze intently trained on Hadley’s. They were both breathing erratically. “Can I call you? About work. And other things.”
“Yes. I hope you will.”
Spencer straightened, looking alluring as could be with swollen lips and a satisfied smile. “Good night, then.”
“Good night,” Hadley said, though there were five hundred other words ready to gush from her lips at any moment. Play it cool, she reminded herself, and headed to her car.
Hadley drove home with the windows down and the soft, romantic station that took requests playing quietly from her radio. What an unexpected night it had been! She hit her steering wheel in happy disbelief. She’d been kissed. No! Even more shocking, she’d done the kissing, and loved how empowered it made her feel to take what she wanted. Spencer brought out a new and exciting side of Hadley and she, for one, was more than okay with that. And don’t even get her started on the explosive chemistry they had. She’d never experienced anything like it. Unable to help herself, she dialed Isabel and put her on speakerphone in the car.
“I kissed her,” Hadley said, the second Isabel answered.
“Fuck me. You did?”
“Yes! I’m not even making it up. Best kiss of my life, and I just missed my turn because I was thinking about that kiss. Gotta go!”
“You owe me more tomorrow. Proud of you, you little crafty minx!”
“Thanks, Iz. Bye!”
As Hadley made her way back to Seven Shores, a million and nine thoughts buzzed through her overcrowded brain. She did her best to remain levelheaded and optimistic, which she’d deemed long ago was the best version of herself. All the same, she smiled at the winding road as she drove, and vowed to take each moment as it came. No need to overanalyze anything at this point.
But for the first time in a long time, she felt the stirrings of something important. She would tuck that feeling away and take it out when she needed it. It was exciting to realize that someone like Spencer was out there. That Spencer herself was.
She turned up Manilow and sang along loudly. Oh, the possibilities.
* * *
Spencer woke up thinking about her date with Hadley, as she’d done each of the three mornings since they’d kissed against her car. Not an awful way to wake up. Lying in her bed and staring up at the ceiling, Minnie upside down on the floor next to her, she allowed herself to relive the tantalizing moment that Hadley, who seemed so unassuming and sweet, had taken Spencer’s damn face in her hands and kissed her into next Tuesday. “Damn,” she muttered, shaking her head. She didn’t let herself live in the clouds on a regular basis, and today would be no different. A little reveling never hurt, though. She and Hadley would see each other soon and maybe pick up where they’d left off. Spencer wasn’t someone who romanticized love and dreamt of butterflies and happily ever after, but she wasn’t opposed to her and Hadley getting to know each other better and enjoying each other’s company for however long they chose.
As she showered, she ruminated further despite her own protestations. She liked Hadley. Hell, that was a lie, she more than liked her. She thought she was beautiful, and kind, and quirky enough to be fun and not scary. Not to mention knowledgeable about fashion, with a keen eye for detail. Spencer couldn’t quite wrap her mind around her ability to kiss, because it was off any chart she could have constructed. She shook her head to clear it. While thoughts of Hadley were fun, she had to focus on the day ahead of her.
An hour and a half later, she arrived at her meeting with Dez McBride, who’d been such an early champion of her work that he’d invested in her brand and now owned 15 percent of her business. As part of that deal, he handled and financed all manufacturing, which had turned out to be a godsend. Dez was a wheeling, dealing businessman with plenty of high-up connections. He also happened to know a lot about the textile industry, and she was lucky to have fallen in with him.
“Dezzy Mac,” she said, accepting a hug and kiss on the cheek. He was roughly twenty years older than Spencer and well-dressed, always in a shirt and tie. Did she mention he was smart as hell? He was. “Thanks for working me in. Your assistant said your day was booked.”
“I can always make time for my favorite partner,” he said, taking a seat behind his incredibly messy desk. She didn’t let that worry her. Dez always had a million balls in the air, and they always seemed to land, safe and sound. She trusted him immensely with her business in spite of the clutter. “How’s the spring line coming?”
“That’s actually what I stopped by to talk with you about. Do you know Silhouette on Rodeo?”
“Everyone knows Silhouette on Rodeo.”
“Right. Of course. They want to place an order. The first of what they hope will be many, but have requested some minor changes.”
His eyebrows rose and he sat up, fully attentive now. “Impressive that you’ve attracted their interest. A store with their visibility can get your name in the high-end retail market. How do you feel about the changes they’re asking for?”
“I’m coming around with time. You know how I can be.”
“Unbending, like a guard dog standing in front of your designs, ready to rip anyone to shreds who speaks ill of them?”
“Yes, that,” she said with a laugh. “But I’ve developed a decent working relationship with one of the managers, who’s been placed in charge of scouting new buys. Apparently, they’re working toward a revamp.”
“Trudy Day has agreed to a revamp? Well, call me Tulita Pepsi. Leopards can change their spots. What do you need from me? You have controlling interest. You call the shots.”
“Expedited manufacturing once we’re a go. They want samples in three weeks and inventory not long after.”
He whistled and stared at her. “You realize what you’re asking?”
“For a huge favor, yes. But I genuinely think if this deal goes through that it could be a game changer for us, Dez. I’m only sitting here because I want to make you very, very rich.” She smiled, knowing she’d tapped into his weakness.
He didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow. “And what about the inventory we already have queued for production on the original designs?”
“Pull it if we’re not too late. If we are, I can still sell the pieces online and make us a killing. You know me. I’ll put in the work and make it happen. I can slog all day and night. It’s what I do.”
He nodded and jotted a few notes on his iPad. “Understand that at some point, Spencer, we’re going to have start outsourcing the shipping. Your brand is getting too big for this format. Let me start putting some numbers together and see what’s feasible.”
“If that means I’d get my living room back without having to fork over too much cash, I’m in.”
“I also want you to meet with a friend of mine who’ll be in town next month. I think she’d be a great connection for developing an overseas strategy. 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 those samples 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 marveled at how all the difficult pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. She didn’t hesitate when the instinct hit to call Hadley, who answered after only two rings.
“Spencer?” she said.
“I’m an idiot for calling because no one calls anyone anymore, but I wanted to tell you that my manufacturing guy thinks he can make Trudy’s deadline. We’re a go!” She couldn’t smother her smile at the good news, and Hadley was the first person she wanted to share it with.
“Do you know how amazing that is?” Hadley asked, almost yelling into the phone. Her excitement was contagious. “Sorry, ma’am. Just heard some big 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. Minimal movement, 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’d generally 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’s be 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 at seven?”
“Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d figure it out together. Somewhere carefree where you can do more than blink.”
Spencer chuckled. “Sounds intriguing. I’m in.”
“Ohhh! I’ve never been called intriguing before.” She imagined Hadley smoldering playfully as she’d done before. “I accept that descriptor and will attempt to do it justice tonight.”
“Well, now you’re just teasing me.” Spencer shook her head at how frivolous she felt lately. Who was she exactly? Didn’t matter. She was enjoying herself, 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, already thrumming with anticipation of the evening ahead. Where would they go? What might they discuss? Would she kiss Hadley again? Whatever they did, she was confident they’d have fun together. Seeing the world through Hadley’s eyes, as she 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 a new sales record and she and Minnie had more than a few orders to fill.
Those damn blue eyes would have to wait until later.