Page 131 of Culinary Chaos

“Eva was mad that I wouldn’t let her come, but I told her we had actual work to discuss.”

“Right.” Angelica faltered in her step slightly, but she put her iPad onto her desk and walked to sit next to Hope. She slid her hands against her backside and under her legs to smooth out her skirt and cross her legs as she leaned a little in the chair. “As co-leads, I thought it’d be a good idea for us to get the crew gifts.”

“I had the same thought.” Hope rubbed her palms against her thighs. “Did you have any ideas?”

“It might strike you as strange, but this isn’t my area of expertise.” Angelica loved this side of Hope, the much more comfortable in her own skin side. She seemed way more confident and down to earth now than she ever had when they were filming. The jeans she wore were a bleached-out blue with a few rips in them. Angelica couldn’t tell if they were supposed tobe there or not. The tank top was white and stretched across her body beautifully.

Angelica was more than a little distracted by it. But seeing Hope on FaceTime and seeing her in person didn’t compare at all. This was so much better. Angelica settled into the conversation, relaxing. She had an hour block of time before she needed to be in another meeting, and she was going to spend the entire time with Hope if she could.

“That doesn’t surprise me at all.” Hope grinned at her, eyes squinting in the corners.

Fuck, she was beautiful. Did she know just how gorgeous she was? Angelica was having a hard time forcing herself to focus and convincing herself that the conversation needed to move on. “Normally I’d ask my admin, but since you and I are on this project, I thought I’d ask you.”

That’d been the thought that had originally run through her head. But when she’d analyzed it more later on, she’d realized it was just an excuse.

She wanted to work with Hope again.

She needed to see her in person without anyone else there.

“You could have asked me before today, you know.” Hope lifted her chin up slightly. “Or are you one of those people who gets a thrill from last-minute decisions?”

“Hardly.” Angelica laughed lightly. “I’ve just been distracted with bigger messes to clean up.”

“I can understand that.” Hope rested her ankle on her knee and relaxed a bit. “Everyone loves a good travel mug, don’t you think?”

Angelica pursed her lips. “Sure.” That seemed rather simple though, like something so basic and forgettable. While Angelica wasn’t great at coming up with gifts for people, she didn’t want it to be a crappy gift either.

“And we could put some bonbons and good coffee in it.”

That sounded like a much better idea. Angelica settled into it. She shifted slightly, her skirt rising up higher on her knee than it had before. Hope gave a small whimper, and Angelica instantly looked at her. Their eyes locked. They were caught in a battle of wills and curiosities and wants and desires. She could see every thought run through Hope’s mind.

What would it be like to kiss again?

This time when they were both expecting it.

It’d be better surely.

But would Hope like it?

Angelica stayed right where she was, not moving an inch. “By bonbons do you mean chocolates?”

Hope’s cheeks rushed with pink. She nodded slightly. “Yeah, truffles or the like. I can make them.”

“Along with everything else you’re making for Friday?” Angelica didn’t want Hope to run into too much overwork right before a big shift in their lives. The least she could do was protect her as much as possible from herself.

“Yeah,” Hope said. “Eva can help make those. She’ll enjoy it.”

Angelica cleared her throat and glanced down at her hands. When had she clenched them into fists? She flexed her fingers, pressing them against her thigh so that she wouldn’t be tempted to clench them again. Her heart raced.

She didn’t want to give this up.

“Have you talked to Mary again?” Angelica nearly whispered the question. But she was so scared of what the answer might be, that Hope would leave her high and dry if they were to get renewed for a second season.

“Yes, but not about what you’re asking.”

Angelica wasn’t sure she dared to hope. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from Hope’s face. It hurt her so much to think that this might be the last time they worked together on a project. The physical ache in her chest grew by the minute.

“She did line me up a few jobs during the break, which I’m grateful for. It’ll keep me entertained while I’m traveling to my restaurants.” Hope looked at her curiously, as if daring her to actually ask the question they were both avoiding.