Page 24 of Culinary Chaos

“Loan them?” Angelica looked away from the screen and into Hope’s eyes. “And who do you think is paying for that?”

“I will.” Hope didn’t break eye contact. “It’s a gift from me.”

Angelica froze. Would Hope really do that? The expense wouldn’t be outrageous, but it would certainly cost her. Would she honestly do that for someone else? Making sure that they had what they needed to excel while she did without? Perhaps Angelica had underestimated her.

In more ways than one.

“And when they can’t afford a new chef going forward?” Angelica asked.

Hope hissed. “That’s where I think you’re not going to like my plan.”

“Oh?” Angelica snagged some more food from the tray, just as Hope did. She was intrigued now. What bomb could Hope be waiting to drop?

“I need to lower the level of food.”

“Lower it?”

“I don’t mean turn the kitchen into a greasy spoon.” Hope rolled her eyes. “But I can’t keep the standards at what they’re at. And a chef needs specific training for fine dining, and they don’t have that here, and they can’t afford it.”

“So you want to make this not a five-star environment,” Angelica surmised. She mulled through that one as the hummus filled her mouth.

“More like four stars with room to go when they get their finances and management under control.”

Angelica dashed her tongue against her lips, licking up a drop of hummus that didn’t make its way into her mouth. She caught Hope’s glance, the slight quirk of her lips upward.

“Do you like it?” Hope asked.

“Like what?” Angelica could have just said yes. That would have been the easier solution. But something about Hope dragged her into this flirtatious tug and pull that she couldn’t stop herself from participating in. Not just participating, right now she was the leading lady in the drama.

“The hummus,” Hope said.

“It’s good. I prefer it with a touch of garlic.”

Hope’s face fell, and Angelica immediately wanted to take back what she’d said. She hadn’t meant it as an insult. She simply wanted to continue the teasing. The silence was so loud and uncomfortable. It seized Angelica by the heart, and she had to do everything in her power to break it.

“Your idea is a good one, and I think it’ll work.”

“Really?” And there was that smile again.

Angelica reveled in it. “Yeah. Talk to the Matlocks tomorrow and see what they have to say about it. If they don’t take your offer of goodwill, then you’ll know exactly where they stand when it comes to saving this hotel.”

“I will.” Hope’s eyes crinkled again as she relaxed into the chair. “You know I’m not very used to actually eating with otherpeople. I’m usually just cooking. I can’t remember the last time I had dinner with Rex and Eva.”

Angelica was surprised by that. Then again, she’d never really thought about what the life of a chef might be like. Or the fact that she and Rex probably worked opposite schedules. How did they ever manage to make it work? Angelica hadn’t even been able to figure that one out when she’d been with Leanne.

“So what? You just pick and eat as you cook?”

“Yeah.” Hope shook her head. “Sorry to spoil the illusion.”

“I wasn’t under an illusion. I just never thought about it before.” Angelica grabbed another piece of food to eat. “But I do have a lot of work to do.”

“Are you kicking me out?” Hope asked, that teasing quality back in her voice. “What if I told you that I could help you?”

“Help me?” Angelica raised her eyebrows in suspicion. What did Hope have up her sleeve this time? “I don’t need help.”

“Everyone needs help,” Hope lowered her voice and leaned in closer. She lifted her gaze, meeting Angelica’s. The blue in her eyes was so stunning. They were much darker than Angelica’s, and inside them seemed to be a world that Angelica desperately wanted to know—one that was full of joy and pleasure. “You shouldn’t discount my abilities just because I’m a chef.”

“I never thought you werejusta chef,” Angelica whispered. But hadn’t she thought that? Hadn’t she thought that of just about everyone they’d hired and fired so far? But then again, Hope was the only one to make it to the first week of shooting. Angelica leaned in a little closer, pushing the invisible boundary line between them to see just how far she could take this. “I do, however, still think you got the contract because of Rex.”