Page 1 of Culinary Chaos (Hotel Bombshell #1)

Chapter

One

“ S hit, I’m late.” The watch on Hope’s wrist ticked another minute, and she cringed.

She wasn’t just a little late—she was over an hour late.

The driver who had picked her up had waited patiently, but she couldn’t help it.

Her agent had fucked up this schedule massively.

How she could think that Hope could be in two places at once was ridiculous.

It was impossible.

“I’m so sorry for making you wait.” Hope leaned forward to catch the driver’s attention. She wanted her apology to be as sincere as possible.

“Don’t worry about it, ma’am.”

Ma’am? Hope cringed. Had she aged up in the last few years in a way she wasn’t aware of?

That or she just had to admit that thirty-five was finally showing on her face.

Suppressing the turmoil roiling inside her, Hope quirked her lips up and plastered a smile on her face. “I’m sure you have other places to be.”

“No, ma’am. I’m your driver for the day.”

“Oh.” Hope swallowed the lump in her throat.

She wasn’t used to this special treatment.

Then again, she was going from just a regular daytime cooking show, which she’d been doing for several years to build up her brand, into something more challenging and exciting.

To say she was a little bored with the routine was an understatement.

She needed something that she could sink her teeth into. “Like all day?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The woman gave a little chuckle from the driver’s seat. “I’m Lyric.”

“Gorgeous name.” Hope curled her lips upward, easing into the conversation. She was never one to remain quiet for too long. She always needed to be able to talk and chat, even if it was about nothing other than the color of the sky or the shape of the clouds. “I’m Hope.”

“I know.” Lyric laughed lightly. “Otherwise there might be a problem if you were in my car.”

“Right.” Hope eased back into the seat. “How long of a drive is it? Not that I’m worried about spending time with you in a car, but I’m curious how late I’m really going to be.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Lyric said again, and Hope honestly believed it.

Something in Lyric’s demeanor said she wasn’t upset about the fact that Hope had messed up the entire schedule. Or rather, her manager had. She frowned slightly, but caught it quickly and turned it upside down.

“It’ll be about forty minutes.”

“Great.” Hope bit the inside of her cheek. This wasn’t exactly how she wanted to meet the co-star of her new show—late, frazzled, and definitely not ready for this preliminary photoshoot, but she couldn’t really control that now, could she? “Do you know anything about what you’re taking me to?”

“No, ma’am. I’m just the driver for the rich and famous.”

Hope choked. “Rich and famous? Ha. That’s amusing, and definitely not me.”

“You’ve been designated a driver to take you from one set to another location, ma’am. I’m pretty sure that qualifies.”

Whistling, Hope shook her head. “Nope, just me. Chef Hope Lawrence, ready to cook up the next great meal that will blow up your taste buds.”

Lyric laughed. “Really?”

“Well, I like to think so.” Hope’s cheeks tightened into a grin. “Most days. I’ve definitely burned my fair share of meals and have screwed up another fair share of them because of my own stupidity. It happens.”

“That’s my motto in life.” Lyric glanced in the rearview mirror, and for the first time their eyes locked. “Shit happens.”

“It’s a good motto.” Hope smiled again.

The drive to the studio didn’t take as long as she thought it would, and Lyric got her there in record time—at least according to Lyric.

But after that pleasant ride, she was hopeful that Lyric would be there to take her home at the end of this brutally long day.

Because she wasn’t sure that she was going to be able to drive.

Hope got out of the car and was ushered into the studio by an assistant.

She didn’t catch the woman’s name, but she’d make sure to do that later.

She seemed so frazzled about the fact that Hope was now two hours late for this photo shoot and that they were going to be butting up against Angelica’s shoot.

But, shouldn’t they be doing some photos together?

Hope didn’t say anything as she was settled down into a makeup chair and told to stay put.

The flutter and flurry of activity around her was insane.

She wasn’t used to this many people being around her and fussing over her at once.

She tried to make small talk, but was often told to hold still or move a certain way as they removed the makeup she had put on that morning to shoot an episode and started from scratch.

Had her makeup really been that bad?

Hope tried not to look in the mirror, her fear over whatever they were doing to her body far too much to control if she did catch a glimpse.

Where was Rex when she needed him? Right, not there, because this was a photo shoot, not an actual episode shoot.

She winced and then was promptly scolded to keep her face neutral.

She wasn’t someone who could do that.

Everything was written across her face. She had no ability to keep her thoughts from showing up on her features—despite how many times she’d tried to learn that skill.

She barely had a chance to glance in the mirror before she was sent off to a dressing room to get herself in whatever outfits had already been chosen for her.

Staring at them, Hope frowned. The chef’s jacket was an obvious choice.

This one was black and had her name emblazoned in gold across the breast pocket and the show logo on her upper right arm.

She ran her fingers over it. The other outfits, all five of them, were way out of the norm for her. Business suits with dress shoes.

Who did they think she was?

She wasn’t the hotel manager. She barely even considered herself a business owner, even though she was, by definition at least. She owned four restaurants and had plans to expand beyond those four and into newer and bigger cities.

She had a plan, and this job would help her accomplish that. She didn’t care about the cameras.

She cared about the food.

Food was her passion.

Well, food and her family. She couldn’t forget them. Her lips quirked upward at the thought of Rex and Eva, her beloved husband and daughter. She was doing this for them, and working with Rex on a show? That would be an experience that they both would have to figure out how to deal with.

Snagging the chef’s jacket, Hope turned around to put it on. The knock at her door startled her. She frowned and opened it. “Yes?”

“They want you in the suits first, then when Ms. Shields gets here, we’ll take some photos with you and her in those and then your chef’s jacket.”

Hope stared at the young man with an earpiece and a microphone pressed against his cheek. He hadn’t even introduced himself, and she had no idea who he was other than he knew far more about what was happening today than she did.

Putting her hand out in front of her, she opened the door a little wider and grinned at him. “I’m Hope.”

“Tanner. And you’re really late, so we need to get going to get your head shots and individuals in before Ms. Shields shows up.” He put his hand on the doorknob.

Hope’s lips pulled upward to the side. “I’ll be right out. I promise.” She winked at him and then allowed him to close the door on her. Had she really messed up the schedule that badly?

“You ready?” The knock echoed through the small room and berated Hope’s ears.

She hadn’t even had a chance to unbutton her pants yet.

“Almost,” she said, cringing at the sound of her own voice.

Always happy. Always flirtatious. It had gotten her a long way in the end, and she was thankful for it, but some days, she preferred to throw the pots and pans in her kitchen in a fit and live into the anger that simmered under the surface. She just hated when anyone saw that.

It exposed her in a way she never wanted others to witness.

Only Rex could catch glimpses of that.

Again she wished he was here. New places always gave her nerves a run for their money.

And she was ready to be done with this part of her new job so she could dive into the work that she was really excited for—restoring and rebuilding mis-managed kitchens and giving them as much life and future as she possibly could.

“This is Wade. He’s the photographer for today.” Tanner pointed out a man hunched over a camera as he squinted into it.

Hope breathed through her nerves, keeping that ever-present smile plastered on her lips.

She could do this. This wasn’t why she was in the business.

It was just the side of it that needed to be done in order to do what she wanted.

Popping her lower lip out, she started toward the photographer to introduce herself.

“Hi, I’m Hope.” She grinned at him.

“Oh, good to meet you.” He smiled and took her hand in a firm shake. “Did Tanner give you the rundown of what’s happening?”

“Yeah,” she said, although she didn’t quite feel like she had the entire rundown. It would have to suffice. Because she didn’t really want to ask for a play-by-play and tick anyone off. She didn’t have enough pull yet. “I’m excited to see what you come up with.”

Wade winked at her. “Oh, it’ll be excellent.”

“Perfect.” She loved confidence. It was one of the sexiest things alive.

“Why don’t you step in front of the backdrop and we’ll take some test photos to check the lighting?”

“All right.” Hope smoothed her clammy palms against the front of her thighs as she did as she was told. She even smiled for the test photos.

She stood there awkwardly while Wade made a few minor adjustments to the lights and big umbrella things. No matter how many times Rex told her what they were, she could never remember. Reflectors? Alien silver thingamabobs? She preferred the latter description.

“Why don’t you cross your arms and turn to the side slightly? Bend your front knee.”

Hope held her breath, mimicking the pose that he wanted her to make. When he whispered accolades, she relaxed. It didn’t take long for Hope to start joking with Wade and a few of the others who were there to assist them both. She was laughing hard when Wade snapped a picture, and then froze.

Turning to the side, Hope locked her eyes on a stunning woman.

Now, she had confidence in spades with loads to spare.

Hope bit her lip, unable to wipe the smile from her lips as she watched the woman walk around the table of snacks that had been placed out for everyone.

Her curled blonde hair bobbed against her shoulders, and the smart blazer that she wore was open in the front, revealing a bright red blouse underneath.

The black slacks fit to her curves like a glove, and they had a sharp line right down the front of them that drew Hope’s gaze downward to her heel-clad feet and then back up.

She said nothing as this woman stood next to Wade, talking quickly and quietly.

But the tension in her shoulders, the tightness in her jaw and cheeks was undeniable.

She was upset about something.

Huffing, she turned and locked her gaze on Hope. A shiver ran through Hope’s body, tightening every muscle that she knew existed and ones she never paid attention to. Still, she kept that grin plastered onto her lips.

It was now or never.

Because she knew exactly who this woman was.

There was no denying it.

“It’s good to finally meet you, Ms. Shields.” Hope held her hand out, breathing deeply to keep herself steady. Why did she feel like she was floating? She’d never been stunned or shocked into silence before, and certainly not by a woman who had done absolutely nothing to her.

“Mrs. Lawrence.” Angelica Shields took Hope’s proffered hand.

And that was a mistake.

Hope’s knees went weak, turning instantly to jelly.

She gripped Angelica’s hand hard to keep herself upright, not letting go when she should have, when it was appropriate for her to do so.

Instead, Hope kept the physical connection until Angelica took one simple step closer, a brown eyebrow raised in concern and curiosity.

“It’s good to meet you in person,” Angelica said, her voice commanding even though it seemed slightly lighter than it was moments ago. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there when you were vetted.”

Right. Hope was the last-minute addition to this television show adventure.

She hadn’t been their first choice. Or their third.

She was their last choice. And she was going to have to work her tail off to prove that she should have been their first. Sliding her hand from Angelica’s, Hope put her hands on her hips and quirked her lips up to the side.

“Yes, that is a pity. It would have been nice to see that we actually have some chemistry to make sure that this show goes off without a hitch.”

“Chemistry?” Angelica’s voice rose high in surprise. “Wrong kind of show, Hope.”

Oh, the way Angelica said her name that time. There was a definite tease there. Hope nearly melted again, but she managed to keep herself upright without assistance this time.

“Oh, it’s exactly the right kind of show.” Hope let out a little chuckle, biting her lower lip again as she lifted her chin up to look Angelica over. “If the two of us don’t have chemistry, I’m fairly certain the show will fail.”

“It won’t fail,” Angelica snapped back. “I won’t let it.”

Hope had no comeback for that. Her heart thundered, pounding against her ribcage to the point that it was painful. Her knees still felt weak, and her words were lost. That never happened. She shook her head slightly and struggled to find any word that might be useful right now, but she failed.

“Great! Those are some great shots,” Wade said loudly, catching Hope’s attention.

Hope shook her head at him. “What shots?”

“Of the two of you meeting.” He stared down at the back of his camera, clicking his tongue. “Yes, this might just be what we want for some of the promotion.”

“Naturally,” Angelica mumbled under her breath.