Page 2 of Culinary Chaos (Hotel Bombshell #1)

Chapter

Two

A ngelica stayed to the side, eyeing Hope.

She’d studied her already, looked at her CV, and watched a few of her shows when she had a chance.

She was bubbly in a way that Angelica never would be, and she played to the camera in a way that Angelica struggled with.

Angelica wasn’t warm, and she certainly would never be accused of being personable.

Their gazes locked.

The breath left Angelica’s lungs, her heart speeding up and taking over her entire body. Hope was so much better looking in person than on a screen. Wasn’t it supposed to be the opposite?

“It’s good to finally meet you, Ms. Shields.” Hope held her hand out.

Angelica hesitated to take it. What if she was trembling so bad that Hope could feel it?

She bit the inside of her cheek hard, waking herself back up.

Her fingers slipped against Hope’s warm skin, a sizzling electricity under the touch.

It nearly burned. But Angelica kept her hand in place, firmly shaking Hope’s hand. “Mrs. Lawrence.”

Hope gripped Angelica’s hand hard, her other hand coming up to cup Angelica’s almost like a caress.

Angelica dropped her gaze to their fingers before flicking her eyes back up to the blue- eyed brunette beauty in front of her.

Her hair, curled, was down around her shoulders.

Angelica had never seen her like that before—all the videos and pictures had her hair up and out of her face.

But this way made her seem so much softer, not just more welcoming, but gentle somehow.

Angelica cleared her throat. “It’s good to meet you in person.”

Why had she said that? God, she was an idiot. Hope would know she’d been looking her up on the Internet, wouldn’t she? Because she was damn sure that Hope had googled her. She’d be an idiot not to.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there when you were vetted,” Angelica added.

And she truly was. To meet the first time when they were in front of a camera wasn’t ideal.

And she definitely wanted to know where this feeling—whatever this feeling was—was coming from.

Because seriously, it was knocking her off her feet and plopping her down on her ass.

And she would have loved a forewarning of the power that this woman held over her.

“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.”

Oh my God, is she actually flirting right now? Angelica had to bite her cheek again. This woman didn’t just have power, she was fucking bold with it. Tightening her jaw, Angelica squared her shoulders and evened out her stance. She had to find some way to defend herself against whatever this was.

“Chemistry?” Angelica’s voice rose with an unexpected tease. Fuck, she was enjoying this flirting way too much. And the fact that Hope had teased her into joining in? This was going to be a long photo shoot. “Wrong kind of show, Hope.”

The chuckle that reached Angelica’s ears sent a shiver through her body. This woman would be the death of her, no doubt about it. “Oh, it’s exactly the right kind of show. If the two of us don’t have chemistry ?—”

Fuck, why did she have to say it like that?

“—I’m fairly certain the show will fail.”

Angelica stepped in even closer, lowering her tone. The teasing was over. The fact that Hope had managed to spell out Angelica’s biggest fear in the span of seconds? She wasn’t going to allow it. “It won’t fail. I won’t let it.”

Looking directly into Hope’s crystalline eyes, Angelica held her gaze.

She wanted to make damn sure that Hope understood what she was saying and what she wasn’t saying.

She would put all of her energy and passion and time into this project to make sure that it got off the ground and that they were renewed for a second season. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

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

She dropped the intensity and stepped to the side, turning around to face the photographer.

She’d worked with him before, and he was excellent.

Especially at catching those candid pics of her that were the make-or-break shots they needed because she wasn’t good at posing on command.

“What shots?” Hope asked curiously.

“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.

It would damn figure that the intense feelings she had rushing through her would show up on camera, and he would be the right damn photographer to catch it.

“I need to change.” Angelica looked at Wade. “Then I’ll be back.”

“Good timing. Hope needs to change, too.”

“I do?” Hope asked.

“Into your chef’s coat. Ange, yours are labeled in the order I want you in them.”

Angelica said nothing as she pressed her lips together tightly and started back toward her dressing room.

She wasn’t a fan of nicknames, and certainly not ones she didn’t give permission for, although she was grateful he knew her well enough to put everything in order.

Fewer decisions made for an easier day for her.

The outfit hanging up made her pause.

What the hell was Wade thinking?

Sliding into the outfit, Angelica stared at herself in the mirror and cringed. It was gaudy compared to what she would typically wear. But she put it on, not arguing with the expert. She didn’t have time or energy for that today.

As soon as she stepped back into the studio, she understood.

Hope’s chef’s coat was black, and it set off the color in her eyes like a beacon of light.

It matched her dark brown hair, letting the auburn highlights in it shine brightly and give her even more dimension.

The way the chef’s coat fit to her body, the tightness against her chest and stomach, across her hips and the black leggings she wore to match—Angelica’s mouth went dry.

Fuck, this isn’t good .

“I get it,” Hope said as soon as Angelica stepped in front of the backdrop. “Opposites.”

“Well, they do attract.” Angelica cursed herself.

What the hell was she doing? Hope had been commenting on the fact that her pants and jacket were pure white, and her blouse black with a deep V that was showier than Angelica was usually comfortable with.

She wasn’t talking about the fact that often people were attracted to those completely opposite of them.

Hope laughed, shaking her head. “I didn’t peg you as having a sense of humor.”

“No one ever does.”

“Can you two stand shoulder to shoulder, slightly turned back-to-back, arms crossed? Then look directly at me.”

Angelica clenched her fist hard, digging her nails into her palm to wake herself back up. This had to be a dream, right? This wasn’t the kind of person she was. Maybe since Hope had just gotten the job because of Rex, she would be gone quickly.

“Do you keep it hidden?” Hope asked.

“Keep what hidden?” Angelica responded, staring directly at Wade, no doubt with a menacing look on her face because try as she might, she wouldn’t be able to smile right this minute. Hope smelled amazing, like lilacs after a fresh summer’s rain.

“Your sense of humor.” Hope turned a little, looking directly into Angelica’s eyes. “Or is it the world’s worst kept secret?”

“I bet you’d like to find that out.” Angelica’s lips pulled upward in a half smile. Hope took another second, but she mimicked the move, the lightness blossoming on her face and reminding Angelica of all the good things that she missed out on in the world.

“You know. I would.” Hope winked at her before turning back to look at Wade. “And I’m fairly certain I’m going to get a front row seat to your quirky sense of humor.”

“Oh are you? Also, bold assumptions there, Mrs. Lawrence.”

“Assuming that I’m getting a front row seat?

Or assuming that you have a quirky sense of humor?

” Hope was facing her again, arms still crossed.

She stood at least three inches taller than Angelica, with her heels on, which meant without them—Angelica stopped that thought immediately. What was the point of it?

Facing Hope, Angelica dropped her gaze from her eyes to her lips and then flicked them back up, raising a curious eyebrow in the process. “Considering I’m a producer and lead and you’re a last-minute addition to the roster, bold assumption on both.”

“I doubt you’re humorless,” Hope leaned in whispering. “You’ve just proven otherwise.”

“Oh?” Angelica’s entire body was tuned into Hope. Every move Hope made, Angelica would be hyperaware of what was going on.

“You might be one producer on this show, Ms. Shields. But I’ve been in show business long enough to know that nothing is as straightforward as you just made it seem.”

Angelica hummed, her mouth pulling tight. “Touché.”

“So, back to that quirky sense of humor.” Hope winked again and then took a step back. “Was it your idea that we dress in opposites? Or should I blame Wade over there?”

Laughing, Angelica shook her head and tossed a glance to their poor photographer who seemed to have his finger glued to that clicker. She’d hate this later, wouldn’t she? Looking at the photos as soon as they were edited was going to be a stark reminder of the visceral intensity of this moment.

“Always blame Wade,” Angelica whispered before moving to face him, a light accusatory look in his direction. He wouldn’t mind. So long as he got the shot, he would take the abuse she was throwing at him now. They at least knew each other well enough for that.

“Yes, yes, blame me!” Wade chimed in, moving his hand in the air as if he wanted them to keep going. “Don’t stop, Hope. I can never get the Ice Fairy to smile when she’s in my studio.”

“Ice Fairy?” Hope repeated, that damn curiously flirtatious tone back in her voice.

Angelica wrinkled her nose and glared at Wade. “Is that what they call me?”

“Everyone calls you that, Ange. You just ignore the fact that they do.”

“Of course I do.” Angelica tossed a look at Hope. “There’s nothing wrong with being a little icy.”

“No, some of my favorite things to eat are served cold.”

If Angelica didn’t have as much self-control as she did, she would have moaned out loud right at that statement. What in the world were they doing? Playing with fire and ice at the same time?

“Ice cream, for instance,” Hope continued, as if she hadn’t just thrown Angelica into a horny tailspin that wouldn’t end any time soon. “Tiramisu. Mmmm, I make a mean tiramisu.”

It almost made Angelica want to try it. Then again, the thought sent a wave of nausea through her belly.

It was exactly the wake-up call that she needed.

And she wasn’t about to comment on Hope’s ability or inability to cook.

That was only one part of her skills that they needed, and if she had her own cooking show, she could actually make a meal.

Angelica was far more interested in her ability to run a kitchen well, and to clean up the messes she was about to be thrown into.

“Then again, sometimes the heat goes well with the cold. I had a hot honey ice cream once that was to die for.”

Again, Angelica’s stomach recoiled at the very thought. She straightened her shoulders and looked at Wade directly. She had to end this, whichever way she could. “What other shots do you need today?”