Page 26 of Culinary Chaos (Hotel Bombshell #1)

Chapter

Nineteen

“ W elcome to Mountain View.” The young man stood just outside the front doors with his hands out to his sides and a brilliant smile on his lips.

Hope glanced at Angelica before she stepped forward with her hand extended. “We’re glad to be here.”

“I’m Tatum Beck. My family owns Mountain View West.” He took Hope’s hand and shook it firmly.

He seemed so laid back, the energy around him warm and welcoming.

Hope hadn’t experienced anything like it since she’d started this show so far, but there certainly couldn’t be an issue here with him, could there? “You must be Hope Lawrence.”

“I am,” she said. “This is Angelica Shields.”

Angelica stepped forward and held out her hand, but she didn’t look quite right.

Did she seem a little grayish under the mask she always seemed to be wearing?

Hope wasn’t entirely sure about that, but their flight into Denver hadn’t exactly been smooth.

And the ride up the mountain had been windy and curvy.

Perhaps Angelica was just suffering from a bad bout of car sickness.

“It’s good to meet you finally,” Angelica said, plastering on that smile that often could be mistaken for a grimace.

“As you can see, we’re in our slower season, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t plenty to do in the area.” Tatum turned toward the front doors of the small hotel and held them open for Hope and Angelica to walk inside. “But we keep a laid-back atmosphere all year.”

Hope breathed in the atmosphere that Tatum was talking about.

The entire front lobby was built in timber and stone, the woods and rock melding together to mimic the lines of the mountains that set the backdrops for where this hotel was nestled.

God, it was stunning here. She knew she could stay here for weeks and maybe even months without a single complaint.

Angelica walked slower, trailing two steps behind Hope. Again, that was odd. But Hope kept herself in front and made sure to play the nice host of the show that was going to come in and somehow fix this place. Though from what Hope had seen so far, she wasn’t sure they actually needed help.

“I have your rooms set up. I put you two next to each other. I hope that was okay.” Tatum smiled as he slipped behind the counter and started to check them in.

The worker who had been there smiled at each of them before stepping away to do something else.

“I figured it might help you two get more work done if you were closer together.”

“That can be the case sometimes,” Hope said, again flicking her gaze over to Angelica who was being abnormally silent. “How often do you shuttle people to and from the airport?”

“We do it on an as-needed basis, but the majority of our guests have their own vehicles. That way they can see the sights while they’re here.” Tatum smiled at her, grabbing the old-school skeleton keys and handing them over. Now that was a nice touch.

Hope took them both and handed Angelica hers.

“I’ll show you to your rooms.”

Tatum led the way through the winding hallway. The hotel wasn’t large, but it boasted a couple of floors in its A-line style and the addition they’d done in the last ten years. When they reached the rooms, they stopped in the hallway.

“Dinner is from six to ten tonight, and then the restaurant will close.”

“Only four hours?” Hope frowned, a line creasing in her forehead. She vaguely remembered reading something about that in the prep information she’d been sent, but she’d honestly thought it had been a typo.

Tatum nodded. “We cut the hours shorter in the warmer months. It helps us to control the costs.”

That made sense on one hand. On the other, they were missing out on a number of guests who might want to eat earlier or later. Hope would have to look into that more.

“I’ll let you get settled. We have a nice garden out back that leads into a gentle hike through the base of the mountain if you want to check it out.” Tatum bowed his head slightly. “When the rest of your things arrive, I’ll have them brought to your room.”

“Thank you,” Hope said, smiling at him. Tatum walked away. She stayed in the hallway as she waited for him to disappear around the corner before focusing back on Angelica. “You good?”

“I’m not entirely sure that car ride agreed with me.”

“Understandable.” Hope fingered the key in her hand. “Do you need anything?”

“Fresh air might do.” Angelica glanced down the other end of the hallway, the way that Tatum had said to go if they wanted to check out the gardens. “Want to talk outside?”

“Sure.” Hope nodded toward her room. “Meet you out there in ten?”

Angelica nodded but said nothing. She turned toward her room, dragging her small suitcase behind her as she entered.

Hope waited until she was inside before stepping into her own room.

This was much smaller than the other places they had stayed so far.

It was a simple room with two full-sized beds, which meant that she and Rex and Eva were going to be practically on top of each other while they were there.

Well, at least when Rex and Eva arrived. She’d have two nights without them.

Hope rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms over her head as she stored her bag in the small closet.

The room itself held the same charm that the rest of the hotel did, and she was intrigued to see exactly what the dining room would look like.

She just wanted to get her hands on the kitchen.

She’d looked at their menu, and it seemed promising.

Heading to the back garden, Hope breathed in the fresh mountain air.

It was definitely harder to breathe out here—it seemed like she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs.

Despite that, it was crisp and warm at the same time, fresh and filled with nothing but peace.

Was that the mood that Mountain View was going for, or was it just the damn beauty of where they were for the next three weeks?

Three whole weeks.

They had extra time up here compared to the last couple of places they’d been, and Hope was glad that it was happening here. She could honestly stay here even longer—at least from what she’d seen so far, and she hadn’t even had a chance to explore the area yet. Which she fully intended on doing.

She sent Rex a picture of the back garden, which hadn’t been what she’d expected.

She’d thought it’d be fancy. Instead, Hope had been greeted with a vegetable garden.

It was filled with raised beds and fresh vegetables that were just in the beginning stages of growth.

There was a greenhouse connected to the side of the hotel building, and being nosy as she was, she stepped inside and was amazed to find even more vegetables—these ones further along in their growth and prime for the picking.

She was willing to bet that they used these for the restaurant.

Hope brushed her fingers along the curve of a bright red, ripe tomato.

She checked on the basil and the rosemary.

She bent down to breathe in the scent of the zucchini.

Tatum and his family took good care of everything they did here, that much showed in how everything was connected together.

She stepped out of the greenhouse, a grin on her lips, and found Angelica, who’d changed from the suit she’d worn on the plane into black leggings and a workout shirt that had a sports bra underneath a loose tank.

Angelica’s hair was pulled back and out of her face, minus the wild curl that always seemed to frame the right side of her cheek.

Hope’s heart stuttered. She was stunning in this light, far more natural now than she ever was before.

“I thought we could check out the small walk that Tatum mentioned,” Angelica said, hands by her sides as she looked Hope over. “It doesn’t seem too difficult.”

Hope hadn’t changed out of the jeans and tank top that she’d worn on the plane, and while she was certainly up for a walk, she had a feeling that Angelica was in far better shape than she was and would be able to outlast her on any hike.

“Yeah, we can do that.” Hope’s heart thundered, and her voice didn’t come out as strong as it should have.

She followed Angelica’s lead this time, walking quietly behind her as they found the small trailhead that Tatum had been talking about. It was paved, which was nice, but it was barely wide enough for the two of them to walk side by side. Hope bit her lip as she glanced over at Angelica.

“Feeling any better?”

“No,” Angelica said, brushing a piece of hair that fell out of her ponytail away from her face. “It’ll take a while for my stomach to calm down. Usually does.”

“I’m not someone who gets car sick often. I guess it’s a curse of being the youngest and always ending up thrown into the back of whatever vehicle we found ourselves in.” Hope laughed lightly, still looking around taking in the beauty.

“Youngest?” Angelica asked.

“Of four. All girls.” Hope winced. “Do you have any siblings?”

“A younger brother. He’s quite a bit younger than me, so sometimes I felt more like an only child than a sister.” Angelica eyed Hope over. “It would make sense that you’re the youngest.”

“What makes you say that?” Hope stared at her in curiosity—at least that’s what she told herself it started as.

But she couldn’t drag her gaze away, and they were stopped in the middle of the pathway.

Angelica’s cheeks pinked. Was that embarrassment?

Or was it something else? Hope really wanted to know.

“You’re quite impulsive, Mrs. Lawrence.” Angelica straightened her shoulders, issuing Hope a challenging look. “And you have this air about you that life is easy, which says to me that you never had the pressures that the first daughter has placed on her.” Angelica touched her chest lightly.

“Are you saying you’re a bitch because you had the unfortunate disadvantage of being born before your brother?”

Angelica barked out a laugh. “Hardly, but it’s a nice thought, isn’t it? I always wanted to blame the world on him if I could.”

Hope understood that sentiment. She would throw her sisters under the bus whenever she could. And while she didn’t do it as often now that they were all grown, she certainly had her fair share of escaping due punishment by skirting the consequences with some lies and manipulation growing up.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Angelica said, a wistfulness in her tone that Hope had never heard before. “But I imagine it gets chilly at night.”

“Probably.” Hope looked around at the towering mountains, the wildflowers that were growing. If this were her restaurant, she’d pick those and put them on the center of the table to highlight even more of the natural beauty of this place. “We can head back now if you’re getting cold.”

“Not yet,” Angelica murmured, walking forward. “I want to see where this trail takes us.”

Hope smiled, but Angelica didn’t see it. She was already four steps ahead and moving quicker than she had before. Hope took a few long steps to catch up so they could walk together. “From the initial paperwork and application, I’m not entirely sure why we’re here.”

“Josef said this would be the easy break.” Angelica flicked her gaze to Hope. “He said we’d need a mid-season break.”

“Well, he’s not wrong. Especially after Chateau Orleans.

” Hope was still reeling from being there.

It had been so difficult not to give them all a piece of her mind and to hold back and let Angelica take that role.

She had her temper, and she wasn’t typically afraid to use it.

But with Angelica’s in the forefront, she found that she didn’t have to.

“No, I think he made the right push for this.” Angelica sighed heavily.

“I probably would have dismissed it and barreled right into the next disaster.” She laughed, and it felt amazing to be able to witness it.

The warmth and lightness that it brought to the moment was exactly what Hope had been seeking.

And she hadn’t even known it. “Have you been to Colorado before?”

“Denver only, and briefly,” Hope answered, shoving her hands into her pockets as they walked. “You?”

“No.” Angelica rolled her shoulders. “But I think I should have come here sooner.”

“It is stunning. I’m not sure that words can explain it.”

“No, they can’t.” Angelica looked over at her and grinned, that same pink tinge returning to her cheeks. It looked so much better on her than the gray she’d worn earlier. “Tatum said that the majority of their income comes in the winter, with the families and tourists coming up to ski.”

“I can see that.” Hope’s smile faltered slightly.

Angelica could always turn it back to work, couldn’t she?

Maybe she should set up another meal for them and completely take work conversation off the table.

She’d enjoyed those moments, and she still wanted to get to know Angelica better while she could.

They seemed to be finding their stride of working together, which was a good thing.

The crew seemed to be holding up stronger too.

“That means summers, especially spring and fall, are pretty scant.”

“Then it’s a good thing we’re here,” Hope added, her shoulder brushing against Angelica’s as they continued to walk.

They moved around a curve in the path and stopped short, coming out just on the edge of downtown Estes Park.

The downtown area was like something out of a movie—old world and small mountain town charm all in one. “Wow.”

“Agreed,” Angelica said. “Maybe I should plan a vacation here.”

“I think you’re not the only one,” Hope laughed. “I’d say that we should find some local foods to sample, but I think Tatum is expecting us back at Mountain View for dinner.”

Angelica hummed, but that was her only response.

“Unless you want to try both.”

“Hardly. I don’t think I could manage one full meal tonight if I tried.”

“Still nauseous from the car ride?” Hope asked, furrowing her brow in concern.

“A bit,” Angelica answered, meeting Hope’s gaze. “I’ll be fine in the morning, I’m sure. Let’s head back. We have quite a bit of work to do before the others get here.”

Hope didn’t want to think about that. Something about these quiet days where it was just the two of them talking and preparing was exactly what she needed.

And when everyone else arrived, these moments were shattered.

They were thrust into the chaos of an insane filming schedule, and they weren’t really able to find time for just the two of them to connect as leads.

That’s what they were doing, right?

Hope rolled up onto her toes and started back toward the hotel.

At least that’s what she was going to tell herself.

Until she was proven otherwise.