Page 30 of Culinary Chaos (Hotel Bombshell #1)

“Maybe. I just couldn’t figure out how to reconcile everything the way they had.

” Hope switched out the plates from the first course to the second.

Just how many had she made? Because looking at the rolling tray Hope had brought over there seemed to be at least four more plates each on it for them.

Angelica was going to burst at the seams if she ate all of that food.

“Because it wasn’t reconciled properly.”

“Ah.” Hope sat back down, eyeing Angelica carefully. Something in Angelica’s look must have tipped her off that there was more to her statement, because Hope leaned down on her elbows and took on a serious expression. “What am I missing?”

“They’re missing nearly a hundred thousand dollars in the last six months.”

“What?” Hope’s face fell. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.” Angelica sighed heavily. “But I don’t know where it went, and I don’t know who took it. For all I know, they pulled it for Miriam’s treatment.”

“I don’t think they’d do that.”

“Desperate people do desperate things, Hope. You should always believe that.”

“Not these people.” Hope shook her head, tensing. “I trust them.”

“I trust no one.” Angelica frowned. “I’ll look into it deeper tonight and see if I can get to the bottom of it. I don’t want to mention it to Tatum until I have some answers, but if it’s someone else, then we may have the solution in hand.”

“Maybe.”

Hope didn’t seem happy about that answer though, and there was an odd tension that stole over them, settling between them in a way that Angelica wasn’t quite happy with. The balance they’d found had felt so good, and she didn’t want to lose that.

“Would you come back to vacation here?” Angelica asked, trying to change the topic back to something easy and nice. She shouldn’t have brought up work. That only managed to ruin it.

“I would.” Hope sighed with a gentle smile. “I’d ask you the same, but I don’t think you take vacations.”

Angelica scoffed. “Whatever would make you think that? I take four weeks every year.”

“Because you’re mandated,” Hope quickly responded.

“Still a vacation.”

Hope chuckled, shaking her head. “How’s your meal?”

Angelica stared down at it, finding that she’d eaten at least half of the food on her plate. She hadn’t even been looking at what she was eating until then. She paused, narrowing her gaze down at something sitting right on the edge of the plate itself, something red. “Is this a pepper?”

“Yeah. I sautéed them lightly in oil and salt just to crisp them up a bit before adding them into the rice.”

Angelica put her fork down, moving her tongue around her mouth and then against the inside of her lips.

There it was. The numb tingling that she was used to feeling any time she ate a pepper of any kind.

She breathed slowly, easing the racing in her heart as she picked up the water again.

Maybe if she had more of that, then it’d wash the pepper from her lips.

But her stomach was already churning.

“What’s wrong?” Hope asked, a line creasing in the center of her forehead.

“It’s nothing.” Angelica closed her eyes and shook her head.

“You don’t like peppers?” Hope pushed again, clearly wanting some kind of answer.

“I like them.” Angelica took another large sip of water. She could already feel it in her lungs, and she had to slow the panic from making it even harder to breathe than it was about to become.

“You stopped eating when you noticed them.” Hope was still frowning, like she’d done something wrong.

“I’m fine.” Angelica slid the chair back. “Are we done here?”

“Uh…” Hope glanced at the plates of food still on the tray. “No?”

“I need to be done.” Angelica stood up and snagged her iPad. She had to get back to her room. She stepped off the gazebo and stopped short at Hope’s hand on her arm. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” Hope said, confusion riddling her face. “What did I do?”

Angelica dashed her tongue across her lips out of habit and then scolded herself for doing that. She really needed to get back to her room and get some medicine in her system. “I like bell peppers, Hope. It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. Tell me what I did.”

“ You didn’t do anything.” Angelica moved to step away, but she stopped. Looking deep into Hope’s eyes, she stilled. “I’m allergic to peppers.”

“What?” Hope seemed flabbergasted now. “Are you serious?”

“Why would I lie about that?”

“No. I just…” Hope stopped talking. “That’s not a common allergy.”

“No, it’s not. I need to get some medicine.” Angelica pointed toward the hotel. Hope still had a tight grip on her arm, holding her in place. As much as Angelica needed her to let go so she could leave, she didn’t want Hope to release her.

This had been so nice.

“Hope?” Angelica asked, trying to snap whatever trance Hope was in.

“Yeah. Right.” Hope let go of her arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not a big deal.” Angelica kept her breathing slow and even. “But I need to get some medicine before it gets worse.”

“What else are you allergic to?” Hope asked firmly.

Angelica paused, not sure if she wanted to share that information now. It’d only make Hope feel worse, but it would add in a whole explanation that Hope wasn’t expecting. She pursed her lips before giving in. “Tomatoes.”

The pause wasn’t long before Hope’s shoulders sank, dejected. “The game.”

“Yes. I’m obviously not allergic to the point of anaphylaxis, but I do need to take some medicine before this gets worse.” Angelica tightened her grip on the iPad.

“Want me to go with you?”

“I’ll be fine.” Angelica gave her a comforting smile. “It’s happened before, and it’s not that bad.”

“Still…” Hope hesitated.

“I’m fine. I promise.” Angelica nodded.

Finally free, she stepped away from Hope fully and walked directly back to her room, sliding her key into the lock and turning it. She had the medicine in her system and lay down on her bed, breathing slowly as she waited for it to start to take effect.

Why had she even shared that with Hope?

What was it about Hope that kept her from being able to think straight?