Page 113 of No Holds Barred

“I was, but I thought he’d drop it.”

“Josef doesn’t drop things, and the fact that social media has seemed to pick up on our… chemistry… only irks him even more. Because it’s in his face and he has to pay attention to it anytime he’s working on the show.” Angelica smiled at the waiter as she ordered her food. Easing up from the personal side of the conversation made this easier and harder at the same time. Because she wanted Hope to understand very clearly why she was holding off on diving deep into this relationship they were starting again.

“I bet the paparazzi are going to continue after this season.” Hope spun her drink in her fingers.

“Oh?” Angelica frowned. “Why do you think that?”

“Because it’ll be out there that Rex and I are divorced, and there will be a load of questions as to why, and when they see us on their screens…” Hope trailed off. But she didn’t need to draw the conclusion. Angelica was already there.

She nodded her understanding and then sat back in her chair. “It won’t help that we’re supposed to shoot some promotional videos with Cadence during break either, assuming we’re up for renewal.”

“Stop kidding yourself, Angel. We’re going to be renewed.”

Angelica’s stomach clenched tightly. Hope was always the more positive one, so it shouldn’t surprise her as much that she’d see the renewal already in hand. But Angelica still hadconcerns, and she wasn’t going to let go of those lightly. But she chose the path of least resistance and didn’t comment on it.

“She wants to work on some short YouTube videos where you teach me to cook.” Angelica raised an eyebrow at Hope. “Apparently I’m inept.”

Hope chuckled lightly, her lips curling upward. “She wants that tension and it’s a very easy way to get it.”

“I suppose,” Angelica agreed. “I still don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to like it. You just have to see it as marketing and as the fact that it actually requires very little from you. You just have to show up and do what you’re told.”

A shiver raced down Angelica’s spine and settled right between her legs. That thought did sound pleasant, in more ways than one. She bit her lip, her cheeks heating with just that thought, and when she looked up at Hope, she was surprised to see the same look reflected in her gaze.

“We can try that, if you want,” Hope lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned over the table slightly. “We can try anything you want.”

Angelica flicked her gaze all over Hope’s face, lingering on her full lips and the way they were slightly parted as her breathing increased, the way her breasts pushed against her T-shirt with each breath. Angelica finally looked back into Hope’s crystalline eyes and smiled.

“I’d like that. Perhaps we can start that tonight.”

Hope chuckled. “I thought you didn’t want me to stay in your room all week, and here we are, the last night in Saint Paul, and I’ve literally spent every single night in your room.”

Angelica canted her head to the side with a smile playing at her lips. “Oh, I wanted you to stay with me. I also wanted to be very clear that just because you don’t have Eva this week, doesn’t mean it’s the only time you get with me.”

Hope’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t—“ then she stopped. “I can see how you’d draw that conclusion. I just wanted more free time, and it’s easier when she’s not with me to have that.”

Angelica hummed. “Then, the point was made. We’re not jumping into anything without thinking, and we’re not going to let the world know just yet.”

“No, not yet.” Hope winked at her. “But eventually.”

Angelica couldn’t stop the gentle laugh that burbled up inside her. “Eventually,” she agreed.

Episode 5

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - CLARIDGES

Chapter

Thirty-Six

“Iwanna go home!” Eva whined, tugging on Hope’s hand as she tried to walk toward the elevator.

“I understand, babe, but we have one more week of shooting, and then we’re done.” Hope tried to drag her toward the elevator, but she wasn’t having it. It’d been this way the entire plane ride over, and while they’d actually flown with Rex this time, which had helped, she was exhausted from the trip and from the whining.

“This place sucks.” Eva crossed her arms and pouted, staring at the ground.

“We don’t know if Chicago sucks, Eva. It could be fun! I think there’s a lot planned for you to do this week in between your studies.” Hope was trying to make this sound as exciting as possible, and it just wasn’t working.