Page 131 of No Holds Barred

Again Logan remained silent. When was he going to say something?

“I know it’s inappropriate?—“

“This is exactly what Josef has been accusing you of.” Logan finally broke his silence. “And you’ve denied it every time.”

“No, not every time. Only in the beginning when it wasn’t true.” Angelica wrapped her arms around her chest a little harder to ward off the cold and wind. “Then I just avoided a direct answer when he asked. It’s inappropriate for him to ask anyway.”

“While I agree with you that he shouldn’t be asking, he’s not wrong.”

“No. He’s not.” Angelica sighed heavily and closed her eyes. They took a step closer to a building as if that would give them some respite from the wind. “But he doesn’t know for certain that Hope and I are in a relationship.”

“And you are, right? This isn’t a seasonal fling post-divorce?” Logan rolled up on his toes and stared at her.

“No. I love her.”

“And she’d say the same if I asked her?” He stared at her directly, no doubt needing to see the truth in her gaze.

“She would.”

Logan sighed heavily and then ran his fingers through his curls and pulled on them sharply. “You made me look like an idiot with him!” Logan pointed back toward the hotel. Angelica didn’t need to ask to know who he was talking about. “I defended you!”

“I know you did,” she said calmly. “And I’d have preferred to wait to tell you until Hope and I were a bit more settled, but I can’t. Some things have come up, and I need to tell you now.”

“What things?” he asked.

“I’m afraid it’s going to come out. And that it might affect the crew.” Angelica wrapped her hands together tightly, twisting her fingers. This was the part she was worried about. This was the part that could ruin her career.

“You mean Rex?” Logan didn’t seem surprised anymore. But that didn’t mean that there wouldn’t be consequences for her actions. She had made a mistake and at some point, she wouldhave to own up to it. The trend was set. And Angelica couldn’t deny it. She wouldn’t. She loved Hope too much.

“No, I don’t mean Rex.” Was she really going to have to explain everything? Or was she going to be able to gloss over the details? She didn’t want to share every intimate detail. That would be embarrassing. But she would have to give him enough to understand what he needed to in order to make a decision about her future. “Rex and I are friends. And I think he would understand my relationship with Hope better than anyone. But we haven’t told him, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“It was part of what I’m asking,” Logan replied. He sighed heavily again, pulling out his hair. “What am I supposed to do with you?”

“Whatever you want.” Angelica crossed her arms, certain in her statement. This wasn’t a decision for her to make alone. It was one that the entire production was going to have to decide on. And it was the worst possible way for her relationship to go public. But they needed answers, and they needed to prevent chaos in the crew. She needed to protect them. That was her job as their boss, and she took that job seriously. If she had to give up the show so Hope could stay on it, she would, because she wouldn’t be giving up Hope.

And it had taken her far too long to realize that. Until this morning, when she couldn’t deny that Hope loved her back.

“If I need to leave the show, then I will. I will choose her over Hotel Bombshell.” She let that sentence linger in the air. She let it settle into Logan’s soul, so he understood how serious she was.

“You’re going to make this impossible for me, aren’t you?” Logan let out a chuckle that went from strained to wild. He groaned and then shuffled his feet on the sidewalk. “You know Josef is going to blow a gasket when he finds out.”

“I know.” Angelica wiggled her toes in her boot. “But I had to be certain about my relationship with Hope before I told anyone.”

“And I’m the first one you’ve told?” Logan looked at her.

“Yes. But Cadence… knows.” She shifted uncomfortably. Being on this end of the conversation wasn’t something she’d ever thought she’d have to endure. She was used to being the one to call others out, to pull them to the side and tell them to keep it in their pants. And even with Leanne, no one had ever had that conversation with her other than Josef, and even then it probably wasn’t warranted.

“Cadence?” Logan raised a curious eyebrow at her.

“Apparently she saw us one time and confronted Hope about it the other day.” Angelica’s cheeks burned despite the cold outside. “This isn’t how I would have wanted to tell you.”

“You wouldn’t have told me unless you were forced to. At least be honest with yourself about that.”

“Fair.” Angelica’s lips pulled into a slight smile before it vanished. “I haven’t told Hope that I’m talking with you. I will tonight, but she’s busy with Eva and juggling a lot right now.”

Logan hummed his agreement before groaning again and straightening his back. “You were supposed to make my job easier, not harder.”

“For that, I am sorry.” Angelica offered him a sad smile.