Page 41 of No Holds Barred

Hope carried the plate of hot food carefully as she left the kitchen and walked directly toward the conference room where they were staged. She’d gotten up early that morning to cook a full breakfast, her step far lighter than it had been in weeks. Even with the shadow that covered the day and the episode, the conversation she’d had with Angelica last night had uplifted her heart.

She smiled as she stepped into the conference room and found Angelica seated at the conference table, her legs propped up. The dress she wore rode up, revealing a smooth creamy thigh, the same thigh that Hope had her hand on last night. Although at that point she hadn’t been thinking any thoughts like this.

“Hi,” Hope said, her voice wobbling a little.

Angelica looked up at her with a light in her eyes that Hope had missed. “Good morning, Chef Lawrence.”

Hope’s smile would have faded at the use of her title and last name if it hadn’t been for the teasing tone in Angelica’s voice—the tone that Hope had wanted to hear again but had been damn sure she wouldn’t.

“I brought you some breakfast.”

As if on cue, Angelica’s stomach growled at both of them. Hope chuckled, shaking her head as she stepped closer and set the plate down in front of Angelica.

“I knew that you probably hadn’t eaten yet.”

“You’re right.” Angelica’s lips curled upward into a half smile. “What is it?”

“Just some fruit and toast. I figured you wouldn’t want anything too heavy this morning.” Hope whipped off the cloche and set it to the side. She handed Angelica a fork. “And I expect you to eat it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Angelica laughed lightly, but she did pop a grape between her lips and chewed.

Hope pointed to the contraption Angelica had her feet resting on, the edge of her dress moving up even higher as she shifted to reach for another grape. “What’s that thing actually called?”

“I don’t know.” Angelica’s cheeks reddened. “You’d have to ask Lyric. I’ve just been calling it the knee-rolling wheelchair thing.”

Laughing, Hope shook her head. “You’re ridiculous sometimes.”

“Is that a compliment?” Angelica eyed Hope over her mug of coffee.

“Everything is a compliment for you.” Hope found herself grinning broadly. She couldn’t stop herself. Something had shifted, hadn’t it? Because this morning was so much easier than any other day had been between them.

But perhaps that was because they had a common enemy.

“Hardly.” Angelica snagged her iPad. “I was looking over the information you emailed last night about what Ashlee said. I think you’re right. She doesn’t know who her target clientele is, and that’s causing an issue with staff. They don’t know who to cater to in order to beef up reviews.”

“She also doesn’t understand goals and vision for the hotel as a whole.” Hope touched Angelica’s knee lightly. “Which is something she’ll need your specific talents on.”

Angelica’s lips curled up. “And luckily that’s something I can do seated.”

“Yes. It is. Did you still want me to handle room service?” Hope slid back and away, not wanting to touch too much and give Angelica the wrong idea. She wasn’t here to try to start a relationship with her. But she was going to attempt to at least make peace.

“Yes, if you think you can manage that.”

“I absolutely can.”

This conversation felt far more like how yesterday should have gone. Instead, Hope had been subjected to Leanne and the drama that Josef was creating. Angelica glanced toward the open door and then lowered her voice. “Have you heard when Josef is returning?”

“Returning?” Hope furrowed her brow.

“He was in Los Angeles for a few days with Logan.”

Hope shook her head, but that’d explain why he hadn’t been there to get Leanne settled. Though he should have been. Instead, he’d left Leanne to fend for herself, which in Hope’s estimation was probably to add to the drama he wanted to create. She sighed heavily. She really needed to report this to Logan, at least as much of it as she could.

Angelica hummed and focused back on the iPad. “I’ll see if I can find his travel itinerary.”

“You seem far more awake this morning than you did yesterday.”

“Mornings are good, once I get moving. Then it doesn’t hurt as much.”