Page 64 of No Holds Barred

“What’s that?”

“Lie.” Angelica looked at her directly, as if it was a challenge. “You don’t lie.”

Hope nodded at that. Angelica had her there. “I’m not as good at manipulating the truth as you are either.”

Angelica laughed a little. “That’s not a skill I think anyone should have.”

“But you do.”

“Survival skills.” Angelica took another bite, but she kept her eyes directly on Hope. “You’re lucky to not have had to use them.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Something about the way she said that was so much more than anything Hope had seen in her before. The echo of pain was in those words. Angelica rarely shared about her homelife, and what little Hope had managed to pry outof her had been scant at best. When her father and brother had shown up last season, that had been a window, albeit so small that Hope hadn’t really felt as though she understood Angelica any better than before.

They finished their breakfast and headed back to the hotel. As soon as they stepped inside, the nanny, Rishal, was there for Eva. Hope gave her a hug and sent her on her way. They stepped into the makeup area, but it was empty. Hope snagged Angelica’s arm, stopping her from moving any further.

“Ange…”

“Yeah?”

“I…” Hope looked around. She skimmed her hand down Angelica’s arm to her hand, lacing their fingers together. This felt so natural, so comfortable. She stepped in a little closer. They were inches apart. Hope bent her head, her breath brushing across Angelica’s face and into her hair, moving it. All she could smell was Angelica and her light perfume. “I want you to know that whatever you decide about a fourth season…and please don’t take this like I’m trying to manipulate you into something, I just want you to know.”

“Know what?” Angelica turned slightly, their faces nearly touching. “What do you want me to know?”

“I won’t do another season without you.” Hope dropped her gaze intentionally this time, looking at Angelica’s lips, the way the top one bowed in the middle to such a thin little point. The lower lip so full and pink. “So if you quit after this season, then I’m with you. But if you want to fight to take back what’s ours, then tell me. Because I’ll fight like hell with you.”

Angelica drew in a ragged breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Hope squeezed her hand tightly, holding on for good measure. “Hope?—”

“I just needed you to know that.” Hope smiled at her, giving a firm nod.

“Oh! My lovely ladies!” Ansel swaggered his way into the room past them, as if he didn’t even notice how close they were standing.

Hope moved to pull away, but Angelica tugged her back.

“Not now,” Angelica whispered, her voice so quiet that Hope barely even heard her.

“Not now what?”

“Later.” Angelica squeezed Hope’s hand and then scootered her way toward the chair where Ansel would want her. “Good news, Ansel, my bruise is almost gone.” Angelica waved at her face with a smart look in her eyes.

“So it is.” Ansel clucked his tongue as he held Angelica lightly by the chin. “Beautiful as ever.”

Hope bit her lip as she wandered closer and sat in the chair next to Angelica’s. Something about this felt absolutely right, and Hope was going to live into it. She was going to breathe this ease in, because nothing between them had ever been this simple and this easy.

Looking forward, Hope caught her gaze in the mirror. “Oh damn.”

“What?” Angelica asked, turning to look at her.

“You didn’t tell me how bad my bedhead was.” She tried to smooth out the hairs sticking up at the top of her head.

“I think it’s adorable.” Angelica winked at her and then turned as Ansel handed her a mug of coffee. “Thank you, Ansel.”

“My pleasure.”

Did Angelica seriously just wink at her?

What world did they just enter? Whatever it was, Hope liked it, and she wanted to see more of that outrageously flirtatious woman she’d only ever gotten a quick taste of.

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