Page 66 of No Holds Barred

“Oh yeah. I sat down with Logan for hours after that one. He could have killed Sloane with that golf cart bullshit. But morethan that, Ange, what he did to you in Vegas—what he said to you?” Rex shook his head again. “Hope was right. I needed to use my privilege to your advantage.” He reached over and clasped Angelica’s hand tightly. “And I’m not going to hesitate to do it again. All right?”

“Thanks,” Angelica murmured.

Rex nodded at her. “One more thing.”

“What’s that?” Angelica leaned forward slightly, hoping that the conversation would ease into simpler territory, into territory that wasn’t so filled with high emotions.

“I don’t know the circumstances when it comes to you and Hope, that’s one thing we haven’t talked about, and I don’t think we will. It’s not my place anymore.” Rex looked around the room again, leaning and lowering his voice even more. “But you did make her happier than I’ve seen her in years. Our problems started well before you entered the picture, and we were both already concerned that working together was going to bring those to a head. We trusted it wouldn’t, but we didn’t do enough work to make sure that it didn’t.”

Angelica’s heart raced wildly. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying she loves you. And I’m saying that without me in the way, perhaps both of you can find what you’re looking for.” Rex reached forward and squeezed Angelica’s hand before he jerked back and looked up. “Morning, Hope.”

Angelica didn’t want to look. She didn’t want to turn her head and see Hope standing there in confusion and curiosity and probably some hurt over the fact that she and Rex seemed to have an easier time talking without Hope around, that perhaps she would call Rex a friend at this point. But she had to.

Lifting her gaze, Angelica met Hope’s crystalline eyes, the furrow in her brow, her hair that was pushed up in all different directions from sleep. Angelica’s heart thundered again, herstomach tightening. Hope’s tight white T-shirt clung to her body and her small breasts, forming to her like a second skin.

“Are you ready to work through the filming for the day?” Rex asked, not quite breaking Angelica’s reverie.

“Uh… yeah?” Hope’s voice cracked. “But where’s everyone else?”

“We’re right here!” Cadence said, her voice loud and nervous. “If we’re allowed back into the conversation.”

“Of course,” Rex answered.

Angelica was still completely lost in Hope. She hadn’t expected Rex to ever say anything like that. Everyone seemed to shift around the table except Angelica, moving to make room for Cadence, Leanne, and Hope.

“Is Josef coming?” Leanne asked.

“He doesn’t often participate in these meetings,” Rex answered.

Angelica had to snap herself out of whatever funk she was in and focus.

“We’re going to film the introduction and conclusion at the end of this episode like we did last time. I liked how that worked a bit better, and hopefully Ange will be standing completely on her own by then.” Rex flicked his gaze to her.

Hope raised an eyebrow. “On your own?”

“I can wean off the scooter this week,” Angelica murmured.

“The restaurant seems to be the problem here,” Cadence jumped in. “So we’re going to be focusing a lot on Hope this week.”

“But we need equal time,” Leanne said, her voice wavering as if she was nervous saying that.

Angelica’s phone buzzed in her hand. Still paying attention to the conversation flying and letting Rex deal with Leanne, she checked the text message that had come in.

Hope: I assume that means no more assistance is needed in the showering department.

Angelica’s cheeks burned. She immediately looked at Hope, who had a perfect smirk on her lips and flirtatious glance in her eyes. Angelica couldn’t say anything. They were in a room full of people, and after what Rex had just said, her brain wasn’t working fast enough to keep up with everything going on.

“There’s also the issue of handicap access,” Cadence stated, her voice sending a quiet hush around the table.

Angelica looked directly into Cadence’s eyes.

“It does need to be addressed,” Rex said.

“I know,” Angelica agreed. “But I also know Josef doesn’t want video evidence of my injuries. He’s trying to beat the gossip train.”

“Talking about it on screen can help with that,” Rex said. “If you’re up for that. I know you don’t like to talk about personal things very often.”