Page 95 of No Holds Barred

Perhaps this was just their history coming up again.

“No one ever opens up in the first day,” Hope barked back.

“They don’t,” Angelica agreed. “And it’s our job to figure out what they’re hiding. Because they’re always hiding something.” She shot Hope a serious look before shifting her gaze to Cadence and then Logan.

Too many games were being played at once in here, and she needed to put some of them to an end. She needed to keep them from falling off the wall and breaking.

“Shall we get back to schedule?” Angelica asked.

“Yes, lets.” Logan was the one who answered, and his keenly observant eyes were locked on Angelica.

She wasn’t going to be able to hide for much longer.

Chapter

Thirty

“What the hell were you thinking?” Angelica snagged Hope’s arm hard and pulled her into the kitchen right after they’d finished filming their introductions.

Hope shook her head, her heart racing. “What?”

“Logan,” Angelica spat out his name like it was a curse. “What the fuck did you tell him?”

Hope’s heart raced. Angelica’s hand was still wrapped tightly around her upper arm. She wasn’t sure she could escape even if she wanted to. Hope looked around, flicking her gaze toward Cadence who stared at the two of them with wide eyes. The kitchen staff seemed just as surprised by Angelica’s outburst.

“Outside,” Hope muttered under her breath, wrenching her arm from Angelica’s grasp. The last thing they needed was to have more gossip about them that they couldn’t control.

She didn’t wait as she stomped out of the kitchen and wrenched the mic pack from her back and pulled out the cord. The last thing they needed was to be on the record for this conversation because Hope had no doubt that tempers were going to fly and screaming would be involved.

“Slow down!” Angelica said loudly.

When Hope looked over her shoulder, Angelica was still hobbling along with her cast and trying to keep up as she took apart her own microphone in the process. Hope sighed heavily and waited for Angelica to catch up, but when Angelica flipped her a look of absolute rage, Hope gave up and rolled her eyes.

They walked in silence together down the small pathway that led between the hotel and the river and into a small area with trees where they had at least some privacy. Then again, they wouldn’t have much privacy for a while since they were still filming. This would have to do.

Hope stopped suddenly and turned on Angelica. “I called Logan because Josef needs to be put back in line—well, really, he needs to be fired and get the hell out of my life.”

Angelica froze, her lips parting in surprise. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Josef. That’s why Logan’s here. Not because of you or me or anything else. I called him because of the shit Josef has been pulling, and you know what, Ange? I’m sick and tired of it. I’ve hit my limit.”

“What did you tell Logan?” Angelica’s lower lip quivered.

Hope paused, realizing far too late what Angelica had assumed. She stepped forward and clasped Angelica’s hands tightly in her own, pulling her a step closer. “I didn’t tell him about us. I promise you, Angel.”

Relief rushed through Angelica’s gaze before the tension in her cheeks dropped.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry you thought that.” Reaching forward, Hope put her hand around the back of Angelica’s head and pulled her in, cradling her against her shoulder. “No, I wouldn’t do that. Not without talking to you first.”

Angelica took a steadying breath, and it rattled against Hope’s chest. She threaded her fingers into Angelica’s hair and tugged slightly before releasing. She wanted to say something,but a niggling in the center of her chest told her that silence was better—at least for right now. She pressed her face into Angelica’s hair, breathing in the light coconut scent of her shampoo. She let her eyes flutter shut as Angelica relaxed and finally pulled away.

“Okay.” Angelica nodded to herself and then blew out another breath. “Okay. So what exactly did you tell Logan?”

“I called him when we were in Vermont, after Leanne and her drama…I called him after he threatened my job.” Hope rolled her eyes, her cheeks heating.

Angelica’s jaw dropped. “Your job? Not mine?”

“Both, but mine primarily. I love what I do, Angel. I love being on camera and cooking and helping people figure out what they want to do with their kitchens and helping them make it so much better. I was so nervous when we filmed season one, but now? I’d never go back and not do it. I love this so much.” Hope bit her lip. “And I’m going to fight for it.”