Page 105 of Under the Table

“I’ll see you in the morning,” she whispered.

“Of course,” Angelica said, sitting up. “Thanks for the beer and the walk.”

Hope nodded at her as she got off the bed and started for the door. It wasn’t until she was out in the hallway that she finally texted Rex back.

Hope: I’m on my way.

Episode Five

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEABREEZE RESORT & SPA

Chapter

Thirty-Five

The loud squeal of a toddler jarred Angelica. The screech, which was far more a scream of annoyance than joy, was like nails on a chalkboard in her ears. She steadied herself as she stared at her iPad and raised her gaze as inconspicuously as possible to see where the noise had come from. Sure enough, a mother was trying to drag a defiant toddler outside the main reception area while her older children looked on in annoyance and horror.

“I don’t miss those days,” Hope said.

Angelica jerked with another start. She hadn’t expected Hope to just show up. Then again, that had been happening more often lately. Angelica was on edge, and she wasn’t used to that. Something big was about to go down, but she couldn’t put her finger on what exactly it’d be just yet.

“Do you need to be anywhere right now?” Hope asked.

Angelica furrowed her brow, glancing in Hope’s direction. “No. I have a few minutes before we start filming.”

“Good. Come with me.” Hope snagged Angelica’s upper arm and dragged her away from the front reception area.

Angelica followed, her heels clacking with each step on the cement floor. She had no idea where they were headed, butHope’s grasp on her arm was firm and confident. Angelica nearly stumbled when Hope suddenly stopped in front of a door, keying her way inside before shutting and locking it behind her.

The supply closet was dank and a bit dusty, but that was to be expected. Angelica stepped deeper into the room, and Hope followed her, suddenly spinning her around and pressing their mouths together. Angelica hummed, parting her lips and holding onto Hope as their bodies pressed together. Hope swiped her tongue along Angelica’s lips, and on instinct, she parted to deepen the embrace.

“Microphone?” Hope mumbled against Angelica’s lips and then trailed a line down her neck.

“Uhh… yes?” Angelica tangled her fingers in Hope’s hair, trying really fucking hard to find her brain, but Hope seemed to make it disappear as soon as they’d come in here.

With a sharp twist, Angelica was propelled around so her back was pressed up against Hope’s front. She looked over her shoulder curiously as Hope dug her fingers under Angelica’s blazer and found the offending microphone pack and unplugged it, setting it on a shelf. “Good, it was off still.”

“Good?” Angelica asked, trying to turn back around, but Hope’s steady hands kept her in place.

“So no one heard anything.” Hope pulled Angelica’s blazer off and tossed it somewhere.

Angelica was about to object, but Hope trailed her palm down her back and over the curve of her ass. “I’ve thought about this since that kiss in Kansas City, you know.”

“Thought about what?” Angelica asked, her voice shaking from arousal. The command that Hope had right now, the control and determination. It’d be her undoing. She pushed her ass against Hope’s palm, wanting more contact.

“A quickie in the supply closet.” Hope laughed. She slowly turned Angelica around so they were facing each other againand started to pull up Angelica’s skirt inch by fateful inch. “Rex actually accused us of doing that once.”

Angelica stilled, her heart thundering but not from arousal now. Rex. He was the jealous type, wasn’t he? She’d seen it in him on occasion, but she hadn’t seen the full brunt of it. Apparently, there was far more than Angelica had thought. Hope’s fingers on the inside of her thigh distracted her from that line of thought.

“And then when we kissed in one… Yeah, I won’t lie and say that it hasn’t run through my brain since then.” Hope dropped her mouth to Angelica’s chest, brushing her lips across Angelica’s skin.

“Wh-why now?” Angelica asked, fisting her hands at Hope’s sides. It was only then that she realized Hope wasn’t in her chef’s coat yet. She still had on a pair of jeans and a green colored V-neck shirt. How long had she planned this?

“I thought we could use a few minutes to ourselves before filming gets started.” Hope scraped her teeth along Angelica’s collar bone. “Just a few minutes where it’s you and me and no one else.”

Angelica hummed, loving that sentiment. She cupped the back of Hope’s head and pulled her up so they could kiss again. Angelica nipped Hope’s lip and sucked it hard before letting it go with a pop.

“Quick means quick, Hope.” She rested her shoulders against the wall and jutted her hips out.