Page 11 of Under the Table

“I think two things need to happen,” Angelica said, her voice ringing loudly and firmly through the room.

Hope stilled. She’d been about to speak, but this was a surprise. Angelica was never the first one to talk about emotions.

“We need to figure out a way to put all of that behind us so we can work together. I don’t think either one of us expected to be in the position we’re in today. Secondly, going forward, we need to make sure that everyone sees how separate our lives are.”

“By everyone… who do you mean?” Hope asked, wrapping her fingers around her shin and holding on for dear life. It was as though Angelica was negotiating a plea arrangement instead of actually talking about what they were feeling.

“I mean everyone.”

“Josef? Leanne? Rex?”

Angelica sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. “You know who I mean,” she mumbled into her glass before taking another sip and focusing on it.

“No, I don’t. You haven’t actually told me what we’re trying to hide from them either.”

Angelica cut her a sharp look.

“You can’t just make assumptions, Angel. We have to talk about this, otherwise we’re never going to clear the air enough to know what we’re doing, one way or the other.”

“We’renot doing anything.” Angelica looked at her directly. “We’re facing multiple problems going into season two, and a relationship between the two of us isn’t one of those.”

“A relationship?” Hope’s breath left her. “Who said anything about a relationship?”

The air between them thickened.

What the hell was Angelica going on about? They weren’t in a relationship, and that was the last thing that Hope wanted. She clenched her jaw tightly.

“The fans of the show.” Angelica waved her hand in the air. “We need to put those rumors to rest.”

“That’s going to be hard with a second season.”

“Yes, but we’ll find a way. But there’s a bigger issue we need to talk about.”

“What’s that?” Hope gritted her teeth. This entire situation was setting her on edge. She just needed Angelica to come out with it. This holding back nonsense was too much.

“We lost one of our key investors. We’ll make it through for a while until we can find another investor, but we have to replace that income we’ve lost.” Angelica bent her feet under her, her skirt rising up over her knees and revealing smooth creamy skin.

Hope’s gaze locked on her legs. Would they be as smooth as the skin on her neck? As hot to the touch?

“That can’t happen.”

Hope snapped her gaze to Angelica’s eyes, her cheeks burning. “What? What can’t happen?”

Angelica’s lips parted as she took a deep breath and pursed her lips. “Don’t be obtuse, Hope.”

Shame rolled through her, filling her stomach first and then her chest. She hated the way Angelica was looking at her now. Hope hardened herself against it, lifting the glass to her lips and taking a long drink of the whiskey.

“I’m going to need you to help me secure a new investor.”

“What? Why?” Hope settled her glass onto the desk. “You haven’t needed my help before.”

“I used you before without actually using you. Remember?”

Right. San Francisco.

Angelica had promised to help Hope resolve a problem at her restaurant there, and then she’d never shown up. Until she had, unexpected, and not there for that purpose. The conversation had been smooth and fine, and everything had been going well until Hope had moved in to kiss her and Angelica had stopped it all.

That wasn’t the first time Hope had seen Angelica shut down like that.