Page 31 of Under the Table

Hope leaned forward slightly, just enough to see Angelica’s tongue dash out against her lips. Angelica moved her gaze from the men to Hope, locking their eyes together. Hope had no idea how long they actually stared at each other, but she was lost in the beauty of this woman.

Not just the fact that Angelica stood up for her, defended her, tore down the men who were taunting her right before her eyes, but also the fact that Angelica had done it without question or compromise. She was drawn back by Robin clearing his throat. Hope’s entire body was tuned into Angelica’s, and she wasn’t going to let this moment live down.

Robin nodded at them firmly. “We’ll do it.”

Chapter

Eleven

“I’m shocked they started to listen,” Hope commented as she stepped into the conference room that had been their headquarters for the last week.

Angelica was still packing up the majority of her belongings in there to take them back to her room while the crew broke down the rest of the equipment they’d brought. The crew would leave tonight after the party with everything packed on the truck, and Angelica and Hope were due to leave for Los Angeles in the morning to wine and dine a potential new investor.

“I am a bit as well.” Angelica raised her eyebrows before dropping them and sighing. “The real question will be if they can keep it up when we leave.”

“You know, had you asked me that two days ago, I would have said no. But today?” Hope grinned broadly as she sat down on the table and curled her fingers around the edge. “Today I’m feeling optimistic.”

God, how much Angelica wanted to step into that optimism with her. But that wasn’t her style. She was always a realist—preparing for the worst and being ready for the best. It was what made her so good at her job and absolute shit at relationships.

Angelica smiled, sliding her iPad into her bag and putting her hands on her hips. “I’ll let you have this one. We can check back when we’re done filming and see who was right.”

“Do you want to wager a bet on it?” Hope leaned back slightly, wiggling her fingers in Angelica’s direction.

Angelica had no idea what the hell she was doing that for, but it caused her to laugh a little. “No bets, boss.”

“Boss? Oh, I like the sound of that.”

“Don’t get used to it.” Angelica took the laptop she brought with her and added that to the bag. “But I do think we managed to at least bring to light what the actual problem is here.”

“Agreed.” Hope smiled.

Angelica’s attention was caught by Lyric’s head popping in the door. “What is it?”

“They want you to check on the room for the wrap party, make sure everything is set.” Lyric lifted her phone up and snapped a quick picture.

Angelica frowned at that. Couldn’t they honestly set up a room without her? Yes, she was detailed about everything, but when it came to these small parties, she didn’t have a lot of weight in caring for them. It was far more for the hotel staff to celebrate getting rid of Angelica and her crew—well, Angelica and Hope’s crew.

When had she started thinking about the show like that?

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

And then Lyric was gone. Angelica zipped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder before straightening. “Join me?”

“Well, I already know the food is delicious.” Hope laughed as she stood up.

Angelica took a step in front of her but stopped when Hope’s hand landed on her wrist and pulled her back slightly. She looked directly into Hope’s crystalline eyes and stilled. A gentle swell of calm filled her each and every time she looked at Hopelike this, just a quiet moment of ease shared between them when nothing was intense or wrong or needed to be done.

Then her gaze dropped.

Hope’s lips parted, her teeth showing just barely. Angelica held her breath, remembering the way those lips would feel pressed against hers, the pressure, the temerity of a kiss she was willing to bet neither one of them had ever experienced before. Angelica hummed slightly, barely catching the noise before she managed to stop it.

“When uh…” Hope started, her voice breathy and distracted. “When did Lyric become your personal social media expert?”

“A while ago,” Angelica answered, then she shook her head. “She’s my filming personal assistant this season. I realized last season that I was going to need an extra hand with everything I’m juggling, and she was the perfect fit for the position.”

Hope hummed her nod, and that sound went straight in Angelica’s ears and between her legs. She pressed her thighs together to try and stop it from going any further, but she wasn’t entirely sure that she was successful on that front.

“And how many personal assistants does it take to keep the busy Angelica Shield’s life up and running properly?”