Page 74 of Under the Table

“She was the one still causing issues, and as much as I hate to admit it, she’s the easier one to replace.” Hope stretched her hands out in front of her and looked around Angelica’s room. Everything in here was so her to a T. The way the papers were lined up on the desk, the two iPads stacked together, the laptop computer that Hope knew she often worked from for her normal business. “I’m a business owner first, and a friend second to my employees. They know that.”

“Friend never is a better option.”

“For you perhaps.” Hope’s lips curled up into a smile. They seemed to be easing into a calm between them again, which Hope was glad to see. “So, you’re the hard ass, and I’m the friend. Seems natural roles for us in general.”

“Of course.” Angelica nodded at her.

“Does that sound like a good plan for you?” Hope asked, wanting to check one more time for her reassurance.

“Yes.”

Elation built in her chest. This wasn’t quite Angelica asking for help, but it was probably as close as Hope was ever going to get to that. And this time she didn’t have to full on twist her arm to get Angelica to agree, not like at Mountain View West, when Angelica had been stricken with altitude sickness.

“Good.” Hope stood up and held her hand out for Angelica to take. When Angelica slid her fingers against Hope’s, Hope pulled Angelica up so they were standing face to face. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this alone.” Hope cupped Angelica’s cheek, but she didn’t bring their lips together. In fact, she held still, waiting to see what Angelica would do next.

“Hope…” Angelica sighed, her lips thinning into a line. “With Josef?—”

“We’ll be careful, I promise.” Hope forced the smile onto her lips. Angelica’s nerves about everything were eating into her. She just wanted to be happy about whatever was growing between them, and she didn’t want it bogged down with the weight of the world on their shoulders. She brushed her thumb across Angelica’s lips and smiled at her. “I wonder if I’ll get the chance to wake up in the morning with you.”

“Hope.” Angelica said her name quickly, but there was nothing else after it.

Hope slid in quickly and stole a brief kiss before backing away. Angelica’s stomach rumbled, and Hope frowned at her. “You didn’t eat dinner last night, did you?”

“No,” Angelica confessed.

“Too upset?”

Angelica nodded.

“All right. Let’s get something before we have to subject ourselves to Ansel’s pruning.” She kissed Angelica again. “And find us some coffee. Deal?”

“Deal.” Angelica’s lips pulled up into a small smile. “Just…let me find the shoes I need for today.”

Hope couldn’t take her eyes off Angelica and the way she moved, slowly and tenderly. Almost as if getting ready to leave took the rest of her energy. She’d never known Angelica to be like that. She might have a calm energy, but it still simmered under the surface and was very much present. This was like bogging through the movements because she knew she had to. When she slipped the blazer over her shoulders, Hope gave her a smile, one that she prayed didn’t convey as much worry as she actually felt.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

Hope moved to the door and held it open for them. She breathed deeply as Angelica walked out in front of her. She could do this. They could do this. They just needed to catch a break.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Angelica kept her head down, buried in her iPad. Breakfast with Hope had been the saving grace of the day so far, because everything else had just spiraled into disaster and dread. She finally had a minute to herself in the conference room.

“Do you want to tell me what the hell’s wrong with you?” Josef barged in.

So much for a minute.

Angelica immediately straightened her back and looked up, surprised to find Rex and Josef coming toward her. Rex, however, didn’t say anything as he slid into the chair next to her instead of across from her. Josef continued to glare.

“Nothing’s wrong with me,” Angelica said sharply.

“You’re screwing up the entire episode. You’re just so…despondent.”

Angelica wanted to snort at that comment. She’d been quieter during filming that day, that was for sure. Hope had taken the brunt of everything, pushing to get from the beginning of a scene to the end, and Angelica had been so thankful for that. It’d been the exact reprieve she’d needed.