Rachel laughed lightly. “I get how that goes.”
Hope couldn’t imagine going through this with three kids. Mandy had a few years on the others, coming from Rachel’s first marriage, but to then rinse and repeat? No thank you. Eva was enough for her. Rex sent Hope a curious glance before stepping away.
Filming the scene between all of them didn’t take too long. The kids already trusted Hope to deliver on the food flavors, and all she’d really had to do was explain to the camera the new menu that she was trying out to make the resort a little more family friendly. They had games and a pool with slides, but the food was a bit too highbrow for some kids, especially smaller ones with particular palettes. She’d add in the recipes to the menu later on that week when they made the final changes.
She was just cleaning up with the kids all helping out when Angelica and Eva stepped into the kitchen. She looked stunning in a black dress that was low cut along the curve of her breasts, and heels that easily made them the same height.
The temptation to walk over to her was so strong, so she gave in. Her eyes were glued on Angelica’s baby blue ones, her presence just drawing Hope in even closer. She stopped a step away from Angelica and glanced down at Eva.
“I hope you weren’t distracting Ange.”
Eva shook her head, her hand still firmly grasped in Angelica’s. “We were working on math homework.”
“Oh.” Hope’s heart twisted. Eva hadn’t been able to stop talking about Angelica and math homework since they’d met.
“It helped calm her down,” Angelica stated, her shoulders rigid as she looked around the kitchen.
Hope glanced behind her, surprised to find Rachel and Rex both staring at her with wide eyes and surprise. What the hell was wrong with them?
Eva’s gaze moved from Angelica to Hope and back again, a smile forming on her lips. “Did I miss the scene?”
“Yeah, baby.” Hope reached down to rub circles in Eva’s back. “But that’s okay, there’s another one out by the pool today, I think.”
“Tomorrow,” Angelica corrected.
Of course Angelica would know that. She’s the one who put most of the schedule together with Rex. Hope’s heart pattered lightly.
“I need to get back.” Angelica moved her hand forward, the one that still had Eva’s clutched in her fingers. She waited for Eva to let go and grab onto Hope’s hand, standing next to her.
Hope wanted to say more, to ask more, to spend more time in her presence, but Angelica was already walking away. She squeezed Eva’s hand tightly and bent down to kiss her cheek. “I did save you some food if you’re hungry.”
Eva’s eyes lit up. “Ramen?”
Hope snorted and shook her head. “No, but pigs in a blanket and some spaghetti.”
“Yum!” Eva made a loud slurping noise.
Hope moved to get the food, setting Eva up at a table in the corner of the dining area where she wouldn’t bother anyone else. By the time she got back to the kitchen, Rachel was in there without the kids, and Rex and his crew were taking some footage of the other staff cooking the rest of the meals.
“Where can we talk?” Rachel asked, a firm quality to her tone that immediately set Hope off.
“What?” Hope frowned.
“Without anyone seeing us.” Rachel crossed her arms, a hard look on her face, and her toe nearly tapping against the floor. “I need to talk to my baby sister, not Chef Hope Lawrence.”
“Oh, um…” Hope looked around the kitchen. There really wasn’t a good place in a commercial kitchen for that. “Outside.”
Hope led the way toward the delivery service door and then outside into the bright sun. She squinted her eyes as she crossed her arms and waited for Rachel to come out with her. On instinct, Hope reached to her back and turned off the microphone pack before reaching for Rachel’s and doing the same.
“This is about as alone as we’ll get unless you want to wait for tonight.”
“What’s going on?” Rachel rolled up on her toes and kept her gaze on Hope.
“What do you mean?” Hope’s stomach plummeted, fear crawling up into her chest and grasping onto her heart. But it didn’t squeeze. Not yet at least.
“Is Rex…” Rachel stopped. “I’m not even sure how to ask this other than what’s going on. Something’s not right.”
“Everything’s fine.” Hope wrapped her arms around her middle and held on tightly. Nothing was going awry, at least not anymore. They’d found a balance and an answer. Rachel was just trying to poke holes where there were none.
