They had. Hadn’t they? Angelica racked her brain, trying to come up with at least one actual date that they had set up and gone on, but she couldn’t honestly remember one. Everything they’d done together had been unplanned, and it was most often also work conversations rather than simply conversations about them and their relationship.
“Fine, you win that one,” Angelica murmured, still not quite ready to give up. But again, going out after a long day of workand making everything a big to-do wasn’t something she often wanted to do.
“I’ll give you the break that for most of the work break from filmingHotel Bombshellwe weren’t exactly in the same country.” Hope bumped their shoulders together.
“Here we are,” Lyric said.
They stilled in front of another small tent that had beautifully baked Bavarian pretzels. Angelica’s eyes locked on them instantly. She turned toward Hope. “Those look delicious.”
“We can get you one.”
Angelica’s stomach rumbled.
Hope laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes, then.”
“Here she is!” Cadence rolled her shoulders as she faced a woman and a man standing together.
Angelica paused. Their setup was a camera and a handheld fluffy microphone thing, like one of those that an influencer would have, not an actual journalist. Who the hell had they set up to meet with them? She probably should have insisted on having a bit more control over that when they’d discussed these plans.
She noted that for future situations like this. Retain control and power.
“I’m Melodee, and this is my brother Roman. We run a YouTube channel all about travel.”
“Oh.” Angelica blinked.
“Since you two travel a lot and we happened to be in the same place as you this week, it seemed to be kismet that we would run into you and be allowed to interview you.” Melodee grinned awkwardly.
She was nervous. Angelica clocked that a mile away, but she wasn’t the person in this couple who could easily make others comfortable. Hope stepped forward and held out her hand. “I’m Hope.”
“And I’m Angelica,” she said, following Hope’s lead. Her head spun a little, making her feel like she was floating for a second before she settled back down. “It’s good to meet you,” she added.
“You too! I’m a huge fan ofHotel Bombshell.” Melodee winced, her cheeks reddened.
“Good to know a fan,” Hope chimed in, thankfully taking the response that Angelica never would have come up with.
They really were such a good team. Cadence set up the camera and nodded to them. “We’re ready whenever you are boss.”
“Oh right.” Melodee winced again. “Do you mind if I just interview you right here? The backdrop is amazing.”
“Sure.” Hope wrapped their fingers together tightly.
Angelica lifted the stein to her lips, taking another sip. She could enjoy herself. This was work, but it was enough like a date that she wanted to be able to enjoy what little time they had away.
“I’m here with Chef Hope Lawrence and Angelica Shields, a step away from where they’re filming for the fourth season ofHotel Bombshell, a show that I’ve absolutely fallen in love with like so many other people out there in the world.” Melodee giggled slightly as she looked at the camera her brother stood behind. “I just wanted to ask you a few questions, ones that I’ve been dying to ask you from the start.”
“Well, shoot.” Hope laughed lightly, already making this way easier than Angelica would.
“Okay, umm, so hi.” Melodee shifted her gaze from Hope to Angelica. “And yes, if anyone out there is wondering, Ange’s Icy Fairy look is even worse in person than it is on the screen.”
“My Ice Fairy look?” Angelica raised an eyebrow at Melodee and then looked directly at Hope. “I don’t?—”
“You do,” Hope interrupted, moving in and kissing Angelica on the cheek quickly. “But I love that look.”
Angelica narrowed her gaze at Hope before she focused back on Melodee. “What question did you have?”
“Oh, um…” Melodee rubbed her lips together nervously, holding the small fluffy microphone in front of her mouth. “When did you know that you were in love?”
Angelica stilled. She hadn’t expected that question tonight, and she certainly hadn’t expected it to be the first one. Then again, she’d been surprised more than she cared to admit since they started filming this season.
