Can't Stand the Heat (PDF)

From the moment Marissa met Billy when she was hired as his Sous Chef, she found everything about him delicious. Between his tall, muscular frame, his thick black hair and his piercing blue eyes, she couldn't resist her hunger for him. His Crepes Suzette weren't too bad, either! They created memorable dishes in the kitchen of the Savannah gourmet restaurant where they worked and eventually memorable heat in the bedroom as well.After several years, though, Billy's addiction to gambling destroyed the trust in their relationship. When the marriage went sour, he left Savannah and went to work at their boss's Atlanta restaurant. A year later the owner closed the Atlanta location, and just in the nick of time for Billy. Right before he leaves Atlanta, his bookie shows up demanding Billy settle his debts. When Billy explains he doesn't have the money, the bookie's henchman roughs him up. Billy swears he's starting a new job and will have the money soon. The men knock him out. When he awakens, he starts toward Savannah, but quickly realizes he's lost his cell phone. Not giving that much thought, he buys another, then continues on his way to Savannah to reclaim his old job and his exwife.When he shows up on Marissa's doorstep expecting to stay there, she's furious, although deep down, she finds him just as tasty as ever. When she sees Billy is injured, though, she relents and allows him to stay. Knowing she won't be able to resist him for long, she insists they compete for the Head Chef job, rather than work together on a permanent basis.Their boss calls and explains a magazine food critic will be paying the restaurant a surprise visit soon. He asks that they work together rather than compete, but Marissa assures him the competition will bring out their creative best. The boss then sweetens the pot with a ten thousand dollar bonus to the winner. Since that's the amount Billy owes his bookie, he's more determined than ever to win. If he wins, he can move on with his life. He truly wants to quit gambling and get back with Marissa, but will the demons from his past allow him to reclaim what he lost?As Marissa and Billy ramp up the competition in the kitchen, the intense attraction heats up as well. Marissa softens her resolve, but can she trust him not to fall back into the destructive behavior that sank their relationship the last time?