It only takes a few days for Ollie D'Angelo to lose his boyfriend, his job, and his home. Instead of mourning what he doesn't have, Ollie celebrates what he does: the freedom to pursue his real passion -- cooking. He begins Dinner at Home, a home-catering business, and it takes off.<br><br>Late one night, Ollie catches Hank Mellinger, a streetwise hood down on his luck, about to rob his car. Ollie soon discovers that appearances aren't necessarily what they seem. Hank isn't a criminal caught red-handed, but a hungry young man trying to make a life for himself and the four-year-old niece he's trying desperately to take care of.<br><br>Instead of calling the cops, Ollie offers Hank a job and a way to pull himself up by his bootstraps. Together, they discover they can really cook ... and that their shared passion for food just might lead to a passion for each other.

Dinner at Home

Espresso Vivace was surprisingly busy, given the late hour of the morning and the constant soul-sapping drizzle. Maybe coffee was the antidote for the latter, hence the reason for its popularity here in the Emerald City.


Ollie got in line. He couldn’t help but notice the very broad, fleece-covered shoulders of the man in front of him. His dirty blond hair drew Ollie’s gaze like a beacon.


He turned around and Ollie wondered if he had felt Ollie’s focus on him, maybe a prickling sensation at his neck. He grinned. Ollie liked the man’s gray eyes, the way they kind of matched the sky. He also liked the laugh lines framing them. They told a tale of happiness, something Ollie needed to see.


Ollie was surprised at being spoken to. He had been pretty isolated these past couple of weeks, so the sound of a human voice directed at him, although welcome, was also a little unsettling.


“Hey, it’s why we live here, right? The weather?” Ollie chuckled.


Chapter 20