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

The squeal and single word that issued forth from the little girl’s mouth seconds later froze them all in their places for just a second.


Ollie looked across the table at Hank to watch as his expression crumbled, going from confused to terrified in an instant. Rose stared into her plate.


“I sure as hell don’t know.” Hank threw his napkin down on the table and strode quickly from the room. Ollie could hear excited voices in the entryway. He debated whether he should intrude. If this was, indeed, Mommy, then that meant Hank’s sister had returned. What was her name? Tracy? No, Stacy.


Ollie had always gotten the impression from Hank that she was in prison and wouldn’t be around for a long, long time. Hank had always made it seem like Addison was with them for the long term.


The eggs churned in his gut. This surprise morning visit did not bode well. Why would the woman have traveled across the country and then not at least phoned first?


Chapter 57