Personal chef Beau St. Clair, recently divorced from his cheating husband, returns to the small Ohio River town where he grew up to lick his wounds. Jack Rogers lives with his mother, Maisie, in that same small town, angry at and frightened by the world. Jack has a gap in his memory that hides something he dares not face, and he’s probably suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Maisie, seeking relief from her housebound and often surly son, hires Beau to cook for Jack, hoping the change might help bring Jack, once a handsome and vibrant attorney, back to his former self. But can a new face and comfort food compensate for the terror lurking in Jack’s past? Slowly the two men begin a dance of revelation and healing. Food and compassion build a bridge between Beau and Jack, a bridge that might lead to love. But will Jack’s demons allow it? His history could just as easily tear them apart as bring them together.

Dinner at Jack's

“I don’t want to, but uh, I’m gonna need to go home. Ma will be worried sick.”


I nodded and closed my eyes. Of course she would. I had entertained visions of him staying into the night and of me offering more comfort. Now I just needed to get my keys. I was certain my phone had probably already filled with frantic messages from Maisie, and I felt deep shame that her concern had been no concern of mine until now.


“Come on. I’ll run you home,” I said to Jackson once I had my keys. I grabbed jackets for us both from my overcrowded closet.


As we stepped outside, I spied lights on at Daisy’s, and that gave me an idea. I turned to Jackson. “Listen, would you mind if I stopped by my landlady’s place and called for you? Or you can come with me and call for yourself.”


Jackson looked me over. “You can do it.” He stepped back inside. “I’ll get supper started.”


Chapter 81