TV celebrity chef and cookbook author Adam de Leon walked away from his lover when Jason's drug addiction spiraled out of control. Adam also abandoned his renowned restaurant in San Francisco to start a small bistro in the Sierra Foothills.<br><br>Five years later Adam is battling the conservative leaders of Stone Acres, California, to open a new restaurant in the historic Old Town area when Jason turns up on his doorstep -- a recovered Jason, now going by the name David and claiming he's overcome his addictions. What's more, he begs Adam to take him back and says he's ready for their happily ever after.<br><br>Adam has enough on his plate with problems plaguing the opening of his restaurant. Now he's having a hard time deciding which to follow -- his head or his heart.

When Adam Fell

“I found this huge metal badge that probably hung over the front door of some jail or sheriff’s office or something during the late 1800s.” David flipped to another black and white shot. The badge was gigantic.


“Maybe four feet tall. Maybe a little bigger.” David shrugged. “Anyway, I thought it would look good either hanging outside with the restaurant name on it or embedded in the entryway floor. What do you think?”


“Okay. Sounds like a plan. Now all I need is a name for this place.” I was impressed. He’d come up with something I could live with.


“Uh, yeah. I was thinking it could be the Silver Star.” His eyes shone uneasily, as if he thought I might be about to stomp all over his ideas.


“Yeah. Okay.” I was already planning the menu. Something mixing downhome Western fare—grilled meat, beans, potato salad, real cowboy fare—with California cuisine. Asparagus comfit, artichoke soup, dried mixed-berry rice. Yeah, it could work.


Chapter 17