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

“Hey, kid, it’s okay. All taken care of.” I wrapped him up in a hug, and he clutched me like I was a human buoy that saved him from being lost at sea. “Hey, hey. It’s okay. It’s okay.”


He was shivering and crying, more scared than I’d ever been.


Finally, he sputtered and looked up at me. “My foster dad used to throw rats in my bed with me. To toughen me up.”


What the fuck? What kind of sick bastard did things like that?


I looked over his head where John seemed to be gagging as he stared at Xavier.


“Kid…” John started and glanced at me. I shook my head and waved him toward the kitchen where I could hear David opening the back door.


“Go tell David what he said,” I mouthed to John. The kid didn’t need David coming in and saying anything to make Xavier feel worse. John nodded and quietly left to the kitchen.


Chapter 24