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 was about to speak when David straightened next to me and leaned in.


“Bullshit, Tom-mee!” he drawled. “You were a bully in high school and you’re a bully now. The difference is before you were at least honest about it. Now you’re a manipulative bully.”


I turned to David, my eyes probably mirroring Tommy’s surprised owl look. Jason had never stepped up and confronted Tommy or any of the other guys. What was going on? David had said he was different from Jason. This wasn’t just a difference. This was a complete turnaround.


David winked at me. What game were we playing now?


“So the bottom line is this. Are you going to give us shit about opening the Star or not? ‘Cuz I gotta tell you, whining isn’t working,” David told him.


Now my mouth, like Tommy’s, was hanging open. But once a bully, always a bully took over, and Tommy shifted his shoulders like a bull ready for battle.


Chapter 31