Alex_author

Read at least the first 15 chapters before tossing aside.


After being left at the altar by her fiancé, Iva Remington returns to the one place she's been trying to escape her whole life - her hometown. Back home and desperate for a new start, Iva finds herself serving up fries and burgers for a living. But her drab routine takes a surprising turn when a mysterious, wealthy young man moves into her apartment building. Cillian Otto De-Peyster IV.

As they form an unlikely bond, Iva is oblivious to the fact that his dark, hidden agenda is threatening to tear her town---and her family---apart.

She is placed in between betrayal and mistrust as the people in her life turn out to be wearing masks and deceit on their faces. 
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Just in case you skipped the warning, this book is rated 18.

Secret: My Roommate is a billionaire!!!

"I'll bet its hard work being in a hot truck and standing over a tub of four hundred degree oil."

"I worked there all through my teens until I went to Toronto for university. I got used to it as a kid, but it's harder coming back after seven years away. A lot harder on my feet. My parents are heroes."

"You'll get used to it again. First week is always the hardest."

"First weeks are always the hardest---for anything, ," Iva said, more to herself than Otto, but she noticed that he looked at her quizzically, as if trying to puzzle her out.

The last thing she planned on doing was spilling her guts to Otto about being stood up at the altar.

"So did you miss home while you were away in TO?" he asked, setting down platters of sizzling lobster and a medium rare steak drizzled in a delicious teriyaki sauce.There were even steamed veggies to go with the tossed salad. And separate salad bowls.

Was the guy actually a chef that had embezzled his boss's secret recipes? Maybe he was on the run and masquerading as a photographer.

"No," Iva said simply. "And not fair trying to get any past history info out of me. Not tonight, and probably not ever."

He gave her a tenuous smile. "Try some of the salad. It's already tossed with the vinaigrette."

"Dinner looks amazing, Otto, thank you." Iva cut up her lobster and then a piece of the steak and stuck them in her mouth at the same time. The tender meat practically melted on her tongue. "Oh," Iva moaned. "This tastes amazing. Noah never would have dreamed of cooking"---She stopped herself and choked, quickly gulping at her water.

Otto heard her, she knew he did, but he had the grace to pretend she hadn't spoken. He was curious, alright, but Iva pretended to eat as though she hadn't said anything either. She focused on her meal and ate the heavenly food with a hunger for real food -instead of junk food---that she hadn't had in days.

"Speaking of the fry shack, I get my share of oil burns," she said, covering up the quiet of the dining room. "Got one today rescuing a basket of fries while my mother took care of a customer's complaint."

"On the side of my palm." Iva held up her hand. "After lots of ice this afternoon it's not bothering me too much anymore."

"Be sure you apply Neosporin to make sure it doesn't get infected. I have some if you need it."

"You certainly travel well prepared."

They ate in silence for awhile and then the phone rang.

Iva looked up, startled. "You had the house phone connected?"

"It was never disconnected," Otto said. "Probably somebody local calling. Nobody around here has my mobile number."

Cooking Dinner (cont.)