When it comes to competitive cooking, Max Lunden is no stranger to winning. though he's never been great at working with a team. A master chef-and major hunk-he's traveled the world, picking up new cooking techniques as well as beautiful women. But when the prodigal chef returns home to his family's Greenwich Village restaurant, he discovers one too many cooks in the kitchen-and she's every bit as passionate as he is. Juliet Cavanaugh used to have a crush on Max when she was just a teenager, hanging out at Lunden & Sons Tavern, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner's oldest, and hottest, son. Now a chef herself-competing in the biggest culinary contest in the country-Juliet will be cooking side by side with the one man she's always admired. and desired. But despite their simmering attraction, Juliet is determined to keep her cool-no matter how hot it gets.