At eighteen, Mara O'Banyon drove to New York, determined to become a chef. As the luck of the Irish would have it, she was discovered by world-renown Executive Chef and restaurant mogul, Jacques Bernaut. Under his tutelage, she soars to stardom in his restaurants, even surpassing the skill of her mentor/lover. But when her father dies, she returns home to attend his funeral and remembers what it was like to have family. On visiting the family pub, Shenanigans, ideas of how to create a fabulous menu swirl in her mind...if only she can get past the sexy but stubborn Jake O'Leary, the current cook/bartender. The man is trouble with a broad-shouldered, handsome-faced, hot capital T. Jake has worked at Shenanigans since he was released from the county jail. A self-trained chef, he's built the bar's menu into what it is today. The last thing he needs is some New York-trained chef to boss him around in his own kitchen-no matter how gorgeous she might be. However, it isn't his kitchen. It's hers. When attraction flares the first day they cross knives in the kitchen, he falls for her-hard. He just needs to make her see he's better than her fancy French boyfriend in New York. Easy right? When Mara returns to New York to settle her affairs, she finds Jacques isn't so willing to say good-bye. To her shock and dismay, he holds her hostage with not only his iron-clad contracts but with threats to her family as well. Mara wants to break free, but at what cost? When Jake learns of her desperate situation, he'll do anything to save her. But will his interference lead to dangers neither of them could have foreseen?