Marquette Family

Creed Marquette has always done what it takes to make sure he and his brothers come out on top. He's seen despair and hunger in his life, but as a newly declared billionaire in Forbes magazine, he still doesn't feel like this is it. There's something missing, and the fact is, despite all his hard work, the past keeps rising to influence the present. He can't deny himself. To complicate matters, Creed's brothers, the irresponsible men that they are, have purchased a restaurant in New Orleans, and they want Creed to join them. Leave the corporate world that got them where they are to go work a failing restaurant without experience? But this just might be what Creed's been looking for. Now, all he needs to do is hire the chef, a sexy beauty with a smart mouth who almost killed him by serving him peanuts in his food. Well, Shada Howard did save his life while he was completely naked. Maybe New Orleans won't be so bad after all. Not if he can tame her and make her his!

Damen's wife left him to raise his daughter alone. She said he was boring, and she wanted something more. Since then, he's lived a carefree life without the ties of a relationship to hold him down. The only female that matters to him now is his little girl, and he'll give her whatever she wants. On impulse, Damen and his brother opened a restaurant called Marquette's in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter, and they're having amazing success. Everything feels right. There's absolutely nothing more Damen could ask for, despite the nagging of his older brother, who says he's not being true to himself. Then two things change Damen's world-two people rather. Heaven, an old lover, strolls into Marquette's and applies for a job, and a mysterious young boy with a love for music stirs Damen's protective instincts.

Stefan has a secret he hasn't shared with his family. Sometimes he disappears from the restaurant to visit a night club on the wrong side of town. He performs there, and it's where he met Talicia. Stefan would rather keep his worlds separate, but fate has other ideas. Talicia loves Stefan, but she knows her rough edges would never work in his world. She just wants him in her life for however long it lasts. Talicia's poor decision puts Sefan in danger and brings her before the rest of the Marquettes, who love Stefan just as much as she does. This isn't just any kind of family. Talicia might be in bigger trouble than she first thought.

Duke has always been the black sheep of the Marquette family. While his cousins were making billions, Duke was busy getting thrown out of the army and landing inside jail. He never cared too much about anyone else, least of all falling in love. Then he started working at the famous Marquette's restaurant in New Orleans, his cousins' venture. Creed demanded responsibility, but the word wasn't in Duke's vocabulary. Not until he met Takiyah Silver. At first Duke wanted her blond friend, but he couldn't get the sexy Kiyah out of his head. Kiyah was all about taking care of her teenage son and making a living. When her son gets into serious trouble that could destroy Kiyah's well-ordered life, Duke wants to step up. But how can a woman like her depend on a man who has nothing to offer?