Opposites Attract (Higginson)

I've sworn off men. All men. Famous last words, right? You're expecting some epic tale of reluctant love and my dramatic change of heart? Well, you're not going to get it. I'm stubborn. And headstrong. And I've just survived the worst three years of my life. After escaping an abusive boyfriend to live in hostels and cheap hotels while I worked my way across Europe, I've come to two conclusions. The first? Now that I'm back home, I'm going to squander my expensive culinary degree on a food truck that caters to the late night drunk crowd. The second? I'm going to prove to the bastard across the plaza that my street food is better than his fussy five course monstrosities. Killian Quinn might be Food and Wine's Chef to Watch Out For. He might have a Michelin Star. He might have every food critic in the city wrapped around his too-large fingers. But he's also pretentious and unbearably arrogant and the very opposite of me. So he can keep his unsolicited advice and his late night visits and his cocky smiles. I want none of it. Or him. I want the opposite. Contains mature themes.

I'm cursed. At least when it comes to finding Mr. Right. I'm tired of men that only want one-night stands or blind dates that are nothing but awkward and uncomfortable. I'm tired of avoiding inappropriate text messages and the constant disappointment of always meeting Mr. Wrong. After all these years of dates that lead nowhere, I can admit that it's me. I'm the problem. I'm shy and picky and cursed. Definitely cursed. So I've decided two things. The first? I'm giving up dating and relationships and men in general. Maybe, possibly, forever. The second? I'm going to have to try harder to avoid Ezra Baptiste. If I couldn't hack it in the kiddy pool of dating, I certainly can't swim in his deep end. He's too successful. Too intense. He's all man when I'm used to nothing but boys pretending to be grownups. He's everything I'm afraid to want and so far out of my league we might as well be different species entirely. So he'll need to find a different artist to paint his mural. And a different graphic designer to help him with his website. He'll need to find someone else to glare at and flirt with and kiss. It can't be me. We're too different. Contains mature themes.

I'm over men. I'm done with them. Or at least the ones that work in my kitchen. Fine, one man in particular. Wyatt Shaw is cocky and condescending and so far out of his element that he doesn't know which way is up. Or how to run his brand new kitchen all by himself. That's where I come in. Sous chef extraordinaire. Second in command. Bane of his existence. I am the reason Wyatt's doing so well as the new executive chef of one of our city's most prestigious restaurants. He has me to thank for his glowing accolades and five-star write-ups. Only if you were to ask him, he'd say I'm his biggest problem. Despite his discouragement and bullish behavior, I've set two goals for myself. The first? I'm going to fight my way to the top of this male-dominated industry and claim my own award-winning kitchen. The second? I'm going to do whatever it takes to ignore Wyatt and his rare smiles and the thickening tension that's started to simmer between us. Wyatt Shaw might be Durham's new shining star. He might be up for a James Beard Award. He might be my new boss and key to my future success, but he's also in my way. So he can keep his smoldering looks and secret kisses. And he can be the one that figures out how to make it through service without getting distracted by me. I'm not the problem. The problem is him. Contains mature themes.

I quit life. Or at least my new job. My new, fancy, head chef position at one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the city is not turning out like I'd hoped. I'm a mess. Totally out of my element and underqualified, I've been thrown into a fiery kitchen and I'm not sure I can handle the heat. My personal life is falling apart. And to make matters worse, my best friend's brother keeps popping up at all my worst moments to save the day. I've never claimed to have it together, but I certainly don't need a man to rescue me every time I get my heel stuck in a sewer grate. Except that's what keeps happening. Vann Delane is pushy and stuck up and thinks he knows everything there is to know about everything. I've decided to stay away from him. I've got too many other fires to put out to worry about the something between us that doesn't have a name. So, he can give his knight in shining armor kindness to someone else. And he can save those intense glances and butterfly-inducing smiles for the nice girl he's looking for. And he can deny it all he wants, but I know he likes me. He says I drive him crazy. But I know there's something about me that he can't deny. Contains mature themes.