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When sensual and gutsy Alana Phoenix goes on a routine air-conditioning service call in the desert, she’s stunned to find her fiery former lover Ted Caliente, returned to Tucson after making a big name as a Mexican chef. Although sparks ignite, each blames the other for a bitter ten-year separation.
As their sizzling romance is rekindled, she’s afraid it’s just sex, and he’s scared to death it’s something more. Whatever it is, it’s as hot and hard to resist as Teddie’s famous chili peppers. Although meddling relatives and secrets from the past rock their lives, the choice is theirs—refuse to face a future with no guarantees, or step out into the storm and gamble on love.
(pages 328) Spicy
Excerpt:
“My God, Teddie, why are you so anxious?
Why do you keep scanning the horizon? I know there are dangers in the desert, but what exactly are you afraid of?”
He shrugged and bent to kiss her knuckles resting on the edge of the car door. “Let me do the worrying, will you, honey?” His easygoing grin almost convinced her.
Alana clenched her teeth. She didn’t need another man giving her orders, taking care of her—as badly as they did it. She needed to be a partner here.
“Tell me now, Teodoro Caliente,” she demanded, her heart twisting in her chest.
He puffed out a heavy breath. “It’s Jen’s grandmother. Marva just told me today, the old lady has somebody watching me—detectives.”
“Detec—! But why? Where?”
He shrugged. “Checking that I make a good home for Jenna, I guess.” He gestured toward the hills. “Out there, somewhere. Maybe with high-tech spying stuff. Night-vision goggles, the works. Old man Ferand told her.”
She shivered. “But that’s…too weird. And you let me…swim naked in the hot tub?”
He shrugged. A chuckle rose up in his throat, as he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger again. “I didn’t know you’d sneak out. At least I got you indoors before things got any more graphic.”
“Sneak? You’re the sneak! You could have ’fessed up!” she snapped. “Get in here!” She pulled him by a hank of hair until his face was squeezed through the window. Then she kissed him long enough to erase the worry lines on his sweet dark countenance.
“We’ll meet at my place then,” she decided. “He won’t find us in those identical tin boxes. Hey, I’m gonna need high maintenance now, Caliente.”
