Stephanie Crane's life is one gingerbread crumble away from disaster.

Holiday catering orders are bursting at the seams, her car is totaled, her hometown is fading fast, and the Christmas cooking competition that could save everything just changed its rules. The only person who can help her now? The high-school crush she hasn't seen in fifteen years... who just waltzed back into town.

Liam St. Clair needs a place to hide.

After accidentally tanking Hollywood's biggest movie franchise at its L.A. premiere, there's nowhere safer than tiny Romance, Virginia. No paparazzi. No pressure. Just a chance to lay low until the storm passes. But when an old family friend shows up on his doorstep in full holiday crisis mode, he can't say no. Not in this town. Not to her.

As Steph takes command of the St. Clair kitchen, she realizes that grown-up Liam is even harder to ignore... and just as unaware that he once broke her heart. But helping her win has become his holiday mission, and she's starting to believe there might be room in the kitchen for both of them after all.

The trouble? Liam's days in Romance are numbered, and falling for him again could cost Steph not just the competition, but everything she's fought to build.