In the year and a half since James’ death, Hugh DeFry has worked nonstop to avoid having to face life without him. His driven focus has landed him a spot on the upcoming season of a top rated culinary competition show, but hasn’t helped him deal with his grief. Escaping New York for the West Coast is a start, though, until a friend calls to beg for a small favor. Cover her classes at the culinary institute where she teaches while she goes home to deal with a family emergency. Sounds simple enough. Hugh has covered for her before and it gets him out of the apartment he can’t stand being in without James. There’s just one caveat. There’s this girl, one who might need a little help and encouragement, Lauren tells him. No big deal. Except looking after Eliza Carlisle is about as easy as bathing a cat. Sweet, but naïve, Eliza’s efforts to help her friend and fellow culinary student leads everyone around her into a missing person’s case that quickly spirals from hoping the girl missed her flight to untangling an international web of crime. Hugh isn’t sure he can keep her safe, but he’s positive he can’t keep her from getting into trouble.