My best friend’s brother, Devin, is the reason I high-tailed it out of Asheville.

Now, I’m back because this place feels like home and I’m ready to put down roots. Even if everything at Out of the Ashes has changed since I last worked here.

I have every intention of avoiding Devin this time around. Not only because it would never work, but because we hid our relationship from his sister. A guilt I still carry with me.

The only problem…he’s performing at the bar every weekend, and he wants to pick up where things left off.

Bartending on the weekends to support my kids is working out great. But keeping my heart guarded against my boss, who’s younger than me…not an easy task.

Working at Out of the Ashes is supposed to be temporary. Long enough to save up some money for my kids’ sports, and then we can move out of my dad’s house. And I'm not about to ask my ex-husband for help, even if we have a great co-parenting relationship.

My boss, Eric, has made it no secret he’s attracted to me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the tension sizzle between us. But with two teens to raise, two jobs, and figuring out what I’m doing with my life…now is not the time to jump into a relationship.

Each day that goes by, his charm becomes harder and harder to resist. When he intervenes in what could have been a dangerous situation, I let my guard down the tiniest fraction. And I liked it.

However, it can’t go further than that. There's enough on mine and my kids' plates as is. Could we make room for my sexy as sin boss?