Table for Two

One down-on-his-luck chef struggling to make it in his hometown. One nomadic bartender allergic to putting down roots. A hot and heavy night in the Big Easy that neither of them can stop thinking about.

Ingredients: One surly, tattooed chef on the brink of losing it all, including his sense of taste. One sexy, bespectacled doctor who jumps at the chance to dine with his foodie idol. A cross-country culinary adventure, from picnics to dive bars to fine dining and home-cooked meals. Directions: Combine ingredients in one plane, in one hotel room, in each other's company for ten days over Christmas and New Year's.

Ingredients: One thirty-something chef hiding from his past behind a diner counter. One silver fox venture capitalist who left the big city to save his health and heart. A chance meeting with his son’s former best friend who's all grown up and exudes the kind of quiet, commanding presence he craves. Directions: Toss ingredients into a small-town Southern skillet with a heaping dash of drama. Turn up the heat with orders in the bedroom for a sizzling good sear but mind the clock.

At your mercy this holiday season . . . Ingredients: One feisty redheaded attorney guarding her heart and her friends' business interests. One bossy seasoned negotiator who always gets what she wants. A distillery at the center of a contested year-end deal that pits two fierce women against each...

Ingredients: One plus-size pastry chef with a shot at a major food award and a heart she swears is off-limits. One restaurant manager, recently divorced and determined not to fall again. A secret friends-with-benefits arrangement that's gotten a little too complicated—and a lot too sweet. Directions: Blend kitchen heat, professional dreams, and late-night cravings. Fold in jealousy, temptation, and a heaping dash of tenderness. Let rise until casual turns into something that tastes a lot like love. Best served warm, with sugar, spice, and a spread of joy.