Hermie by Sam E. Kraemer

A chef and a professional basketball player-turned-cowboy must choose whether to play the game or let their differences spoil the soup

Herman Grassley wants to pursue his passion for cooking. The problem is the pressure of a commercial kitchen overwhelms him and brings out all his fears and weaknesses. Humiliated by his latest failure, Hermie returns home to reassess his dream and find a new path, but he lacks a plan or direction.
Decker Barrett, former center for the Houston Riggers basketball team, returns to Bare Ranch to take over the family business, his heart still healing from the loss of his parents. When a beautiful, albeit clumsy and unsure, boy reappears in his life, will Bare take the lessons learned from his mentor and help the boy see his potential with Bare as his Daddy?