Holly versus Mr. Ivy by Amanda P. Jones

I’ve never wanted to break the no-dating-coworkers rule… until now.

Holly
As a caregiver to Mom and an executive chef in a kitchen full of disrespectful staff, I’m wilting like day-old butter-leaf lettuce. I’d quit, except my job is the only thing keeping a roof over our heads. When my boss forces me to work with the new, annoyingly handsome and all too cheerful general manager to increase profits by New Year’s, I’m left with no choice but to play nice. But all my efforts to maintain a steady paycheck have backfired because behind Rhett’s nauseatingly jolly facade is a man who is making me question whether I should risk getting fired for breaking the number one rule at the restaurant—never, under any conditions, date a coworker.

Rhett
After my ex fled faster than Santa’s sleigh because she thought I was “too mentally broken,” I decided to save someone else the heartache and keep my dating nonexistent—a feat I successfully managed for a year. Then I met Holly at my uncle’s restaurant. There’s something about the grumpy chef that takes down my walls and makes me think love could actually happen. Dating Holly means I risk getting her fired and ruining my only chance at getting promoted to regional manager. How do I choose between my dreams and the woman I love?