…Cupid has lousy timing.

After kicking her cheating husband to the curb, nurse Anna Khoury discovers she’s pregnant. When Bangers Tavern’s hunky chef makes heart eyes at her, she dismisses that delicious thrill as the last thing she needs. Single motherhood will take all her strength and focus. Anna’s battered heart can’t take another blow.

Chef Diego Vargas is aiming higher than burgers and tater tots. His dream—his own food truck, the Empanada Angel, but he’ll need his family’s support to pull it off. Meeting Anna leaves him thunderstruck, even though his attraction to her threatens all his plans. Call it fate, call him crazy, but he’s determined to prove he’s in it for keeps.

With a belligerent ex-husband and two overprotective families set on breaking them up, Anna and Diego will need more than red-hot passion to pull them through. His career and her baby’s future are on the line.

Wild Women Authors is delighted to welcome back Sadira Stone and Delicious Heat, Book 3 in her fabulous Bangers Tavern Romance series. With Sadira today is Diego Vargas, Bangers long time chef and budding food truck entrepreneur.

Good morning, Diego. Thanks for taking time away from your cooking duties to speak with us.

Let’s begin with where you’re from. I grew up in Tacoma, Washington in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Tacoma has lots of nicknames, including City of Destiny—a bit over-inflated, if you ask me, and my favorite—The Gritty City. That one describes our neighborhood, the 6^th Avenue District, perfectly.

Tell us a bit about Delicious Heat. It’s a foodie romance, obviously. Anna Khoury and I met when she came into Bangers Tavern, where I worked as head chef, to help us spy on the unscrupulous new bar across the street. They were totally copying all of Bangers’ holiday event ideas, which violates the rules of the 6^th Ave Business Association.

Charlie Khoury, one of our servers, called in her little sister Anna to check out the competition and report back. Dawn, Bangers’ owner, wanted to reward her with a platter of my famous deluxe tater tots. Naturally, I brought them out myself—you know, just to see if Anna was as cute as her older sister.

The moment our eyes met across the bar, time stopped. Okay, it sounds cheesy, but I knew in that golden moment she was THE ONE. Trouble was, she’d just broken up with her lying, cheating, scum-sucking ex-husband…and she was pregnant. Convincing her to give us a chance was not an easy task, but I’d climb mountains and swim seas for Anna. She’s my angel.

What did you think the first time you saw Anna? If I recall correctly, my first thought was, “She’s a goddess.”

Works for us. What was your second thought? Please let her be single. Please, please, please…

Did you feel it was love at first sight? One thousand percent. And it’s funny—before that moment, if you’d have asked me about love at first sight, I’d have said there’s no such thing.

What do you like most about Anna? She’s sweet but strong. She won’t take disrespect from anyone, and she won’t settle for less than she deserves. Of course, I think she deserves the best.

How would you describe her? A snarky, funny, sexy goddess. That thick dark hair, those huge dark eyes, that smoky alto voice…man, she does things to me without even trying.

How would she describe you? Determined, I guess. No matter what obstacles our families and her ex threw in our path, I refused to give up on her.

What made you choose cooking as a career? My abuelita gets the credit for that. She took care of me after school while my parents worked. I’m the youngest in our family. While my brother and sisters did sports or hung out with friends, I hung out in Abuelita’s kitchen soaking up her culinary wisdom. The technical skills I learned in cooking school were important, sure, but it was Abuelita who taught me to cook with heart and soul.

What is your biggest fear? Losing Anna or—well, I won’t spoil the story by telling you baby’s name. Anna’s my world. Without her, life would by hollow, joyless, pointless. Yeah, I’ve got it bad.

How do you relax? Besides cooking? I like to dance, whether with Anna or just alone at home. There’s always Salsa music blasting in my kitchen, and in my food truck. Working out with my coworkers River, Eddie, and Jojo helps me blow off steam, too. Jojo’s a real taskmaster, but I always feel better after one of his workouts.

Who is your favorite fictional character? How about the Swedish Chef from the Muppets? He cracks me up. Sometimes, when I’m throwing together wild combinations of flavors, I feel kind of like him.

We weren’t expecting that but it’s perfect. So then, what is the best piece of advice you ever received? My Abuelita said, “When the angels speak, you better listen.”

Excellent advice. Now it’s time to chat with Sadira.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? I admire so many romance authors, I couldn’t possibly name them all. But it was a mediocre romance author who made me think, “I could write a better book than this.” I guess that’s the origin story of lots of authors.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Let’s just say the question of whether a mother should settle for a crappy marriage for her child’s sake is one I’ve lived. My position on that issue is crystal clear to all who read Delicious Heat.

Oh yeah, that came through. Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? This is my third indie book. While I’m grateful to the small press who published my first books, I love the freedom and control that comes with being an indie author.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Let’s just open up the Kindle, shall we? I’m currently reading Tessa Bailey’s It Happened One Summer—absolutely delightful! Next up is Kerry Blaisdell’s Damning the Dead, Katee Robert’s Neon Gods, Rosie Danan’s The Intimacy Experiment…

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I’m working on two novellas for an upcoming anthology based on astrological signs. I’ve got Taurus and Capricorn. After that, I’ll write the final (?) book in the Bangers Tavern Romance series, Jojo and Lana’s story. Next, I’m starting a reverse harem romance series. In the meantime, come back to Bangers Tavern for a spicy tale of forbidden love that will warm your heart…and other parts…and make you hungry for empanadas!

Sadira brought an excerpt for us:

“I’ll show you the way.” With a gentle touch on the small of her back, he guided her down the hallway.

Heading toward the bar with a brimming ice bucket, the skinny barback lifted his chin. “Look up, guys.” A sprig of mistletoe dangling above the restroom doors.

“For cripes’ sake, Eddie,” Diego grumbled, but he didn’t look at all displeased.

“It’s tradition, man.” Eddie waggled his eyebrows before continuing on his way.

Eyeing the greenery, Anna debated and dithered. What a perfect excuse to satisfy her curiosity and claim a no-strings kiss. But Charlie might see them, or someone might tell Charlie, or…

Diego gently gripped her elbows and pulled her closer. “Christmas is all about tradition, right?”

For a thrilling, breathless moment, he hovered there, his softly parted lips an inch from hers. Impossible to wrench her eyes from that luscious mouth, so tempting, so close. His breath fanned across her skin. Her heart hammered.

And then he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “Merry Christmas, Anna.”

Not enough. Throwing caution to the tater-tot scented wind, she tilted her head and brushed her lips against his.

Just the barest touch, soft and warm, just the tiniest moan rumbled from the broad, firm chest beneath her palm. And yet, that simple gesture lifted the lid from her tightly clamped control, letting in fresh air and sunshine and a rush of delicious possibility. Heady stuff.

She took a deep breath and stepped back. “Gotta go help Charlie. Merry Christmas, Diego.”

Grinning and flushed, he wobbled in place. “I’ll call you.”

“Please do.”

He pointed. “Break room’s that way.”

“Okay.”

Like teenagers reluctant to hang up the phone, they inched toward their respective destinations, holding eye contact as long as possible.

“Thanks for coming to see me.”

“Thanks for the tots.”

“I hope you have a great Christmas.”

“You too.”

Finally, Shelby’s arm shot through the swinging doors and yanked Diego into the kitchen. “Get your ass back to work, lover boy.”

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