Love and Paklava

She’s betting big. He’s playing for keeps.

The odds are stacked against Tori Townsend. She loves her life in San Francisco, painting nails by day and playing jazz by night. But now that she’s a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of her best friends, it feels like everyone is pairing off, and she can’t find a seat in a game of musical chairs.

When a last-minute errand forces Tori to book a caterer two hundred miles away in Fresno, she meets a burly Armenian baker with an offer she can’t refuse. Vahe Derderian is used to big-city folks dissing his hometown, so when Tori runs her mouth about California’s heartland, they make a bet. If she can prove San Francisco is superior to the Central Valley, he’ll cater the wedding for free.

The catch? If Vahe’s victorious, Tori’s promised to lose her shirt—and her pants. She’s never shied away from a casual fling, so one more hookup shouldn’t faze her. But Vahe sees past her bravado, breaking down walls she’s spent years fortifying. She’s always believed that letting people in leads to heartbreak—so why does losing to him feel like winning?

As their wager turns into something real, Tori must decide if love is worth the gamble—and whether their relationship can go the distance.

Whether you’re living in a skyscraper or the suburbs, you’ll love this opposites-attract rom-com that celebrates culture, cuisine, and finding a place to call home.