Cassandra ("Cassie")
Smart. Attractive. Burned out. Haunted by the past.
Struggling with turning thirty, Cassie is an overworked attorney. Her real passion is cooking, but her parents insisted she follow in their footsteps. Haunted by their expectations, she feels stuck but yearns for a different path in life.
Nudged by her best friend, Cassie applies for a cooking competition at the luxurious Grand Athena in Las Vegas after learning the competition welcomes amateur chefs. Shocked when she's selected as an alternate, Cassie vows to make the most of her opportunity to live her fantasy life for two weeks, even if only as an observer.
Evan
Wealthy. Gorgeous. Sexy accent. Hiding a secret.
While taking a break from family obligations and his royal friends, Evan helps his best friend, the Grand Athena's owner, with the cooking competition.
He is determined to avoid any romantic interests during his break, but he can't seem to take his eyes off Cassie, although she could be trouble.
When one of the competitors dies mysteriously, Cassie is suddenly thrust into the competition. But someone will do anything to win, and as things heat up in both the bedroom and the kitchen, Cassie may be the one who gets burned.