Some Like It Hot (Sweetrock Cowboy Romance Book 1) by Leighann Dobbs

customers, but all of the contestants cooked the chili fresh each morning and she liked to simmer hers for at least an hour. The row was quiet except for the sizzle of browned meat and the chopping of vegetables. Even Beulah was quiet down in her booth, cutting up hot peppers for the day.
    Across the way, Nick was in his tent doing the same but in a less organized manner, rummaging through cans and foraging around in his booth. It took him so much longer to find his ingredients. Sam itched to go over and help him but then reminded herself that it wouldn’t be wise. Nick was her competition—though suddenly she found her competitive spirit had been dampened. She wasn’t as keen to win the contest and snatch the ten thousand dollar prize from him as she’d been yesterday.
    The relative silence was shattered by the squeal of Amy. Running down the aisle in a blur of pink and purple, she careened into Nick’s tent.
    “Uncle Nick! I’m going to ride Nacho today!”
    Rena wasn’t far behind. She stopped in the aisle, a smile on her face as she watched the excitement bubble out of Amy. She turned to Sam. “I don’t know where she gets the energy.”
    “Wish you could bottle it up. I could use some.” Sam swiped at her damp forehead.
    Rena’s gaze swept past her into her booth. “Boy, you really are organized.”
    “My parents are both in the military, so being organized was drilled into me since before birth. It was all military corners on the beds in clothes precisely folded in drawers.”
    “Beulah mentioned that she thought getting more organized could help The Chuckwagon. Maybe you…” Rena’s voice trailed off, and Sam squirmed. Why did everyone want her to lend a hand at The Chuckwagon?
    Everyone except Nick.
    “Yeah, that’s what she said, but it seems like you aren’t hiring, and I’m going back to Boston and starting my own restaurant anyway.”
    Rena nodded, her eyes drifting from Sam and then over to Nick’s tent where Amy was still jumping up and down gleefully. Following her gaze, Sam couldn’t help but smile. Nick seemed just as excited as his niece.
    The light in Rena’s eyes faded, and her face pinched. “I sure would hate to see the restaurant go under. Nick’s tried really hard, and I don’t know what to do to help. I don’t know a thing about the restaurant business. My parents never taught me anything, and I was married young and…well, I was busy with Amy. Now my parents are gone, our family finances are a mess, and I can’t even help out.”
    Sam’s heart twisted for Rena. She didn’t know what it was like to feel helpless. She’d always taken control of every situation and paved her own way. “Well, if I could help I would. Maybe I could just come over and take a look at things.”
    Why had she suggested that?
    The brightened look on Rena’s face squelched any regrets. “Would you? Night after tomorrow would be great. I don’t have to work so I’d be there to show you around.” She glanced back over at Nick. “I don’t know why Nick’s spending so much time at this contest when he should be looking over the restaurant books himself.”
    Sam didn’t say anything. Apparently, Rena hadn’t figured out that Nick probably needed the money for the restaurant. She didn’t want to be the one to enlighten her, and she was only speculating anyway. But judging by what she’d heard, they needed money bad.
    Amy ran over and saved Sam from having to comment. She clung to Rena’s leg. “Can we go now, Mommy?” She looked at Sam. Her eyes bright and sparkling. “I’m gonna ride a horse today.”
    “Tessa had an opening, so she texted me and were going to go for a little ride,” Rena explained.
    Sam squatted down to Amy’s level. “Well, you have a fun time.”
    “I will!” Amy grabbed Rena’s hand and tugged her out of the booth. She waved to Nick and then to Sam as her daughter pulled her down the aisle.
    Sam’s gaze drifted from Rena and Amy to Nick. Their eyes