When tight end Xavier Brennan is asked to participate in a charity baking competition with his teammates, the pro football player is torn. He doesn't know the first thing about baking, and he doesn't want to become a laughingstock on national TV. But he is a team player, and he can't say no to helping a charity, especially one so close to his heart.

?Bakery owner Ashley Yates is desperate to win the competition. It's her last hope at saving her bakery and her mother's legacy. Being paired with an athlete known for partying makes her nervous, but he assures her that he's committed to the cause. As they bond over shared heartache and shared recipes, their connection becomes harder to deny.

?Every touch, every taste, every moment spent together holds the promise of more. But attraction is a distraction. Will working together be a recipe for love, or will they both end up getting burned?

?Hometown Hero was originally featured in the Love, Philly anthology, and has since been expanded.