A Distant Dream — Jan McDaniel

Valerie Joy grew up in luxury, and now she's determined to make it on her own. She'd rather develop recipes for her cookbook than work for her father's corporation, even if it means taking on part-time jobs to pay her rent. When she applies for a position at a mansion in her hometown, she's shocked to find that her interviewer is Scott Norman, a guy she had a crush on in high school who's now a millionaire. Valerie is still attracted to him but she's sure he doesn't return her feelings. Besides, now that she's his employee, romance is out of the question!

Working for Scott soon becomes impossible, though, and Valerie quits. To her surprise, Scott confesses that he's relieved -- he's falling in love too. It looks like they'll have a second chance after all, until Scott sides with her father about her going to work for Joy Enterprises. Then her cookbook is rejected, and Valerie's one hope of providing herself vanishes. How can she plan a future with Scott when her own world is crumbling? And how can their relationship survive when he represents a life Valerie wants to escape?