Sweet Temptation

Divorcee Jesse Larson runs Boccone Dolce in Los Angeles while her sixteen-year-old daughter Jade helps with daily errands. Jade and Billy Stone roughhouse together in Jesse's bed, sparking tension about boundaries. Billy then proposes marriage, but Jesse declines to preserve her freedom and to wait until Jade is ready.

Jesse allows Jade to join a dinner with Billy at an upscale restaurant, where their waiter Mario reconnects with Jesse. Jesse flirts with Mario, triggering Billy's jealousy and a heated exchange. They return home, and Jade's displeasure signals the strain in the trio.

Back home, Jesse becomes affectionate about being in love and encourages Jade to meet more people to experience having a boyfriend. Jade senses her mother's inconsistent care and growing distance, setting the stage for deeper tensions.

Jade lies about cigarettes she found, provoking a stern confrontation with Jesse. Jade is unsettled by a flashback to her parents' volatile divorce, realizing her mother may not truly understand her. She runs off to Horizon's home, escalating the conflict.

Billy confronts Jade on Horizon's front lawn, and a tense moment leads to him kissing Jade as Horizon retreats. Horizon informs Billy that Jade's mother called the police for the incident, though Billy resists, guiding Jade back to his car.

Despite initial anger about Jade's discipline, Jesse forgives Billy, not realizing the kiss between Billy and Jade. The lack of awareness keeps the complex web of relationships intact for the moment.

After a long day at the beach, Jesse falls asleep in the house. When she wakes, she finds Billy and Jade watching a film; she asks Jade to remove her dog and sends her to the living room, while Billy secretly moves to pursue Jade for a sexual encounter.

Billy reminds Jade not to tell Jesse about the kiss, and Jade quits her job. Billy offers a cash bribe to keep quiet, but Jesse confronts Jade about the situation. Billy issues an ultimatum: marry him or he will walk out of Jade's life.

Jade visits her father Les and reveals the sexual encounter with Billy, though skeptical about charges due to Billy's responsibilities. Jesse extracts the truth from Jade, insisting it was Billy who involved himself with her daughter. Jade suffers an asthma attack, is taken to the emergency room, and is later sent to live with Les and his wife Denise.

The confrontation leads Jesse to realize Billy's manipulative hold, and she orders him to stay out of their lives. The engagement is broken, and Billy is warned that any further contact will have grave consequences for him and Jade.

Jade settles with her father Les and his wife Denise, slowly expanding her circle of friends at a new school. Jesse continues to visit Jade and they share a supportive beach walk, signaling a slow recovery and a tentative redefinition of their relationship.

Jade suggests Jesse consider rekindling her relationship with Billy, but Jesse firmly refuses while the topic of reincarnation—raised by Denise—adds a philosophical tension to their conversation. The discussion underscores the complexity of trust and forgiveness in their lives.

As Jade tells her mother that if reincarnation exists, she would still want to be her daughter, Jesse breaks down and proclaims her love and sacrifice. They walk along the beach with Jade's dog Otis, signaling a cautious new beginning for their bond and a hopeful future.