Eve Stuckley, a waitress in a small town, feels trapped in her life. She’s spent years longing for Jeff Sweeney, the local heartthrob, and dreams of leaving the Hog-Chow Diner she manages. Just as Eve decides to go after Jeff, the stunning Linda Avery arrives in town during the hottest day of the year. The real heat, however, is the rivalry that ensues as Jeff and Eve’s clueless brother Chuck vie for Linda’s attention. The twist? Linda is actually interested in Eve. Eve’s friend, Alma Kerns, who has been schooled in matters of love by her mortician boyfriend Red Bishop, advises Eve to use Linda’s attraction to win over Jeff. The plot thickens when Linda tells Jeff she prefers Eve. Feeling rejected, Jeff enlists Chuck’s help to “rescue” Eve, but Chuck, thinking it’s all part of the competition, doesn’t take him seriously. In the end, Jeff and Linda confront each other over what lies ahead for Eve.