Aftermath by E. Davies

“You think I’m too good for you, and I think you’re too good for me.”
“I’m off the market for a few months.”

Santa Barbara fire chief Jace Williams has found rock bottom. Suspended from work while a fatality is investigated, unable to escape dreams about that day, distant from his family, he has nowhere to turn for consolation. He just got the divorce judgement from his cheating husband, but he’ll only be a single man in six months’ time, thanks to California law. How did his perfect, organized life turn into this disaster?

“You boys make each other happy.”
As messy and spontaneous as Jace is tidy, Charles Bryan comes across as carefree, which is why he instantly dislikes Jace. A former self-harmer, he still needs the adrenaline rush of hang-gliding, so he teaches it and practices as a hobby, in between visiting his aging father. His dad keeps asking when he’ll bring back Justin, his ex… and he’s never had the heart to tell him he dumped the abusive bastard years ago. But it’s easy to hide a lot with a smile, and he follows a whim into reserved Jace’s arms.

“Against the odds, I like you.”
Despite their clashing personalities, they have a lot in common under the surface. Planning a wedding together gives them both something to do… and someone to tease. When Charlie’s dislike of strings and Jace’s reluctance to commit until the divorce is finalized give way to growing affection, neither of them know what to do. They didn’t expect to find the one at the best, yet worst, possible time. Is this what real love feels like?