Sugar & Spice by Garett Groves

“If you run away, no matter how far you run, you’re still going to be stuck with yourself.”

After getting rejected by the only guy that he’s ever allowed himself to feel something more than lust for, Max Williams has convinced himself that the bachelor’s life is the only way for him to live. At 28, Max has everything he needs for it: a smoking body, just enough money to keep the drinks coming, and an endless supply of guys that are more than happy to keep his bed warm at night. Still, he can’t shake the feeling that something is missing.
When he loses his day job thanks to his partying and the modeling career he’d been trying to build collapses, Max isn’t sure of so sure of himself anymore, but there’s one thing he knows without a doubt: something’s got to give.

“I know you might feel like some sort of black sheep—and maybe you are sometimes—but we all are.”
Lucas White has a reputation of his own—and he’s tired of it. The security provided by his cushy job as editor-in-chief of a legendary local photography magazine has kept him stagnant for too long both professionally and personally. He never dreamed he’d be able to retire by the age of 45 and start his own passion project, but that’s exactly where he’s found himself and it hasn’t been an easy transition.
While celebrating his last day at the office, Lucas and Max get up close and personal at a new bar and Lucas’s entire world turns into a photo negative. Max is the perfect model that he’s been looking for to bring fresh eyes to his new venture, but he looks so much like someone who once broke his heart—and Lucas isn’t sure that he can look at Max’s beautiful body every day for workwithout continuing to touch it.

“I’ve spent way too much of life my on my own, trying to do everything myself. You helped me see that. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I want to be with you.”
Against his better judgment, Lucas hires Max. As they start working together, the line between employer and employee quickly blurs, and not even the pact they made to remain strictly professional seems to keep things in focus. Though they know better, neither man can resist their desire for something more—but Max is afraid of commitment, and Lucas can’t stomach the idea of being taken advantage of by another pretty face.
Will their differences bring them down, or will they come together like sugar and spice?