Renowned interior designer Fredi Zimmer is surprised when outdoorsman Max Greene, owner of Greene’s Outdoors, hires him to revamp Max’s rustic cabin in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Fredi is an out-and-proud Metro male whose contact with the outdoors is from his car to the doorway of the million-dollar homes he remodels, and to Fredi, Max is a typical straight man’s man. When Max blatantly and clumsily flirts with Fredi, Fredi’s stereotypical view of Max is shattered. Is this a build-up to a gay bashing? Cautiously believing Max is closeted and is trying to come out, Fredi decides he’s game to put a little spice into Max’s life, whether it’s in the colors and fixtures he’ll use to turn Max's dilapidated cabin into a showplace or over one of the many lunches and dinners they share talking about the remodel. Who can blame a guy for adding a little sensual pleasure as he retools Max’s life visually? Besides, Fredi has a backup plan if he’s wrong about Max’s intentions. Life would be all wine and roses if it weren’t for Max’s former friends and their conservative families. Alarmed with Max’s obvious infatuation, they make it their business to save him from sliding into hell. With the battle on, will Fredi and Max win the fight for a life of happiness together?

Redesigning Max

“So, you’d like to meet Stanley?” he asked.


He took the book out of my hand, laid it next to the drinks on his desk, and stuck out a hand.


“Hi, there. I’m Stanley Maximillian Greene. And you are?”


“Fucking A. You’re kidding? Right?” I knew he wasn’t, but this was just too much on top of standing in a house I’d designed. “You’re Stanley? Fuck me. You’re Stanley.”


Again I ended up plopping myself in his office chair. I was shaking. How much better could this day get?


“Yup. That’s me. Stanley ‘call me Max’ Greene,” he said with a laugh.


My mouth was hanging open and my brain had stopped. Max seemed to find me funny.


“What? No questions, Fredi? Cat got your tongue? Honey,” he finished quietly with a little grin.


Chapter 27