A warm-hearted rich man's son, Richard Gardener needs to overcome three obstacles: find a way the family business can run without him, help his mother cope with grief, and stop butting heads -- and other parts of his anatomy -- with the gardener.<br><br>Ethan Fields has worked for the Gardener family for many years. He’s struggling with debt and the desire to leave, and has loved Richard far longer than the man would believe. Ethan can cope with most things, but his anger with Richard’s mother won’t fade. Until that and his feelings for Richard are resolved, he feels trapped and, alas, the idea that sex will get Richard out of his system isn’t working.<br><br>To make the situation worse, both men assume too much and don’t say the right words, and Ethan’s offer of ‘just sex’ grows more complicated by the day. Can Richard and Ethan stop getting their wires crossed before their paths diverge?

Flowers for the Gardener

Somewhere in the dim recesses of Rich’s mind, pain existed. Bruised knees. Aching back. Caught in the throes of climax he didn’t care. A vague wonderment flared. Would he ever stop coming?


He did, but the aftershocks locked him in place as lava rushed through his limbs. Joints screamed, and extremities tingled. He must move. Movement was the only way to hold back the rising tide of misery, buthe couldn’t so much as put down a hand or a knee.


Not an instruction or question. A plea. A hand pushed against one of Rich’s shoulders, Ethan unable to move either, the nudge useless.


Chapter 19