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

The back of the staff quarters rose out of the ground like some malignant monolith. Had this been his destination all along? Was his subconscious responsible?


If so, his mind was a treacherous son of a bitch. Hanging around Ethan might do him harm with even the sex, though excellent…odd. More like fighting than enjoying themselves and Rich as much to blame for their shared animosity.


Did he search for Ethan? He should turn around, but though he looked back, Rich hesitated. His mother took her nap—a recent habit since his father’s death—but he’d be lying to himself if he pretended the timing was the only motivation to take a walk. Ethan had finished work for the day so that lessened the chance of bumping into the man but should that be his excuse for this behaviour. Surely, all the more reason to stay clear of the area around the staff house. So why hang around outside?


Chapter 21