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

Did he wish to get involved? Stupid question to ask when he already was. He couldn’t run off, not yet. Not and leave Richard in this state. Ethan would end up spending too much time worrying. He didn’t think Richard was anywhere near to letting him in on whatever troubled the man, but Ethan was unable to cut ties the way he pruned roses. With care, sure, but without pity. If he tried, he’d spend most of histime with his mind trained on what might be going on up at the manor.


Ethan moved until he stood in front of the other man and did what was innate to him. He put their foreheads together and slipped his hands into Richard’s open jacket, fingers resting on the man’s hips. A bloom of heat flowed from the coat, making the need to press against the man urgent. He stopped because Richard flinched. Tension radiated, forcing both to go still. Ethan held his breath. Long seconds passed before the strain bled away. Richard didn’t unwind, but the muscles under Ethan’s hands released.


Chapter 22