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

His mother took another nap, earlier than usual, and though her growing tendency to sleep worried him, today his gratitude at having a few hours of peace outweighed his concern. Determined to enjoy some time away from the paperwork, he set off around the perimeter of the estate.


Pity almost everything died back this time of year. The dogwoods, though, every garden needed those. The deep red, bright green and yellow-tipped orange sticks of various varieties, now devoid of leaves, provided excellent autumn and winter colour. As he walked on, he came across more pruned plants. He remembered the shrubs and glanced back in case he overlooked some. Had the flowering one always been there? The rich pink buds opened out to blush white flowers. Rather lovely. He should ask Ethan the nameof the plant.


Chapter 27