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

Though Ethan enjoyed this, a little reciprocation wouldn’t go amiss. Ethan shifted position, directedone of Richard’s hands to his dick. Took a short pause but awareness broke through the haze, fingers curling, tightening, bringing Ethan’s need tortuously alive. Instead of the anticipated hard, fast pump, Richard performed a long, slow stroke, striking Ethan a physical and emotional blow.


Accident. Coincidence. Must be. No way did Richard know he affected Ethan in any imperceptible way.


Intentional or not, the action made Ethan tremble. Made him cling to the aberrant idea every action from Richard was a mere attempt to obtain a reciprocal reaction. No other reason explained why Richard Gardener handled him with such tenderness.


Chapter 30