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

Wrong timing. Too soon after his father’s passing. Though he could justify his feelings based on the injuries she inflicted every day, he hesitated to cause her any more pain. With her grieving, instability in the company and at home, every choice he came up with felt wrong. Six months, or even six weeks on, he didn’t know what he would do if his emotions failed to change. Now, he found it difficult enough to talk to her no matter the topic. Breakfast, the day’s news, the weather…A look from her, a question, hearing her clipped tone, and his tongue froze.


What did it matter if he confessed now? She would learn of his homosexuality one day—he intended to tell her—so why not blurt it out?


Chapter 33