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

Time to leave. Bladder screaming, Ethan stood.


Excellent decision of his to eat a full meal; he didn’t sway on the way to the lavatory though it would normally take more than a couple of brews to cause that reaction.


He nodded to the man at the bar, who did the same. He almost said, “Pay in a minute,” but stopped. Theyknew him here, let people run tabs for both food and drink, and he wasn’t about to climb out through a back window. They knew where to find him if he did. Why the sudden urge to prove he wouldn’t run out on the bill? Could he be any more ridiculous? Was sex with Richard Gardener worth the mental baggage?


Must be because he didn’t know how to stop.


Chapter 36