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

“No problem. You didn’t work all day, I hope.”


“Nope.” He hung up his jacket and kicked off his boots. “Went out for lunch.”


Rosie nodded as she disappeared into the kitchen, calling out. “You been to see your dad?”


“Did that, too.” Nothing got past Rosie and she would have picked up on his mood. Not wanting to answer any more questions, Ethan made a break for the shower.


Rich sat tapping the steering wheel. No lights shone in the house. Either his mother had gone to bed or was out, but he couldn’t see her car so chances were she wasn’t home. Pity he couldn’t persuade Saffie to accompany him, though it would raise questions if their mother saw them turn up together. If he called his sister now, she would refuse. One look at the sprawling house and he was no longer sure shehad it so wrong—the dusty ill-used room at the hotel a more inviting prospect.


Chapter 40