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

Wine? Ethan drank wine? No reason he shouldn’t but the sight of Ethan holding a wine glass looked odd. Sapphire was right. Rich really was a snob.


Reader of minds, Ethan raised a glass half full. No reason not to imbibe. “Wouldn’t say no.”


“Do you ever say no to anything?” Ethan handed over the alcohol.


Rich took hold. Now how should he answer such a question?


They drank in silence. Able to stand it no longer, Ethan spoke first. “Your sister coming home soon?”


Richard jerked as if stung by a wasp. Not knowing why but wanting to ease his boss’s growing discomfort, Ethan shrugged off the importance of the question.


“Saw you both. I was driving along when the two of you went into the pizza place.”


Chapter 41