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

One of Ethan’s arms hung down, the other crossed his body at the waist, the hand of the arm grasping theopposite forearm. The man’s fingers pressed. Beneath his fingertips, the skin became white. Nails dug in. Rich tried not to flinch, picturing Ethan squeezing so hard as to make his blood run.


Ethan’s tone made Rich shiver, so he finished dressing at speed. He grabbed his coat and stuffed his gloves into a pocket. Moved to the window. Stopped.


Rich spun to face him. “Fine. You ever decide you want to tell me the truth, I’ll listen. For now, I’ll let myself out.” He made use of a chair but managed to climb out with rather more grace than when clambering in. When last he glanced back before heading into the trees, all he saw of Ethan was a silhouette against an aura of light.


Chapter 45