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

“All well?” A quick nod to the house was all Ethan gave as a mention of what went on inside.


Though surprised by Richard’s honesty, Ethan continued to stir a pile of garden debris and waited. None of the events were his business, but an honest conversation would be a decent change. When Richard said nothing more and the seconds stretched out, Ethan asked, “Am I making a bad time worse?”


“What?” Richard frowned, and narrowed his eyes. Chewed a little on his lip in a way which caught Ethanoff guard. The urge to step up, press his lips to Richard’s, and to wipe the frown from the man’s face proved almost too strong to ignore. Ethan poked at the growing mound with the rake while he rearranged his expression to a more neutral one.


Chapter 50