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

“Fabulous new residence,” Richard read from the brochure. “EPC rating A.” He stopped and stared around. “One would think it went without saying.”


For the money…Ethan agreed. The staff house back at the manor was kind of large. Not massive but biggerthan he could ever afford. They got to live there at a modest rent so he and his father had saved a fair bit…most of it gone now, but he didn’t want to dwell. Still this—a solid statement of his and Richard’s differences—came as a slap. Mad when those disparities had always been present.


Ethan zoned out most of what Richard said, catching an occasional word or sentence as he walked from room to room, trailing behind. Everywhere he went, the black and white theme continued, with hints of grey or taupe. The style should have come across as austere but much to his annoyance the interior made him feel welcome.


Chapter 53