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

Ethan tightened his grip on the steering wheel, yet to restart the engine and move off. Richard appeared willing to talk so Ethan sat quiet, staring out the front, the smell of pine still on his clothes.


“We don’t need the company. I don’t need to work. My mother no longer needs the stress, not as she ever had much to do with the business when my father was alive. Her interest is all down on paper, not inactions or decision making. We can sell the company and all live in comfort for the rest of our lives. Makes for rather unproductive lives in too many ways. I couldn’t stomach it so I must do something withmy life, but marketing isn’t the kind of business I want to be involved in.”


All this talk of how much money the Gardeners’ had made Ethan grit his teeth. Richard’s attitude didn’t strike him as boastful, but…all the wealth, and no help for his father. Ethan closed his eyes. “What would you want to do?”


“If I were shot of the company, I could find my way.”


Chapter 55