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

Before Rich could say anything more, a shrill sound rang out from above. “A treeeeee.” Saffie hurrieddown, skipping over the steps as she did as a teenager. She danced around the trunk, caressing the silvery sprigs and smelling the rich scent transferred to her fingers.


“You never said we were having a tree.”


Though Saffie’s excitement and open delight brought a smile to his face and a warmth to his heart more cosy than any seasonal scene, he spared his mother an apologetic glance, but she no longer stood on the stairs. Somewhere in the midst of Saffie’s excitement, she had slipped away.


“I wanted it to be a surprise. I picked it up with Ethan late this afternoon.”


“Thank Ethan for me.” Though her gratitude was no doubt genuine, his sister was too absorbed with a simple pleasure. “Are you going to help me drag the decorations out or do I need to fetch Ethan for that, too?”


Chapter 56