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

He shook off the temptation. Whatever Richard read in his eyes appeared to prompt the man to speak.


“I’m only following your suggestion. If we are, as you say, all about sex, we may as well get to the point.” The anger in Richard’s clipped tone was interesting.


“Not afraid someone will spot us? Overhear the things you whisper, or the way you moan?”


He couldn’t decide if Richard’s cheeks turned a little pinker. The man had a flush from the cold, which served to hide it well. His right eye blinked a few times and the muscle in his cheek jumped as though he fought a facial tic. At last Richard admitted, “No one around. No one home.”


“Well, it explains why you’re brave enough to venture outside. Where should we go? The shed this time?” Ethan opted for being facetious and the taunt worked. Richard’s gaze narrowed.


“I thought you could come up to my bedroom.”


Chapter 57