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 remained standing, leaning against the counter in the kitchen, hands grasping a hot mug full of rich black coffee. Ethan took a swig, gaze aimed in Richard’s general direction but not meeting his gaze. The man dithered in the doorway. Without asking, Richard walked over, grabbed a mug from the six-pronged tree Rosie insisted they use, and poured out a generous helping of the black liquid. Richard took it with milk but he didn’t go to the fridge. He knocked the first mouthful back almost as one would a shot of whisky. Good thing the machine delivered it at a drinkable temperature.


One of them had to break the silence. “So…horrendous night, eh?”


“Worse.” Richard’s voice came out gravelly.


Chapter 64