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

“Did you talk to him about our dad? Did you let Richard talk about what he’s been going through?


“Men! Straight or gay, you’re hopeless.”


They came to the shed. Ethan stopped outside, not wanting to open the door. Sapphire would force her wayin behind him and if he tried to stop her he too easily envisioned them wrestling.


“He cares more for you than you think.”


“I know my brother. I know us. We’re better people than our parents were, and he’s the best of us.”


“We may love them but our parents had…have serious flaws. We try not to emulate them but, god knows, we’ve inherited some of their traits. Rich…He struggles to share. Or maybe it’s a man thing. Grief…It’s the thing Gardeners’ struggle with most of all. Mum tries to pretend otherwise but she’sbarely getting by.”


Chapter 68