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

“When I placed my father in a home, I ended up trying to see him as much as possible, as well as working here…and I took a part-time job, cutting local lawns, washing windows, whatever I could. Not gonna kidyou, it made everything harder. Between working and visiting him, there wasn’t any time for anything but sleep. I was exhausted.”


Now Richard’s frown blossomed but he sat silent, waiting, for which Ethan was grateful.


“On the day, before all that happened, when the sky grew so dark it looked like some kind of looming apocalypse, I came up to the house, hoping to see your father, unaware he’d been called away on urgent business. Your mother was here.”


He’d drained half the whisky and had better slow down or he’d ask for another. Despite the resolution, he acquired a sudden need to clear his throat so sipped.


Chapter 70