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

“It wasn’t love then. Not quite. We were too young and I didn’t understand what I was feeling. You can’t say different.”


After a second of thought, Ethan said, “No, you’re right. I suppose I can’t. I…cared, in my own way,but…”


“We weren’t of an age to understand. By the time I knew I was gay I didn’t know you were and besides, I couldn’t have returned, not then. The fight…it changed my outlook. I can’t say I understood it with any clarity but I finally understood there was nothing for me here. Not even Saffie. She was at other schools. I decided if I couldn’t get out of what my parents had planned, I would use it to my advantage.”


“So once you got your qualifications you didn’t return but went travelling and…what?”


Chapter 76