Room to Grow — Kate Sherwood

Until it's freed from the closet, love will only wither on the vine.

Cole Wheaton is "out" in every sense of the word out of the closet, and recently out of a bad relationship. He hopes the new contract to design a garden for the McLeans will be the distraction he needs to get his life back on track, but there's something about David McLean that intrigues him and sets off warning bells.

Somewhere in the middle of a bonding chat with the passionate landscape designer, David realizes he's attracted to Cole. It's nothing new--he's secretly been acting on these impulses for a while. But there's something different, something stronger with Cole that tells him acting out with Cole will be a life-changer.

Determined not to saddle himself with another closet-case, Cole does his best to resist the temptation David presents. But David, watching Cole's easy acceptance of his own sexuality, realizes it's time to stop living a lie. An open marriage and cheap one-night stands aren't enough, not anymore.

Cautious friendship grows into affection then passion. But until they're both ready to cut ties to their pasts, the obstacles still walling them apart could be too high for love to breach.

Warning: Contains drunken licking between friends. May cause a sudden interest in garden design.