Kipp Llewellyn, the proverbial poor little rich boy, can have whatever he wants, except the one thing he wants most: his father’s love. When the opportunity arises to obtain it, Kipp jumps at the chance, even though it means breaking a date with “Ham,” the man he’s sure he’s falling in love with. However, the opportunity turns out to be an arranged marriage with his father’s biggest competitor. Even worse, Kipp discovers his proposed groom is Hyde Wyndham, the man of his dreams. Having lived in a gilded cage his entire twenty-one years, Kipp refuses to settle for anything less than love and walks away from both his father and his future husband. Hyde didn’t achieve his position in the financial world by taking no for an answer, however, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make Kipp realize he’s wanted for himself, including wooing the young man he intends to marry, prenuptial agreements be damned. He’s certain he’s succeeded, until Kipp learns something that puts an insurmountable barrier between them. Will Hyde be able to overcome Kipp’s doubts, and will Kipp realize that some things are worth the sacrifice?

Two Lips, Indifferent Red

But I could dream of him. And oh, momma, were my dreams good!


The man came back about six weeks later. Hunter had me filling clear glass vases with multi-colored glass stones and potpourri. Once I was done, I was supposed to place them around the shop, in various nooks and crannies, demonstrating my ability to create something that would pop.


The scent of the citrusy potpourri irritated my nasal passages, and I sneezed, and then sneezed four more times in a row.


“God bless you.” The voice was like a warm brownie with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, drowned in hot fudge sauce—no nuts, though, thanks very much—and topped with a mountain of whipped cream. Without even seeing the voice’s owner, I was in lust.


Chapter 7