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

“…had breast cancer,” Granddad was saying, “and what the chemo did to her—I was willing to accept radiation therapy. It was just supposed to be palliative, but it actually seemed to send the cancer into remission. Now, however…”


It was back, and from the looks of him, he didn’t have much longer.


“If I’d known you were ill, I would have come, no matter what.” I wanted to make sure he knew that.


“You always were my good grandson. Geoffrey hasn’t come to see me since my cancer recurred. Does Marcus think it’s catching?” he muttered under his breath, but I was close enough to hear him.


“I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time when you told me you planned to become an interior decorator. That was so…” He shook his head.


Had he been about to say it was so gay? Well, that only made sense, since I was gay.


“How did you know I was home?” I asked, deciding it might be better to change the subject


“It’s the talk of Martinsburg, your wedding to Hyde Wyndham.”


Chapter 22