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

“This is—” Warmth crept up from my torso to my forehead, and sweat began beading at the base of my skull. “This is—” My palms were itchy, and I suddenly felt nauseous. Before I could even clap a hand over my mouth, I’d thrown up what little there was in my stomach all over myself.


I didn’t have time to be mortified—I’d never vomited in public in all my life—I started to wheeze. And then there was a ringing in my ears, and my vision began to blur around the edges. My tongue felt like it was swelling up.


Help me!But nothing came out of my mouth. I tugged at my tie and tore at the collar of my dress shirt, hoping that would ease the constriction in my throat, but it did no good.


I tried to get to my feet, but my knees gave out from under me, and I pitched forward, clutching at the tablecloth and dragging everything down on top of me as I hit the floor.


Pain shot through my left palm. Oh God, what had I done to my hand?


Chapter 32