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

“Grown-ups think because you’re little, you don’t realize something’s wrong.” He handed me the cup, then held onto it when he saw how shaky my hands still were and helped me bring the straw to my mouth. “I knew from as far back as I could remember that Mother…oh, she loved me, but she didn’t seem to like me very much. I could never figure what I’d done to…” He brushed the hair back off my forehead.


“Geoff?” He’d never been one to touch me.


“Those last months, though, when she was pregnant, she seemed so happy. She hugged me and told me I was going to have a baby brother or sister. So, yes, I think she would have loved you very much.” He looked away. “More than she ever loved me.”


“Have you had enough water?” I nodded, and only after he put the cup back on the table did he turn to meet my eyes. “I’m the firstborn son, Kipp, the crown prince. Father loves me well enough, but that’s what means so much to him. One day Llewellyn, Inc. will come to me—”


Chapter 34