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

“All right. But if finances are tight, why not downsize the wedding?”


“Father won’t hear of it. What would all the people who’ll be coming from out of town think? And besides, it would break Mindy’s heart.” Did he realize he’d put Mindy after Sir?


“Geoff, this isn’t a good idea. Oh, not if you want to marry her—go to city hall. But to have this much debt hanging over your head…”


“You know Mother’s jewels came to me.” He uncrossed his legs.


“What? Yes. What about it?” Other than in the painting on the wall in the formal living room at Granddad’s house, I’d never seen them, and so it hadn’t mattered to me that Geoff had gotten them, especially since I was gay and would never have a wife to give them to.


The light went on. “Is that why you haven’t been to see Granddad?”


“He’d be so angry if he realized everything was gone.” His shoulders sagged. “Some of those pieces were Grandmother’s. He…uh…he’d feel I should have saved something for you.”


Chapter 36