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

“Can you do that?” What was I saying? He had. “Never mind. Don’t we have to have blood tests?” I knew they probably weren’t necessary, especially since there was no way Hyde could get me pregnant, but I needed to buy myself a little time.


“Well, what about the three-day waiting period? And I know the courthouse says to give yourself a month before the wedding date to have the…the legal aspect taken care of.” He raised an eyebrow again, and I hurried to explain. “They’ll want to see our ID and…and proof that neither of us was ever married.”


“I…” I could feel a blush ride up my cheeks. “I checked it out online.”


“Did you?” That pleased him, and he ran his fingertips over my cheek to that dimple. “Well, I have—”


“Don’t tell me. Contacts.” I threw my hands up in the air. “Fine. Why’d you even ask me?”


“It’s customary to propose to the person one intends to marry.”


I bumped my shoulder against his. “You know that’s not what I meant.”


Chapter 44