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

“That’s Hyde’s worry. Oh, but the reception’s going to be amazing. You won’t believe who’s coming, Granddad.” I thought of all the e-mails from Hollywood and New York and Washington, DC. “Plus everybody here in Martinsburg will be there.”


“Including the Richardsons?” Granddad raised an eyebrow. Dammit, how come everyone but me could—I huffed out an annoyed breath.


Hyde was rolling that piece of his roll into a ball. “They’ve been invited, yes.”


I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking why. Mindy would be there with Geoff, but why would the rest of her family—the rest being mostly Mr. Richardson—have to come? And then it occurred to me: he was Sir’s friend. Of course Sir would invite him.


“Well, the Rampart Room will fit everyone. Kipp, are you done?”


I stared down at my plate, surprised to see it wiped clean. And I didn’t even care for broccoli. “Yes.”


Chapter 52