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

“Uh…yes. It didn’t occur to me that I could be hounded by the paparazzi.” Would Hyde feel the need to see I had a bodyguard? Oh God, I didn’t even want to think about that. I decided to change the subject. “I was sorry to hear about your father.” Damn. That was more abrupt than I’d intended, but before I could apologize…


“Thank you. It was a heart attack, you know.”


“Yes, my brother told me. Did he have a history of heart trouble?”


“If he did, he kept it hidden from Mom.”


“Your grandfather made sure Mom and the younger ones were taken care of, and there was Dad’s life insurance policy. But…” She shrugged. “Mom couldn’t deal with being on her own, so I…came back from New York.”


Chapter 57