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

“Hi, Mrs. Wales.” I kissed her cheek.


“My, my, you have grown, Mr. Kipp.” It had been three years since we’d seen each other, and I’d had that growth spurt my freshman year at Armand U.


“And I’m getting married soon, too. You’ll come, won’t you?”


“You don’t need to come,” I called after him, and then I turned to the underchauffeur. “You’re invited, too, Pierce.”


“Thank you, Mr. Kipp.” He smiled at me. “We…uh…Mrs. Wales and I were afraid we might not get to see you again.”


“I’d have made sure we were able to visit once more before I left town. Maybe when you took Mrs. Wales grocery-shopping.”


His smile broadened. When I was little, I’d wheedle my way into going with them, and Mrs. Wales always saw to it I had a treat, whether it was a piece of candy or a cookie.


“I never did like Jackson. And you did not hear me say that.” He winked. “Was there something you needed?”


Chapter 80