Breach of Honor by Naomi Porter

22 Will

SUNNY AND SEVENTY-SIX degrees made for a splendid day of golf, except I was playing like shit. Every time I missed my hole, Dad gave me a sidelong glance. What did he expect after telling me twenty-five million dollars was missing from SJI again?

The last two months had breezed by. Between Miranda’s crazy schedule and the clusterfuck inside SJI, I was surprised I made it into March. But here I was with my dad, grandfather, and uncle Peter… and millions more missing.

During our private conversation at Christmas, my father told me he would have York do some digging. Thus far, York had come up empty-handed. Losing this kind of money needed to stop, or SJI would go under, and there was no chance in hell my grandfather would allow that.

“How’s Miranda?” Grandfather asked. The twinkle in his eye told me he really liked her. I was glad. Of all the opinions that mattered most to me, it was his and my mother’s.

“She’s fantastic. Busy, but fantastic. Since the gala, her bookings have increased by twenty-five percent. I told her she needed to hire more staff.”

“And what did she say to that?” he asked, eyeing me curiously.

“She wasn’t on board with it. She said handing over the responsibility to others just as they were making headway with the business was dangerous.”

“That’s one savvy businesswoman you’ve got there.” He gave me a thumbs-up. I figured he’d like her response.

“The only problem is she’s exhausted. She needs some R and R.”

“I hear she’s going to the spa tomorrow with your mother and Simone,” my dad said. I wasn’t sure if he really cared or if he was just making small talk as he lined up his ball to take his shot.

“Yes, she is. And I’m glad. But I doubt it’ll be enough. Are you going to grant me two weeks in May to take her to Paris?” Uncle Peter and Grandfather looked at my dad expectantly, as I did.

“Two weeks?”

“Yes, I told you right after the gala. Anything less isn’t worth going.” Again, he likely hadn’t been listening.

Satisfied with his ball’s position, Dad did his routine practice swing and then swung in perfect form. We all watched with interest as the ball sailed into the sand trap.

“Miranda is willing to leave her business that long for a vacation?” He studied me, lips pressed thin. It was a total deflection so we didn’t talk about his sucky swing.

“Not exactly, but I’m working on it.”

It would be my luck that the woman I loved had a work ethic like my old man and grandfather. She outdid me by an easy fifteen hours a week, if not more. It was fucking crazy in my book. I was sure she’d make herself sick. Somehow, I had to convince her to go on this trip with me.

“For as much as she works, how do you expect to have any kids?” We all turned toward Uncle Peter. The question was uncharacteristic of him.

“We haven’t talked about kids.” Dang, we’d only been living together for a little over two months. Kids were the furthest thing from our minds.

“But you love her, right?”

I nodded, all eyes on me.

“Then you plan to marry her?”

“I suppose…someday. Honestly, I’ve just been enjoying her. We aren’t in any rush.”

“You should be.” Grandfather’s terse response took me by surprise.

I faced him. “Is that right? Please explain.”

“Well, young William, you’re the heir of this company, and your first son will be next in line. I’m not going to live forever, and neither will your father. You need to keep the legacy going. You need an heir.”

“What the fuck? We aren’t the royal family.” I pulled out a water bottle and guzzled. The sun’s rays were blaring down on me, sweat collecting on my scalp beneath my cap.

“Do not mock this family, William,” my dad shot back. “You’re approaching thirty; you should be thinking about starting a family soon.” He hopped onto his golf cart and drove away with my grandfather.

“Can you believe this bullshit?” I turned toward Uncle Peter.

“Yes. That’s how it’s always been and will forever be. Everything is passed down to the first biological son.”

I sensed bitterness in his voice. He had good reason to be angry. He’d never have more than fifteen percent of SJI stocks, and his son Henry, my cousin, would have even less. Like Simone.

The hierarchy of the St. James legacy, as they called it, was such that neither Uncle Peter nor Henry would ever be in line to run SJI. It sucked. And it wasn’t fair at all. Henry was born three years before me, yet he would never be given a chance to hold a position of power within the company.

“How’s Henry doing?” Subject change. I needed to get my mind off the company, the stolen money, and my position within the glass walls of SJI.

“Good. A traveling fool.”

“I envy his freedom.” Henry was the lucky one. Even though his relationship with Uncle Peter was just as strained as mine with my dad, Henry could do whatever the hell he wanted. When he’d turned twenty-five, he received half of his inheritance, as I had. So he traveled the world, hopping from one country to another and only stopping in Southern California a few times a year.

“Freedom is a luxury many will never have. We’re St. James men, a name to be honored, and Henry has rejected it.”

Crap. I hadn’t meant to open Pandora’s box. My uncle was indirectly talking about Diana, Henry’s mother. She had encouraged Henry to live his life outside of the family’s expectations. It was no secret my uncle felt abandoned by Henry, and from what I understood, Uncle Peter had loved Diana. But honor and the St. James name had killed any chance of him being with her. I’d wondered if he still loved her. After thirty years, wouldn’t the love have faded?

Miranda came to mind. I’d never stop loving her. If I couldn’t be with her, I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else. I had a feeling the same might be true for Uncle Peter.

I entered the house, grumpy and sweaty. By the end of our game, none of us were in pleasant moods. I wanted to take a shower, curl up on the sofa with my girl, and relax for the evening.

Clinking came from the kitchen. I followed the noise.

“I’m home,” I called, announcing my presence.

“Hi! How was your game?” Miranda whipped around the kitchen from the fridge to the counter. Seeing her in a little sundress barely covering her ass did things to me.

“I sucked today, shot an eighty.”

“Oh…sorry? I don’t know anything about golf.” She made a sad pouty face. “Maybe I can turn your frown upside down,” she teased.

I loved her playful side. Hell, I loved everything about her. But the slight bags under her eyes didn’t go unnoticed. Miranda was wearing herself thin, and it concerned me.

“Yeah, eighty is a sucky game.”

She grabbed a beer out of the fridge and sashayed over to me, lips puckered. “Later we can take your mind off your sucky game.”

I inhaled the scent of her coconut body wash, and it soothed me. She soothed me. “Later? How about now?” I lowered my mouth to hers and reached my hand under her dress. She rarely wore underwear if she wasn’t working. “Mmm,” I groaned, feeling nothing but ass.

“Will!” A giggle bubbled out of her. “Later. I’ve got dinner going here.”

“And it smells delicious. Stir fry?”

She nodded as I lifted her leg and hooked it around the back of my thigh. Yeah, she knew the drill and liked it when I did this to her. Her head fell back as I kissed her neck.

“Can’t dinner wait? I’m only hungry for you.” She relaxed into my fingers dipping into her soft, wet pussy.

That was enough of a yes for me to guide her to the bedroom.

A candlelit dinner out on the deck with wine and the whoosh of breaking waves and my girl… life was spectacular. If I could only forget all the money issues at SJI, I would say I had the best life.

But my conscience wouldn’t let me think of anything other than the stolen millions: my clients’ hard-earned money—money for their retirement, their children’s college education, and vacations.

York’s team still didn’t have a clue who was behind the breach. It was bullshit. And my father was unwilling to bring in the proper authorities. Fucking bullshit.

“What are you thinking about?” Miranda asked, lifting her glass to her lips. “You’re quiet, handsome.”

“Paris. Let’s pick a date and start planning.” My muscles coiled as I deflected.

The worst part about the breach was I couldn’t breathe a word about it to the one person who could comfort me with her tender touch. I’d been ordered to not tell anyone about the situation within the glass walls of SJI. It made me sick and pissed off that I couldn’t tell Miranda anything. She’d listen to me without judgment or interruption and would keep it a secret. I could trust her; she wouldn’t tell a soul.

But per my father’s orders, here I was lying to her.

“You expect me to believe the pensive expression on your face was you thinking about Paris? I’m not buying it.” She examined me with a keen eye.

“I’m worried about you.” It was the truth, though I was deflecting again. “You need a vacation. Time away from your business. You need me to take care of you.” I reached for her hand. “Let me pamper you?”

“You do a phenomenal job pampering me right here.”

I kissed her hand.

“Tomorrow I’ll come home refreshed from spending the day at the spa with your mom, Simone, and Lily.”

I kissed her wrist.

She sighed, closing her eyes. “And I expect dinner to be ready when I get home.” Her eyes flashed open, a mischievous glint.

“You got it, baby. But don’t veer off the topic of Paris using your adorable charm on me. I want us to go in May for two weeks, and I’m prepared to do everything possible to convince you to say yes.”

She leaned forward in her chair. Her expression turned serious. “I’ll talk to Lily and Tate, but I’m not making any promises. May is a busy month.”

“Every month is a busy month it seems. You can’t work twenty-four seven. You need a break, time to recharge.”

She tossed her head back laughing. “Recharge? The way you wear me out, I’ll be paralyzed in bed the whole time we’re in Paris.”

“Is that a complaint?”

“No.” She cradled my face in her hands. “I love you, Will. And I want to go to Paris with you. Let me talk with my team, and I’ll figure it out one way or another.” We kissed for a while, and I knew she’d make it happen.

When Miranda had her mind set on something, she’d do everything possible to achieve her goals.