“CAPTAIN. A WORD.” His father’s gruff voice stiffened Will’s spine.
For the past hour and a half Will did his best to avoid the man’s glare. If anyone deserved to be angry it was Will. His father had made the situation personal when he called in Hannah. Then the old man made it so he couldn’t protect her. There hadn’t been any meetings scheduled this morning and then suddenly, during the time when Hannah would be downstairs, there was a strategy meeting called. The general was up to his tricks again.
“Yes, sir.”
“Follow me.” On the elevator ride up to his parents’ suite not a word was said. There were others in the elevator and whatever was about to happen, his father wanted privacy.
What did Hannah say?
Earlier the text Rafe sent said:
She’s still alive.
He had no idea what that meant. The general could be a real hard-ass when he wanted. He’d be surprised if Hannah ever spoke to him again.
His father had a small suite and he motioned for Will to sit down on the sofa in the living area. His mother was in town, but had probably gone out shopping. She had mentioned to Will that she thought it was exciting that he had been in the fashion show. But she would never tell his father that.
“I talked to the young woman who rooked you into that fiasco.”
“Yes, sir.”
“She explained the situation. The investigation is over. I would suggest in the future you think about how you are representing the corps before you do something that will embarrass us all.
“And that woman. She obviously has feelings for you. I suggest you break that off as quickly as possible. You don’t need that kind of distraction, especially now. There is too much at stake. Your priorities must be your special detail.”
“Sir. Are you speaking to me as the general or as my father?” Will’s voice was tinged with anger. He couldn’t help it. Now the man who had told him what to do all of his life said that he couldn’t date Hannah.
“Both, young man. Watch your tone.”
“As my father, sir, I can take care of myself. Hannah is a very nice woman and I don’t appreciate you telling me who I can see socially.”
“I never said she wasn’t nice but she is a distraction. One you can ill afford at this point.”
He hated that the man was right. He’d been thinking about Hannah all day. Twice during the meeting his superiors had to repeat things because he was worried how his father might be treating her.
There was also the fact Hannah was a woman who deserved the best. He couldn’t give her that. She had come from enormous wealth and lived in a different world. Thanks to his investments, he wasn’t exactly a pauper but he couldn’t afford a loft in New York City. He also didn’t have the time to even try to convince her that he was good boyfriend material. Two weeks and he’d be out of here, off to God knew where. “Are we finished, sir?”
His father eyed him carefully. “Yes.”
Will stood and saluted.
His mother walked in as he reached the door. He opened it and took the bags from her.
“Hello, sweetie. I’m so happy to see you. Can you stay for lunch?”
After setting the bags on the entry table, Will kissed her cheek. “No, ma’am. I’m sorry. I have another meeting in about twenty minutes.” Will gave her a tight smile.
She looked at him and then his father.
“What did you do, Holland?”
“Why do you blame me? He’s the one who plastered himself all over the newspapers half-naked.”
His mother waved a hand. “Darling, you know I love you, but the only person in the world who cared about those photos was you. My guess is you’ve been beating this poor boy to the ground because you feel you’ve been embarrassed in some way. Am I right?”
“I don’t have time for this nonsense.” The general walked into the bedroom and slammed the door.
“Mom, you shouldn’t do that. It isn’t worth it.”
She wagged a finger at him. “Don’t you tell me how to handle your father. I’ve been married to that man for thirty years. And he loves me because I’m the only who does stand up to him.”
Will rubbed his temple with his forefinger and thumb. “Well, don’t do it when I’m involved. In the end it backfires on me. I can take it but it isn’t worth it. He’s trying to tell me who I can and can’t date. I don’t like him involved in my business. I should have never agreed to this special assignment. I was better off in Iraq.”
His mother blanched and her hand went against her chest. “Don’t you say that. The two weeks you’re here are the only respite I’ve had in eight years. I worry about you all the time when you’re over there. I—” She took a deep breath. “I’m not going to be one of those weepy mothers. But it’s hard for me, knowing that every day you put your life in danger.”
He wanted to beat his head against the wall for upsetting her. His mother was the one person in the world he could count on. She’d been there for him when no one else had been.
“Sorry, Mom. You know I didn’t mean it like that. I just get so tired of him being the general. I’d like to have my dad back some day.”
She reached out a hand and patted his shoulder. “I know, honey. And while he will never admit it, he’s proud of you—even more so now that you were chosen to be one of the attachés. By the way, he had nothing to do with it. The orders came down from higher up. They’re watching you, son, and it has nothing to do with your father.”
That surprised Will. He thought for sure his father was meddling in his life again.
“Wait, did you say he was telling you who to date? Does that mean there’s a woman in your life? You have to tell me.”
Will shook his head. “If I did have a woman, Dad just scared her away by interrogating her, so it’s a moot point.” That wasn’t a lie. “I’ve got to go now. Love you.” He kissed her cheek again.
He was luckier than most. His dad could be a pain but his parents were good people. He wished they’d stay out of his business. Every time he received a promotion or was picked for something like this detail, he wondered if his father had a hand in it. Will worked hard to earn the respect of those around him. When he led his men he was in the trenches with them and never asked them to do anything he wasn’t willing to do himself.
He was six blocks away from the hotel standing in the snow before he even realized he’d left.
Distractions.
His father was right. He didn’t need any of this at the moment. He had to break it off with Hannah. She deserved someone better—someone who could put up with her fly-by-night lifestyle and be there for her. Will couldn’t be that person right now. He wasn’t sure if he ever would be. When he did find the right woman, he wanted a stable home and a family. Hannah was embarking on a huge career. They weren’t right for each other. It was as simple as that.
Now he needed the courage to call her to do the deed.