Read Online A Sip of You (The Epicurean Series) by Sorcha Grace - Free Book Online
Authors: Sorcha Grace
Tags: New York Times Bestselling Author, “Absolutely delectable.”—J. Kenner, New York Times Bestselling Author “A satisfying, sensual read not to be missed.”—Raine Miller, New York Times Bestselling Author “An intriguing start to a saucy new trilogy.”—Roni Loren, National Bestselling Author “Yummy! Imagine Christian Grey with warm chocolate and you have William Lambourne.”—Aleatha Romig
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couldn’t imagine William being violent, but he was a big guy with an impressive physique and an even more impressive presence. I had no doubt he could more than handle himself if provoked, but that wasn’t something I ever wanted to see. “What about counseling?” I asked.
He nodded. “I went into therapy. Spent years dissecting and being dissected, but it didn’t help. It didn’t bring them back.”
We just sat there for a minute, not talking, as his story began to sink in. Finally, I said softly, “My heart breaks for you, William.” And it did. I couldn’t imagine the kind of loss he endured. Even Jace’s death didn’t compare with this.
He rose and ran a hand through his hair, staring toward the dark shape of the mountains. I missed the physical contact with him immediately.
“The first year was the worst,” he said, still looking away. “But it got better.” He looked at me then, and my heart twisted. I tried not to ascribe any significance to his words and that look, but it took all I had.
“My aunt and uncle tried to protect me. I started a new school in Lake Forest, where I didn’t know anyone. Unfortunately, everyone knew who I was. I’m sure you know that my family’s tragedy and my survival was all over the news for months.”
I had Googled him and read some of the articles about the plane crash, but I nodded noncommittally. This was his story to tell.
“The media dubbed me the poor little rich boy . That was when I learned money could be a curse as well as a blessing.” He began pacing, at first walking slowly without purpose, but picking up speed as he spoke. “Do you know where my money came from?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Originally the Lambourne family owned a coffee and tea business that my great-great-great-grandfather grew into the largest institutional food supplier in the United States. My great-grandfather sold it all to a huge conglomerate and since then, the only thing the Lambourne family has made is money.” He sounded almost ashamed of this, but I couldn’t see his face because he paced away from me.
“My father was particularly gifted in investment and financial management. He took his inherited wealth and grew his portfolio via his firm, which is my firm now. He was a very wealthy man when he died.”
I wondered what constituted very wealthy to William Lambourne. I had a feeling it was more money than I could imagine.
“I inherited that wealth. I was the sole heir. That wasn’t how it was meant to be, but that’s what happened and everybody knew about it.” He stopped pacing and turned to face me. “And the first extortion attempt came when I was a freshman in high school.”
“Extortion?” I gasped, all but choking on my wine. “I don’t understand.”
He gave me a sad smile. “That’s what I love about you, Catherine.”
I blinked, telling myself he hadn’t said he loved me, just that he loved something about me. Not the same thing. I set my wine glass down and stared at him. “What do you mean by extortion?”
“I mean a threat used to elicit payment. My Uncle Charles, who also happened to be my father’s lawyer, received a series of letters from a woman who claimed to be my father’s mistress. She also claimed to have had an illegitimate son with my father and she wanted her child to receive his rightful portion of the Lambourne fortune.”
“Oh my God.” A sick feeling of revulsion rose in my throat.
“There was an investigation,” William said, crossing to me and taking his seat again. He refilled his wine glass and I noticed his hand shook slightly. “Her story was easily discredited, but that was hardly the last attempt to get my money.”
I reached for his hand, wanting to comfort him. I’d never seen him so vulnerable. It scared me.
“Less than a year later, a man was caught outside my aunt and uncle’s house with a taser gun, rope, handcuffs, a hood, duct tape—all sorts of goodies.”
I shook my head as
He nodded. “I went into therapy. Spent years dissecting and being dissected, but it didn’t help. It didn’t bring them back.”
We just sat there for a minute, not talking, as his story began to sink in. Finally, I said softly, “My heart breaks for you, William.” And it did. I couldn’t imagine the kind of loss he endured. Even Jace’s death didn’t compare with this.
He rose and ran a hand through his hair, staring toward the dark shape of the mountains. I missed the physical contact with him immediately.
“The first year was the worst,” he said, still looking away. “But it got better.” He looked at me then, and my heart twisted. I tried not to ascribe any significance to his words and that look, but it took all I had.
“My aunt and uncle tried to protect me. I started a new school in Lake Forest, where I didn’t know anyone. Unfortunately, everyone knew who I was. I’m sure you know that my family’s tragedy and my survival was all over the news for months.”
I had Googled him and read some of the articles about the plane crash, but I nodded noncommittally. This was his story to tell.
“The media dubbed me the poor little rich boy . That was when I learned money could be a curse as well as a blessing.” He began pacing, at first walking slowly without purpose, but picking up speed as he spoke. “Do you know where my money came from?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Originally the Lambourne family owned a coffee and tea business that my great-great-great-grandfather grew into the largest institutional food supplier in the United States. My great-grandfather sold it all to a huge conglomerate and since then, the only thing the Lambourne family has made is money.” He sounded almost ashamed of this, but I couldn’t see his face because he paced away from me.
“My father was particularly gifted in investment and financial management. He took his inherited wealth and grew his portfolio via his firm, which is my firm now. He was a very wealthy man when he died.”
I wondered what constituted very wealthy to William Lambourne. I had a feeling it was more money than I could imagine.
“I inherited that wealth. I was the sole heir. That wasn’t how it was meant to be, but that’s what happened and everybody knew about it.” He stopped pacing and turned to face me. “And the first extortion attempt came when I was a freshman in high school.”
“Extortion?” I gasped, all but choking on my wine. “I don’t understand.”
He gave me a sad smile. “That’s what I love about you, Catherine.”
I blinked, telling myself he hadn’t said he loved me, just that he loved something about me. Not the same thing. I set my wine glass down and stared at him. “What do you mean by extortion?”
“I mean a threat used to elicit payment. My Uncle Charles, who also happened to be my father’s lawyer, received a series of letters from a woman who claimed to be my father’s mistress. She also claimed to have had an illegitimate son with my father and she wanted her child to receive his rightful portion of the Lambourne fortune.”
“Oh my God.” A sick feeling of revulsion rose in my throat.
“There was an investigation,” William said, crossing to me and taking his seat again. He refilled his wine glass and I noticed his hand shook slightly. “Her story was easily discredited, but that was hardly the last attempt to get my money.”
I reached for his hand, wanting to comfort him. I’d never seen him so vulnerable. It scared me.
“Less than a year later, a man was caught outside my aunt and uncle’s house with a taser gun, rope, handcuffs, a hood, duct tape—all sorts of goodies.”
I shook my head as
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