Breaking His Rules (The Clifford Brothers #1)

Chapter 1 Grant

“Let’s see who can do the most bench presses,” my middle brother, Heath, said. We were at the gym, almost done with the workout.

“I will,” Cameron instantly replied.

I just chuckled. I knew I was going to win this round, but I didn’t like to brag.

“Okay, let’s go,” Heath said, and we all started at the same time.

Several minutes later, Heath started slowing down. “Twenty, twenty-one. Damn, I’m giving up,” he declared.

“Fuck, me too,” Cameron said, out of breath.

I just kept pressing. “Twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four,” I said, then pushed myself away from the bench, turning to the other two. They were already standing, drenched in sweat. My brothers looked a lot like me—dark brown hair, blue eyes, and olive skin.

Sybil, our adoptive mom, joked that the first time she saw us, she figured we were triplets born a few years apart.

But even though we looked similar, our personalities were different.

Though we were biological brothers through and through, we definitely had unique attributes.

Cameron was the more jovial one of us; Heath was focused—that was the best way to describe him.

Cameron laughed. “Well, you’re the winner.”

“No two ways about it,” Heath replied. “All right, routine over. I’m parched.”

“Let’s go grab something to drink. I need, like, five bottles of water,” Cameron added. He pointed at me, then at Heath. “Let’s not do this again.”

“What? Meet at 7:00 a.m. to work out?” Heath said. “Yeah, I agree.”

I nodded too. We were all early birds, but this had not been my most stellar idea. But I was meeting my best friend, Roger, for a game of golf in about fifteen minutes, so I figured, why not get the workout out of the way too?

We went directly to the drinks area and sat at a table. The Portland Golf and Fitness Club was one of the best ones in the city. I usually worked out in my home gym but came here now and then to play golf.

Cameron checked his watch as we ordered water. “All right, I’ve got some time until I need to be at the office.”

The three of us ran Clifford Security—one of the most successful security companies in the country.

“By the way, I wanted to talk to you about Thomas,” Heath said as he sipped his drink. “He’s bored. Retirement doesn’t suit him.”

Our father had been running his construction company for as long as we’d known him. After he had to close the business, he was restless.

We owed Thomas and Sybil a lot and wanted to make sure they were taken care of in every possible sense. They were fantastic people, and my brothers and I were beyond lucky that they’d plucked us from that group home and adopted us. They’d literally changed our lives .

“Sybil said he probably needs to feel useful,” Cameron added.

I narrowed my eyes in thought for a moment. “We can find a spot for him in the company. Let’s think about it.”

Heath nodded. “Yeah. Speaking of which, I’ve got to go. I need to pick up Evie from her sleepover at their place.” He downed his drink in a couple of gulps.

“Dude, that’s not how you drink water,” Cameron said.

“I need to hurry. If I drop her off too late at school, she’ll give me an earful.”

I grinned. “I love that your daughter is giving you an earful, not the other way around.”

Heath shrugged. “She knows that being on time is not my thing.”

“Not at all,” I said with a laugh.

I liked to give Heath shit, but he was doing a fantastic job raising Evie. He’d become a widower when Evie was very young. Ever since, his whole focus had been on running our company and raising his daughter.

“We should get going too,” Cameron said after Heath left.

I shook my head. “No, I’m waiting for Roger. We’re getting a round of golf in.”

He cocked a brow. “So that’s why you came up with this non-terrific idea of us coming here to the gym so early?”

“Guilty,” I admitted. “Figured I could kill two birds with one stone.”

Cameron burst out laughing. “Well, next time you want to kill more birds, tell me to have a coffee first. That way, I’ll beat you at those bench presses.”

“No, you won’t,” I said.

He shook his head in mock frustration. “No, you’re right.”

Before my brother could give me more shit, Roger arrived.

“Morning, Grant. Wasn’t expecting to see you here, too, Cameron. ”

Cameron grinned, pointing his thumb at me. “This one figured he’d drag Heath and me here at the crack of dawn. You just missed him.” He groaned. “Damn, I need a coffee. I’ll have it at the office, though.”

Roger shrugged. “I take it that you won’t be working out in the morning again very soon.”

“No,” Cameron and I replied simultaneously.

“All right, I’m taking my leave,” Cameron said. “It was good to see you, Roger. We should hang out sometime. Or are you too busy with that gorgeous fiancée of yours?”

Roger chuckled. “Daph does keep me on my toes, that’s for damn sure. Seriously, though, give me a call, and let’s plan a bar night.”

Roger had been my best friend for years. He was soon to be a married man, something I myself had never aspired to.

Once Cameron was gone, Roger clapped my shoulder and said, “Let’s hit the golf course.”

I laughed. “Just for the record, you’re the only one who can rope me into this.”

“Don’t think I take it for granted,” he said, then winked. “Pun intended, Grant. I know I’m one of the five people you make time for.”

He wasn’t wrong about that. Roger and I had very different upbringings.

He’d learned golf when he was eight years old.

I was trying to keep myself and my brothers safe at that age.

Life in a group home was all about surviving—literally.

I had to keep an eye out for not only myself but also my brothers—the group home was full of violence, be it at the hands of the older kids or the staff. Yeah, growing up was rough.

Roger and I didn’t have much in common back then. Now we were both very successful businessmen. He’d gotten me into playing golf a few years ago, and I had to give it to him—it was a nice way to pass the time and talk shop.

“So, why exactly did you want to meet today?” I asked him as we started the game. Typically we only played nine holes because that’s all the time either of us had.

“Can’t I just invite my good friend for a game of golf?”

“Nah.”

“You’re right. I’d never do that to you. You’d probably cut me off or something if I didn’t have some business to discuss.”

“I’d never do that.” Roger was giving me crap. He knew I’d do anything for him, and vice versa.

“Anyway, Daphne and I decided where we want our engagement party to be. And you’ll secure it, of course.”

“Perfect. Where is it?” Even though the two had dated forever, it was still hard for me to believe they were getting married.

“Her best friend Ruby owns a small restaurant that’s very appealing, I have to say. It’s called The Cozy Place.”

I immediately took out my phone and googled it, and I wasn’t impressed by the photos. It looked like a security nightmare, with the open backyard and no apparent closures, allowing anyone to wander in. I decided to challenge my friend to move it to another venue.

“Roger, just for the record, this isn’t a good idea.”

“I figured you’d say that.” He laughed as I put the phone back into my pocket.

“I’ve been in the security business for a long time,” I reminded him.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Look, Daphne wants to throw our engagement party at Ruby’s restaurant. I told her you can secure any place because you’re the best in the industry, and my girl wants what she wants.”

I nodded, taking a swing. He was right. I was the very best. Clifford Security was renowned throughout the country. We provided everything—bodyguards, cameras, digital security, you name it.

I cleared my throat. “Damn straight. However, my assistant can give you a list of at least fifty restaurants in Portland that we’ve previously secured that would better fit your requirements.”

Roger shook his head. “Nah, it’s got to be Ruby’s. Daphne insists on it, and I want to make my fiancée happy.”

I sighed inwardly. “Fine, we’ll get it ready. No problem.”

“Look, Grant, we don’t need to go overboard. I just need—”

I held up a hand. “You’re the GM of a major hockey team. You need adequate security. It’s not negotiable.”

Roger laughed again. He was in a perpetual good mood ever since he got engaged, which was insane to me, but to each his own. I liked Daphne a lot, but the idea of getting married simply didn’t appeal to me. “Well, thanks. I don’t want to get whacked either.”

“Seriously, leave it to me. I’ll take care of this personally,” I informed him as he prepped to take a swing.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“Tell me about the party.”

As we moved from hole to hole, he gave me all the details, and I committed them to memory.

He whistled after we finished playing. “Dude, you’ve got to let me know how you manage to beat my ass even though you only play golf once in a blue moon.”

As we walked back to the building, I said, “Roger, you know me. I always want to be the best at what I do—no matter what it is.”

“No shit, man. You need to learn how to chill a bit.” We laughed, but he was right.

“Well, thanks for playing with me today. Hell, for meeting me at all. I’ve heard that even business tycoons need six months to get an appointment with you.

” Roger grinned, fake-palming his forehead. “Oh, wait. I am a business tycoon.”

I rolled my eyes in response to his antics, reminding him, “Roger, you’re my best friend. I’ll always make exceptions for you.”

Once inside, we showered, dressed, and said our goodbyes .

As I got into my car, I started to think of the logistics for the party.

Typically, I would hand off this assignment to one of my employees, but I wanted to make sure everything went without a hitch.

Roger wasn’t a Hollywood A-lister, but he was the general manager of Portland’s most successful hockey team—the Portland Thunderbolts. Everyone knew him.