Wesley’s fists clenched as he stared into Renn’s eyes, as if he could reach in and read his mind to see if he was telling the truth.
“There was a picture of him, with three boys and a pretty blonde woman.You were all on the beach, in a seashell frame on his desk.”
Wes’s eyes narrowed.“Once I have scientific evidence that supports your claim I’ll tell the others.Until then I would appreciate it if you practiced some discretion and didn’t go telling folks in town you’re a Hart.I’d like to be the one to break it to my family.”
Renn put his hands in his pockets.He didn’t like being in this position and was already starting to think he had his answer.His brothers didn’t know about him, and if he had to guess they wouldn’t want anything to do with him.
“I’m staying at the inn tonight, but I’ll be heading back to Atlanta tomorrow.Your attorney led me to believe he had confirmed the test results.”
“He spoke to the lab, but I’d like to see the results myself.I’m sort of a stickler for authenticity.”
Renn nodded.“I guess we’ll speak later.”Then he let himself out of the sheriff’s office.He didn’t miss the questioning glances on several of the deputies’ faces but they all acted like they were busy as he exited their office.If he didn’t hear from Wes or his attorney by checkout tomorrow, he would head back to Atlanta.
Once he was outside in the bright warm sunshine, he had to admit Sandy Point was about as picturesque a small beach town as you could get.There was a general hardware store that sat across the street next to an old-fashioned diner.And about a dozen other mom-and-pop-style shops along the main street with branded storefronts that all looked color-coordinated.There was a quaint brick building that housed city hall, in the middle of a roundabout framed by a white picket fence.At the end of the street was the beach, marked by a colorful boardwalk with an A-framed structure, and a fishing dock that jetted out into the ocean.
He bet it was really nice to grow up here, and that was all the more reason for his half-brothers not to want him coming into town to smear their dad’s name and shake up their perfect lives.It was highly likely their dad never told them he had another son out of wedlock.Realistically what dad would ever willingly tell his teenage sons that he’d cheated on their mom?
Squinting down the street, Renn spotted a sign that readHooligansand decided if there had ever been a good time in his life to get drunk, this was it.He was going to have one too many beers, pass out in his room, and drive home tomorrow.He could put this all behind him.He’d gotten his answers—no, his brothers didn’t know about him, and they definitely didn’t want to.The only problem was, he didn’t really have a home since his mama died, and he wasn’t even sure he had a job.He was basically like one of those boats out in the ocean without an anchor or sense of direction.
*
The bar wasn’tvery busy, so he took up a seat at the end, ordered a beer and a shot, then tried to watch the sports replay on the TVs behind the bar.Anything to block out all his thoughts about the dad who had never wanted him and the brothers he’d never known.But so many questions about his dad and his brothers tumbled through his mind.Even with Wes’s rejection, he still felt like a weight had been lifted off his back.He’d finally sought them out and made his existence known.Maybe he didn’t belong in this town or their lives, but he needed them to know he existed.
He lost track of time as he ran through what he should do next with his life, but several empty beer bottles in front of him proved he’d probably had enough to drink.Glancing at his watch he realized he’d been sitting there for several hours as he contemplated the meaning of life.It was definitely best if he left the Harts alone.
He could probably sign over all his rights to any inheritance back to his half-brothers or Mrs.Hart.She’d been the one to send him a fresh copy of the will after his mom died, and a letter telling him he had family in Sandy Point.He hadn’t shared that with Wes, because the man clearly wanted genetic evidence.Grandmother—what a strange word to suddenly add to his vocabulary.After twenty-six years of feeling like the only family he had was his mama.It had always been them against the world, until now when he was all alone.
“Hey there, Miranda, you looking for your next victim?”a loud voice asked, breaking through his thoughts.
“Excuse me?”a soothing voice he would swear he’d heard before said.
Looking down a few seats he saw the beautiful blonde who had run right into him when he was out for a jog that morning.She had her golden hair pulled up in a ponytail, with hoop earrings dangling next to her long neck.Her lips looked glossy, but otherwise she was a natural beauty.And two men stood on either side of her, with taunting grins.The way they looked at her was pissing him off.
“You know, maybe I’ll wife you up, but first I’m going to need to sample the merchandise,” one of the men said.
Just when he thought she was going to tell the man to get lost, she leaned in closer to him and grabbed the man’s tie.“Now what could I possibly do with a man who is well known to have such a small…” She paused and looked him in the eyes.“Bank account.You’re useless to me,” she said as she tossed the man’s tie over his shoulder.
“You little…” But before the guy could say more the large bartender set down a drink in front of her and told the two men to get lost.
The insulted man seemed to second-guess whatever he was going to say and stalked off, and his friend followed.Renn didn’t mean to be nosy, but he couldn’t resist staying at the bar a little longer to see who she might be waiting for.But as soon as the bartender got busy again, the man from before walked back over to the blonde.He leaned close enough to whisper something in her ear that made her beautiful face scrunch up with disgust.
Renn was off his seat in record time and slapped his hand down on the man’s shoulder.“I think the lady would prefer you leave her alone.”
“Is that right?”the man said smugly, standing upright to face off with Renn.“I happen to know Miranda loves the way I speak to her.She’s just trying to pretend like she’s too good for me now.”
“Either way, it looks like she’s not interested in you tonight.So hit the road,” Renn said.
The man nodded.“Let me give you a fair warning, buddy—Miranda Sutton is as cold as ice and will only give you the time of day if you have a few million zeros in your bank account.That is until she gets really lonely.Then you better just get in line.”
“I’ll never be desperate enough to give you a chance, Billy,” Miranda said.
“Later, Bill,” the bartender said, arriving and leaning over the bar.“Sorry, Miranda, I didn’t see him come back in.”
“I’ll take one more and the check,” she said holding up her empty rocks glass.
The bartender nodded and took her glass to refill it.
Renn pulled out his wallet and tossed some money on the bar.“Maybe you should find a different place with a more polite clientele next time,” Renn said.
