Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Renn
A Second Look
“I don’t see it. You don’t look like my dad, me, or either of my brothers,” Wes said.
Renn shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t really matter if you see it. Either way, our DNA proves it.”
“If the paperwork is proved to be legitimate—my attorney is still trying to confirm the test results from twenty-five years ago.”
Renn tried to tame his instinct to storm out. Clearly Wesley Hart, his half-brother, thought he was a liar, which was infuriating. Except for the fact that if he were in the other man’s shoes, he probably wouldn’t believe him either.
“Look, I get that this is a lot to process, and that you probably won’t want anything to do with me. But I needed to know.”
“Know what?” Wes asked, leaning against the desk in his sheriff’s office. He projected complete indifference and authority. But something about the way he was staring at Renn’s every move told a different story. If he was a betting man, he’d wager his half-brother wasn’t sure what to believe.
“I needed to know if you and your brothers have known about me all this time and just didn’t want anything to do with me. Or if he lied to you too.”
“My father never lied, which means if you are my half-brother he either didn’t know or had a really good reason to keep it a secret.”
Renn nodded. “He knew.”
“And how do you know that?”
“Because I met him once when I was ten. The month before he and your mom died.”
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 read Hooligans and 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’t very 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.
“Oh, just what I was looking for—another man to tell me what to do.”
Renn shook his head as the bartender set a fresh drink down in front of her. She pulled out the straw and took a big gulp. “Thank you.”
Renn didn’t want to leave her alone even if she thought she could handle those jerks.
“Was sticking up for me your big move to try and convince me how you’re different, so I’ll consider going home with you?” she challenged as she stood and leaned her tall curvy body into his.
But before he could answer another man moved to stand next to Renn. “Andy, you’re making a spectacle of yourself, again.”
“Last I checked what I do is none of your business, Johnny. As my ex you no longer have that right.”
“Still sour about that I see, and yet you could have married the next best thing if you’d played your cards right,” the man scoffed before leaning on the edge of the bar and calling out his order to the bartender who was helping another customer.
Renn was having trouble keeping up, but it was clear these two had some history.
And the rude stranger had a point, this woman was not only the most beautiful woman in the bar, she seemed to have every man’s attention.
He assumed she’d walk away done with both of them, but then she did something he didn’t see coming.
Her cool fingers cupped the side of Renn’s face, and she looked up into his eyes searching for something.
“The truth is I don’t have any cards left to play, but you’re the first man who’s ever tried to defend my honor in this town.” She said in a lowered tone.
Then with a tug on the back of his neck he found himself dipping his mouth down to capture her lips in a kiss.
She tasted of bourbon and honey. And her lips parted on a soft sigh as his arms wrapped around her and pulled her into him.
He had no idea how long the kiss lasted, but when it ended, they were both breathless and she looked even more gorgeous with her lips swollen.
The look in her eyes told him she was just as surprised as he was by their kiss.
Then she stepped out of his arms and picked up her drink. She took one more big swallow before she set the empty glass back down.
“You kiss just like a hero and a heartbreak,” she said.
“I’m no hero. I just didn’t like the way those guys were talking to you.”
“Where are you from?” she asked.
“Atlanta. I was just passing through tonight.”
“Meet me outside in five minutes.” She smiled and walked away toward the ladies’ room.
Renn stood rooted in place as he watched even after the door closed behind her.
“You won’t catch that one. She’s the girl all those sad country songs are written about,” the bartender said with a smile.
“Maybe because everyone’s trying to catch her and she needs someone to ride with her,” Renn said as he watched Miranda exit the bar while multiple men tried to get her attention.
“Good luck,” the bartender called after him as Renn headed to the exit.
He didn’t miss the dirty looks from each of the men who had tried to talk to Miranda, but he wasn’t worried.
He may not be the most polished or educated man in the bar, but between growing up on a ranch and playing professional sports, he had enough muscle to protect himself.
Once he was outside he took a deep breath and shook off the energy of such an odd night.
He was supposed to be keeping a low profile in this town, not picking a local up at the bar.
Looking down the sidewalk to the left and right he didn’t see the gorgeous blonde who had kissed him senseless.
Maybe she’d changed her mind, but about ten feet toward the inn he spotted her leaning up against an old beat-up truck.
It was probably a really bad idea hooking up with anyone in this town, but there she was waiting for him, and he hadn’t stopped thinking about her since he saw her big green eyes filled with tears that morning.