Page 6 of The Bad Boy’s Homecoming (The Southern Hart Brothers #2)
CHAPTER SIX
Levi
Face the Music
I f being back in Sandy Point started out feeling like a chore, watching his older brother Wesley run a few police rookies through a PT test behind the small sheriff’s station made it totally worth the trip.
Wesley’s back was to him, but he could tell by the way his shoulders were hitched up and his arms flexed that his older brother was pissed.
“Wow, you run a real tight ship, Sheriff Hart,” Levi called out to his brother.
Wesley’s head turned to the side, and Levi could see his scowl deepen, but his brother’s eyes were hidden behind his mirrored sunglasses.
“Very Top Gun look you’re rocking,” Levi said, unable to resist.
Wesley stood at six foot four, wide shoulders, white T-shirt with the sheriff’s emblem on the back, and blue police-issued pants. A gun belt and gleaming sheriff’s badge sat next to his weapon on his hip.
“They were pilots,” Wesley said with a gruff sneer and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Do it again,” he yelled to the three young officers, clearly struggling to carry a dummy across a parking lot.
“Would you rather I make reference to CHIPs ?”
Wesley just grunted. “So the prodigal son returns.”
“Wait, wait, wait, Dalton is gone fifteen years, and now he’s the good son and I’m the prodigal one?”
“You are this year.” His eyes remained on the recruits.
“I guess it’s your turn next.”
“Not a bad idea. Too bad we never have enough staff in the sheriff’s department for me to ever leave.”
“Ya, no one could ever replace you.”
Wesley finally turned his full attention on Levi, lowering his sunglasses so Levi could stare into his dark—almost black—eyes.
“Let’s hear it—what’s so terrible in your VIP, National-Championship-having life, that has you home during what should be your first week of spring training?” Wesley said, pinning Levi with his assessment.
Levi just posted up next to Wesley on the hood of a cruiser and ignored the question.
“How heavy is that dummy?” Levi asked as he watched the two smaller recruits unable to drag the dummy across the finish line.
“Only a hundred pounds—they’re pitiful,” Wesley said, shaking his head.
“That’s all they have to drag is a hundred-pound dummy? What if they have to save you from a shootout or a fire?”
Wesley scoffed. “Exactly, or just about any adult in this town.”
“Yikes, you want me to tell them they failed?”
“No, but I’ll let you buy me a coffee after I tell them. They’ve each got about two more minutes to show me just how out of shape and inept they are.”
“Sounds great. In the meantime why don’t you tell me why you let a random freeloader move into Gran’s house?”
“What freeloader? Because unless Gran has a new boyfriend, last I checked it’s just her and Missy Shaw living there.”
“Exactly, are you too sheltered in this town to know trouble when you see her?”
Wesley eyed him again. “No, I can recognize it just fine. Missy is a kind young woman. Her cousin Declan Shaw, our family attorney, was just one of her references. She arrived back in town in time when Dalton and I were looking for someone to keep an eye on Gran after she had a bad fall. All of which you would know if you returned even one of my phone calls in the last year.”
“I heard your messages, and I sent that big check to pay for the back taxes on the pier. I speak to Gran almost every month and she never mentioned a live-in helper, just that Dalton fell for her tricks, and she got him to stay. So like I said, what’s the freeloader’s story?
Or maybe you were hoping to ingratiate yourself with the beautiful young woman? Give her a reason to stay close?”
Wesley sighed. “Alright, leave the dummy there and y’all get some water. I’ll be right over.” Then to Levi he said, “Don’t mess with Missy. She’s a nice girl who’s had a tough time. We don’t need you making waves. She’s good for Gran.”
“What’s that mean?” Levi asked, but Wesley walked away to talk to the recruits.
Ten minutes later they were walking into May’s coffee shop and Levi felt eyes on them in the crowded secret-garden-themed coffee stand.
“Well look at the stray dog that found his way home this week,” May Garcia called out as she came from around the counter and threw herself into Levi’s arms for a hug. “Damn, what a nice surprise.”
Levi couldn’t help but enjoy May’s boisterous welcome.
“Alright, May, enough fangirling him—he’s already cocky enough. This is only feeding his huge ego.”
Levi set her back down on her feet. “I disagree, maybe next time you could get the high school band to serenade me as I walk around town for at least the first few days.”
May laughed and grabbed a few empty mugs off a table before heading back behind the counter.
“Wow all three Hart boys in town at the same time. Single and hot. Are we going out tonight? I can’t wait to watch the show,” May said as she worked the espresso machine.
Levi laughed but then noticed a pile of curly hair shaking in the corner as Missy grabbed her green, foamy beverage and stood to leave.
But when she picked up her paint bag there was yellow goo spreading from her bag.
And in two big strides he stood in front of her as she struggled with how to clean the mess.
“If you hadn’t been so stubborn earlier, I could have replaced that when it broke.”
Before she could respond, Wesley appeared like a knight in shining armor with a stack of napkins.
Missy’s cheeks were flushed pink, and a curl fell over her eyes.
“Thanks, Wesley, but I’m going to need more than a stack of napkins. This paint has probably already stained the table.”
May appeared. “Sheriff, don’t you touch that paint. If I can get a Missy Shaw original, I’ll gladly take it. Just make sure you sign it.”
Missy looked at May. “What?”
“Paint it, in fact, could I commission you to paint all the table tops? Or is that tacky? You’re a famous artist, maybe you don’t want your art on my second-hand tables?”
“You want me to paint your tables?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind. I’ll pay you.”
Missy stood with her eyes open wide and rosy red cheeks, but looked like she was trying to think of a good reason why May’s idea was bad. Levi was struck with how surprised she was that someone would see her spilled paint as an opportunity.
“Might be a nice way to leave your mark on Sandy Point,” Wesley said with encouragement.
And he was surprised how annoyed he was by everyone fawning over the beautiful woman, who didn’t seem to trust her own talent, or anyone else.
“I guess I do owe you a new table top,” Missy said looking around. “If I take this table out back I can make something of this mess and then grab some sealant over at the hardware store. We’ll want a nice wipeable finish.”
“I’ll carry it for you,” Wesley said and was already lifting up the wooden circular table and heading out the back door before Levi could think to react.
Instead he was left just shaking his head as Missy followed Wesley as fast as she could.
It was as if she couldn’t get away from Levi fast enough.
“I guess it’s my lucky day. I better play the lottery. First my favorite baseball player comes home and now I’m getting bespoke artwork from the next Monet.”
“Why is everyone so obsessed with this woman?” Levi grumbled.
May nudged him. “Are you kidding? She’s like one of those beautiful sunsets that sneak up on someone and suddenly the sky is bursting with so many colors you can’t believe you never noticed it before.”
“You are so odd.”
“She’s a diamond in the rough, a hidden talent. Thank God she dropped out of law school and decided to focus on her art. She did the world a favor.”
“Dropped out?” Levi said, but May was greeting more guests and Wesley was back grabbing their coffees off the counter.
“Come on, I have to get back to the office, but I want to hear why you’re really here,” Wesley said.
Levi was dreading this conversation, because his brother had told him not to let his manager make him out to be such a bad guy.
He’d warned him it would all backfire. And after nine years of playing this ridiculous persona, he’d proved Wesley was right.
He hated that almost as much as he hated being dubbed the Bad Boy of Baseball.
But if he was really going to shed that skin, he’d have to come clean and he may as well start with his family.