Page 3 of The Seal's Promise

Dalton stood up—he knew this was coming. He’d brought it on himself. It had been his fault he hadn’t seen his brothers in years. Their parents had died his senior year of high school and Dalton left just three months later. He hadn’t come back, hadn’t been around to help at all, and Wesley had been the one who’d stayed.

“Wes, it’s nice to see you. I’m sorry I stayed away so long, but I’m back now.” He held out his hand—as if a handshake was a proper peace offering—but he didn’t know what else to say or do.

Wes just looked him over and shook his head. “Let’s not be too hasty. I’m happy that you and Gran get to have a visit in person, but I’m not at all convinced you’ll stay very long.” Then his brother turned his back to him and began to wash his hands in the kitchen sink.

“Wes,” their grandmother admonished him.

“No, Gran, I deserve that and I’m up to the challenge. The truth is I quit my job and rented out my place so I don’t have anything to return to.”

Wesley nodded. “We’ll see.”

“How’s work? The town looks bigger,” Dalton said. Trying to move the conversation along was like walking through knee-high mud.

Wesley fixed his plate and carried it over to the table to set it down, pulled out his chair, sat, and fiddled with his fork. His eyes met Dalton’s, and for a moment Dalton thought he was going to lecture him, but then his big brother just smiled.

“The town has doubled in population since we were kids, but most of that is summer families. Your bestie from high school keeps building beach condos and posh subdivisions just outside the town limits.”

“The Banks brothers are the cause of all those colorful houses on Beach Drive?” Dalton asked, happy for a change of subject, but just barely.

“Oh, that’s mostly their father’s work; those boys don’t call the shots,” Gran said as she joined them at the table.

“Tyler Banks is just as greedy as his father and his plans go beyond ruining this town. They’ll change the entire look of the Georgia coastline once they’re done,” Wes said before taking a big bite.

Dalton ran his hand along the now-cleared tablecloth in front of him.

“So I guess that means you’re staying busy as deputy sheriff, and managing the Hart property?”

He didn’t miss Wes and Gran exchanging a look.

“Is that why you’re back, come to check on your inheritance?” Wes said.

“Wesley.”

“It’s fine, Gran, Wes has every right to think whatever he wants about me. But no, I’m only here to fix things. I don’t know how long that’s going to take but I’m here at least until it’s done.”

“Okay, you can start with the fence line along the beach and help oversee the sale of the Hart pier.”

“Sale? You’re selling the pier our great-grandfather built?”

“Unless you have a million bucks to fund the repairs and taxes, then yes, the pier is for sale.”

Dalton sighed. “And let me guess, the Banks family are the buyers.”

“So far they’re the only ones offering, and you can believe it’s a lowball.”

“Have you talked to Levi about it yet?”

“I was planning on talking to him before the playoffs, but he’s tough to pin down.”

“Okay, I guess we can all discuss our options then. I have some savings I could contribute. Maybe we could qualify for a loan?”

“We’ll talk about it with Levi,” Wes said, and took a big bite of his meal, essentially ending the conversation.

Clearly more had changed than he expected if his brother was considering selling off part of their family estate to the one family in town who had always been their rivals. Even their parents didn’t like each other when they were kids. The Harts and the Bankses had a bad history, and some things never changed. But he was back now, and he was going to have to face everything head on.

CHAPTER TWO

Brooke

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