the company?”
Zep nodded. “And that he would marry young and start a family like his father had. Honestly, I thought he would marry my sister.”
“From what I’ve heard, he would have.” He’d only met Wes a couple of times, but now he remembered that even as a kid he’d talked about his best friend and that she was a girl and so very pretty. He must have been talking about Sera.
“Sera and Wes were always close, but I think she viewed him more like a puppy who imprinted on her at a young age. I was all Team Wes because my sister does not have the best taste in men. Her high school boyfriend never intended anything serious with her. He dumped her the day before he left for college. Wes always treated her right. I knew she didn’t love him, but couldn’t she have given him a chance? That was a lot of money she walked away from.” He waved it off. “I’m joking. Mostly. I doubt the Beaumonts would have allowed Wes to marry Sera even if she’d wanted him. They’ve got their ways.”
“What does that mean?”
“Everyone knows Celeste will move heaven and earth to make sure her children marry the right people, associate with the right people. I know she bought off two of the guys Angie dated before she settled down with Austin. His family owns a bunch of apartment buildings around the South. He went to a good school and got into a profession Celeste approves of. His older brother is growing their real estate empire. That’s the right people in Celeste’s eyes.”
“She’s not as bad as you make her sound,” Harry argued. “She’s been very welcoming of me. After all, I assure you I don’t own some company. I’ve basically got nothing but my truck, my tools, and my dog.”
“But you’re blood and you’re a war hero.” Zep studied him for a moment. “I saw you talking to my sister the other day and then she mentioned she saw you earlier this afternoon. Were you looking for her?”
Ah, he was about to get the brotherly lecture. He should have expected it. “I was out for a run. I didn’t realize her new property was so close to ours. It was a coincidence, but I was happy to see her. Your sister is a lovely woman.”
Zep’s eyes narrowed slightly. “My sister is also a vulnerable woman. She’s got a kid, you know.”
“She’s also got a life. I don’t see how her having a kid means she shouldn’t date. I’ve got a dog.”
“I’m saying there are a lot of men out there who don’t want to raise someone else’s kid,” Zep drawled.
He’d heard that from more than one of his friends who wouldn’t date single mothers. He’d never understood the excuse. “He wouldn’t be someone else’s kid.”
Zep raised a brow.
He was moving too fast and not explaining himself well enough. “I’m not saying I’m looking to get married. I’m only saying that a woman having a child shouldn’t be a big deal. If I wanted to date a woman, had a connection with her, her having a kid wouldn’t matter. If I married someone with a kid, the kid would be my kid, too. That’s how family is supposed to work. I know you put the word ‘step’ in front of ‘father,’ but ‘father’ is the important part.”
Zep was quiet for a moment as though taking the words in. “Well, her last boyfriend didn’t see it that way. She hadn’t dated since Luc was born, and then Hallie set her up with this walking bicep who basically wanted to play around. I’ve heard he’s been talking about her around town. I would very much like for him to do that to my face. I apparently have to actually witness the behavior in order to give him the ass kicking he deserves.”
“What’s he been saying?” Maybe there was a good reason Seraphina wasn’t interested in dating.
“The normal guy stuff. I don’t know,” Zep admitted. “People tend to shut up when I walk in, but I know they’re talking about her. I hope this house helps. Sera’s smart, but her plans for the future kind of fell apart when she had Luc.”
“The dad’s not in the picture?” According to Cal, no one knew who the dad was, but her brother would likely know more.
Zep shook his head. “No, and let me tell you that’s a guy I’d also like to have a discussion with. Sera says she doesn’t