Married in Name Only

Just before Lucas had come to the clubhouse, he’d gotten a call from the hospital where Paisley was born. There was a night nurse who was still on the same unit, but she couldn’t answer any questions. Privacy laws were the main reason, but she also just didn’t remember.

He had to at least try, though he’d figured that angle would be another dead end.

There had to be some trace to Paisley’s biological father, but Lucas had yet to find it. She deserved to know if that letter from her mother meant anything or if Lynette had just been guessing herself.

Maybe they could be bold enough to show Sterling the letter and demand a DNA test. Lucas wasn’t sure Sterling would be so quick to cooperate, considering he had a mess in his life already without adding a long-lost child.

Not that Lucas would say this to Paisley, but her mother had been notably seen with many men over the years. She’d dated quite a bit. Being a barmaid back in the day, well, perhaps she’d taken more than one wealthy man home for the night.

Lucas sure as hell wasn’t judging what anyone did in their free time. He was just trying to zero in on who Lynette associated herself with back then. Lucas already had another meeting set up with the bar owner. He figured going back in when the place wasn’t slammed and noisy would be a better option, plus he’d wanted to give the guy some time to jog his memory. Now that Lucas had already questioned him, there was no doubt the old guy was thinking back.

The mind was just wired that way. Once the past was mentioned, people tended to dwell on it over the next several days, sometimes weeks, and other memories would come to them.

Lucas was banking on that happening. He wasn’t letting up on this at all...no matter what the outcome.

He stepped up to the bar and ordered a beer on tap. A local brewery had worked a deal with the TCC clubhouse. Lucas was all for supporting local businesses...except for Sterling. Lucas hoped like hell that man didn’t become the new president. Sterling was the last person who should be given more authority.

Lucas was already making mental notes about grabbing more boxes from Paisley’s stash of her mother’s things when a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

He glanced around to see Ethan Barringer, the CEO of Perry Construction. Sterling owned a multitude of companies through Perry Holdings, but Ethan was one of his main men.

“Haven’t seen you around here,” Ethan commented as he settled on a stool next to Lucas. “Been keeping busy?”

Lucas nodded and accepted the frosty mug from the bartender. “Just now getting a chance to come back and see the place. It’s really coming together.”

Ethan nodded and curled his hands around his own beer. “This old building had some stumbling blocks, but we’re definitely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Heard Sterling was out.”

Ethan took a long pull of his drink, but Lucas kept his eyes on the guy. He liked Ethan well enough. It wasn’t his fault his employer was a bastard.

“Yeah. House arrest,” Ethan added. “He’s determined to find out who set him up. I just heard a rumor that Roarke might actually be Ryder’s son and not Sterling’s. Sterling’s just in a hell of a mess right now and I’m not sure when things will clear for him.”

Lucas was glad he’d swallowed his drink before that little bombshell was dropped. What the hell kind of twists and turns did Sterling have in his life? His own son wasn’t actually his son? And he may have an illegitimate daughter?

The man was a walking soap opera.

Lucas could hardly keep up with the chaos that seemed to always surround Sterling. Was this really a guy anyone would consider for president of the most elite club in Texas?

“That would certainly put a spin on things if that turned out to be true,” Lucas muttered, taking another sip of his beer.

“Who knows what’s going to happen,” Ethan commented with a shake of his head. “I feel like the past few weeks have been all ups and downs and one surprise after another. For all of us, really.”

Lucas shifted in his seat and nodded in agreement. Houston certainly had its share of drama lately and it seemed no one was left out.

“Is that a wedding band?” Ethan asked, gesturing toward Lucas’s hand.