The Journey to Love E-Book

Bartow Sophie

• Herausgeber: Two Hearts Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Come along for the final saga in the Hope & Hearts Series from Swan Harbor. Can love truly conquer all?

Will the journey to love lead … to heartbreak or happy endings?

Special Agent in Charge Jade Rodriguez is tasked with unraveling the mysterious death of her fellow agent. She soon discovers there are lies hidden within the truth. As she delves deeper, the one man she’s never forgotten, and his estranged father become entangled in the web of secrets. Will Jade be the catalyst for redemption, or will the past prove too formidable to overcome?

As Wes Garcia contemplates the prospect of a second chance—with his father and the woman who once betrayed him—he finds he’s torn between the opportunity for reconciliation and the weight of lingering resentment. Will Wes be able to overcome the shadows of the past and embrace the possibility of redemption, or will Swan Harbor become the backdrop for a final, irreparable rift?

For over half a century, Captain Jack has carried the weight of his fiancée's departure, a loss that took both his heart and unborn son. With her gone, he dedicated his life to unraveling the town’s mysteries. When his son unexpectedly walks into his life, Jack realizes his happy ending might not be what he imagined. The arrival of a note further complicates matters: 'It's your choice. Will you save Edythe, your son, or your town?'

In a race against time, Jade, Wes, and Jack must navigate treacherous waters of deceit, love, and long-buried secrets. As they confront their own demons, the question looms—will their journey to love bring heartbreak or happy endings,—not only for their family but for all of Swan Harbor's residents?
 
Welcome to Swan Harbor
The Journey to Love is Book 15 and the final story in the Hope & Heart Series from Swan Harbor. In books 2-6, Swan Harbor’s Hope was saved, yet the journey to love isn’t complete with the heart. It’s a steamy, small-town, second-chance, action & adventure, later-in-life mystery romance with guaranteed happy endings. This is Book 15 of a 15-book complete series.
From the first page to the last, come along on The Journey to Love as they fight for their happy endings. Download a copy and watch love conquer all.

Leseprobe

THE JOURNEY TO LOVE

A SMALL TOWN LATER-IN-LIFE MYSTERY ROMANCE

HOPE & HEARTS FROM SWAN HARBOR

BOOK 15

SOPHIE BARTOW

CONTENTS

Hope & Hearts Series in Order

Some Residents of Swan Harbor

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

This book is dedicated to...

My street team;

The Wall-Giennie Wicks-Delaney,

Connector Inspector- Linda Hagerty

Plot Catcher- Maggie Grimes

Sign Crew- Kate Semenyuk

And to my family for their patience while I write

Inspiration began,

when a lost girl fell for a lost boy

Two Hearts Press

An imprint of LLIPSS, INC.

Copyright © 2024 by Sophie Bartow

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and places are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business or locales is coincidental.

Cover Design by Kate Semenyuk

HOPE & HEARTS SERIES IN ORDER

FROM DARKNESS INTO LOVE

KITTENS, PUPPIES & LOVE

BROTHERS, HOPE & HEARTS

KISSES, FAMILY & HOPE

A TREE, MISTLETOE & A SUNSET

HOPE, HEARTS & FOREVER

THE MEMORY OF LOVE

THE INNOCENCE OF LOVE

THE FORGIVENESS OF LOVE

THE POWER OF LOVE

THE CHRISTMAS LOVE SONG

THE KISS OF LOVE

THE LESSONS OF LOVE

THE HEART OF LOVE

THE JOURNEY TO LOVE

Hope & Hearts Historical Novellas

GUIDED BY LIGHT - 1952

GUIDED BY HEART - 1964

GUIDED BY LOVE - 1969

WELCOME TO SWAN HARBOR- 1979

FINDING HER LOST HEART- 1983/1990

GUIDED BY A KISS - 1995

SOME RESIDENTS OF SWAN HARBOR

Jade Rodriguez – She is the Special Agent in Charge for The Agency.

Wes Garcia — He’s an investor in The Mountain View Lodge retreat and Captain Jack’s long-lost son.

Captain Jack: Retired Naval officer and local legend of Swan Harbor who gives out sage advice to the town’s locals. He owns Captain Jack’s Fine Dining, located at the newly renovated pier in an old Spanish galleon.

Terri Patterson: She is the matriarch of Swan Harbor, mother to Danny, Beverly, Laura, Troy, and Rhonda,and grandmotherto many. Terri is also a mother figure to Captain Jack. Her story is told inGuided by Light.

Ava King: Philanthropist and businesswoman. She’s married to Finn, the mother of Emma, and related to Captain Jack.

Finley Reade: He is a realtor and owner of a real estate business in New York City. He and a group recently invested in the Mountain View Lodge - a couple’s retreat. Finn is married to Ava and the father of Liam and Killian. Their story is told in Kisses, Family & Hope.

Liam Reade: Chief Paramedic for the Swan Harbor Fire Department. He’s married to Elsa, who is a pediatrician. They have an infant - Griffin. Their story is told in Brothers, Hope & Hearts.

Sarah Jones – She is a PhD in history student at Swan Harbor University. She is engaged to Devin Hall. Their story is told in The Heart of Love.

Lee Simpson – He is a Special Agent with The Agency, a shadowy government agency, and partners with Gabe. Lee is ‘going steady’ with the town librarian, Amanda, whose son is Ethan. Their story is told in The Lessons of Love.

Gabe Ricci: He is a Special Agent with The Agency, a shadowy government agency, and partners with Lee.

Wyatt Tanner: He is Section Chief of The Agency, a shadowy government agency. Tanner is married to Lanie, and they have two children, Roman and Lucy. His parents are Madge and Jimmie. Their story is set in Guided by a Kiss set in 1995.

Lance Diamond – Along with his wife, Marci, he is the current caretaker of Haven House, a safe place for those in need. Toni is their daughter – the office manager at HCI, Inc. Their story is told in Finding Her Lost Heart.

Killian Reade: Investigator for the Swan Harbor Sheriff’s Department. He is married to Emma Foster. Their story is told in Kittens, Puppies & Love.

Rusty Langley: He is an investigator for the Swan Harbor Sheriff’s Department and partner of Killian Reade. He is married to Rene Langley and father to Roland and Lizzy. Their story is told in The Power of Love.

Dylan Prince: The Sheriff of Swan Harbor, married to Molly BarnesPrince, and father to twins Geoffrey and Luke. He is the brother of Jessie. Their story is told in The Innocence of Love.

Grayson Hunter: Engineer at Hunter Construction and married to SadieMartin Hunter. Their story is told inThe Memory of Love.

Cameron Hunter: He is an architect with HCI, Inc. Cam is married to Jessie, and they have one daughter, Hope. Their story is told in From Darkness into Love.

Desiree Desmond Goodwin – She is an investor in The Mountain View Lodge retreat. She is engaged to Dawson, the manager of Siren’s Song. Her story is told in The Kiss of Love.

Sally Miller Patterson: Owner of Sally’s Diner, the place to see and be seen in Swan Harbor. Sally is married to Daniel Patterson, mother to Christian and Tracey, andgrandmother to Julianna. Her story is told in Welcome to Swan Harbor set in 1979.

Quinn Jones: He is an investigative journalist who has settled in Swan Harbor. He is married to Eden, a second-grade teacher at Swan Harbor High. Their story is told in The Forgiveness of Love.

Jimmie Tanner: He is best friends with Rupert, married to Madge, father to Wyatt, father-in-law to Lanie, and grandfather to Roman and Lucy. He is also an ex-agent for The Agency and periodically helps the Sheriff’s Department. Their story is told in Guided by Heart, set in 1964.

Rupert Duncan: He is best friends with Jimmie, married to Lois, father to Lanie, father-in-law to Wyatt, and grandfather to Roman and Lucy. He is also an ex-agent for The Agency and occasionally helps the Sheriff’s Department. Their story is told in Guided by Love, set in 1969.

ONE

Swan Harbor

October 10

3:00 p.m.

Jade rushed to the edge of the cliff and turned her face to the sun. The wind whipped her dark hair around her head and pressed her jacket against her thin frame. It cleared her thoughts and would help her get through the next few hours. Help her do what needed to be done. Do what should have been done months ago.

With a last longing look at the water, Jade returned to The Lighthouse Inn. It was high on a cliff not far from Swan Harbor’s lighthouse and one of the more prominent places to stay in town. In addition to the central building were cottages, each with a view of its own. For the last five months, she’d repeatedly been back and forth between Swan Harbor and her home base in DC. If she were lucky, this time, she’d complete her business, and then she would decide her next move.

“Hi, Karen,” she greeted the woman who worked at the front desk.

“Jade!” Karen exclaimed. “I wondered when you’d be back.”

“How did⁠—?”

Karen shrugged. “The last time you left, there was a look in your eyes.”

“Go on,” Jade encouraged, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what Karen had to say.

“I’m not sure I can.” Karen’s expression grew introspective. “The last time you were here, you looked lost.”

“Lost? Really?” Jade frowned. “I don’t feel lost.”

Was that true, though? Hadn’t she felt a ‘little’ lost for the last few months?

“Swan Harbor considers herself a haven for lost hearts,” Karen went on. “If you’re lost and meant to find it here, you will.”

Unsure exactly how to answer, Jade grinned. “I guess it’s something to think about. Thanks.”

Karen’s eyes twinkled. “Let me know if you have any questions. If I don’t know the answers, someone will.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Jade thanked Karen for the key and started toward the cottages. While she didn’t buy into everything she’d heard, she would admit the town was unique. It felt as if it were alive—not only as a thriving place to live—but as something more. A place that felt magical, and the minute you crossed the town line, the strength of its life and hope were strong.

The same thing had crossed her mind on more than one occasion, but she’d pushed those feelings aside every time she’d left. Being fanciful wasn’t her thing—not anymore. His callus remarks had all but cured her of that.

When Jade walked into the cabin, it smelled like the sweet the flowering shrubs planted in front, combined with a touch of sunshine and sea. When added to the view, she’d found a place she could relax in a way that was impossible in DC.

As soon as the door shut behind her, Jade kicked off her shoes, left her briefcase on the table, and flopped back on the bed. Then, she checked in.

“I’m here.”

“Are you okay?”

“I think so.”

“You know, I …”

“It’s time. I’ve waited too long.”

“I’m sorry.”

Jade let go of a dry laugh. “It’s not your fault.”

“I know, but …”

Once she hung up, she still wasn’t ready to make that drive. Logically, she knew she needed to face him. Needed to get answers to multiple questions. A task that frightened her and one she’d been running from for months.

Except why was that? Was it because she thought he was involved?

You know you don’t.

Then what is it?

If you find he wasn’t involved, you’re at a crossroads. You’ll have to face what you’ve tried to avoid for months. Before, it was possible. Now, though, those running days are over.

Her subconscious spoke nothing but the truth. Just sometimes, the truth hurts.

It took another few minutes to convince herself to move. Then, at the last second, she changed her mind, stretched back on the bed, and hit a saved number.

“Hello.”

“It’s me.”

“You got a new number.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No. Just curious.”

Jade had no intention of sharing the real reason. Instead, she offered, “I broke it chasing a perp.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Really.”

“Where are you?”

“Swan Harbor.”

A quiet huff came through the line. “Why?”

“A case!” Jade retorted, not liking how she sounded but unsure how to fix it.

“Jade, what’s going on? What is it you aren’t saying?”

“Okay, you’re right,” Jade grumbled. “There is something I’m not saying.”

“What?”

“Why didn’t you warn me he lived here?”

“Who?”

“Him,” Jade whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me he lived in Swan Harbor.”

It was quiet on the other end while her friend worked through what she couldn’t make herself say. It took a handful of minutes until, finally, a soft sigh reached through the line.

“Oh, Jade. I’m so sorry. I haven’t seen him since … well, not since⁠—”

“Not since Chicago?”

“That too. However, I was going to say, not since he crushed your heart, and you showed up at my door.”

“That was the lowest day of my life,” Jade sighed. “No one knows about him.”

“Can’t you ask one of your agents to talk to him?”

“I’m the Special Agent in Charge,” Jade replied. “It’s my job.”

“Is it?”

“My agent. My job.”

“Then treat it like a Band-Aid. Just rip it off, ask your questions, then get drunk.”

Jade snorted. “Getting drunk isn’t an option.”

“Chocolate?”

“No.”

“Ice cream?”

At the mention of ice cream, Jade’s mouth watered. While she didn’t know much about the town of Swan Harbor, she’d heard about Two Scoops, the ice cream place located on the pier. It had been mentioned several times in Damian’s journals.

“That sounds like a good idea. Thanks.”

“What are friends for? Are you going right now?”

“I might or … I might have ice cream first.” Jade laughed. “Maybe a little sugar courage.”

“You could always ask Rhonda what he always orders.”

“Why?”

“Well, it’s neighborly. Plus, who knows, it might relax him.”

Or remind him of that time⁠—

Jade forcibly shut down her thoughts. She refused to go there. It hurt too much the first time. Why revisit those wounds? Nothing could take away the pain.

“I’d better go.”

“Good luck.”

With new determination, Jade grabbed her make-up bag. If she had to face him, she needed armor—heavy armor.

* * *

Wes’s Cottage

October 10

5:00 p.m.

Wes dumped garlic, onions, and orange juice into his food processor and then pressed start. The spices spun around a few times before he stopped it and took a whiff.

“Mierda!” He poured the contents down the drain and prepared to try again.

If he closed his eyes and imagined the dish, it was there. The smell and taste of spices mixed with just a hint of sweetness. It was served with black beans and meant to be the signature dish for his new restaurant, assuming it ever opened.

But, right then, he was in limbo. Eight months previous, a message from his mother sent him to Swan Harbor. She’d wanted him to get involved with The Mountain View Lodge’s renovation project. Once he’d arrived, though, the hits hadn’t stopped.

Eight months ago, he’d laid eyes on his father for the first time. It had been seven months since an explosion sent him to the hospital. A month later, he’d met Jack as his father and not just as a fellow investor. Then, six weeks later, he’d opened his door, and she’d been there.

Angie.

It had been almost twenty years since he’d slammed the door in her face. In his mind, she’d done the worst thing possible. She’d betrayed him, not with another man, but through lies.

Wes was willing to admit he was stubborn. He’d heard that many times when he’d been young. It was a trait that came naturally.

His mother claimed it came from his father. While that might be true, _Edythe Burnett had a stubborn streak a mile wide. Stubbornness was in his DNA.

Once again, Wes washed out the processor and set it up. He put garlic, onions, cumin, and orange juice in the container. To that, he added lime juice and smoked paprika.

As soon as he’d blended everything and took off the lid, he knew. He’d found the perfect combination.

Wes glided from one section to another until the chicken was simmering. Just as he reached for a plate, someone knocked.

He grabbed a towel and jerked open the door. For a heartbeat, he couldn’t move, then in the next, everything rushed up.

“It’s you.”

“It’s me.”

Her voice was monotone and stiff, as if she was just as uncomfortable as he. In it, there was no hint of Angie, the woman he’d ….

“Do you have a minute? It’s time we talked.”

“Talked?” Wes arched a brow. “Haven’t we ‘talked’ enough?”

Angie let go of a dry laugh. “We need to talk about Damian Murphy.”

“Oh, that.” Wes clenched his molars together. “I thought that was over.”

“Do I think you killed him? No.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I have some questions, okay?”

He looked out the window, and the blue sea beyond calmed him until he smelled something burning.

“Mierda! Come in if you must.”

Wes didn’t wait but took off toward the kitchen. By the time he’d plated the chicken, added black beans, and found a nice wine, Jade was standing in the doorway.

“If you’re expecting company,” she began. “I can …”

“It’s for you.”

He picked up the plates and caught her eye. Against his will, there was a slight warming in his chest.

Not going there. Not going there.

“Sit down. Please,” Wes added, more because his mother had ingrained it in him than to impress Angie.

It took several seconds before she joined him at the table and carefully cut a piece of meat. He knew it was good, but that didn’t stop him from holding his breath when she took the first bite.

“Wes,” she exclaimed, sounding more like the woman he’d known, “this is amazing.”

His heart flipped multiple times, and another piece thawed slightly. Except, those were things he could ignore. Or rather, those were things he should ignore.

“I’m glad you like it, Angie.”

Her breath caught, and slowly, she swallowed the piece she had in her mouth. “I go by Jade.”

“Right, Jade,” Wes retorted. “Cold and hard.”

When he realized what he’d said, Wes glanced up, expecting to see amber eyes sending daggers his way. Instead, she continued eating, almost as if she hadn’t heard him. Or, more precisely, as if there had never been anything between them.

For some reason, her behavior triggered a feeling he didn’t like. It reminded him of the few times he’d been around Jack. Reminded him of barriers he didn’t know how to climb.

“Jade, I’m⁠—”

“Stop it!” Jade cut him off. “Just stop it. We don’t have to be friends. In fact, it’s probably better if we pretend we don’t know each other. Right now, I’m here as Special Agent in Charge Jade Rodriguez. One of my men, Damian Murphy, was killed in the Lodge’s explosion, and it’s my job to find out why.”

“I don’t know anything.”

“So you’ve said, but you need to let me be the judge of that.” Jade looked down at her plate, and while he knew she was mulling over something, he didn’t know what. When she finally moved again, she’d picked up her knife and fork. “We’ll talk about it when I finish this meal. It’s far too delicious to toss out.”

As soon as Jade took another bite, Wes had to fight to keep the smile off his face. The comment not only brought back memories, but it sparked something deep inside.

“As you wish.”

Her breath caught again, and for a full thirty seconds, she didn’t let it go. Instead of worrying him, it added to that spark, telling him she remembered the times he’d said those very words to her.

Whether they wanted to admit it or not, their connection remained. That couldn’t be denied. The question was, what should he do about it? Did he pull her close, then push her away again, showing her exactly how she’d made him feel? Show her just how much she’d hurt him. Did he ignore it and move on? Or did he follow the third option? One that, if it didn’t rip him apart, could give them everything.

* * *

Wes’s Cottage

October 10

6:00 p.m.

Wes’s phone rang before they’d finished their meal. He excused himself to take the call, and Jade wanted to run out the door. She’d been in his company for less than an hour, and she felt as if she was splintering in two. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the luxury of running. Instead, she straightened her spine, took care of the dirty dishes, and then spread her notes on the table.

When she’d arrived in Swan Harbor, she’d been given multiple items that belonged to Damian Murphy. While he’d been a great agent, his unique ability to ferret out the bad guys frequently created problems. More often than not, he ended up with multiple threads and needed others to help pull them all together. She was convinced the same thing had occurred with his last case. Putting it together, though, was turning out to be a little more challenging than she’d expected.

“You didn’t have to clean.”

Jade glanced up to find Wes standing in the kitchen’s doorway. His eyes were the same deep brown, and even after twenty years, it was still there. That swooping and swirling feeling she’d experienced the very first time she’d seen him.

“It’s not a big deal,” she finally forced out. “Are you ready to talk?”

An expression raced across his face that she couldn’t read. It reiterated those feelings inside. The ones that had her wanting to cram everything into her briefcase and rush out the door. If she did, though, she wouldn’t get what she needed, meaning she couldn’t put Swan Harbor in her rearview mirror.

“Should I call my attorney?”

“You’re not a suspect,” Jade reminded him. “I’m just trying to connect the pieces.”

“Okay, then, I’m ready. Would you like something to drink? More wine, perhaps?”

“Cold water?” she requested, knowing more wine wasn’t a good idea.

Wes inclined his head and strolled across the kitchen to get a glass. While he filled her order, she couldn’t make herself look away. Besides that moment in May, she’d not seen him for twenty years. Yet, he looked the same.

He’d always been eye candy with his tall, lean frame, dark hair, scruff, eyes, and dimples. But it was his charisma that drew her. When she’d been with him, he’d made her feel like she was the only thing that mattered in his world. The Wes Garcia she’d known had been a people person. Had what happened between them changed him as well?

Wes set the water close to her elbow. “Is that it?”

“It’s fine, Wes. Don’t feel like you have to entertain me.”

“My mother taught me to be gracious to company.”

“Oh, but I’m not …” However, when she noticed his stubborn expression, Jade gave up. Wes liked to have the last word.

“Now, what do you think I can do?”

She closed her eyes and pulled her professional cape a little tighter. When that air of calmness surrounded her and her armor was fully in place, Jade began.

“Much of my information is from your discussion with the Sheriff.”

“Nothing has changed.”

“You arrived in Swan Harbor around the fifth of February, right?”

“That’s not in those notes, as well?”

“Just answer the question,” she forced out through clenched teeth. “Please.”

Wes sighed. “Yes. My mother had left a message to invest in the Lodge’s project and to meet my father.”

“Your father is Jack Swan?”

“Yes.”

“Go on.”

“Just ask the questions you want me to answer,” Wes grumbled.

Jade opened a leather book and pointed to an entry. “Read that, please?”

February 10

He’s keeping an eye on Captain Jack. Why?

“You told Dylan that might be you.”

“It could be.” Wes shrugged. “I wanted to get a feel for Jack before I barged in.”

“Tell me about the items in Damian’s backpack.”

“As I’ve said before, my mother has been on the move for years.”

“Do you know why?” Jade broke in to ask.

“No.”

“Go on.”

“After she left that message, I packed her yellow hat to bring with me. I thought she might want it.”

“What else?”

“She loved Jean Naté perfume. When I found a bottle in one of the stores, I bought it.”

“But you never had the chance to give it to your mother.” Jade glanced at her notes. “Edythe Burnett, right?”

“Right, and no, I didn’t.”

“Go on.“

“I unpacked the items and put them in a drawer in my room at The Lighthouse Inn. One morning, I noticed they were gone.”

“But you didn’t say anything because you didn’t want to get anyone in trouble?”

“That’s right.”

“Your father, Jack Swan, said he’d seen some woman wearing the hat and smelled the cologne. Have you spoken to him about that?”

“Not in any great length.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s nothing I can do to help him figure out why that happened.”

“You don’t think so?”

“I know so,” Wes practically shouted. “Do I have reason to believe Jack lied to me? No. Do I think Jack saw what he claimed to see? I have no reason to think otherwise. Do I want to know what happened? Sure, who wouldn’t? But it’s been months, and I’ve heard nothing new.”

Jade could only think of one thing that might have led to the events described. Except she couldn’t think of a ‘why’ behind it all.

“Damian asked about your mother, too, right?”

“He left a message to call him when I made it to town.”

Jade tossed the photo taken on the pier in front of Two Scoops on the table. “Was that the first time you met with him?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing, really. The meeting didn’t even go on for that long.”

She searched through her pages of notes before finding the right one. “Damian left a message to call him about your mother. Then, you met him on February 12, and later, he sent another message to meet him on February 23. What happened the night you met him?”

Wes frowned.

“Tell me,” she prodded.

He looked at her, and once again, their eyes met. “It wasn’t what he said but what he ‘didn’t’ say.”

“What do you mean?”

“His body language.”

“You read body language?”

“Do I have a degree in it, no? But when you own a restaurant and work with people, you want to know what they think of your food—and the experience.”

“And what did Damian’s body language say?”

“That he’d been followed, and it worried him.”

TWO

Wes’s Cottage

October 10

7:00 p.m.

Once the words were out, Wes wanted to call them back. He wasn’t even 100% sure that’s what he’d seen. Yet, the more he thought about it, that was the only thing that made sense.

Wes brushed his hand through his hair and jumped up to stare out the window. The rhythmic motion of the waves calmed him.

“Tell me the signs,” Jade practically demanded. “What did you notice about Damian’s behavior?”

“He never relaxed,” Wes began. “Damian was always looking over his shoulder. Then, just before he disappeared, he stiffened, said he’d be in touch, and faded into the shadows.”

Jade hummed but otherwise remained quiet for several minutes. “Do you know why he wanted to meet on the pier?”

“No.”

“Why did he want to meet in front of Two Scoops?”

“No.”

“Do you remember seeing him any other time around town?”

“I think I saw him a few times.”

“Was he alone?”

“Most of the time.”

“Can you think back to when you might have seen him,” Jade requested. “Your paths didn’t cross for long, but anything you noticed will help me form a timeline.”

“It was a day or two before Valentine’s Day,” Wes began. “The townspeople were going a little crazy, and most had gathered on the mountain. I’d taken advantage of Jack being gone and went to Captain Jack’s Fine Dining.”

Jade’s brows immediately arched. “Oh?”

Her suspicious expression had Wes sitting once again. However, this time, he pushed his chair backward, subtly widening the distance between them.

“It’s like I told the Sheriff. Jack was a stranger to me, and I wanted to get a feel for what kind of a man he was before approaching him. Since he wasn’t there, I looked around the restaurant.”

“Is that where you saw Damian?”

“No, that was later that night. He was at Blackbeard’s.”

“That’s a sports bar?”

“It’s a Bar & Grill,” Wes offered, although he’d only been there a handful of times. “Damian was at a table with my cousin and her new friend, Catherine.”

Jade glanced up from where she’d been taking notes. “Catherine? Was that Catherine Gold?”

“Maybe?” Wes shrugged. “You forget I’m new in town and know very little about Swan Harbor.”

“But your father is from here,” Jade pointed out. “Doesn’t that make you curious?”

“Curious about the town because my father’s from here? Not really.”

“Then what is it?”

Wes sighed. “I think I’m more curious about why I’ve stayed.”

“What’s keeping you here?” she asked softly. “Is it your father? Or is there something else?”

Could he say he wasn’t sure how to answer that question? That while a part of him wanted to know his father, the other side was ready to walk away.

“Honestly, I don’t know.” Once again, Wes jumped up. This time, he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. She wore the same perfume, and it still threatened his sanity.

“Before we move on,” Jade pulled him back into the conversation. “You said you saw your cousin at Blackbeard’s?”

“Yes.”

“Which cousin is this?”

“Maya Powell,” Wes replied. “Her father is Stuart. He’s the reason I’m involved in the Lodge project.”

“Do you know where I can reach them?”

“Sure. They’re at The Lighthouse Inn.”

“What?”

The way her jaw dropped slightly at his answer almost made Wes smile. He’d surprised her.

“The Lighthouse Inn,” he repeated. “That was my uncle on the phone. There’s an investor’s meeting tomorrow. Plus, he had a few other things he thought I should know.”

“They’re investors in the Lodge project, as well?”

“They are.”

“Were your cousin and Damian … ?”

Wes laughed. “Before you finish that sentence, I don’t know.”

“How do you know what I was going to ask?”

“It’s a natural progression,” Wes answered. “Nevertheless, I know my cousin well enough to say, ‘Damian wasn’t her type.’”

“No? What do you mean?”

Wes worked the words around in his head for several seconds. He didn’t want to toss his cousin under the proverbial bus. Neither did he want Jade to continue asking questions he couldn’t answer. Especially since the longer she was in his space, the more of his attention she captured.

In the almost twenty years since they’d been … whatever they’d been, she’d changed—but not as much as she thought.

Jade Rodriguez, or Angie Rodgers as she called herself then, was just as beautiful at forty-seven as she’d been when they’d first met. She’d been twenty-six. He’d been twenty-nine. Her hair and eyes were dark, and her skin looked as if it had been touched by the sun.

“Wes,” Jade pulled him back before he got himself in trouble. “Why wasn’t Damian her type?”

“The only way I can describe her is to say Maya is spoiled. She wants to be taken care of.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” He went on. “Maya likes men who are older and rich … very rich.”

Jade let go of a little laugh. “Has she caught one yet?”

“Who knows? You’ll have to ask her.”

“I might do that.” Jade gathered her notes and stuffed them into her briefcase. “Then again, maybe I won’t. Thank you for your time.”

Wes walked her to the door, and her perfume wrapped around them. She wore Agua de Violetas, a light cologne that fit Jade perfectly.

“Wes?”

He fought to refocus his attention. “Is there anything else you need?”

“Not right now.” She’d taken a handful of steps, and then turned back toward him. “Do you ever—? Never mind.” Then she climbed into her car, leaving him alone.

Wes shut the door and doused the front lights. After talking to her, there was no way he’d settle for a while. Besides, he needed to figure out what to make of the news his uncle had given him. He grabbed a light jacket, ducked out the back door, and followed the path to the cliff.

Just as the sun touched the water, Wes glanced toward the pier. At one end, he could see the lights around the music club Siren’s Song, and at the other end, Captain Jack’s Fine Dining, located inside the Spanish galleon.

From there, if he followed an imaginary line across the harbor to the other cliff, he could see Jack’s home. The father he’d never known, but whom he wanted to know … if he could let go of the numerous of feelings inside that kept him from giving second chances. Once burned, twice shy wasn’t something he could easily throw away.

* * *

Captain Jack’s

October 10

7:15 p.m.

Jack leaned against the wall and stared out his office window. In the 1700s, when the ship rode the high seas, Captain Jack’s Fine Dining had been known by several names, the last being El corazón del Rubí, and had quite the story. But, in the early 2000s, she’d sailed her last mission and now housed his restaurant. He had to believe Ian would have approved.

His office had been the Captain’s cabin, and more times than he could count, he wished the walls could talk. Since they didn’t, finding Ian’s journal had been the next best thing. Between those pages, they’d learned how to conquer the reason why women in the Swan and Prince families died at such early ages. In February, the power of love saved hope and the town. It also gave Ian, Hope, and their son a happy ending. He was still waiting for his.

It had been nearly six months since he’d left the journals, the family bible, and a copy of The Origins of Swan Harbor with Wes.From those books, Jack wanted his son to learn why he’d not searched for Edythe or him. The words were meant to give comfort, understanding and create a bridge to bring them together. So far, it hadn’t.

Was he foolish to hope? Was he foolish to hope it wasn’t too late to develop a relationship with Wes? Was he foolish to think that, even at seventy-three, his happy ending was waiting for him?

“Happy endings can be different things to people. For some, it’s finding a mate. For others, it’s a family, health, or a calling. Have you ever considered yours might not be exactly what you expected?”

Since hearing Terri say those same words months before, they’d been on his mind. Had she been right in saying his happy ending didn’t include Edythe and Wes? If that were true, though, then why did he feel like there were holes inside that needed to be filled?

He’d made life-or-death decisions many times. Yet, he couldn’t figure out how to close the gap between him and Wes. Had he started in the wrong place? Was he going in the wrong direction? Questions that often kept him awake at night.

Someone tapped on the door three times, then pulled it open. “Jack,” Brianna, the hostess, interrupted his musings. “Ava called. Did you get her message?”

Jack frowned. “Ava called? When?”

“Just a few minutes ago. She wanted me to ask you if you had your phone?”

“I’ll check it right now. Thanks.”

He considered ignoring it. However, knowing his niece had little patience for that behavior, he called her back.

“Jack! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Why?

“Jack,” Ava huffed. “I know your phone isn’t always glued to your hand, but⁠—”

“When you call, I’m expected to respond on the first ring.”

“Stop it,” she scolded, making him feel like a child. “You promised to stop being a curmudgeon.”

“No, I apologized for being one but never said I’d forgo being one.”

“Just listen.”

“Okay. I’m listening.”

“Who has a key to your house?”

“What?”

“A key, Jack,” she repeated, this time acting as if she were talking to a toddler. “Who has a key to your house?”

“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “You, Terri, Sally, Danny, and probably others. Why?”

“Was someone supposed to stop by and let Bandit out?”

“No. Again, why?”

On the other end, Jack heard Finn, Ava’s husband, murmur something before taking the phone.

“Someone was in your house, Jack,” he began without preamble. “I called Killian, and he and Rusty did a walk-through.”

Jack’s heart rate sped up a few beats, and the same thought kept bouncing around in his head. People in Swan Harbor didn’t always lock their doors. What could someone want in his house?

“Is everything⁠—?”

“Nothing looks out of place, Jack,” Finn assured him.

“And Bandit?”

His dog was a Border Collie mix and the smartest pet he’d ever owned. If something happened to his old friend, he wasn’t sure ….

“Don’t worry about Bandit. He’s fine and with us,” Finn assured him.

“What did Killian say?”

“He’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Night Finn.”

Jack’s hand shook when he said goodbye and wandered back to the porthole. The lights on the pier shone bright, and while there wasn’t much traffic, the pier was far from empty. There were a few restaurants, and Two Scoops, the ice cream shop owned by the youngest Patterson, Rhonda, appeared to be doing a booming business.

The thought of ice cream threatened to pull him back into a treasured memory. Instead, he slid his phone into his pocket, put on his jacket, and left the restaurant. No longer was having ice cream a desire—it was an urgency that had to be done right then.

He skirted around the people strolling along the pier and rushed ahead. There were several in line, but it wasn’t long before Leah handed him a waffle cone with butter pecan ice cream.

“Thanks, Leah.” Jack winked. “This is just what the doctor ordered.”

Leah laughed. “Are you saying I should tell grandma, or I shouldn’t?”

“What your grandmother doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” He winked again. “Will it?”

Leah’s face turned red, but Jack was unsure which transgression she was most worried about. That is until he saw who was in line behind him.

“Hayden, my boy,” Jack greeted Leah’s cousin. “And who’s your friend?”

Hayden grinned. “This is one of my dorm residents, Dalton. We were studying and thought an ice cream break sounded good.”

“An ice cream break, huh?” Jack paused long enough to take a bite of his cone and study the two young men. “School started what—a month ago, and you already have to study hard?” When the other boy’s face turned red, the truth was out. “Be sure and enjoy your ‘study break.’”

A chorus of “Thanks, Jack” followed him out the door. He’d missed all those times with Wes but experienced them with multiple Pattersons. That would have to do, wouldn’t it?”

* * *

Swan Harbor’s Pier

October 10

7:45 p.m.

Jade heard someone behind her and pressed a little closer to the corner of the bench. After leaving Wes’s home, she didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts. Nor had she wanted a drink. Instead, she’d bought a small cup of ice cream and hoped no one would notice her. She should have known it wouldn’t work. The Swan Harbor gossip chain seemed to know all—or did they?

When an older gentleman sat beside her, she was tempted to leave. That was until she realized it was Jack Swan. Which, for some reason, kept her still.

“Two Scoops has the best, doesn’t it?” Jack murmured, almost to himself, but she knew otherwise.

Jade side-eyed him, trying to decide if he knew about her—all about her. Except he didn’t appear to be paying her any attention. His was on the large cone he was holding.

“The ice cream.” Jack nodded toward the empty cup she still held. “It’s the best, isn’t it?”

“It is good,” Jade acknowledged.

“The recipe is a family one. Did you know that?”

Almost against her better judgment, Jade found herself angling toward him. Usually, she was wary of strangers. Why was her reaction to Jack different? Was it because, in some ways, he reminded her of Wes?

“It’s an old family recipe?”

“Yes,” Jack went on. “In 1692, when Swan Harbor was founded, the Pattersons were one of the original families. The recipe for Elizabeth’s ice cream’s base is still used.”

“Really? It’s really homemade, then?”

“It is.” Jack nodded. “It’s also just what the doctor ordered when feeling down.”

Jade purposely misunderstood him. “I’m sorry. Did the ice cream make you feel better?”

“Is that why you came to Two Scoops?” Jack’s twinkling dark eyes met her own. “Did talking to my son upset you?”

Her breath caught. “How did⁠—?”

“Our gossip line,” he winked, “is fast.”

“If it’s that fast, don’t you know the answer?”

Jack chuckled. “Sadly, not yet. Why do you think I’m sitting here?”

She narrowed her eyes and studied him for a few seconds. The shape of Wes’s face was like his father’s, as was how he held his head.

“Why are you sitting here, Jack? Do you have some information that might help my case?”

“Wes didn’t start the fire,” Jack offered. “Nor did he try to gaslight me.”

The very word she’d considered when Wes told her about the hat and cologne.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”

“You seem pretty sure about someone you hadn’t met before.”

Jack shrugged and turned back out to sea. He licked his ice cream cone once, then again, making Jade wonder what was rushing through his head.

“Who do you think did it?” Jade murmured.

“No one.”

“No one? Why do you say that?

When Jack turned his attention back to her, his expression said he couldn’t believe what he was about to say.

“In many ways, February was a month of highs and lows. I’d lost my best friend and gained family. Not only those, but I had a mild health issue. It was enough to throw anyone off their game.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m getting there.” His smile dimmed slightly. “I’d be perfect if …”

She wanted to ask him to finish what he’d been about to say. In the end, he didn’t give her a chance.

Jack ate the last of his waffle cone and tossed his garbage in the can. She thought maybe he’d sit down again, but he didn’t. Instead, he gave her a courtly bow and a two-finger salute.

“Welcome to Swan Harbor, Jade Rodriguez. Listen to your heart. It will lead you where you need to be, and soon, that lost feeling will be no more.”

Before she could respond, Jack had walked away. What was it with the hints she was lost? Was she wearing a huge sign on her forehead?

Jade waited a few minutes before starting down the pier toward her car. She’d passed several stores before she heard footsteps and unconsciously reached for her gun.

Great going, Rodriguez! You’re in a strange town, alone on a pier in the dark, and your weapon is at the hotel.

What had she been thinking? She rarely went anywhere without her weapon.

You weren’t thinking.

Sadly, that was one of those truths that didn’t feel great. Her subconscious was right. She hadn’t been thinking about her physical safety but her mental well-being.

Jade picked up her speed and hurried to her car. She refrained from looking behind her until she’d reached the parking lot. When she rounded the last building, she glanced over her shoulder but didn’t see anyone … or anything.

That meant nothing, though. In her line of work, she’d learned that sometimes the most dangerous things were the ones you didn’t see until it was too late. The ones that waited and watched until you were the most vulnerable. Then, just as you let down your guard, they’d sneak up and kill you without any warning.

THREE

Jack’s Home

October 11

9:00 a.m.

Jack had just poured his second cup of coffee when someone knocked.

“Enter.”

The door opened, bringing Killian and Rusty. They were quickly followed by Ava and Finn, who were carrying a box of Paula’s Pastries.

Jack helped himself to one of the gourmet donuts, then turned to his visitors. “I know why Killian and Rusty are here. But why are you two?”

Finn pointed to the box. “I bought them. Shouldn’t I have gotten the first choice?”

“Did you want this one?” Jack muttered around the bite he’d taken.

“No. I just wanted to grumble.”

“Figures.” Jack gave his attention to the detectives. “Have you learned anything new about my break-in?”

“Did you set your alarm when you left for work yesterday?” Killian asked instead of answering.

Jack shrugged. “Maybe.”

“You don’t know?” Killian followed up. “Do you set it most days?”

“I think so.” Jack continued eating. “Did I set it last night? I’m not sure.”

“On the days you don’t,” Rusty picked up, “is there a reason?”

“Not really,” Jack admitted. “Although I will say if I’m running later than I want to be, I’ve been known to forget.”

Killian grunted. “Do you think that’s smart?”

“This is Swan Harbor,” Jack reminded them. “We don’t have much crime here.”

“Oh? What about the panty thief?” asked Killian.

“Or the brassier thief?” Rusty added.

“Well, since I wear neither, I don’t need to worry.”

“Have you checked the drawer where you keep your boxers?” Killian quipped.

Jack ignored the younger man and nodded toward his desk, returning the conversation to the break-in. “While I can’t say for sure, I do not believe anything was taken.”

Killian lifted a brow, telling Jack he’d picked up on what he’d not said.

“Remember last year when things appeared and disappeared on my ship?”

“Aye. But we caught the person, and they’re still in prison.”

Jack went to his desk and touched his stapler. “See this?” Then he pointed to his pen holder and the small drawer on the right. “And these two things?”

Rusty moved closer and was quiet for a handful of seconds. “What are you trying to say, Jack? Is that not where you keep those things?”

“The pen is in the drawer, which isn’t shut completely.”

“And the stapler?”

“It’s aligned on the wrong side.”

Rusty frowned. “Couldn’t you have made a mistake?”

“No.”

“Come on, Jack.” Killian moved to the opposite side of the desk. “How can you be sure it’s not just like your alarm? That you were in a hurry and⁠—”

“I know,” Jack broke in. “Just like I knew last year.”

“Touché,” Killian murmured. “You were in the Navy for many years and made it a point to know where you put certain items.”

Jack nodded, although he wasn’t quite sure he would have framed it in the same way.

“Then do you have any idea why?” Killian returned with another question.

“Isn’t that your job?”

“Have you touched those things since last night?” Killian followed up.

“No. Are you going to fingerprint?”

Rusty sighed. “I’ll get the kit.”

Jack glanced around, knowing there was more he wanted to ask. What that was, though ….

Then, he noticed Bandit pawing to be let out. When he opened the door, the question he’d ‘forgotten’ was there.

“Did you walk around last night to see how they got inside? Did you talk to the neighbors?”

A sheepish look crossed Killian’s face.

“No, huh?”

“Let’s do that now, Jack.” Killian led the way outside. “You can tell me if there’s anything out of place.”

When they walked into the backyard, Bandit was sniffing along the backside of the fence. Killian frowned and started toward the dog.

It wasn’t until Jack heard Killian mutter, “Bloody hell,” that he joined him. “What is it?”

Killian pointed to the top of the fence where a piece of cloth hung off the metal. “Have you been climbing fences lately?”

“Do you honestly not know the answer to that question?”

“That’s what I was afraid you’d say. Let’s check on Rusty.”

When they went back inside, Rusty had just finished dusting for prints. The look on his face said he hadn’t gotten lucky.

“No, huh?”

“Nothing.”

Killian thumbed toward the backyard. “There’s a piece of cloth hanging on the fence out there. We should bag it, then canvas.”

Jack glanced at his watch. “What time was that meeting again?” he asked Finn.

“10:30 a.m. Are you ready?”

“Give me five.”

It took him ten to change his shoes and socks, and then he rode with Finn to the restaurant. Since they needed a larger space with an area for displays, he’d offered Captain Jack’s.

Once they arrived, Finn helped him arrange a table and pull out the easel. Just as they finished, Chet Simpson walked in.

“Chet,” Jack greeted his long-time friend. “How are things with you and your family?”

“Nothing to complain about … much.” Chet shrugged. “How about you?”

“Fine, fine,” Jack began. Before he’d said more, Wes arrived with his cousin and uncle. “We’ll talk later.”

Chet nodded. “No problem.”

“Wes,” Jack greeted his son. “I understand you let a tiger inside last night.”

Wes frowned. “A tiger? No, I⁠—”

“She’s a beauty,” Jack interrupted. “Had you met her before?”

“Oh, you’re talking about An—I mean Special Agent in Charge Rodriguez?”

Jack hadn’t missed the mistake with the lovely Jade’s name. Neither could he help it when his curiosity reared its head.

“Yes,” Jack nodded. “I saw her on the pier.”

Wes was quiet for an extra second before excusing himself. When he walked away, his body language made Jack think there was more going on than his son was sharing. Unfortunately, he couldn’t ask right then, but he would … soon.

“Welcome back,” he greeted the Powells.” “Did you drive in yesterday afternoon?”

“We did,” Stuart replied. “In fact, we …”

Jack was content to let Stuart go on for a few minutes. However, he couldn’t help but notice the other man’s attention wasn’t on him—but on someone they hadn’t seen in a few months.

“Gold.” Jack nodded at the newcomer. “We haven’t seen you around in a while.”

Gold side-eyed Stuart, and his dark eyes glittered with something. It reminded him of their back-and-forth months ago when they’d met at Swan’s Spirits. While Wes thought nothing of it, Jack couldn’t say the same. He left the two alone and wandered toward Finn. If there was going to be a fight, he certainly didn’t want to be a part of it.

* * *

Sally’s Diner

October 11

12:30 p.m.

Wes followed Jack into Sally’s Diner and to the table saved for their group. When someone suggested to meet for lunch, he’d almost opted out. Then he’d heard his father talking about a break-in. Asking for details so far had proven more difficult than he’d anticipated.

Jack sat between Chet and Finn, leaving him to sit between the two women at the table. To his right was Desiree Desmond Goodman, and his cousin, Maya, was on his left.

He’d spent most of his career in the middle of people. There’d never been a moment when he’d not known what to say or when he’d felt uncomfortable in his surroundings. Then, he’d moved to Swan Harbor, and everyone knew him—yet he didn’t know them.

From the beginning, they’d put him under a microscope. First, because they’d thought he was responsible for confusing Jack. That hadn’t been something he could change. However, the second reason was mostly his fault.

People assumed all he had to do was flip a switch, and all those years of hurt would fade away. He’d tried—more than once. Unfortunately, something held him back every time and kept him from stepping over that line.

“You’re quiet,” Desiree remarked. “Are you bored?”

Wes laughed. “Do you want an honest answer?”

“Are you saying you’d rather be in the kitchen?”

“Very much so.” He played with this fork for a few seconds, trying to decide how far he wanted to put himself out there. Finally, he asked, “What about you? What’s your background?”

Des went on to tell him about her parents and uncle being the original owners of the Mountain View Lodge, as well as about the 1995 fire. “I moved to California and have been buying and selling there until recently.”

“Do you want a part in running the Lodge?” he questioned. “Or will you go back to California?”

“I’d love to be involved in something hands-on,” she murmured. “I’m just not sure which department. How about you? Chef?”

Wes laughed. “Guilty.”

“You don’t want to work at your father’s restaurant?”

He remembered the last time he’d been in the ship’s galley. Everything Jack had purchased was top-of-the-line. The possibility of being the head chef at Captain Jack’s Fine Dining caused a feeling inside he’d rarely known. However, the idea of working side by side with his father terrified him.

“I’m leaving it up to fate,” Wes offered.

“Is that Swan Harbor speaking?” she teased. “Or have you always been one of those who believes a higher force is guiding you?”

Wes shrugged. “Everyone has a true purpose. I’m still searching for mine.”

“Wise words,” she murmured before turning to answer a question from the person on her right.

As soon as she did, Wes used the moment to grab a bit of breathing room. “If you’ll excuse me. I’ll be right back.”

On his way toward the men’s room, he passed the diner’s jukebox. Almost as if it was waiting for him, the song Here and Now by Luther Vandross began.

His breath caught, and somehow, he knew—Angie had just walked in. When their eyes met, the song pulled him back to the first time he’d held her.

Chicago, IL

Twenty years previous

Wes pretended to be wiping off the bar when, in reality, he was watching the brunette sitting by the window. She’d been in the last three afternoons, always alone, always seated at the same table. More than once, he’d thought about approaching her. Thought about asking her out. Except something always happened to keep him away.

Today was different. It wasn’t afternoon, but evening. She wasn’t looking out the window but staring straight ahead. Most importantly, it was almost closing time, and the place was empty.

He took one more look and decided he couldn’t wait any longer. Wes tossed his apron behind the bar, queued up a song that spoke to him, and started across the room.

She looked up, and their eyes met. Hers were a rich amber. They pulled at him, giving him ideas he wasn’t sure he was ready to have and causing his heart to race.

“I believe this is our dance.”

Her breath caught, but with no other response, she slipped her hand into his.

Wes led her back into the shadows of the small dance floor and wrapped one arm around her. She was delicate and fit in his arms perfectly.

“Are you okay?”

When she nodded, the silky threads of her dark hair brushed against the underside of his chin. The feelings rushing through him almost overwhelmed him, making him search for a way to take a step back.

“Forgive my manners,” he whispered against her temple. “I didn’t even introduce myself.”

She tilted her head slightly. There was a mysterious glint in her eyes that pulled him closer. It stole his breath and weakened his knees.

“You’re Wesley Garcia, the owner and chef.”

He smiled. “Then you have me at an advantage, Pretty Lady. I’m afraid I don’t know your name. Will you share?”

The mysterious smile returned to her lips, as did the spark in her amber eyes. They made him want to kiss off the smile and follow the spark to the ends of the earth.

“I’m Angelica,” she whispered.

“Angelica.” Wes studied her for several seconds. “Are you an angel?”

An expression crossed her face so quickly he couldn’t catch its meaning. But when she answered, her tone had dropped into a husky one that sent goosebumps skating along his skin. Unconsciously, Wes lowered his head just enough to brush a fleeting kiss across her mouth.

“You don’t kiss like an angel.” He kissed her again, this one lasting a little longer.

“No?” Her brows went up. “You can tell that by just a kiss?”

Wes shrugged. “I just know.” He kissed her again. “Just like I know that to me, you’ll never be Angelica.”

“Oh?”

“You’re too soft to be Angelica. Angie suits you better.”

“Angie? No one calls me Angie.”

Wes brushed his fingers down her soft cheek and tucked her hair behind her ear. He followed that with a barely-there kiss on her temple. “Angie. It suits you.”

Her breath hitched, and she surprised him. She locked her fingers behind his neck and offered him her mouth. It took an extra second for Wes to realize what was happening. Once he did, though, he dove in.”

* * *

Jade’s heart raced, and her lips tingled. The song brought back everything about that moment. Just like the connection between them still existed, so did the memories.

She brushed her finger over her bottom lip and met Wes’s gaze across the room. His expression said they’d been lost in the same memory. How could that be? Had he chosen the song? Was that his way of saying he still felt the connection between them? Was it his way of saying he’d been wrong?

More than once, Jade forced her gaze somewhere else, but something inevitably pulled her back.

“Jade? Jade Rodriguez? Is that you?”

Jade glanced up to find a woman from her sister’s past standing beside her table. “Ava King.”

Ava King had been her older sister, Diane’s college roommate. The last time she’d thought of the other woman had been at their graduation.

“Ava King-Reade.” Ava nodded toward the booth. “Are you expecting anyone?”

“No. Have a seat.”

“Let’s see.” Ava’s blue eyes glittered with happiness. “The last time I saw you, Di and I were graduating.”

“Yes, and I had just turned eighteen.”

“And just graduated from high school.” Ava grinned. “You were ready to take on the world.”

“Isn’t everyone when they graduate?” Then Jade moved the conversation away from herself. “Do you live in Swan Harbor?”

“We do.” Ava explained why she’d moved to Swan Harbor and about her new family. “And now, there’s Wes.”

His name caused Jade’s heart rate to triple and made her fight to keep her breathing steady.

“Jack’s son.”

“Yes, but …” Ava hesitated while the waitress set their plates in front of them.

“Wait, when did you order?”

Ava glanced over her shoulder. “The man sitting next to Jack is my husband. He ordered my usual and well …”

“The benefit of a small town or an attentive husband?”

“Both.” Ava’s smile grew bigger. “Finn is just so,” she lowered her voice, “delicious.”

Jade laughed. “Spoken like a newlywed, right?”

“Eleven months and some change,” Ava giggled, “but who’s counting?”

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks. What about you?”

“I’m not married.”

“Maybe Swan Harbor has what you’ve been waiting for …” Ava left that hanging and moved on. Something for which Jade was grateful.

“Tell me about Di. I’m sad to say we lost touch years ago.”

“Di is married to a great guy. They have three grown children, two of which are married, and grandchild number two is due in a few months.”

Ava dropped the fry she’d been about to eat and relaxed back in the booth. “Wow! It seems like yesterday we were roommates. Di would fix hot chocolate, and we’d settle in opposite corners of the sofa and talk about our dreams for the future.”

“Diane’s dream was always to be a world-renowned chemist and make a difference in people’s lives.”

“She didn’t make it?”

“Not quite.”

“What happened? Did she get pregnant?”

“That would have been easier.” Jade’s mouth twisted with disdain. “Di was a top researcher in a private lab and found a mistake in one of the formulas.”

“It didn’t go so well when she took it to her male boss,” Ava guessed.

“It sounds like you have an idea of what happened.”

“Sadly, yes. When Diane and I were young, it was a different world.”

“A little, anyway.” Jade lowered her voice. “I’m the Special Agent in Charge for The Agency, and every step has been a struggle. Especially since my father …”

Ava laughed. “I would imagine. He seems to have done well for himself.”

Jade winced. “He enjoys it and has made changes. Will it ever be enough, though?”

“There’s always hope.”

“Swan Harbor’s specialty?”

“Maybe so,” Ava murmured. “Maybe so.”

It was quiet for a few moments, both lost in thought. When Jade looked toward the back of the diner, she caught Wes watching her. His expression had her taking a leap she wouldn’t usually have taken.

“I’m looking into the death of one of my agents,” she admitted.

“You questioned Wes last night, didn’t you?”

“Gossip line?”

“No, Jack. Do you think Wes had anything to do with creating problems for Jack?

“Honestly,” Jade shrugged. “I don’t know what to think. He told me …”