The Journey to Love

Chapter 1

 

Swan Harbor

September 5

3:00 p.m.

 

Jade rushed to the edge of the cliff and turned her face up to the sun. The wind whipped her dark hair around and pressed her clothes 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 view, Jade turned back to The Lighthouse Inn. It was situated high on a cliff not far from Swan Harbor’s lighthouse, and the Inn was the place where many events were held. In addition to the central building, there were cottages, each with a view of its own. For the last four months, she’d been back and forth between Swan Harbor and her home base in DC multiple times. 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 was about her age at the front desk.

“Jade! I wondered when you’d be back.” Karen pushed across her cottage key and a few messages. “Will there be anything else?”

“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 years?

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

Unsure what exactly to say to the comment, 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.”

She took the key and started toward the cottages. While she couldn’t say she bought into everything Karen said, she would admit there was something about the town. 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.

Jade had thought the same thing on more than one occasion, but every time she’d left, she’d pushed them away. Being fanciful wasn’t her thing—not anymore. His callus remarks had all but cured her of that.

When she entered the cabin, it smelled just as always. There was a touch of sunshine, sea, and a sweet smell, thanks to the flowering shrubs planted in the front.

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

“I’m here.”

“That’s good. Any problems?”

“None.”

“Good luck.”

Jade let go of a dry laugh. “You know me too well. Thanks.”

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?

You know why. Because if you find out he wasn’t involved, you’re at a crossroads. It will be time to face some questions about yourself you’ve tried to steer away from.

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

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

“Hello.”

“It’s me.”

“You got a new phone.”

“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. “Again? Why?”

“You know why!” 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.”

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

Jade snorted. “I’m the boss, I don’t get drunk.”

“A piece of chocolate?”

“No.”

“A donut.”

At the mention of a donut, Jade’s mouth began to water. While she didn’t know much about the town of Swan Harbor, she did know about the pastries. Paula’s Pastries, right next to Sally’s Diner, had the best of everything.

“That sounds like a good idea. Paula’s has the best. Thanks.”

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

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

“You could always ask Paula what his favorite is.”

“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. Thanks.”

“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

September 5

5:00 p.m.

 

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

“Mierda!” He dumped the contents down the drain and prepared to start over.

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. He’d been in Swan Harbor for nine months. His mother’s message sent him to the small town 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. 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, the following month, he’d opened his door, and she’d been there.

“Angie.”

It had been ten 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, though, 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. Whether that was true or not, he couldn’t say. Edythe Burnett, however, had a stubborn streak a mile wide.

“Seems I didn’t stand a chance, did I?”

Once again, Wes washed out the processor and set it up. He dumped garlic, onions, cumin, and orange juice into the container. To that, he added lime juice and, at the last minute, smoked paprika.

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

Wes’s movements around his kitchen were smooth, almost like a dance. He 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, without looking to see who it was, opened the door. For a heartbeat, he couldn’t move, then in the next beat, 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 stretching beyond calmed one side of him. That is until he smelled something burning.

“Mierde! Come in if you must.”

Wes didn’t wait for her, though, and 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 happened to catch 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 for his mother than for 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 of his thawed slightly. Except, those were things that could be ignored. Those were things that should be ignored.

“I’m glad you like it, Angie.”

Her voice caught, and slowly, she swallowed the bite 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. Almost as if there had never been anything between them.

For some reason, that behavior triggered something inside 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 just 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 just added to that spark, telling him she remembered the times he’d said those very words to her.

Whether either wanted to admit it, 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? Or did he ignore it and move on?

 

***

 

Wes’s Cottage

September 5

6:00 p.m.

 

Wes’s phone rang before they’d completely finished their meal. He excused himself to take the call, and Jade wanted to run out the door. She’d been in his company less than an hour, and she felt as if she was splintering in two. Unfortunately, she didn’t have that luxury. 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 not long after Damian’s death, she’d been handed multiple items that belonged to him. As an agent, he’d been good, but he’d had a rather unique way of working. What that meant to the agency was that he often had too many threads hanging out there at once, and someone else had to pull them 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. Their gazes met and held. Even after twenty years, it was still there. That swooping and swirling feeling she’d experienced the very first time they’d met.

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

An expression raced across his face 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 that, though, she wouldn’t get what she needed, which meant 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 wine would go to her head.

Wes inclined his head and sauntered across the kitchen to grab a glass. While he filled her order, she couldn’t make herself look away. Since that moment in May, she’d not seen him for ten 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 he spoke to her, he always made her feel she was the only person who mattered.

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

Jade blew out a breath. “It’s fine, Wes. Don’t feel like you need 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 did like to have the last line.

“Now, what do you think I can do?”

She closed her eyes and pulled her professional cape just a little tighter around her. 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, Dylan Prince.”

“And nothing has changed.”

“When did you arrive in Swan Harbor?”

“That’s not in those notes, as well?”

“Humor me.”

“Around the fifth of February.”

“Why?”

“You don’t know?”

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

“Yes. I arrived on the fifth of February.” Wes then continued without her prodding. “My mother left a message to invest in the Lodge and to meet father.”

“That’s Jack Swan, right?”

“Yes.”

“Go on.”

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

Jade opened a leather book and pointed to an entry. “Can you 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 that ended up 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 the yellow hat Jack bought for her. I thought she might want it.”

“What else?”

“She loved Jean Naté perfume. I found some of that and bought it.”

“But you never had the chance to give it to your mother,” Jade looked down at her information sheet, “Edythe Burnett, right?”

“No.”

“Go on. “

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

“But you didn’t ask 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.”

“You don’t think so?”

“I know so,” Wesley 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 believe otherwise. Do I want to know what happened? Sure, who wouldn’t? But it’s been months, and I’ve heard nothing.”

Jade could only think of one thing that might have led to the events described. She just couldn’t come up with a ‘why’ behind it all.

“Damian asked about your mother, as well, right?”

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

Jade tossed the photo of Wes and her agent, Damian Murphy, taken on the pier in front of Two Scoops. “Was that the first time you met 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 page. “Damian sent you a text to call him about your mother. Then, he met you on February 14 and told you to meet him on February 23. What happened in between?”

Wes frowned, giving her the impression he remembered something new.

“Tell me.”

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?”

“It was Damian’s 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—the experience.”

“And what did Damian’s say?”

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

 

Listen to the playlist – there are some good songs on there. Check out my mood board and see if you can figure out where I’m going with the story AND preorder a copy of the book.