by Eve Gaddy
“New to town or just visiting?”
the waitress asked as she
handed Ava a menu
“New, actually. I’m a marine biologist at the new Coastal Research Institute. My name’s Ava Vincent.”
“Nice to meet you, Ava.” Instead of leaving, she paused and then said, “I don’t mean to be nosy, but you look so familiar. Have you been in before?”
Ava laughed. “No. But you’re the second person in the past two days to tell me that.”
“You look enough like a friend of ours to be his sister.” Someone called her away then, leaving Ava sitting there, her heart pounding. It couldn’t be. Her brothers had lived in Dallas. Still, they could have moved. No, better to not get her hopes up. Or her fears.
She opened her newspaper and skimmed the articles until a photo caught her eye. Holding her breath, she spread the paper out to take a more careful look. Oh, my God, it’s him. It’s Mark. Ava didn’t need to read the caption to be certain—she knew who he was from the instant she set eyes on him.
Seeing his picture was like looking in a mirror.
Dear Reader,
This story has been in the back of my mind since I wrote the first book in the Brothers Kincaid series, Trouble in Texas. Miranda’s story—the lost sister’s story—was one I didn’t know much about at first. I knew she’d run away very young, I knew she hadn’t died, but I couldn’t imagine why she hadn’t tried to find her brothers in the more than twenty years since she’d left home. But Miranda, or Ava as she now calls herself, had a secret she couldn’t share with anyone.
Jack Williams isn’t running from his past—he’s carrying his teenage son with him. Then he meets Ava and for the first time since he lost his wife, he knows there’s a woman he could be happy with. But he also knows there’s more to Ava than she’s sharing. Even with the man who comes to love her.
Remember Texas is about second chances. Who hasn’t done something in their past they regret, or even bitterly regret? Ava and Jack discover that love makes these second chances possible.
Hope you enjoy Ava and Jack’s journey. I love to hear from readers. E-mail me at [email protected] and visit my Web site at www.evegaddy.net. You can also reach me at P.O. Box 131704, Tyler, TX 75713-1704.
Sincerely,
Eve Gaddy
REMEMBER TEXAS
Eve Gaddy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eve Gaddy is the award-winning author of fourteen novels. She lives in east Texas with her husband and children and her incredibly spoiled golden retriever, Maverick, who is convinced he’s her third child. Besides her family, she loves reading, chocolate, air-conditioning and the Dallas Mavericks. She is currently hard at work on more novels for Harlequin Superromance.
Books by Eve Gaddy
HARLEQUIN SUPERROMANCE
903—COWBOY COME HOME
962—FULLY ENGAGED
990—A MAN OF HIS WORD
1031—TROUBLE IN TEXAS
1090—A MARRIAGE MADE IN TEXAS
1122—CASEY’S GAMBLE
1276—SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS
1313—THAT NIGHT IN TEXAS
This one is for my husband, Bob. I love you!
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER ONE
“COLE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Jack Williams pounded on the closed bedroom door. “I have to leave for work. Come on, I’ll drop you at school on my way.”
“I’m not going.”
His voice was muffled but determined. Jack gritted his teeth and silently counted to ten. “Come on, buddy, you know you have to go. It won’t be so bad once you get to know some of the kids.”
Cole opened the door and glared at him with eyes the color of whiskey. His mother’s eyes, except Cynthia had never looked at Jack with such venom in her gaze. “I don’t want to know them. This place sucks. I want to go home.”
“Don’t start this again. Aransas City is home now. And we don’t have time to mess around. You’re going to be late, and so am I.”
“Like I give a—”
“I’m waiting, Cole,” he said, interrupting. “And put on a pair of jeans that fit. Don’t forget you’re working at the Institute after school.”
Cole was a skateboarder and wore baggy pants that always looked like they were one breath away from falling off his butt. Why they never did, Jack didn’t know. But he was damned if Cole was wearing those pants to work. At least the T-shirt was one of the milder ones, so they wouldn’t have to fight over it as well.
Finally, they were able to leave. Cole hadn’t changed his clothes, but Jack blew that defiance off in the interest of getting to work on time. The new research scientist he’d be working with was due at the Institute this morning for her first day, and Jack wanted to arrive before she did.
“I don’t see why I have to work at the same place you do,” Cole said on the way to school.
“You tried the grocery store and there were no bag boy positions left. It’s tough to find a job when you’re fifteen. You’re lucky Dr. Long hired you.” The director had done it as a personal favor to Jack but Jack didn’t tell his son that. He thought it would do him good to believe he’d got the job on his own. He might try harder if he did believe it.
“I’m nearly sixteen,” Cole said sulkily. “If I had wheels I could work any place I wanted.”
“Wheels cost money,” Jack said. “Insurance, gas, not to mention the cost of the car itself.” He didn’t mention he had his eye on a car he intended to give Cole for his birthday in a couple of weeks. It was the next thing to a junker, but he was confident that he could keep it running. And he and Cole could work on it together, which he hoped would bring them closer.
Abandoning the car argument, Cole said, “You don’t trust me, that’s why you want me there. You’re treating me like a baby, wanting to know where I am every minute.”
It was an old refrain. But Jack had learned his lesson in Galveston when Cole had fallen in with a bad crowd because his father was working all the time. That was the main reason Jack had decided to move and leave his charter fishing business for something with more regular hours and more free time.
He intended to do better here. He’d be the father Cole needed whether his son liked it or not. “You know what happened in Galveston. If I’m hard on you, you’ve only yourself to blame. You’re going to have to earn back my trust, son.”
“I told you, I only smoked weed once. If you hadn’t come home early you’d never even have known. We’d still be living in Galveston and not in this nothing town. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”
“Because it is a big deal. You’re lucky it was me who found you and not the police.” Besides, he didn’t totally buy that that had been the first time the kid had smoked. No, he wasn’t that naive, even if he had been too clueless to see the signs before he’d busted his son and his friends.
Cole shrugged, but didn’t speak, so Jack continued. “You need to work after school because you need the experience. Not to mention the mon
ey.”
“Gimme a break. I bet it sucks. It’s probably boring as sh—”
“Watch your mouth,” Jack said wearily. Thank God they had arrived at the school. “I’ll see you later.” Luckily, the Institute was only a short walk from the high school. He just hoped Cole showed up and he didn’t have to go hunt him down. Not a very good impression to make on the director if that happened.
“I don’t feel so good,” Cole said, rubbing his stomach. “I think I’m getting the flu or something.”
Jack laughed. “Yeah, I’m going to fall for that one.” Knowing it would infuriate Cole, he stifled the urge to ruffle his son’s hair, as he had when Cole was young. “Better get to class, Cole. I’ll see you later.”
Cole didn’t respond, just got out of the car.
Jack drove the short distance to the Institute and parked his car. As he walked into the building, he was struck again by how new everything looked. But then, since the place had only just opened, it should look new. Some serious money had funded the Coastal Research Institute. Unfortunately, money had become tighter before they’d got around to buying the boats. The director was on the lookout for a big boat that could cruise the gulf for days and sleep several people. But Jack didn’t know how long it would be before he found what he wanted.
The boat they did have was a smaller one but still large enough to take care of their initial needs. Though it was older, the Heart of Texas was a good, solid thirty-two-foot cruiser and would make a fine research vessel for the bay. It would sleep six, more in a pinch, had a full galley and a decent head. In fact, the boat was great, it just needed a little work, especially on the engine.
Jack’s old buddy Mark Kincaid had been instrumental in getting him this job. When Mark had heard Jared Long was looking for a fleet captain, he’d given him Jack’s name. Mark had also mentioned the house next to his was for sale, so Jack and Cole had been able to buy it and move right in. Jack definitely owed Mark for all his help.
“Come in, Jack.” Jared Long let him into his office and shook hands with a genial smile.
Dr. Long was in his late fifties, a big, balding hulk of a man, and in Jack’s opinion, an all-around good guy. The Institute was his baby. He’d founded it, got funding for it and had recruited for it.
“Dr. Vincent is due any minute.” He chuckled. “I don’t mind telling you we’re lucky to get her. She’s made quite a name for herself in Florida, with her papers on digital photographic identification of bottlenose dolphins.”
“I’m in no hurry,” Jack said. “I’ve been talking to some of the locals about the dolphin population, so I know what areas to start looking in.”
“Good. That will help since Dr. Vincent’s never been in the area.”
“I’d like to thank you again for giving my son a job. He’s excited about starting.” No reason to let the man know that Cole was being such a pain in the butt.
“Good. I know moving can be hard on kids, especially teenagers.”
“Boy, that’s the truth”
“How does he like school? Has he made any friends yet?”
Jack shook his head, skipping over the first question. “Not yet. But it’s early days. I’m sure he’ll make some friends soon.” And pray God they weren’t into the same things his last group of friends had been involved in.
“Any luck finding someone to help with the engine repair?” Dr. Long asked, changing the subject.
“As a matter of fact, I talked with someone yesterday.” Since both he and the director wanted what money the Institute did have to go toward the purchase of more boats, Jack had volunteered to repair the engine himself. Like most charter boat captains, he knew a bit about boat repairs. And what he didn’t know he’d planned to get help with. “Mark introduced me to his brother-in-law, Gabe Randolph. Do you know him?”
“Gabe? Sure. He owns the bait and tackle shop under the causeway bridge. Used to be Red’s.” He laughed and added, “Gabe’s really spruced up the place. First time I saw it I couldn’t believe the change. Red hadn’t done a thing to it in thirty years.”
“That’s him. He said he’d love to get his hands on a boat engine again. It will have to be in his spare time, but I’m sure we can work something out. He’s coming over in the morning, in fact, if I can’t get it going by this afternoon.”
Someone knocked on the door. “That must be Dr. Vincent,” Long said and went to answer it.
“Dr. Vincent, it’s wonderful to have you here.” He opened the door wider and stepped back.
“Thank you, I’m so happy to be here,” a soft, husky voice said.
A woman stepped into the room and every one of Jack’s preconceived notions about female scientists exploded into dust. Long, dark sable hair fell to her shoulders in rolling waves. Though she was clearly dressed for work in khaki pants, a sleeveless white blouse and running shoes, the clothes did nothing to hide her incredible body.
“Dr. Ava Vincent, meet Captain Jack Williams. He’s our research fleet captain.” The director’s laugh boomed. “Right now we’ve only got one vessel, but we intend to add more as soon as we gain more funding. We’ve got some exciting fund-raisers planned.”
Cool blue eyes as deep as the ocean looked him over critically. Her eyes seemed familiar, though he couldn’t have said why because he was certain he would have remembered if he’d ever met her. Too self-possessed to be very young, it was hard to tell her exact age. But damn, he could tell one thing for sure. This woman was gorgeous.
“Nice to meet you,” she said, and offered him her hand. A woman’s hand, soft and feminine, but with a firm, decisive handshake.
“Likewise, Dr. Vincent.”
“Please, call me Ava,” she said as she dropped his hand. She came farther into the room, took the chair Dr. Long offered her with a soft word of thanks and crossed one leg over the other.
Jack had to remind himself to breathe.
Wow. If she fired his hormones after just one look at her, what was it going to be like to work with her?
Interesting. Very interesting.
CHAPTER TWO
“I WAS JUST TELLING JACK here how lucky we are that you decided to join us,” Jared Long said.
“Thank you, but I’m the lucky one, Dr. Long,” Ava said, turning her attention away from the fleet captain and back to her new boss. “As you know, there aren’t too many places where I could pursue my interest in bottlenose dolphins.” Particularly her interest in digital photo identification. How could she turn down the job, especially when Dr. Long had offered to put her in charge of that aspect of the study?
“Please, we’re informal around here. Call me Jared.”
She glanced at Jack Williams. She wasn’t sure what to think of him. He hadn’t said much, just looked at her almost blankly. He wasn’t unfriendly, exactly, but he sure wasn’t as welcoming as Dr. Long had been.
Jack Williams was what her former students would have termed a hottie. Sandy-brown hair, worn a little long, reached the collar of a short-sleeved white T-shirt that showed off tanned, muscular arms. His lean, handsome face hadn’t seen a razor for days, but on him it looked good.
But his eyes were what really caught her attention. He had the most vivid green eyes she’d ever seen.
“Any luck finding a place to live?” the director asked. “I know how impossible it is to find a rental in Aransas City.”
With a start she realized Jared was talking again. It wouldn’t do to let that unwelcome spark of attraction to the boat captain interfere with her job. “I’m closing on a house this weekend. Friday, actually.” Which was a huge step, considering until she’d been offered this dream job she hadn’t planned on ever coming back to Texas, much less living here again. No, she’d hightailed it out of the state more than twenty years before, and had vowed never to set foot in it again.
“I’m sure you’re anxious to get acquainted with the rest of the staff and see your office. Let me show you around.” As they all stood, Jared laughed and added, “I
know you’re champing at the bit to get to work on that engine, Jack. We won’t keep you any longer.”
“All right. See you later. Nice to meet you, Ava,” he said, shaking her hand again.
“Is there a chance we can go over the schedule later this afternoon?” she asked before he could leave.
“Sure. I’ll be at the boat.” He nodded to her and the director and left quickly.
After Jared gave her a tour of the facilities, they went to her office. He opened the door and said in a justifiably proud tone, “All state-of-the-art equipment. Your computer is supposed to have all the bells and whistles.” He reeled off the specifications in the cheerful jargon of one who knows and appreciates electronics.
She barely stopped herself from reverently stroking the seventeen-inch flat-screen monitor. The new computer was clearly head and shoulders above the desktop she’d been using at her previous job. “That’s great. I’ll load FinScan on it as soon as I get a bit settled.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Just give me a call if you need anything.”
Ava spent the remainder of the morning putting her office in order. Everything in it was brandnew, and, to Ava, a little intimidating. Empty bookshelves waiting to be filled. A gleaming wood desk that was clean save for the computer and a cordless phone. She’d like it better once her desk was covered with notes and files. She liked the lived-in look.
First, she arranged her research. She put the articles and papers in the file cabinet, arranged the books and magazines—mostly marine mammal publications—on the shelves.
Among other equipment, she had access to a waterproof digital camera, so she spent some time familiarizing herself with it as well.
