Remember Me

By GiCynda Turner-Pierce

Does He Remember Me?
Delaney McDuff former band geek is all grown up now, in every since of the word. From band geek to restaurant owner she has her priorities in order and much to her Mother's disappointment they aren't in the that she would like. With her restaurant taking the first priority in her life the last thing on her mind is a Man or a family. Or at least that was the case before he walk in the door to Heavenly Soul Restaurant.
Beauty Thy Name is Delaney..
The last place Patrick Hagen wanted to find himself was back in his home town, but after much begging and pleading and a career ending injury that is exactly where he has found himself. Can anything make this situation worth while. Perhaps a date with a high school sweetheart can ease the pain. Or perhaps not...

• Language: English
• Publisher: GiCynda Turner-Pierce
• Release date: Aug 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476032764

GiCynda Turner-Pierce

GiCynda Turner Pierce lives in Charlotte, NC. She lives with her Husband Alvin, their son, two daughters and their dog Ziggy.She was raised in Davidson, NC. Her hobbies are gardening , gourmet cooking, reading, and chasing her two year old. GiCynda started writing at age the young age of 12, consequently that is around the same time she picked up her first romance novel. From that point on the world of romance was open to her. She couldn't get enough of writing or reading. She has written poetry, short stories, finally branching out to writing a novel. GiCynda enjoys reading all types of romance novels including sci-fi, urban, and african american. She loves all types of music and anything artistic or creative. Pure and simple GiCynda is just an ordinary wife and mother who happens to write books on the side.

Book preview

Remember Me

By GiCynda Turner-Pierce

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 by GiCynda Turner-Pierce

All rights reserved

Dedication

I want to dedicate this book to the love of my life and father of my children Alvin. Thank you for making it possible for me to sit in front of the computer for hours on end. Thanks for your love and support and above all else thanks for being you.

To my cousin Khana for being my sounding board throughout this entire process, with family like you who needs friends.

To my Mother for giving me life and nurturing my creativity.

And lastly to all of the other black romance novel writers whom I have read over the many, many years, that inspired me to give it a try for myself.

I hope I did it justice.

Prologue

Thirteen years earlier …

Delaney Mc Duff stood in front of the trailer waiting to load her band uniform and flute in to the equipment trailer that carried her schools marching band equipment to away games and competitions. She received a sharp poke in the back and realized she had been holding up the line. She handed her uniform and flute to the man loading the trailer and walked away to continue her gazing.

He was beautiful. Patrick Hagen, the schools star quarterback. There really was no other word to describe him. Handsome did not begin to say enough. His close cropped hair cut with brush wave deep enough to make you seasick. His mahogany colored skin was even and unblemished. Save the scar above his left eye that he had gotten over the summer. His chestnut colored eyes with golden flecks around the center they were so deep you could stare into them for hours at a time. Patrick’s normally serious face had a smile on it that showed two rows of perfectly straight white teeth.

Delaney’s gaze slowly traveled lower his athletic torso was clad in a white tank to and basketball shorts. The tank top clung to each one of his well defined muscles in his upper body. His long muscular arms were folded across his chest in a casual way. And his legs my God the man was sexy. No there was no better word to describe him beautiful said it all.

Just then one of his team members noticed her staring. He nudged Patrick and whispered something so that only their small circle could hear. They all laughed and pointed at her. Delaney could feel the color creeping up her neck to her caramel colored face. She turned and boarded the bands activity bus.

Beautiful he may have been, but she was not. Interested in her he definitely was not. Her fifteen year old frame did not entice the likes of eighteen year old football players like him. No that was left to the cheerleaders like his girlfriend Samantha Webber.

No her caramel colored skin and hazel-green eyes did not call to him. Or perhaps it was the unkempt frizzy mane of hair that her mother refused to allow her to have styled like other girls her age. So she had to resort to puffy ponytail.

The braces that were clamped on her teeth did not help her one bit. Most likely however, the thing that was the biggest turn off was that she was built like a ten year old boy. Flat on all side and absolutely no shape to cry for that was her.

Her mother’s and grandmother’s beauty must have skipped her generation. She most certainly did not call to him. She thought as she watched him from her seat on the bus. Samantha Webber now stood next to him. She was smiling up him with a soppy look on her face. That’s what called to him she turned away as they began to kiss.

Patrick wished he could have the opportunity to talk to her. The girl that Samantha took every chance she had to torment. She was pretty, though not the kind of girl he was expected to date. He could never remember her name. It was stupid of him really. To date someone like Samantha solely because it was expected.

He at one point thought he loved Samantha but that feeling was dwindling. He longed for something else, someone else. Something completely unexpected. But talking to her now wouldn’t do her any favors. If Samantha was cruel now how would she treat her then? No, now wasn’t the time. Some other day, some other time.

Chapter One

Present Day … Delaney sat on her sofa watching sports center. Her favorite pass time, her way to relax after a hard day’s work. It was something she’d done since she was young. She’d watch sports shows with her father on the sofa. Since her father never had a son, she had been left to fill both the daughter and son roll. She cooked with her mother and played catch with her father. There were tea parties and football games. She was the girliest tomboy on earth.

Delaney took a sip from her glass of wine, and barely contained the spray of the liquid across her living room as the announcer said something that had her reaching for the remote. That’s right folks Patrick Hagen has opted to retire from his NFL career. After his injury that put him out for most of last year’s season. The announcer repeated. When asked what his future plans were he stated that he has taken a coaching position at his former high school. It was the last thing she heard before she tuned the man out.

It was June school had let out about two weeks ago. This meant summer training camp would begin soon. He would be here. She would like to say that she had out grown her high school crush, but she hadn’t. She had followed Patrick’s college career, she watched him get drafted into the NFL. And she had been watching that fateful Sunday when he had broken his leg in what must have been a career ending way.

Patrick sat in his suite at The Double Tree Hotel just outside of downtown Charlotte. So much had changed here. It had grown, the high rise apartments, the train, all of the lights. This was not the small city he couldn’t wait to get away from in his youth.

He watched his face flash upon the screen. The Sports Center announcer was talking about his decision to leave pro football. Really there had been no choice. He just couldn’t run like used to, his leg gave him too many problems. It was better that he move on now instead of costing his team games and championships.

Where better to start over than home? His mother Miss Annie Hagen had said. So he came home. Only this didn’t feel like home, not the way he remembered it. Not that Charlotte was New York, no it wasn’t even close. However, it wasn’t the small city of thirteen years ago either. He was lost here. Some sleep and a fresh start and he’d be ready to take on Charlotte tomorrow.

Patrick sat in his mother’s backyard the next afternoon at a barbeque. His mother had invited every high school friend who had remained in Charlotte for a welcome home party. Now he felt like he was home. As long as he stayed in the backyard of his childhood home with all of his old friends he was home.

His mother hadn’t changed the house that much since he’d left home thirteen years ago. A few new rose bushes and a fresh coat of paint on the house. No matter how many times he had tried he couldn’t get his mother to move out of her west Charlotte home. ‘It’s mine, I worked hard for it. Son I’m not leaving. I’m fine where I am baby.’ Was what she’d always say. Now he was glad that she hadn’t moved, because this house was the only thing in his world that hadn’t changed.

Patrick Hagen. The melodious voice shook him out of his deep thought. The voice of Samantha Webber. Maybe everything in his world hadn’t changed after all.

Samantha Webber. He stood to embrace her. Look at you all grown up.

And look at you all famous and everything. We didn’t think you would ever come back here. She said smiling with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

My God Patrick thought she is still incredible. Why did we ever break up? He stepped back out of the embrace. He spun her around. Yes she was definitely still the knock out that he remembered. The yellow mini dress she was wearing looking painted on. The gold eye shadow she was wearing made her light brown eyes stand out on her beautiful face. She still had curves in all the right places. Gorgeous was the one word to describe her.

Patrick spent the remainder of his afternoon reminiscing about old times, and pretending like he and Samantha were still in high school, Snuggled up on one of his mother’s lawn chairs. Samantha had changed. She wasn’t the girl he remembered. By the end of the night he found himself asking Samantha out to dinner for the next night.

With all of his guests gone Patrick could now focus on the woman that really mattered to him, his mom. He found her sitting in the living room in her favorite chair. She was reading her favorite book the Bible.

Hey, Mom. She looked up from the good book just long enough to acknowledge his presence. What’s wrong, Mom? He could read her like that book she held in her lap. She was angry.

What’re talking about boy? I’m fine. She said without looking up.

Then look me in my face and say it. She looked up and opened her mouth only to close it again. Just like I thought, now what’s wrong?

Nothing I just don’t know why that ole Samantha girl showed up here. I sure didn’t invite her. His mother said and then pursed her lips.

Ah so that’s it. Are you still on that same old thing, Mom that was high school? She was young and so was I. She has grown up and changed. He shook his head. His mother had never liked Samantha. She had always said she was a gold digger, stuck up and a slut. His mother had had her fill of Samantha when she found out that she had been plotting to get pregnant in high school.

Ms. Annie Hagen had been walking through the supermarket minding her own business. When she heard a familiar voice on the next isle over. What she heard was enough to make her see red. Samantha was talking to her best friend Janet a fellow cheerleader at the time.

Are you serious Sammy? Why would you do something like that? Janet had said You don’t even like kids.

Patrick doesn’t know that and with the money he’ll be making, I can get a nanny.

Still not telling him you’re off the pill, and all that’s taking it too far. Janet said.

I’m not going to let Patrick get away. Patrick would never leave his child behind, like his father left him. She smiled at her shocked best friend. He’ll just have to take us with him.

Girl you are nuts. Janet said looking horrified.

You won’t be saying that when I’m in my mansion. Samantha said with laughter in her voice that quickly died when she turned into the next isle and walked right into Ms. Annie Hagen.

Patrick promptly ended the relationship after his mother relayed the events of her latest shopping trip. The last Patrick had heard Janet was married with three kids and no longer ran in the same circles as Samantha Webber.

Mom it’s been thirteen years. She didn’t seem like the same girl I dated my senior year of high school. Patrick sighed.

I say leopards don’t change their spots son. I know her type. His mother said still reading her Bible.

Let it go mom. We’re just friends. He stood and walked over to kiss her goodbye. I have to go Ma; I have an early start with the realtor tomorrow. I can’t stay at the Doubletree forever.

Mm hmm Annie said turning her cheek to him. As he walked away she mumbled just loud enough for him to hear her. Mark my words that little girl is still the same. Walking around looking like a hooker in that dress. Patrick chuckled as he closed the door. Yeah it was good to be home.

Chapter Two

Delaney had put on her normal work clothes. An emerald green silk shirt and a black pencil skirt. All of the employees at the restaurant wore the same thing, an emerald green top and black pencil skirt or black pants. She pulled her long dark brown cork screw curls in to a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Even though the thought was lost on her, Delaney had become an incredible woman. Gone was the boyish figure it had been replaced by one that screamed woman. She had had her braces remove in her senior year and had learned to tame her mane. Which as it turned out was exactly like her mother’s beautiful hair. Once she’d introduce it to the right moisturizers her natural cork screw curl had become her favorite part of her.

Her caramel colored skin was flawless and smooth. Her hazel- green eyes dance with light, and drew attention to her beautiful face. Her full pink lips were kissable soft and were only ever covered with a thin layer of sheer lip gloss. Makeup was something she rarely ever wore, and even when she did it was only the bare minimum. Today it was her usual clear lip gloss and a little green eye shadow and mascara.

Delaney stood setting the thirty tables in her restaurant, Heavenly Soul. It was a soul food restaurant that not only feed your hunger but your soul. Six days a week you could come in and hear jazz, R&B and soul music being played live and on Sundays there was gospel. She loved having local artist sing in her restaurant.

Her hands on approach to her business left her with very little time for anything else, but it was hers and hers alone. She had converted what had been grandmother’s home into a beautiful two story restaurant in the Dilworth area of Charlotte.

Her grandmother had left her the house in the hopes that she would live out her dreams there. And live out her dreams she did. Though not in the way her Grandma Lee had had in mind she was sure. Delaney was sure that dream her grandma had included a husband and some kids.

It definitely didn’t include gutting the house and adding a restaurant grade kitchen and bar. She and her family were supposed to be living here. However, Delaney just didn’t have the time. Which horrified her mother, Jessica Mc Duff was looking for grandkids. A fact Jessica pointed out every chance she got. She reminded Delaney that she was her one and only chance for grandchildren. Delaney always said the same thing I have to have a husband first mom.

She didn’t have time to find a husband. He’d have to find her. She finished setting the tables and went to check on the chef. Once the restaurant starting doing more business she had had to hire one as well as double her wait staff. However she still over saw all the food. As they were her recipes each plate of food was like her child. The band was warming up. The food was prepped, and the clock said it was time to open for the evening.

The restaurant had been open for about two and a half hours when she heard a commotion by the waiting area. She could hear her hostess Shawntay repeatedly telling a customer that there were no tables available. Delaney made her way towards the noise.

Ms, I’m sorry but there are just no tables open. If you will just wait fifteen minutes or so, I’m sure something will open up. Shawntay said in a polite pleading manner.

Look Shawntay, we have a reservation and I demand a table near the band now. Delaney could hear Shawntay sputtering and stammering trying to speak. As Delaney approached the hostess stand she could see that she recognized the woman as well as the other person in her party of two.

Delaney’s heart stopped and immediately started to race. She felt her face flush. Get it together girl this is not high school and you are not fifteen. Delaney thought before speaking. What seems to be the problem, Shawntay? Poor Shawntay looked horrified. Samantha on the other hand stood there with a pleased and smug expression on her face. Clearly she thought that Shawntay was about to be put in her place. Patrick stood off to the side he obviously didn’t want to be involved.

Well, Ms … Shawntay began.

Well, Ms. Delaney. Samantha interjected. This girl refuses to honor the reservation that I made yesterday for eight thirty a table by the band. She said with a smirk before adding. I’d like to speak with the manager. Samantha Had heard around the neighborhood that Delaney Mc Duff worked at this restaurant. And when she’d suggested that they come here to eat she had been hoping to run into her.

Samantha had been looking forward to this moment forever. A chance to finally rub it in her face that no matter what