Hiding in Alaska

by Belle Calhoune

“Is everything all right over here?”

  Connor swung his gaze toward Piper Miller, the owner of the Snowy Owl Diner. Piper was the town’s resident sweetheart, as well as his younger brother Braden’s fiancée.

  “It’s fine, Piper,” Connor said, making a face and looking down at his soggy pants. “I just had a clumsy moment. Sorry about the mess.” He pointed toward the syrup and broken dish on the parquet floor.

  “No worries,” Piper said. “We’re used to spills around here. I’ll have it cleaned up right away.”

  “He’s being kind,” Ella interjected. “I swung the door too hard when I came inside and it crashed into him. I’m so sorry for the trouble.” Regret rang out in her voice. “It was entirely my fault.”

  “You must be new in town if you think that’s trouble,” Piper responded. “I’m the owner of this place by the way. Piper Miller.”

  “Ella Perez. I... I’ve just moved to Owl Creek,” she explained, running a shaky hand through her long dark tresses. Connor was trying not to stare, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Ella Perez was without a doubt the prettiest woman who’d ever stepped foot in Owl Creek.

  “Let me show you to a table.” Piper looked back and forth between them. “Unless the two of you are sitting together?”

  “No! We’re not together,” Ella said in an emphatic tone that brooked no argument. “I just need a table for one.”

  “That can be arranged,” Piper said. “Follow me and I’ll get you situated. Connor, why don’t you go over to the counter and grab some more syrup?”

  “Nice to meet you,” Connor said with a nod as Piper led Ella to a table by the window. He grabbed another container of syrup from the counter and headed back to eat his breakfast.

  His two best friends, Gabriel Lawson and Hank Crawford, were seated at their regular table waiting for him to bring the syrup back. When he reached the table he could see the two of them trying to stifle their laughter.

  Connor placed the syrup down on the table with a bang. “As you saw, I took one for the team by going to get this.”

  “And we’re mighty appreciative of your service,” Hank said with a smirk. He reached over and picked up the container, pouring the syrup liberally over his flapjacks.

  Hank handed the syrup to Gabriel, who did the same. “Looks like you made a new friend.” Gabriel wiggled his eyebrows. Connor pretended not to notice. Anytime he was within a ten-mile radius of a single woman, his best friends couldn’t resist teasing him about his prolific dating history. Lately it had been bugging him.

  Although Connor’s stomach was growling and he had a full breakfast plate sitting before him, something was bothering him. He knew he’d never met Ella before, but her name pricked at him. Why did it sound so familiar?

  He stroked his jaw. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I feel like I know her name for some reason. Ella Perez. Does it sound familiar to either one of you?” he asked, trying to recall why the woman’s name lurked in the back of his mind.

  Gabriel and Hank exchanged a pointed glance. Both of them began to chuckle as if they were sharing an inside joke.

  Connor let out a sigh. “What are you guys laughing at now?”

  “It’s just that you make it a point to know every pretty woman in Owl Creek, even the tourists,” Gabriel explained.

  “Neither her name nor her face ring a bell with me,” Hank added, still chuckling. “But then again, I’m a happily married man.”

  The laughter erupting from their mouths threatened to drown out all of his thoughts. Couldn’t he even talk to a woman without people assuming he was interested in her? Sure, Ella was stunning, but it didn’t mean he wanted to date her.

  Normally, Connor didn’t mind being teased about his love life, but lately it had rankled him every time Hank and Gabriel joked about his status as Owl Creek’s most popular bachelor. He didn’t know why it bothered him so much as of late, but it was beginning to get old. He wasn’t the same man he’d been a year ago. Connor had grown and matured.

  So much had changed in the last year with the return of his long-lost sister, Sage. She had been kidnapped as a baby from their family home in Owl Creek, only to return to the fold twenty-five years later. The reunion had also brought his brother, Braden, back to town, making the family unit complete. Although he should have been on solid ground, he’d been feeling unsettled. His best friends were both newlyweds—Hank had married Sage, while Gabriel had reunited with his first love, Rachel. Even Braden had fallen in love with Piper, his best friend since childhood.

  Everyone seemed to be moving forward in their lives, except him.

  “Hey! We’re just having a little fun,” Hank said, clapping him on the shoulder. “What’s troubling you?”

  Connor stabbed his fork on the plate and picked up several pieces of pancake. He shrugged as he stuffed the forkful in his mouth, then swallowed. “I don’t know, guys. I’m just feeling a bit out of sorts these days. Things have been pretty intense lately. I think it’s all beginning to catch up with me.”

  “They really have been,” Gabriel agreed. “Personally speaking, the past few months have been a whirlwind. Rachel and I are married now and raising twin toddlers.” He grinned. “God blessed me when I least expected it.”

  “You deserve every ounce of happiness,” Connor said, raising his glass of orange juice in Gabe’s direction.

  “We’re here for you, Connor. You know that. The Three Amigos for life.” Hank held up his hand and bumped fists with him.

  Connor grinned. Having his two closest friends in his corner always made him feel as if he could conquer the world. And since Braden had recently decided to forgo working at the family business, the North Star Chocolate Company, he would need all that confidence and determination to ensure the company’s success. Not that he held it against his younger brother. He admired Braden’s desire to live life on his own terms. He had the type of courage Connor wasn’t sure he himself had.

  For the next half hour Connor and his friends ate and talked, focusing on local matters in Owl Creek. As town sheriff, Hank always had his ear to the ground. A few times Connor found himself looking across the diner at Ella as she ate her meal. He was curious as to what she was doing here in town.

  She’d casually mentioned being a new resident in their small village, but he wondered if she had family or friends here. Had she relocated for a romantic connection? In these parts it was entirely possible. Or perhaps she’d come here for an employment opportunity.

  A job! His family’s chocolate emporium. That’s why her name sounded so familiar. Ella Perez was the new manager at the North Star Chocolate Shop right down the street. He’d seen her résumé and offer letter just the other day on his grandmother Beulah’s desk.

  When he glanced back over in Ella’s direction, she was sailing out the front door.

  He reached into his pocket, pulled out some bills, then plunked them down on the table. “Spending time with you guys was a pleasure, but I have to settle some work-related business,” he said, standing up and pulling on his parka. “Breakfast is on me.”

  Before Gabe or Hank could say a word, Connor hustled toward the exit. If he moved really quickly, perhaps he could catch up to Ella and introduce himself as a member of the North family and welcome her to town.

  He immediately spotted her heading toward the parking lot. “Ella!” he called out in a raised voice. When she didn’t turn around, Connor called her name in an even louder voice. When she didn’t respond, he picked up the pace, closing the distance between them in a few quick strides. Although he continued to call out her name, she didn’t turn around.

  In a last ditch effort to get her attention, he tapped her on the shoulder. Ella whipped around to face him, a look of pure terror etched on her face. Her entire body had stiffened up.

  “Hey. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, immediately regretti
ng touching her. He didn’t think he’d crossed a boundary, but perhaps he had unknowingly done so.

  “You didn’t,” she said, her voice trembling. “You just caught me off guard.”

  “Sorry about that, but I had to catch up to you before you left. When we met I couldn’t help but think you seemed familiar to me. And I know exactly who you are, Ella Perez.”

  Chapter Two

  Isabelle felt frozen in place. Her hands began to break out in a sweat. A wild rhythm began to beat in her chest. A huge lump sat in her throat, making speaking impossible. How on earth had Connor figured out her identity? She’d barely been in town for twenty-four hours. Jonah had assured her that her identity would be secure in Owl Creek as long as she abided by the rules. To her knowledge, she hadn’t broken a single one. How could things have fallen apart so fast? Now she would have to leave this Alaskan village and plant roots somewhere else.

  “You know who I am?” she asked, her voice sounding raspy.

  Connor nodded as a grin slowly stretched across his face, making him appear even more handsome than she’d initially thought. “You’re the new hire for my family’s chocolate shop. If I remember correctly, you’re starting this week.”

  She felt her entire body sag in relief. Phew. Due to her nerves, she’d completely misread the situation. Her status in WITSEC wasn’t in jeopardy after all.

  “I guess I should have picked up on your last name,” Isabelle said. She’d been so nervous after she’d caused him to fall that she hadn’t made the connection between him and the North Star Chocolate Company. “My start date is tomorrow actually. I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”

  “Welcome to Owl Creek, Ella. I think you’re going to love our little part of Alaska. I know I’m biased, but it’s a fantastic place to live.”

  “Well, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever known. Florida never sees snow. There’s a whole lot I’m going to have to get accustomed to, particularly the climate.” A feeling of dread washed over her. She’d just said Florida out of habit. How had she slipped up so early on? “I meant to say Flagstaff not Florida. Though I’ve spent many summers in the Sunshine State,” she quickly added, praying Connor hadn’t noticed anything strange about her statement. Even though she’d practiced reciting her backstory with Jonah a hundred times or more, clearly it hadn’t stuck.

  “What made you apply for a job so far from home?” he asked, his brows knitted together.

  Her heart began to hammer in her chest. Was he suspicious of her or simply asking normal questions? It was hard not to feel paranoid under the circumstances.

  What would Connor North think if she told him the truth? That she’d chosen to rebuild her life in Alaska because it was far away from the danger she faced in Miami. Planting herself in a remote Alaskan town had been about survival. She’d made the hardest decision in her life by leaving everything she held dear in her rearview mirror. As a result, her heart had been completely shattered.

  She shifted from one foot to the other. “I needed a change of pace,” she said instead. “Owl Creek seemed like it would do the trick.”

  “That was mighty brave of you. Alaska isn’t for the faint of heart, especially when you’re used to a warmer climate.”

  Isabelle nodded. “I also happen to really love chocolate, so I’m excited about working for North Star Chocolate. So far I’ve been communicating with Beulah. She’s been incredible. And very kind.”

  Connor grinned. “That’s my grandmother. She’s can be quite a character, but she always leads with her heart.”

  His grandmother. Her heart ached for her own sweet-faced avo. Carmen Sanchez was the most loving woman in the world. She’d helped to raise Isabelle. It was near impossible to imagine not being in her grandmother’s presence. Due to her grandmother’s serious medical condition, Isabelle had no expectation of ever seeing her again. Her eyes felt moist, and she knew she needed to get in the car before she started crying in front of Connor. That would certainly raise a red flag.

  “Well, thanks for the warm welcome. I should head back to the house. I’m still getting settled in.” She tried to inject positivity into her tone, even though the reality of her situation had just crashed over her with full force. Nothing would ever be the same.

  “Enjoy the rest of your day. Before you know it, you’ll be able to navigate Owl Creek like a pro.”

  With a lame wave, Isabelle turned toward her new vehicle and slid into the driver’s seat. She turned the car on and let the engine warm up a little before she headed away from Main Street and toward the northern part of town. Although she felt the urge to turn back and get one last look at Connor, she knew it wouldn’t be wise to take her gaze away from the snow-packed road. She wasn’t used to driving in these conditions, and she needed to focus all of her attention on the road.

  With his dark hair, blue eyes and rugged frame, Connor North was gorgeous. He radiated an air of confidence. At the moment she could use a dose of it to bolster her frame of mind. Even in syrup-stained pants, he’d walked around the diner as if he owned it. There was no harm in looking at an attractive man, she reminded herself. Though anything more was out of the question. How could she ever start a relationship knowing her entire life was a lie? The rules of WITSEC forbade her from ever telling a romantic partner the truth about her existence.

  She refused to go down that road. It was hard enough making everyone in Owl Creek think she was someone she wasn’t. Adding in romance would be disastrous.

  * * *

  Connor watched as Ella headed off in the direction of her new digs. A strange feeling had settled over him during his conversation with North Star Chocolate’s newest hire. He couldn’t fathom why he felt it so intensely, but Connor knew instinctively she wasn’t as she appeared to be. This beautiful newcomer to town was running from something. He had no idea what it was—a divorce, a bad relationship, a fractured family? Perhaps she was a criminal. The possibilities were endless. As they’d spoken, there had been something radiating from her that didn’t ring true. Just now she’d mentioned Florida, then corrected herself to say Flagstaff. And she hadn’t responded when he’d called out her name. He didn’t think he was imagining things either. Connor knew he was more jaded than most people, but he trusted his instincts. He’d grown up in a household that had never recovered from the trauma of his baby sister’s abduction at three months old. As a result, Connor had been mistrustful of people, particularly tourists and newcomers to Owl Creek.

  Ella Perez was raising all of his hackles. Her stunning looks hadn’t rendered him incapable of picking up on certain cues she’d emitted. She’d acted nervous, as if she was on edge about something. What if she was up to no good here in town? He let himself into his vehicle, chiding himself for not asking more probing questions.

  The newcomer seemed out of place in a town like Owl Creek. Why had a woman like Ella come all the way to Alaska for a job at his family’s company? Alaska was at times a harsh and unforgiving land. For a man who considered himself to be pragmatic, it didn’t make a lot of sense.

  Connor let out a sigh and rested his head against the steering wheel. His paranoia was rising to the surface and threatening to choke him. He tended to believe the worst of people based on his family’s past trauma. Although he tried to control his suspicious nature, Connor didn’t trust strangers. He always felt as if he was waiting for them to peel back the mask and reveal their true selves.

  In all likelihood, Ella was a sweet young woman who was merely nervous about starting a brand-new job in a world completely unfamiliar to her. Guilt sliced through him. He wasn’t being fair to her or himself. He needed to let go of the past and accept people at face value. Being so cynical wasn’t a good quality. As a man of faith, he knew it wasn’t right to judge others so harshly. But he still couldn’t quiet the voice inside him warning him against accepting Ella at face value.

  By the time he reached the
chocolate factory, Connor was ready to focus on something other than the mysterious new resident of Owl Creek. He enjoyed working at his family’s company. As an executive in charge of distribution and product development, he had helped the company grow and expand its reach in key markets over the last five years. He also oversaw the operation of the Owl Creek factory and served as the CEO’s right-hand man. Thankfully, Beulah was the CEO, and he adored collaborating with her.

  The aroma of chocolate permeated the air as he walked inside. Every morning before he made his way to his office Connor enjoyed strolling through the factory where the chocolate was being made. He liked talking with the employees and even helping out on the conveyer belt. When they were kids, he and Braden had gotten a thrill out of plucking chocolate confections from the assembly line and popping them into their mouths. More times than not it had resulted in a competition between them. Trying to consume chocolate the fastest had always led to bellyaches and admonishments from Beulah.

  “Chocolate is to be savored, not devoured.” Just the thought of his grandmother uttering those words to the pint-size version of himself made him chuckle out loud. Beulah had always been a fountain of wisdom. Nothing much had changed in that regard. His grandmother was still a unique woman who continued to fascinate him.

  The factory had been his and Braden’s stomping grounds—they’d learned the business as they played and explored in the chocolate factory. Despite the tragedy involving the abduction of their sister, there had been an abundance of joy in their lives. Of course there had been sorrow as well. None of them had ever fully recovered from the loss until Sage’s recent return to the fold. Now he should be completely over it, but he wasn’t. He still harbored a lot of anger. The woman who’d abducted his sister had been visiting town as one of the leaders of a youth group. No one had ever suspected her of wrongdoing or been suspicious of her actions. Over the years, people had sought to take advantage of his family by pretending to have information about his sister’s whereabouts. A few women had even presented themselves as the missing North family member, which had only added to their pain. It showed him that people couldn’t always be trusted. A person always had to be on guard.