If she couldn’t aspire to that type of partnership—where truth reigned supreme—then she didn’t intend to have one at all. Not ever.
* * *
Connor had a million things to do at work, but somehow he’d ended up on Main Street standing in front of the North Star Chocolate Shop. It was only one block away from the chocolate factory where he worked, so it had been a simple walk to get over here. The shop was a great draw for both the townsfolk and tourists, while the factory was where all the confections were made and packaged.
Just the sight of the store made him grin. His first job had been working the register after school. It had taught him about discipline, hard work and his family’s legacy. And even though he’d loved chocolate since he came out of the womb, he had fallen in love with it all over again. Seeing the joy it brought to customers had been a life-changing experience. He’d known at that moment that he didn’t want to do anything other than work for the North Star Chocolate Company for the rest of his life.
Curiosity about Beulah’s new hire had been nipping at his mind all morning long. Was Ella enjoying working at the chocolate shop? Was she feeling at all overwhelmed about settling down in a small Alaskan town? He couldn’t help but wonder if she would stay in Owl Creek. Occasionally, newcomers who weren’t used to the harsh weather and the Alaskan way of life had packed up and left without giving Owl Creek a fair chance.
He pushed the shop door open and inhaled the sweet scent that was as familiar to him as his own name. Being here felt like going back to his roots. The sights, smells and sounds were awakening all of his senses. It made him smile to see so many townsfolk milling about the shop, excited about picking out their favorite chocolates. He immediately spotted Ella standing behind the counter with his sister. The two women were chatting amiably as if they’d known each other for years.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Connor said as he walked toward them.
Although he tried not to stare, he couldn’t seem to look away from Ella. With her hair swept away from her face, her stunning features were on full display. Her attire was professional and stylish. She looked right at home in the shop.
“Hey, Connor. What brings you over here?” Sage asked. “Are you checking up on me?”
Before he could answer, she continued speaking. “Ella, this is my brother, Connor North. Connor, this is Ella Perez, our new store manager.”
“We’ve already met,” Connor said, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement at the memory of their first meeting at the Snowy Owl.
“At the diner,” Ella said as she shot him a pointed look. Clearly, she didn’t want Sage to know about the incident with the syrup. He sent her a slight nod, letting her know her secret was safe with him. He didn’t want to do anything to make her uncomfortable. As it was, he felt pretty guilty about telling his grandmother she might be concealing something. He knew he had to make it up to Ella in some way for doubting her authenticity.
“I’m glad you stumbled upon the Snowy Owl,” Sage said. “My sister-in-law, Piper, is the owner, and she makes the best flapjacks in the state of Alaska.”
“I’ll remember that for next time,” Ella said, grinning.
“So, how are things going?” he asked. “I hope your first day has been enjoyable.”
“It’s going very well,” she answered, looking at Sage for confirmation. “Your sister and grandmother really rolled out the welcome mat for me. I couldn’t have asked for more on my first day.”
“We’re so glad you’re here,” Sage said, placing her arm around Ella. “Can you just excuse me for a moment? The mother of one of my students just walked in. I’d like to say hello.”
“Students?” Ella asked, furrowing her brow as Sage hustled away.
“Sage is a part-time teacher. Her teaching schedule allows her to help out here and at the factory a few days a week,” Connor explained.
Ella nodded. “I imagine she’s a wonderful teacher. She’s been so patient with me today.”
Connor had no way of knowing if Ella knew his sister’s backstory. It had been front-page news when it had been revealed that the long-lost chocolate heiress had returned to Owl Creek. There was nothing in Ella’s expression or voice that hinted at anything other than pure admiration for Sage. As far as he was concerned, his little sister was the most resilient, loving person he’d ever known.
“So, did Beulah pick out some chocolates for you to take home?” he asked, knowing it was his grandmother’s signature gesture she extended to new employees. Chocolate was Beulah’s love language, and she didn’t hesitate to shower people with it.
“She did. She asked me what my favorites were, and I told her that I love it all. I’m not sure how a person can have an absolute favorite.”
Connor felt his eyes widening. He let out a sharp laugh.
“Did I say something funny?” Ella asked with a slight frown.
“I’m sorry,” Connor said, his tone apologetic. “I didn’t mean to be rude. Let me show you something.” Connor walked behind the counter and opened the display case. He scanned the rows of chocolates, homing in on several before he picked them up and placed them on a napkin. He turned toward Ella and pointed toward the chocolates. “These three chocolates are my all-time favorites. This one here is the purest milk chocolate. I fell in love with it when I was eight years old.” He broke the confection in half and handed it to Ella, who gingerly bit into it. “Now this one here is a chocolate truffle. When I was eighteen, you couldn’t tell me there was a finer chocolate.” Once again he split the chocolate in half. He watched as Ella eagerly popped it into her mouth.
“Oh, this is delicious,” she said, letting out a contented sigh. “So when did you fall in love with the third one?”
Connor held up the piece of white chocolate. “This one has only been a recent discovery. I spent most of my life thinking white chocolate just wasn’t on the same level as regular chocolate. At the advanced age of twenty-seven I fell head over heels in love with white chocolate.” Connor dramatically snapped the piece of white chocolate in half and handed Ella one as he bit into his own portion.
“Sounds like a serious relationship,” she said with a chuckle. The sound of Ella’s tinkling laughter warmed his insides. She seemed more relaxed today. He was beginning to see glimpses of her personality shining through her reserve.
They were standing so close to one another their arms were brushing against each other. A slight awareness flared between them seconds before Ella moved a few steps away from him. A shuttered expression came over her face and he had the distinct impression his close proximity had made her uncomfortable. At the moment, Ella was giving off signs he rarely encountered.
Connor was used to being playful and friendly with the women in Owl Creek. In fact, he had gained a reputation of being a ladies’ man. Just because he’d always had a healthy dating life didn’t mean he was a player. And even if he had been at one point, wasn’t he allowed to evolve?
Suddenly, a bang emanated from outside, echoing in the shop.
Ella let out a scream as her features creased with fear. For a moment Connor was struck by the sheer terror on her face.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Connor said, instinctively moving toward her and placing his arm around her. All of his protective instincts had gone into high gear.
“W-what was that sound?” she asked, her eyes wide, lips trembling.
Connor strode toward the window and peered outside. In a matter of seconds, he turned back toward her. “It was just a truck backfiring.”
“Otis’s truck? Not again! He really needs to get that thing fixed,” Sage called out from across the store. She shook her head and made a face.
“I’m so embarrassed,” Ella said, ducking her head. Her body was still shaking.
“Hey. It’s nothing to feel badly about. You should see me during a thunderstorm,” C
onnor said, trying to ease the tension.
Ella sent him a smile that didn’t make it all the way to her eyes. One moment everything had been fine, and the next she’d been falling apart. It didn’t make any sense. Was she the high-strung type?
“Is everything okay over here?” Sage asked as she walked back over to the counter.
“Everything’s fine,” Ella said. “Let’s get back to it.” She rubbed her hands together.
“You’ll have to excuse us, Connor. I’m still training Ella, and there’s lots more to go over,” Sage said, gently pushing her brother toward the direction of the door.
He held up his hands. “I can take a hint. I’ll see you ladies later.”
Connor took one last look in Ella’s direction. Although she appeared a bit steadier, there was still an unsettled expression on her face. She seemed wary, as if she was waiting for something bad to happen.
As he made his way back to the chocolate factory, Connor replayed the incident with Ella in his mind. Her reaction to Otis’s vehicle backfiring had been over-the-top. He hadn’t imagined her terrified response to the loud boom. It had been dramatic. What had she been so afraid of? So many possibilities flashed before him. None of the scenarios was pleasant. Maybe Ella had been hurt in the past by someone. And perhaps she’d come all the way to Owl Creek to get away from a turbulent situation with an ex. It chilled him to the bone to imagine Ella as the victim of domestic violence.
Warning bells were clanging in his head. He needed to avoid conflict-filled situations, especially since he was still grappling with the emotional fallout from his sister’s recent return. He had no idea what Ella had been through, but he felt certain it had been intense. It radiated from her every time he was in her presence. Even though Ella Perez was the loveliest woman he’d ever laid eyes on, it was clear to him she’d come to town with burdens weighing her down. His family’s painful history had taught him that he wasn’t the sort of man who dealt well with secrets. Or lies.
There was something about Ella that tugged at him, but he couldn’t allow himself to get pulled into her world. Not now or ever.
Chapter Four
At the end of the day, Isabelle locked up the front door of the chocolate shop. Back in Miami she would have turned on a security system, but as Sage had explained to her, the chocolate shop didn’t have one. She turned the knob just to make certain the establishment was secured. It would be terrible if someone broke in on her first day as manager. Although Sage hadn’t said it in so many words, Isabelle had the feeling that Owl Creek didn’t have a lot of crime. It had been silly of her, then, to get so frightened earlier at the sound of the vehicle backfiring, but to her ears it had sounded like gunshots. Although Connor had been very comforting, she still felt terribly embarrassed. She worried that she’d made a misstep by overreacting.
It was hard to move forward, she realized, when she hadn’t fully healed from the past. The shock of what she’d been through still affected her. Fear still cropped up at the most unexpected times. She knew it might be post-traumatic stress from having been victimized. Witnessing Saul’s death and surviving the attempts on her own life had been devastating experiences. Isabelle prayed being in a safe haven like Owl Creek would help her heal. She didn’t want to feel this way for the rest of her life.
Once she’d finished locking up, Isabelle took a quick look at her watch. It was just past five o’clock despite the darkened sky. She hadn’t quite adjusted to the increased hours of darkness in Alaska. Her body was having a hard time acclimating to the lack of sunlight. Back in Florida it wouldn’t get dark until after dinnertime.
Main Street was a charming area. It really did resemble something from a postcard. For such a small town there was an abundance of shops. There was a particular one that called out to her. Tea Time. From the moment she’d spotted the quaint tea shop, Isabelle had been intrigued by it. She’d always wanted to visit a tea emporium but had never had the opportunity back home. The townsfolk here led a quieter life.
She peered through the window, letting out a wistful sigh at the eye-catching decor. A soft light emanated from inside, providing a warm glow to the place. The place wasn’t full of customers but there were a few people scattered around the dining room. In her direct line of sight were two women who were sitting at a table sipping tea and chatting. They seemed so happy simply spending time in each other’s company. Suddenly, Isabelle’s throat thickened as tears blurred her vision. Although she’d wanted to visit the tea shop, it hurt to realize she didn’t have a single person with whom to share the experience. What she wouldn’t give to sit down for tea with her sister or her best friend, Kara. She wondered if this ache would ever go away. Would she spend the rest of her life missing people and pretending to be somebody she wasn’t?
Honestly, she wasn’t sure what kind of existence that would be.
Isabelle turned away from the shop and made her way to the parking lot. It felt as if a huge weight was sitting on her chest. Her first day at the chocolate shop had been a success, but the very thought of going back to a quiet house made her want to sob. Although the marshals had done everything in their power to prepare her for a brand-new life in Alaska, she didn’t feel very solid at the moment. She felt as if she was falling apart. Sitting by herself at a table at Tea Time would have only served to heighten her loneliness.
She started up the truck and began driving back to the house. Earlier she had overheard one of the customers saying that the roads were snow packed and a bit slippery due to the dipping temperature. She tried to cast off the feelings of doubt about driving on unfamiliar roads in less than desirable conditions.
Isabelle let out a groan as the GPS suddenly lost its connection. Talk about bad timing! She bit her lip as she reached a fork in the road. She was fairly certain she was supposed to bear to the right, but since she’d never traveled down this road in the dark it was a bit of guesswork.
As Isabelle made the turn, the truck’s wheels skidded on the ice and she desperately tried to remember what to do in this particular situation. But before she could act, the vehicle swerved off the road, sideswiping a spruce tree and landing in a snowy ravine.
Isabelle sat still for a few moments, her hands tightly gripping the wheel. Her breathing was shallow. She’d been too frightened to let out a scream. And now she had no idea how to get help or even alert the local authorities as to her destination. Because of the darkened roads she was now thoroughly confused as to which road she was on.
She needed to call 911. Isabelle reached for her phone, frustration building inside her as she realized there was no cell signal. Isabelle let out a brittle-sounding laugh. Somehow she had managed to evade numerous attempts on her life by a hardened criminal, yet she was unable to find a way to help herself after a car wreck. She closed her eyes and began breathing deeply in and out.
Dear Lord. Please help me to not give in to this feeling of fear. I am stronger than I realize. With You by my side, I can do anything.
“Well, sitting here isn’t going to solve this problem,” Isabelle said, unfastening her seat belt as she prepared to exit the truck. Perhaps if she walked down the road a bit she might get a signal or come upon another driver or a nearby house. She looked down at her feet. She was thankful she’d switched from her work shoes to a pair of sturdy winter boots. Just as she reached for the door handle, bright headlights illuminated the truck. For a moment Isabelle waffled between gratitude and nervousness. Who had ridden up and stopped on the shoulder of the road? What if it was someone who meant to do her harm? Her heart began to beat at a rapid pace while her hands suddenly felt clammy.
Relax. She knew it was unlikely that Burke or his associates had located her in Owl Creek. That being said, it didn’t stop her pulse from racing or the dark thoughts from materializing. Sweat broke out on her brow as she watched a tall figure exit the vehicle and slide down the incline toward her truck. With shaking fingers,
she lowered the window just as the masculine voice washed over her. “Hey there. Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
Isabelle looked up and locked eyes with Connor. She let out a little sound of surprise at the sight of him. Gratitude rose up inside her at seeing a familiar face. Although she was thankful to be rescued, there was something about Connor North that made her feel as if he could see straight through all of her lies. And it made her incredibly nervous about being able to successfully reinvent herself in Owl Creek.
* * *
“Ella? What happened?” Connor asked as he peered into the truck window, needing to reassure himself that she wasn’t injured. He’d spent a large portion of his day thinking about North Star Chocolate’s newest employee, so it was a little jarring to come upon her on the side of the road with a smashed-up vehicle.
“I’m not hurt. The truck slid off the road. I didn’t know what to do when I hit an icy patch. It felt like the truck had a mind of its own,” she explained. Although she was trying to keep a stiff upper lip, Connor had the distinct impression she was unsettled. Her voice was trembling slightly and her big brown eyes were wide with alarm. A feeling of protectiveness swept over him. Crashing your truck on your first day of work in a new town had to be nerve-racking.
“Let’s get you out of here,” he said, extending his hand to pull her from her seat to a standing position. Isabelle reached for her oversize bag, murmuring a thank-you before slipping her hand into his. He walked her up toward level ground, holding on to her hand until she was standing by his vehicle. He only let go so he could hold open the passenger door for her. Once she was inside, Connor quickly made his way to the driver’s side. He revved the engine, eager to make sure Ella was warm. She’d been shivering a few moments ago.
Hiding in Alaska Page 4