Hiding in Alaska Page 5

  “I’ll have the truck towed into town for repair,” Connor said. “We’re in a tricky area for cell service, so I might have to drive down the road in order to make the call.”

  “Oh, no. I need the truck to get to work.”

  “You live on Kodiak, right?” Connor asked. He remembered his grandmother telling him she’d moved into the Barkers’ former residence. He could easily picture her living in the charming home.

  Ella nodded. “Yes, 10 Kodiak Lane. The sweet log cabin–style house with the bright blue chairs on the porch.”

  Connor smiled at her. “Good thing I live a few minutes away. We can figure something out. In the meantime, let me take you home. I’m sure you’ve had a long day.”

  She nodded. “It has been. I never imagined it would end with a car wreck.” She made a face. “I’ve always been such a careful driver.”

  “Hang in there. Alaska roads can be tough to navigate.”

  “I’m not used to driving in snow.”

  Connor frowned. “I thought it snowed in parts of Arizona.”

  Silence stretched out between them before Ella answered. “Y-yes, it does, but not a lot,” she explained in a shaky voice. She didn’t sound very sure of herself, which once again raised a red flag with him. His friend Walt had lived in Flagstaff for two years and he’d told Connor they always experienced loads of snowy weather. Was it possible she really wasn’t from that area? If that was the case, why would she fabricate something like that?

  As his mind whirled with questions, he began driving in the direction of Ella’s home. Connor knew these roads like the back of his hand. He’d been navigating them since he was seventeen years old. There wasn’t anything quite like the freedom involved in getting behind the wheel and hitting the wide-open road.

  “So, how was your first day at work?” Connor asked, trying to fill up the silence. A quick look in Ella’s direction showed she was feeling more relaxed. Her lips were curved upward in a grin that made her even more attractive. If that was even possible.

  “It was good. Really good, in fact. Sage and Beulah were amazing. Your sister walked me through everything and made me feel so comfortable.”

  Pride swelled inside him. Sage was such a giving person and a tremendous asset to the family business. “I imagine it’s tough acclimating to a new town and a job all at once.”

  He heard a little sigh slip past her lips. “I’m not good with change. My life has been fairly predictable up till now,” she admitted. “I’m not complaining, though. Owl Creek is a lovely place to start over.”

  Start over. There was something about her comment that made him curious. He wondered what exactly she’d left behind in Arizona and why she was eager to start over. The possibilities were endless. And even though he knew Ella wasn’t obligated to disclose such personal information, a part of him still felt suspicious. What if she was running from something really awful that might compromise his family’s business? He really needed to relax. He was becoming paranoid.

  “My advice is to dive right in to the town. It has a lot to offer, from being a part of our choral group to dog mushing.” He let out a throaty chuckle. “And if you’re into bird watching, this town has some of the rarest species of birds in the country.”

  “Dog mushing? That sounds fascinating. I’m not sure I’m dog musher material, but I’d definitely love to watch sometime.”

  “That can be arranged. Owl Creek is hosting our fifth annual dog mushing race. It’s a fun event. You shouldn’t miss it.”

  “It sounds fun. Who can resist dogs?” Connor could hear the smile in her voice. He turned to give her a quick look, needing to see her face lit up with joy.

  Now at least he knew a little something about her. She was a dog lover. That was a start. He wasn’t sure what it was about Ella that made him so curious about her backstory, but each and every time he was in her presence he found himself questioning if she was being truthful. The combination of his jaded nature plus Ella’s evasiveness kicked his suspicions into high gear. Every time he felt tempted to scrutinize her résumé, he had to remind himself that she’d already been fully vetted before being offered the position.

  In all likelihood he wasn’t being fair to the beautiful newcomer, but some instinct warned him to keep a healthy distance. Easier said than done, he reminded himself. If she wasn’t on the up-and-up, Connor needed to make sure his family wasn’t exposed to anything that might hurt them. They’d already been through enough pain to last them several lifetimes. He wouldn’t allow anyone to trick them again.

  As he pulled up in front of Ella’s home, he couldn’t help but notice the huge spotlight lighting up the exterior of the house. It covered the entire perimeter of the front of the property. It struck him as the type of lighting someone might use to protect themselves against a home invasion. He stifled the urge to tell Ella that Owl Creek’s crime rate was incredibly low. Break-ins were unheard of. Perhaps in Arizona things were different. Or maybe she just needed reassurance as a single woman living on her own.

  “Thanks for the lift,” Ella said, jerking open the door and jumping down to the snow-covered ground.

  He stepped out of the truck and walked around to the front of it, holding his phone up in the air. Connor frowned as he studied his cell phone. “I’m still not getting a signal.”

  Halfway down the walkway, Ella turned around and looked at him as if she was sizing him up. She raised her hand and motioned him over.

  “No need to stand outside, Connor. Come on in and make the phone call from the house. You’re doing me a favor after all by contacting the auto body shop.”

  “Thanks for the offer. I’ll probably get a better signal from inside,” he said.

  By the time he caught up with her, she’d unlocked the door and stepped across the threshold. Connor walked in the house behind Ella, still feeling a bit surprised at her invitation. So far she had been very reserved, although she’d lightened up a bit during the ride to her house. Perhaps he should cut her a break. There wasn’t anything wrong with being a private person, especially when she was a newcomer to town. After all, it wasn’t as if he’d told her his own life story. It wasn’t fair to hold her to a higher standard.

  Ella took off her boots and placed them on a nearby mat. Connor followed suit, not wanting to track snow on her gleaming hardwood floors.

  The place was roomier than he remembered. The large living room had a comfy gray sofa with a matching love seat and a brightly colored rug on the floor. A few pieces of artwork were scattered on the walls. He didn’t recognize any of the artists, but they were all vibrant works with splashes of color. The scent of pine cones lingered in the air. Although the place wasn’t fully decorated, Ella had done a fine job of making it look homey and comfortable. It suited her.

  Having been at the house before, Connor knew there was a stunning view of the mountains from the back deck. He enjoyed a similar view from his own place. Each and every morning he looked at the majestic peaks and thanked God for creating all of His beautiful masterpieces. Perhaps Ella would also find comfort in the breathtaking Alaskan vista. Although he was biased, Owl Creek was a magnificent place to call home.

  Within minutes he’d made the call to Rusty’s Auto Body Shop and made arrangements for Ella’s car to be towed into town this evening.

  Once he ended the call, he turned around to face her. “Rusty is going to take care of your truck for you. He’s a really dependable mechanic. He’s going to reach out to you once he takes a look at the damage.”

  “That’s great. I appreciate it, Connor.” She bit her lip. “I just hope the damage isn’t too extensive.”

  “I’m no expert, but I don’t think it’s a total loss. Rusty won’t charge you an arm and a leg either. His prices are reasonable. He’s as solid as they come.”

  He watched as relief washed over her. Connor felt badly about the acciden
t placing any kind of economic strain on her. Maybe he could arrange something with Rusty so the bill would be reduced. He shook off the thought. It wasn’t his place to ride to the rescue, even if there was something about this woman that made him feel things he wasn’t used to feeling.

  “Why don’t I swing by in the morning at eight?” he suggested. “I can drop you off at the shop, then head over to the factory.”

  Ella crossed her hands. “I’m so grateful, Connor. I’d hate to mess things up my first week on the job.”

  “No need to worry about that. Judging by the way my grandmother was singing your praises earlier today, you don’t have anything to worry about.” Beulah had talked nonstop about Ella and how she’d hired the perfect person for the position. His grandmother was a tough customer, so praise from her was rare.

  “Would you like a cup of tea or some water?” she asked.

  He held up his hand. “No, thanks. I need to head home so I can feed my pup.”

  “You have a puppy?” she asked. A look of surprise was etched on her face.

  “Well, he’s not actually a puppy. Bear is three and he’s a Siberian husky.” He let out a throaty chuckle. “He really enjoys dinnertime.”

  “I’m sure he does. Those are fairly large dogs.” Ella giggled. The tinkling sound of it surprised him. It was light and airy. Laughter looked good on her. Her eyes lit up and there were little crinkles around her mouth. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  “Well, good night. I’ll see you bright and early,” Connor said, beating a fast path to the door. He felt as if he needed to get some air so he could think straight. More and more, Ella was growing on him, and he didn’t know what to do to stop it. He felt helpless. Attraction was humming and pulsing in the air around them. He wondered if she felt it, too.

  Connor resisted the impulse to turn around to see her one last time as she stood in the doorway. Only when he heard the door shut was he able to let out a sigh of relief.

  On the way home Connor couldn’t stop his thoughts from veering toward Ella. There was a reason he didn’t want to feel anything romantic for her. Something about her just wasn’t sitting right with him. Although her house was decorated stylishly and it exuded a cozy vibe, there were no pictures of family or friends. Not a single one. Where were the family photos? Mom and dad? A sibling or two? A group of friends? Connor couldn’t figure it out. Surely Ella had people in her life she was close to. Loved ones. Moments she wanted to highlight in her new home. The absence of those personal touches confounded him. Something was missing.

  Who was Ella Perez? Other than being a transplant in Owl Creek and a newly hired manager for North Star Chocolates, she was an empty slate. He knew the weight of the past hung around his neck, but he was convinced Ella was hiding something. The fact that she was easy on the eyes wasn’t going to distract him from the warning signs he was observing.

  One way or the other, Connor was going to keep a watchful eye on Ella. Perhaps he was imagining things, but if he wasn’t, he needed to be on alert. In the past his family had been victimized by a kidnapper and preyed on by people who sought to exploit their pain for profit.

  He wasn’t going to allow anyone else to hurt his family ever again.

  Chapter Five

  Isabelle woke up bright and early, determined not to make Connor wait for her. He’d been picking her up every morning for the past three days and dropping her off at the chocolate shop.

  It was very sweet of him to do her a favor and she didn’t want to push it by not being ready on time. Normally, Isabelle wasn’t a morning person, but waking up at this hour allowed her to glimpse a glorious Alaskan sunrise—vibrant shades of orange and yellow bursting into view over the horizon.

  Connor was proving to be a very kind person, even though she’d caught him staring at her on several occasions as if she was a puzzle he wanted to solve. She’d slipped up a few times in his presence regarding her backstory. She wasn’t sure if he’d picked up on it, but most likely she was being paranoid. He seemed like a very direct person, who would ask her if he thought her résumé wasn’t on the up-and-up. Sometimes it felt as if she was walking around with a huge neon sign around her neck that declared her status as a WITSEC participant. It was hard not to wonder if she’d messed up big-time and inadvertently blown her cover. Up until her relocation to Owl Creek, Isabelle had no secrets to speak of. Now she was hiding almost everything about herself.

  It wasn’t smart of her to be around someone like Connor. His easy manner and charm tempted her to put down her guard and let him into her world. There was something about him that drew her in. As a result, it was a struggle to maintain an emotional distance from him. But there weren’t many other people she knew here in town. Even though it would be tricky, she needed to forge friendships. She had to make a life for herself in Owl Creek, and without connections, she would be miserable.

  Isabelle felt a burst of hope rising up inside of her. Beulah had invited her for a tour of the chocolate factory this morning. Ever since she was a kid, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory had been her favorite movie. The prospect of getting a behind-the-scenes view of the North Star Chocolate Company’s factory was thrilling.

  She took a long sip of her cappuccino and let out a sigh of appreciation. What she loved most about her new house was her ability to enjoy breakfast and a wonderful view of the mountains while sitting at her kitchen table. Despite the intense feelings of homesickness she was battling, her new life was beginning to take shape. Her job at the chocolate shop kept her busy and focused. She hoped she could establish some sort of social life. Those connections would be vital if she was going to make things work here in Owl Creek.

  Just as she finished washing and drying her breakfast dishes, she heard the sound of tires crunching over snow. After shrugging into her parka and stepping into her boots, Isabelle sailed out the door with her purse slung over her shoulder. She didn’t want to examine too closely why the sight of Connor standing by the passenger-side door made butterflies flutter in the pit of her stomach.

  “Good morning,” he said with a smile as he opened the door for her. He was dressed in a dark wool coat and charcoal-gray slacks. An oatmeal-colored sweater peeked out from under his jacket. He always looked nice, but for some reason he appeared more handsome than ever today.

  “Morning,” she answered, shivering at the frigid temperatures. Would she ever get used to the weather in Alaska? Was it possible that this quaint village would someday feel like home? It seemed a million miles away from reality.

  Once Connor was in the driver’s seat, Isabelle turned toward him, and said, “You don’t have to open the door for me every morning. It’s pretty cold outside.”

  Surprise flared in his eyes. “What’s the problem? I’m not complaining.”

  Suddenly, she felt foolish. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.” She shrugged. “I suppose I’m just not used to gestures like that.”

  “I’m sorry about that, but my folks raised my younger brother, Braden, and me to be gentlemen.” He smiled at her. “If you see me around town, you might even catch me walking little old ladies across the street.”

  Isabelle chuckled. Connor’s comment managed to defuse any awkwardness she’d been experiencing. “Sounds like you might be wearing a cape under that coat,” she teased.

  He raised a finger to his lips. “Shh. That’s a well-kept secret here in town.”

  They continued the ride in companionable silence, with Isabelle soaking in the wintry scenery. Snow-covered trees—spruce, pine and birch—dotted the landscape. Once she’d found out she would be relocating to Owl Creek, Isabelle had done a bit of research on Alaska. She was now able to recognize several types of trees. She was hoping to spot some rare species of birds she’d read about. It still felt surreal that she’d come all the way to the last frontier to evade a killer’s wrath.

  As they drove, Isabelle wa
nted to ask Connor a million questions about the chocolate factory, but she refrained. Some things were just better to experience yourself. When Connor pulled into the parking lot minutes later, Isabelle could barely contain her excitement. As soon as Connor put his truck into Park, she practically vaulted from the vehicle, making it unnecessary for him to hold the door open for her.

  She stopped walking and simply gazed up at the building. The factory was a large brick edifice with steam rising from the top of a stack. There was a grand set of granite steps leading to the entrance. A gold-and-brown sign with swirly writing hung by the entrance, welcoming visitors to the North Star Chocolate Company.

  “Are you coming?” Connor asked, turning around to address her.

  “O-of course,” she said, trailing after him. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I’ve been waiting my whole life for a Willy Wonka moment.” Once the words escaped her lips, she felt a little bit goofy for expressing those sentiments. Perhaps she should just try to be composed. She was visiting the factory in a professional capacity after all.

  Connor’s laughter rang out in the silence. “It’s pretty special, but don’t expect chocolate fountains or edible wallpaper. And there aren’t any gardens full of lollipops,” he teased. His reaction put her at ease. Clearly, as the heir to the chocolate empire, he understood her giddy feelings. She probably wasn’t the first person to be so enthusiastic about visiting.

  He beat her to the top of the stairs, then held the door open with a flourish, bowing at the waist as he said, “After you.” She had the feeling he was making a teasing reference to her earlier comment about not needing doors held open for her. It showed her he was willing to make fun of himself.

  Once she stepped through the doors, Isabelle sucked in a steadying breath. The sights, sounds and smells all competed with each other for her attention. She wasn’t even sure where to look first. She let out a sigh of contentment as Connor steered her down a hallway with windows that overlooked conveyor belts and vats of chocolate. Isabelle felt like a little kid as she pressed her face against the glass. All the employees were dressed in baby blue uniforms with matching gloves and hairnets.