Was Connor flirting with her or simply being nice? Did it even matter, considering the albatross hanging around her neck? For all intents and purposes she wasn’t a free woman. Her past in Miami shadowed her every single day. It never let her forget her limitations.
“I’m really happy to be here,” she said lamely, wishing she could simply let loose and go with the flow. But she couldn’t, and anger rose up inside of her. She had witnessed a brutal murder that had put her own life in jeopardy. And now, because of it, she had to steer clear of the one man in all of Alaska who made her feel as if good things might be coming her way.
Connor stayed where he was, mere inches away. “If you’re hungry we can check out the food truck. They serve a mean gumbo if you want to ward off the chill in the air. There’s also a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate bread to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth.” His smile served as an invitation. “What do you say?”
She should make an excuse and get as far away from Connor as possible. Perhaps she could tell him she needed to check in with Lissa about what time she wanted to leave the event. But she was hungry and the fare sounded scrumptious. A myriad of thoughts raced through her mind. Before she could rein herself in, Isabelle blurted out, “I’d love to check out the food truck. I haven’t eaten since this morning and my stomach has been grumbling so loudly it sounds like a grizzly bear.”
“Well, that sounds serious. We better do something about that right away,” Connor replied. He held out his arm, and she looped hers through it as they headed off in the direction of the food truck. Although Isabelle knew she was heading into dangerous territory by spending time alone with Connor, she couldn’t seem to help herself. He drew her in with the force of a magnet. Just for tonight she was going to enjoy herself with him, secure in the knowledge that it was only a moment in time. When tomorrow morning rolled around, Isabelle would revert back to her plan to stay away from him.
Getting close to a man like Connor would only make her life in the Witness Protection Program way more complicated. As it was, Isabelle felt as if she was trying to keep her head above water with one arm tied behind her back.
Chapter Eight
Connor tried to avoid the curious stares and whispers of the townsfolk. He could feel dozens of eyes focused on him and Ella as they dug into their food. His love life had always been the subject of much speculation in Owl Creek. Since Ella was a newcomer to town, it added a whole new dynamic to their gossip. While a part of him wanted to shoot them dirty looks, he knew taking the high road was more practical. All of his life Connor had been aware of his position in Owl Creek as a member of the North family. As the future CEO of the town’s main industry, it was his responsibility to act in a dignified manner.
“Do I have something on my face?” Ella asked him. A frown line marred her brow.
Connor studied Ella for a moment. She looked pretty perfect as far as he could tell. “Not that I can see. Why do you ask?”
She darted a look around them. “Quite a few people are gawking at me. I thought maybe I had chocolate on my nose or something.” She took another bite of the sweet treat, emitting a satisfied sound as she munched on it.
Connor stifled a chuckle. She really had tucked into the chocolate bread, and he relished watching her enjoy it so enthusiastically. Ella seemed to have no idea that the two of them were the object of the town’s curiosity. “They’re not staring at you. It’s the fact that we’re together that interests them,” he acknowledged with a grimace. “It’s kind of a town hobby.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “Oh. I see,” she said in a surprised voice.
“I’m sorry. I know it must be a little awkward, but certain folks in a small town love to speculate if they see two people hanging out.” He tamped down his irritation. Connor didn’t want Ella to feel uncomfortable or to think that the townsfolk were small-minded gossips.
“I get it,” she said. “I grew up with a Brazilian grandmother.” She ducked her head and giggled. “She and my great-aunts put me under the microscope my whole life. If I was even spotted with a boy, he was automatically my boyfriend. I understand how this all works, even though it can be frustrating.”
“I know they don’t mean any harm,” Connor said. “Much like your grandmother and aunts, I imagine. Because you’re new in town, they want to know more about you. And—” he paused dramatically “—the whole town wants to marry me off.”
Ella let out a surprised sound. “Wow. So they’re trying to march you down the aisle, huh?” The corners of her mouth were twitching with amusement. He liked seeing this lighthearted side of her. Perhaps he’d simply been picking up on her nervousness about relocating to Alaska up to this point. Tonight she seemed as if she was coming out of her shell.
“Yes. It’s an open secret here in town. It doesn’t help that my brother, Braden, is getting hitched soon. You know how that is. People have started to look at me cross-eyed because both my younger siblings have settled down.”
“That’s a bit of pressure, isn’t it?”
Connor shrugged. He didn’t want to admit that lately it hadn’t been as easy to shrug it off. He spotted Sage, Hank and his niece, Addie, standing across the way. Whenever he was in their presence, Connor wondered what it would be like to fall so deeply in love with someone that you wanted nothing more than to devote your life to that person. He’d
never felt anything remotely like that.
“It is, but I suppose it’s a bit of a compliment. Everyone in town has known me since the day I was born. They really want me to be happy.”
“Aren’t you happy now?” Ella asked. She was gazing at him intently, as if she really cared about his welfare.
“I’m very content with my life, but when I see my sister and her family, I wonder how much better things could be,” he admitted, jerking his chin in Sage’s direction. His sister was holding Addie in her arms while Hank was making her giggle by tickling her. Anyone could see that they were a picture-perfect family. He’d surprised himself by being so honest with Ella. Maybe it was easier to admit something of that nature to someone he didn’t know very well. Somehow it took the pressure off.
“They do look blissful,” Ella said. “Their little girl is precious. She’s the spitting image of her daddy.”
“That’s my niece, Addie. When Sage met Hank, he was a single father, so my sister became a mother when they got married. She fell in love with Hank and got Addie as a beautiful bonus.”
“They’re such a sweet family. Sage looks like she’s a great mom to Addie. She’s so loving and attentive. And a schoolteacher to boot. She’s like the Mary Poppins of mothers.”
The image of his sister swinging down from the sky with an umbrella brought a smile to his face. Connor shifted his gaze in Sage’s direction. “She really is incredible, isn’t she? It’s been amazing getting to know her.”
Isabelle furrowed her brow. “What do you mean? Shouldn’t you already know her? She’s your sister.”
Connor let out a ragged sigh. “I didn’t grow up with her. This is going to sound pretty wild, but she was kidnapped from our home when she was only three months old. She was missing for twenty-five years. We were only reunited with her a short while ago. Thankfully, we’ve all bonded, but it’s been a tough journey.”