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.
“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.”