Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Patrice Lewis (best large ereader .txt) 📕

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.”

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.”

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