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

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 wanted 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.

“Wow!” she said as employees plucked confections off the line and placed them in boxes, while others carried the boxes to another area. It looked like a finely honed operation. “This is quite the setup. Everyone is working in unison without skipping a beat.”

“It’s pretty spectacular, isn’t it?” Connor asked. “We have the best employees in the world, if I do say so myself.” Even though she hadn’t done anything so far to earn praise, Isabelle felt buoyed by his words. It was nice to know he valued the employees.

She simply nodded, feeling overwhelmed by everything around her. The aroma of chocolate permeated the air. Isabelle felt certain she’d never smelled anything so delectable in her entire life. She couldn’t put her finger on the specific type of chocolate floating in the air but it was probably an assortment of flavors. The smell was making her mouth water.

“It smells like my mama’s chocolate-and-almond cake. It’s a family favorite.” A groundswell of nostalgia caused the words to burst from her mouth. She’d planned to avoid any mention of her family, but it wasn’t as easy as she had imagined. Baking this particular delicacy was a tradition in their family