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

exhaled. It was true, she realized, what folks said about the Last Frontier. The air felt purer than any other place she’d ever been.

Day by day she was learning how to dress for the Alaskan climate. Tonight she had taken great care with her attire. She had decided on a black turtleneck sweater, a pair of black thermal leggings and a cranberry-colored parka. A pair of genuine Alaskan Lovely boots completed the outfit. The boots had been delivered to her house courtesy of Beulah. The gesture had been so thoughtful and kind. She felt very grateful that she’d landed in a town filled with sweet-natured people who never stopped going out of their way for her. Just this morning Rusty the mechanic had reached out to her, telling her that his repairs on her truck would be completed by tomorrow. He’d even offered to take her out on the icy roads for a few driving lessons. It had been such a heartwarming gesture, especially when Rusty told her he’d taught all of his four daughters how to drive on snow-slickened Alaskan roads.

Each act of kindness made her feel one step closer to becoming part of the Owl Creek community. It would make all the difference in the world to her if she was embraced by the residents. And she would try her best to reciprocate, even though she was having a bit of trouble opening up. She was so afraid of making another misstep and arousing suspicion.

Isabelle had graciously accepted a ride to town from one of her staff members, Lissa Montgomery. She hadn’t bothered to ask Connor, since she already felt so indebted to him for all of his transportation assistance. She didn’t want to make him feel as if he was her permanent chauffeur. And what if he’d brought a date tonight? She would have felt like an awkward third wheel. The idea of it made her shudder.

She could see him across the way, talking with two men she recognized from her first visit to the Snowy Owl Diner. The three men were all extremely animated. If she had to guess, Isabelle would say they were close friends of his. They seemed so comfortable in each other’s presence. That’s what she hoped to find here in town. A friend she could laugh with and share special moments with.

“Ella! I’m so thrilled you could make it!” Sage, accompanied by Piper and a striking woman with warm brown skin and a lovely smile, strode over to her. Sage leaned in to envelop her in a tight hug.

Isabelle grinned. “I’m happy to be here. I was just contemplating whether to grab some hot apple cider or a hot cocoa.”

“I’d go for the hot cocoa,” Piper said. “It’s straight from the chocolate factory.”

“And indescribably yummy,” the other woman added.

Sage introduced the woman. “This is Rachel Lawson. Rachel, this is Ella Perez.”

“Nice to meet you,” Rachel said, extending her mittened hand.

“You as well,” Isabelle said, recognizing the woman’s name as that of Iris’s daughter-in-law.

“Why don’t we get some of the hot chocolate?” Piper suggested. “I’ve been on my feet all day at the diner. I need a little pick-me-up.”

Rachel looped her arm through Piper’s in a show of support. “Aww. You deserve it.”

As they walked toward the concession stand, Isabelle fielded questions about how she was acclimating to life in Owl Creek.

“Every day gets a little easier. The weather and the lack of sunlight are the two hardest challenges. I love working at the chocolate shop. And I’m not just saying that because your family owns it, Sage,” she teased, drawing laughter from the three women.

Sage nodded. “I’m glad you’re settling in so nicely.”

“Everyone has been very welcoming,” Isabelle answered. It still astounded her how the townsfolk were being so warm and helpful.

“Are you single?” Rachel asked. Although the question was a bit abrupt, Rachel exuded an air of kindness that made the inquiry palatable.

“Very much so,” Isabelle said. “I haven’t had a boyfriend in years,” she admitted. For so long Isabelle had thrown herself into her work at the club, never stopping to acknowledge how her hectic work schedule and unorthodox hours had made a relationship impossible.

“Something tells me you might not be single for long,” Rachel said with a knowing look etched on her face.

Isabelle quickly spoke up. The last thing she needed or wanted was prodding about her romantic life. “I’m not really looking for a relationship.”

Piper let out a loud chuckle. “That’s what I said right before I fell in love with my best friend. Now we’re getting married in a few weeks.”

“Life and love has a way of changing all of our plans,” Sage said. “None of us were looking for love, but it sure found us.”

Piper and Rachel both nodded their heads in agreement.

“We could put our heads together and make you a match!” Rachel said in a voice brimming with exuberance.

“That would be so much fun!” Piper said with a squeal.

“And since we know everyone in town, we could really home in on the best prospects,” Sage added. Excitement hung in the air as the women hatched a plan for Isabelle’s love life.

Isabelle shook her head. “I hate to rain on your parade, but I can’t think of anything that I’d dislike more than a fix-up. I’ve been on some blind dates that were the stuff of nightmares. I promised myself I’d never go down that road again.”

Isabelle didn’t miss the look of disappointment stamped on all three faces. They sounded so well-meaning. She knew they were trying to do something nice for her. Shame threatened to swallow her up. But none of them had any idea that she wasn’t like them. Her whole foundation in Owl Creek had been built on lies. Who would want to be in a relationship with a woman who couldn’t even tell the truth about her own name?

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “Right now, I just want to focus on my job and getting acclimated to Alaskan living.”

“Don’t fret on our