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

pass. Surely better days were coming. Every step on her journey would carry her through the darkness. Isabelle prayed she would be strong enough to see it through.

* * *

Connor had felt a slight chill in the air as he said his goodbyes to Ella—and it had nothing to do with the actual temperature. He wasn’t sure what he’d done, but instinct told him she was annoyed with him. Perhaps he should have made more of an effort to seek her out at the party, but he’d been worried about smothering her. It was fantastic that she’d been welcomed, but now he was scratching his head about what he’d done wrong. It mattered to him what Ella thought about him. He wasn’t the type of man who had ever been overly concerned about the opinion of others, but with this woman everything had been turned upside down.

A half an hour later Connor was helping with the cleanup and still racking his brain to figure out Ella’s frosty demeanor. Earlier, she’d been fine. Perhaps he’d stepped over the line with her in some way that made her uncomfortable.

Sage made a beeline in his direction. “Hey. Have you seen Ella anywhere? I can’t seem to find her.”

“She left a few minutes ago. You just missed her.”

Sage let out a groan. “She left behind her goody bag and the prize package she won. I guess that I could swing by her place tomorrow after Addie’s Gymboree class and give it to her.”

“I can take it to her if you want. She lives a few minutes down the road from me, so it’s not a big deal.”

Sage’s eyes lit up. “Seriously? That would be fantastic. You’re the best, Connor.”

“Of course I am,” he teased. “I’m still waiting for that favorite brother T-shirt.”

Sage put a finger up to her lips. “Shh. We don’t want Braden to hear.” They both laughed as Connor once again marveled at how wonderful it was to have his sister back. He tried not to dwell too much on all the lost years. If he thought about it for too long it always took him to a place of resentment and anger.

As everyone joined in to help clean up, Connor began to second-guess his offer to drop off Ella’s items at her house. Clearly he’d jumped at the opportunity just so he could spend more time with her, even if it was only a few moments. But he wanted to figure out why she’d been acting so cold.

Connor looked at his watch. He wanted to get over to Ella’s house before it got too late. He’d already agreed to help Braden bring some of the gifts over to the new house he’d just built as a wedding surprise for Piper. Once he had done that, he didn’t hesitate to get back on the road.

Connor cranked up the volume on the radio. Somebody was singing a poignant country song about losing the love of his life. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel to the fast tempo. Maybe he should just turn the truck around and go home. Ella seemed to be a private person who might not embrace the idea of him just showing up at her door. His mind kept flitting back to her shuttered expression and closed off body language. Why had he thought that this was a good idea?

He was failing miserably in staying away from Ella. This was a prime example. Connor was going out of his way to be in her presence when he could have left well enough alone. Despite his conflicted feelings about whether Ella was someone he could trust, he liked her. A lot.

Maybe his suspicions about her were nothing more than his own wild imagination. Perhaps he was just used to knowing everything about everyone in his hometown. It wasn’t right to judge her for not being an open book and for appearing frightened. If he made a list of pros versus cons, he was certain the pros would far outweigh the cons.

Or maybe he was simply trying to stuff down his grave reservations. She was beautiful and sweet natured, and he didn’t want to run the risk of letting something wonderful slip through his fingers.

Yet nothing had changed to allow him to feel confident that Ella wasn’t still harboring secrets that might blow up in his face.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Isabelle let out a sigh as she put on a pair of sweats and a comfy top, then settled in with a book of devotionals. It was the perfect way to unwind after a long day. Earlier she had fixed herself a simple meal of pasta and salad for an easy dinner. The bridal shower had been lovely. It had felt good to meet new people and to celebrate Piper and Braden’s upcoming wedding. That’s what life was all about, and once she’d stopped feeling mopey about her situation, she’d been able to truly appreciate the scope of what she’d experienced. Back home her family always celebrated birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and graduations in grand style with Brazilian music and amazing food. She missed those moments so much it left an ache in her soul.

Other than the things she’d learned about Connor, it had been a great day. Despite her best intentions, thoughts of the handsome chocolate heir kept creeping into her thoughts. For a variety of reasons, she didn’t want to like him. But she did.

“Focus on something else,” she said as she turned a page in her book. She began highlighting passages and reciting words out loud.

A whistling sound began to resonate from outside her bedroom window. She sucked in a sharp breath. Perhaps it was just the wind. The strange noises continued, shattering her sense of peace and security. Every creak and groan made her almost jump out of her skin. Was someone out there in the darkness? Her pulse began to race. She raised a hand to her throat. Isabelle felt paralyzed with fear. Her mind began to whirl