Page 11 of Hiding in Alaska (Home to Owl Creek 4)

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 wa

nted 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 going back generations. It was a huge part of her history. She would give anything to be seated at her family’s large dining room table digging into a slice of the sweet baked good.

Connor nodded his head approvingly. “I’ve never had the pleasure, but I’ve heard of it. If you decide to make it, don’t forget to bring me a slice.”

Although a part of her enjoyed the lighthearted banter between them, Isabelle continually had to remind herself to maintain a distance from Connor. From the first day they’d met, Isabelle had felt an attraction between them. If things weren’t so messed up in her world, she wouldn’t hesitate to flirt with Connor, perhaps even go out on a date with him if he asked. But her conscience wouldn’t allow her to develop anything more than a friendship with him. It would be wrong to lead him on when she couldn’t tell him the truth about being in the Witness Protection Program.

Honestly, she might be getting way ahead of herself. For all she knew, Connor had a long-term girlfriend in town, although she’d seen no signs of it. She’d overheard her staff talking about Connor being a sought-after bachelor in Owl Creek. Perhaps she was misreading things between them. Maybe she was the only one who felt something simmering in the air between them.

“You can enjoy the full tour later on, but I think we should head to my grandmother’s office. I know she’s eager to see you,” Connor said, leading her toward a bank of elevators. When they reached the second floor, he led her down a hall of executive offices. They passed by one with Connor’s name engraved on a brass plaque, but Isabelle didn’t get an opportunity to get much of a glimpse of the interior. All she spotted was a tall bubble gum machine situated next to a sleek-looking desk. Connor slowed down when they reached a grand office a few doors down from his own. Located at the end of the corridor, Beulah’s office was bright and welcoming, much like the woman herself.

“Ella! It’s great to see you here,” Beulah said as she rose from her chair. She quickly made her way around her desk and reached for Isabelle’s hands, joining them together with her own.

For a second Isabelle felt startled by the greeting. She hadn’t yet gotten used to being called Ella. It was still a bit jarring. Seeing Beulah felt wonderful, though. The older woman had been so kind and supportive on her first day. With her oversize personality and stately air, she reminded Isabelle of her own mother. They both exuded an air of confidence mixed with benevolence.

“Thank you for the invitation, Beulah. From what I’ve seen so far, this place is amazing,” Isabelle gushed.

Beulah beamed at her praise. “I won’t disagree with you. Not even a little bit. One of my smartest decisions was marrying my husband, Jennings. Not only did I get a cherished life partner, but it brought the North Star Chocolate Company into my life. His family created it, but I couldn’t love it any more if I was born into it.”

Connor put his arm around his grandmother. “You were destined to be a part of it.”

Beulah beamed up at Connor. The interaction between them was heartwarming. She could feel the love flowing in the air.

“I would like to show you something, my dear.” She strode over to her desk and pointed at a framed picture hanging on the wall. “This photo was taken over one hundred years ago when the factory first opened.”

Isabelle’s eyes widened as she studied the black-and-white photograph. At the time the image was taken, the factory was a simple brick building no more than a few thousand square feet. “I can’t believe it’s the same place. What a difference a century makes,” Ella said.

“It might surprise you, but I wasn’t born yet,” Beulah said with a wink.

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