Page 9 of Hiding in Alaska (Home to Owl Creek 4)

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.”

Start over. There was something about her comment that made him curious. He wondered what exactly she’d left behind in Arizona and why she was eager to start over. The possibilities were endless. And even though he knew Ella wasn’t obligated to disclose such personal information, a part of him still felt suspicious. What if she was running from something really awful that might compromise his family’s business? He really needed to relax. He was becoming paranoid.

“My advice is to dive right in to the town. It has a lot to offer, from being a part of our choral group to dog mushing.” He let out a throaty chuckle. “And if you’re into bird watching, this town has some of the rarest species of birds in the country.”

“Dog mushing? That sounds fascinating. I’m not sure I’m dog musher material, but I’d definitely love to watch sometime.”

“That can be arranged. Owl Creek is hosting our fifth annual dog mushing race. It’s a fun event. You shouldn’t miss it.”

“It sounds fun. Who can resist dogs?” Connor could hear the smile in her voice. He turned to give her a quick look, needing to see her face lit up with joy.

Now at least he knew a little something about her. She was a dog lover. That was a start. He wasn’t sure what it was about Ella that made him so curious about her backstory, but each and every time he was in her presence he found himself questioning if she was being truthful. The combination of his jaded nature plus Ella’s evasiveness kicked his suspicions into high gear. Every time he felt tempted to scrutinize her résumé, he had to remind himself that she’d already been fully vetted before being offered the position.

In all likelihood he wasn’t being fair to the beautiful newcomer, but some instinct warned him to keep a healthy distance. Easier said than done, he reminded himself. If she wasn’t on the up-and-up, Connor needed to make sure his family wasn’t exposed to anything that might hurt them. They’d already been through enough pain to last them several lifetimes. He wouldn’t allow anyone to trick them again.

As he pulled up in front of Ella’s home, he couldn’t help but notice the huge spotlight lighting up the exterior of the house. It covered the entire perimeter of the front of the property. It struck him as the type of lighting someone might use to protect themselves against a home invasion. He stifled the urge to tell Ella that Owl Creek’s crime rate was incredibly low. Break-ins were unheard of. Perhaps in Arizona things were different. Or maybe she just needed reassurance as a single woman living on her own.

“Thanks for the lift,” Ella said, jerking open the door and jumping down to the snow-covered ground.

He stepped out of the truck and walked around to the front of it, holding his phone up in the air. Connor frowned as he studied his cell phone. “I’m still not getting a signal.”

Halfway down the walkway, Ella turned around and looked at him as if she was sizing him up. She raised her hand and motioned him over.

“No need to stand outside, Connor. Come on in and make the phone call from the house. You’re doing me a favor after all by contacting the auto body shop.”

“Thanks for the offer. I’ll probably get a better signal from inside,” he said.

By the time he caught up with her, she’d unlocked the door and stepped across the threshold. Connor walked in the house behind Ella, still feeling a bit surprised at her invitation. So far she had been very reserved, although she’d lightened up a bit during the ride to her house. Perhaps he should cut her a break. There wasn’t anything wrong with being a private person, especially when she was a newcomer to town. After all, it wasn’t as if he’d told her his own life story. It wasn’t fair to hold her to a higher standard.

Ella took off her boots and placed them on a nearby mat. Connor followed suit, not wanting to track snow on her gleaming hardwood floors.

The place was roomier than he remembered. The large living room had a comfy gray sofa with a matching love seat and a brightly colored rug on the floor. A few pieces of artwork were scattered on the walls. He didn’t recognize any of the artists, but they were all vibrant works with splashes of color. The scent of pine cones lingered in the air. Although the place wasn’t fully decorated, Ella had done a fine job of making it look homey and comfortable. It suited her.

Having been at the house before, Connor knew there was a stunning view of the mountains from the back deck. He enjoyed a similar view from his own place. Each and every morning he looked at the majestic peaks and thanked God for creating all of His beautiful masterpieces. Perhaps Ella would also find comfort in the breathtaking Alaskan vista. Although he was biased, Owl Creek was a magnificent place to call home.

Within minutes he’d made the call to Rusty’s Auto Body Shop and made arrangements for Ella’s car to be towed into town this evening.

Once he ended the call, he turned around to face her. “Rusty is going to take care of your truck for you. He’s a really dependable mechanic. He’s going to reach out to you once he takes a look at the damage.”

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