Isabelle’s heart sank. Her instructions had been to blend into the fabric of Owl Creek without attracting any attention to herself. Yet her first foray into the heart of town had resulted in garnering way more attention than she wanted or needed. Although her very first instinct was to turn tail and run as far away from the Snowy Owl Diner as her legs would carry her, it was far too late to do so.
Connor North had frantically tried to save himself from falling, but once the syrup spilled, his heel slid on the sticky parquet floor and he’d landed with a thud on his backside. Pain sliced through him, and he let out a loud groan.
“Oh, no! I’m so sorry! Are you all right?”
He looked up at the sound of the soft, melodic voice inquiring about his well-being. The woman he was staring up at was definitely not a resident of Owl Creek. He would have noticed a woman this beautiful before now. Jet-black hair fell around her shoulders in soft waves. Her sweet brown eyes radiated compassion. Thick, soot-colored lashes framed them.
He wondered what she was doing in town. Perhaps another tourist eager to experience North Star Chocolates and a quaint village in Alaska.
Connor sprang to his feet, wincing at the sticky sensation on his hands. He brushed them against his sweater to clean them off.
“No need to worry. I’m fine. I’m Connor North. And you are?” he asked, holding out his hand so she could shake it.
She gazed at him with wide eyes. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She looked down at his hand with a blank stare. “I... I’m Ella. Ella Perez. I’m so very sorry for making such a mess.” He withdrew his hand when she didn’t shake it.
“You’re forgiven, Ella. Accidents happen,” Connor said with a nod, trying to put the stranger at ease. She was gazing at him with a look of trepidation. Had he done something to alarm her? Maybe she thought he was upset about the fall.
“Is everything all right over here?”
Connor swung his gaze toward Piper Miller, the owner of the Snowy Owl Diner. Piper was the town’s resident sweetheart, as well as his younger brother Braden’s fiancée.
“It’s fine, Piper,” Connor said, making a face and looking down at his soggy pants. “I just had a clumsy moment. Sorry about the mess.” He pointed toward the syrup and broken dish on the parquet floor.
“No worries,” Piper said. “We’re used to spills around here. I’ll have it cleaned up right away.”
“He’s being kind,” Ella interjected. “I swung the door too hard when I came inside and it crashed into him. I’m so sorry for the trouble.” Regret rang out in her voice. “It was entirely my fault.”
“You must be new in town if you think that’s trouble,” Piper responded. “I’m the owner of this place by the way. Piper Miller.”
“Ella Perez. I... I’ve just moved to Owl Creek,” she explained, running a shaky hand through her long dark tresses. Connor was trying not to stare, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Ella Perez was without a doubt the prettiest woman who’d ever stepped foot in Owl Creek.
“Let me show you to a table.” Piper looked back and forth between them. “Unless the two of you are sitting together?”
“No! We’re not together,” Ella said in an emphatic tone that brooked no argument. “I just need a table for one.”
“That can be arranged,” Piper said. “Follow me and I’ll get you situated. Connor, why don’t you go over to the counter and grab some more syrup?”
“Nice to meet you,” Connor said with a nod as Piper led Ella to a table by the window. He grabbed another container of syrup from the counter and headed back to eat his breakfast.
His two best friends, Gabriel Lawson and Hank Crawford, were seated at their regular table waiting for him to bring the syrup back. When he reached the table he could see the two of them trying to stifle their laughter.
Connor placed the syrup down on the table with a bang. “As you saw, I took one for the team by going to get this.”
“And we’re mighty appreciative of your service,” Hank said with a smirk. He reached over and picked up the container, pouring the syrup liberally over his flapjacks.
Hank handed the syrup to Gabriel, who did the same. “Looks like you made a new friend.” Gabriel wiggled his eyebrows. Connor pretended not to notice. Anytime he was within a ten-mile radius of a single woman, his best friends couldn’t resist teasing him about his prolific dating history. Lately it had been bugging him.
Although Connor’s stomach was growling and he had a full breakfast plate sitting before him, something was bothering him. He knew he’d never met Ella before, but her name pricked at him. Why did it sound so familiar?
He stroked his jaw. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I feel like I know her name for some reason. Ella Perez. Does it sound familiar to either one of you?” he asked, trying to recall why the woman’s name lurked in the back of his mind.
Gabriel and Hank exchanged a pointed glance. Both of them began to chuckle as if they were sharing an inside joke.
Connor let out a sigh. “What are you guys laughing at now?”
“It’s just that you make it a point to know every pretty woman in Owl Creek, even the tourists,” Gabriel explained.
“Neither her name nor her face ring a bell with me,” Hank added, still chuckling. “But then again, I’m a happily married man.”
The laughter erupting from their mouths threatened to drown out all of his thoughts. Couldn’t he even talk to a woman without people assuming he was interested in her? Sure, Ella was stunning, but it didn’t mean he wanted to date her.
Normally, Connor didn’t mind being
