So much had changed in the last year with the return of his long-lost sister, Sage. She had been kidnapped as a baby from their family home in Owl Creek, only to return to the fold twenty-five years later. The reunion had also brought his brother, Braden, back to town, making the family unit complete. Although he should have been on solid ground, he’d been feeling unsettled. His best friends were both newlyweds—Hank had married Sage, while Gabriel had reunited with his first love, Rachel. Even Braden had fallen in love with Piper, his best friend since childhood.
Everyone seemed to be moving forward in their lives, except him.
“Hey! We’re just having a little fun,” Hank said, clapping him on the shoulder. “What’s troubling you?”
Connor stabbed his fork on the plate and picked up several pieces of pancake. He shrugged as he stuffed the forkful in his mouth, then swallowed. “I don’t know, guys. I’m just feeling a bit out of sorts these days. Things have been pretty intense lately. I think it’s all beginning to catch up with me.”
“They really have been,” Gabriel agreed. “Personally speaking, the past few months have been a whirlwind. Rachel and I are married now and raising twin toddlers.” He grinned. “God blessed me when I least expected it.”
“You deserve every ounce of happiness,” Connor said, raising his glass of orange juice in Gabe’s direction.
“We’re here for you, Connor. You know that. The Three Amigos for life.” Hank held up his hand and bumped fists with him.
Connor grinned. Having his two closest friends in his corner always made him feel as if he could conquer the world. And since Braden had recently decided to forgo working at the family business, the North Star Chocolate Company, he would need all that confidence and determination to ensure the company’s success. Not that he held it against his younger brother. He admired Braden’s desire to live life on his own terms. He had the type of courage Connor wasn’t sure he himself had.
For the next half hour Connor and his friends ate and talked, focusing on local matters in Owl Creek. As town sheriff, Hank always had his ear to the ground. A few times Connor found himself looking across the diner at Ella as she ate her meal. He was curious as to what she was doing here in town.
She’d casually mentioned being a new resident in their small village, but he wondered if she had family or friends here. Had she relocated for a romantic connection? In these parts it was entirely possible. Or perhaps she’d come here for an employment opportunity.
A job! His family’s chocolate emporium. That’s why her name sounded so familiar. Ella Perez was the new manager at the North Star Chocolate Shop right down the street. He’d seen her résumé and offer letter just the other day on his grandmother Beulah’s desk.
When he glanced back over in Ella’s direction, she was sailing out the front door.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out some bills, then plunked them down on the table. “Spending time with you guys was a pleasure, but I have to settle some work-related business,” he said, standing up and pulling on his parka. “Breakfast is on me.”
Before Gabe or Hank could say a word, Connor hustled toward the exit. If he moved really quickly, perhaps he could catch up to Ella and introduce himself as a member of the North family and welcome her to town.
He immediately spotted her heading toward the parking lot. “Ella!” he called out in a raised voice. When she didn’t turn around, Connor called her name in an even louder voice. When she didn’t respond, he picked up the pace, closing the distance between them in a few quick strides. Although he continued to call out her name, she didn’t turn around.
In a last ditch effort to get her attention, he tapped her on the shoulder. Ella whipped around to face him, a look of pure terror etched on her face. Her entire body had stiffened up.
“Hey. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, immediately regretting touching her. He didn’t think he’d crossed a boundary, but perhaps he had unknowingly done so.
“You didn’t,” she said, her voice trembling. “You just caught me off guard.”
“Sorry about that, but I had to catch up to you before you left. When we met I couldn’t help but think you seemed familiar to me. And I know exactly who you are, Ella Perez.”
Copyright © 2021 by Sandra Calhoune
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ISBN-13: 9780369703194
Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range
Copyright © 2021 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Rocky Mountain Dreams
First published in 2014. This edition published in 2021.
Copyright © 2014 by Danica Favorite
Family on the Range
First published in 2014. This edition published in 2021.
Copyright © 2014 by Jessica Nelson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced inany manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of
brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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