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What if something happened to Daddy? What if she never got to see him again? She’d heard stories about people who were estranged for years, until one of the parties passed away before fences could be mended. That would be devastating! She wasn’t sure if she could live with herself if something like that happened.

Forgiveness was a healing balm. Hadn’t Mama taught her that very lesson when she was a little girl? Sophie let out a sigh. She’d been working toward forgiving him, but she hadn’t quite been able to move past his betrayal. It had broken her heart to realize that her father considered his only child to be expendable. Even when she’d told him about John’s duplicity, he’d still urged her to go through with the wedding. All so the mighty Java Giant empire wouldn’t be adversely affected. As if the shareholders even cared about her marrying her father’s right-hand man, John Sussex. As if they would be tainted by the scandal of a broken engagement.

There was a part of her that worried about her father finding her and pressuring her to marry John. Even after all this time she knew her ex-fiancé hadn’t given up on her or his quest to marry into the Mattson fortune. After all, he had devoted years to pursuing her and putting a ring on her finger. Being in Love had given her the strength to stand on her own two feet and to resist those type of pressures. God had been her constant companion and she’d drawn strength from Him. Running away to Alaska had given her a way out. She would always be grateful for that escape hatch.

Dear Lord, please help me find a way to bridge the gap between my father and me. I love him so very much. He hurt me badly, but I need to forgive him. I need to move past the pain and find a way to reach out to him. Because I miss him. I miss talking to him and seeing his face and hearing him call me Peaches. I’ve grown up here in Alaska. I’m not the same young woman I used to be. I’m wiser. Stronger. And even though I love being here in Love, I know now that I didn’t need to run away to stand on my own two feet.

Sophie picked up the food sitting at the pass-through window and made her way to her customer’s table. “Here you go, Zachariah,” she said, setting the plate in front of him. “A turkey burger with all the trimmings and extra honey mustard. And some sweet potato fries.”

Zachariah Cummings grinned at her. He was an older, white-haired gentleman who thoroughly enjoyed his daily meals at the Moose Café. It hadn’t escaped Sophie’s notice that Zachariah was a lot more pleasant these days, ever since he’d been reunited with his long-lost granddaughter, Annie. Annie Murray had come to Love to run the town’s public library and to find her family roots. Happily, she had found love with Declan O’Rourke.

“Thank you, sweet Sophie. I hope it tastes as good as it smells. This new cook is really something.”

“Yep. He sure is,” Sophie said, trying to make her voice sound neutral. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to pick up on the tiny crush she was developing for Noah. It probably was nothing more than being in the presence of a very attractive single man for long periods of time. It was the first time she’d felt this way since she’d arrived in Love.

Sophie walked over to Hazel, who was serving her favorite customer, Jasper. Once the older woman had placed the plate in front of him, she turned around and let out a low whistle. Her eyes were as wide as saucers. Sophie frowned, then followed Hazel’s gaze. It led straight to Noah, who had emerged again from the kitchen in order to talk to a customer. It made Sophie happy to see Noah interacting with the townsfolk. The residents of Love had accepted him and his cooking with open arms. She didn’t want to examine her feelings too closely, or wonder why her stomach did flip-flops whenever Noah’s name was mentioned.

“Noah sure is something else. He’s about as easy on the eyes as a sky full of stars.” Hazel jabbed her in the side. “Don’t you think he’s the bee’s knees?”

Sophie eyed her friend warily. She knew the signals that suggested Hazel was up to something. Matchmaking flowed in her veins. She was at her happiest when the citizens of Love were paired up.

Sophie nodded. “He seems like a good guy. He’s hardworking, that’s for sure. And he can cook like nobody’s business. Cameron made a good decision in hiring him.”

“A man who cooks as if it’s an art form is pure gold.” Hazel sent her a glance filled with meaning. “The ladies will be lining up to meet him. You should get first dibs, since you work together. Don’t even try to tell me you don’t find him attractive.”

Sophie’s heart fluttered. “I can’t think of a single woman who wouldn’t,” she admitted. “He’s a bona fide hunk.”

“Then shake a tail feather, Sophie. Invite him to a social gathering or church services,” Hazel urged. “Who knows? Maybe he can be your date to my wedding.”

Sophie felt her cheeks getting flushed. “I—I don’t know. We work together. That could be a recipe for disaster.”

Hazel waved her hand dismissively. “That doesn’t amount to a hill of beans in the great scheme of things. If you don’t stop putting up roadblocks, you’re going to be the last single woman in town.”

“Leave Sophie alone and stop carrying on about the new cook. You should be ashamed of yourself! You’re old enough to be his mother.” Jasper scowled up at Hazel from his table.

The woman beamed. “Yes, indeed. He’s a young ’un. But there’s nothing wrong with these eyes of mine. He’s still an Alaskan hottie,” she said in a jubilant voice. She winked at Sophie. “And a single one at that.”

“If you keep carrying on like this, you might be single, too,” Jasper grumbled, before digging into his omelet.

“It’s too late to turn back now,” Hazel said. “We’ve got a date with Pastor Jack in less than four weeks. I’ve already bought my wedding dress, so by hook or by crook, we’re getting hitched.”

Jasper flashed Hazel an irresistible smile. “I’m counting down the days. I can’t wait to make you Mrs. Jasper Prescott.”

“Oh, you say the sweetest things,” Hazel said in a cooing tone. “That is, when you’re not being ornery and a thorn in my side.”

Sophie had to place her hand over her mouth to hide her gigantic grin. Hazel and Jasper were something else! Squabbling one minute, then making up the next. She never knew what to expect from them. She had the feeling their marital union would never be dull.

Hazel wiggled her eyebrows at Sophie. “Am I right, or am I right, Sophie? That new cook is hotter than the griddle he cooks on.”

Just as Sophie thought Jasper might succumb to apoplexy, the sound of a throat being cleared drew her attention to Noah, who had made his way over without them noticing his approach. He was standing right behind Hazel, and the glint in his sky blue eyes left no doubt that he’d overheard her.

Noah’s grin threatened to overtake his entire face. He locked gazes with Sophie, who couldn’t have looked away if she tried.

“So what do you think, Sophie? Is Hazel right about me?” Noah asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Chapter Five

Noah wanted to laugh out loud at the startled expression on Sophie’s face. She resembled a deer caught in the headlights. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it without uttering a word. She reached up and nervously smoothed back strands of her hair. She shifted from one foot to another.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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