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A sheepish expression crept over his face. “We work together at the Moose Café. I wasn’t sure if it would make things awkward between us.”
“I don’t think so. It’s not like we’re dating or anything,” Sophie said, making a funny face. “We’re pals.” Something about her expression caused Noah to burst out laughing. Sophie soon joined in, to the point where they were making way too much noise for library patrons. An older woman with glasses frowned at them.
Suddenly, Annie was standing a few feet away, shushing them with her finger at her lips. Although her expression was slightly stern, Sophie had the impression she was getting a kick out of seeing her with Noah. She caught Annie flashing her a thumbs-up before she walked back toward the circulation desk.
“Has anyone ever given you the ten-cent tour of Love?” Sophie whispered.
“No. I’ve been poking around ever since I got to town, but I’m sure that I missed some key landmarks.”
Sophie took a quick glance at her watch. “We have some time before we have to arrive at work. You could drive while I navigate. I’m game if you are.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Noah said, scooping up his books and Sophie’s from the table. “Let’s go.”
Sophie checked out her books, then waited as Noah filled out an application for a library card. It gave Sophie a rush to see him doing something so mundane. His life in Love was taking shape piece by piece. It mattered to her whether he stayed in town or if he departed. Since Sophie had been in Love there had been numerous transplants who had changed their minds about living in the wilds of Alaska and returned home. It would be heartbreaking if Noah followed suit and left town.
Sophie didn’t want to think about him leaving. And she definitely didn’t want to probe why the idea made her so sad. She had no business getting attached to Noah, especially since there were secrets she was harboring about her true identity. She had no illusions about Noah’s feelings toward her. He viewed her simply as a friend. There was no sense in hoping for more. Noah seemed like a humble, simple man who happened to resemble a model for GQ magazine and could cook like a master chef. He didn’t seem like a man who would tolerate any type of deception.
Telling him about John and her estrangement from her father was one thing. Revealing her identity as the Java Giant heiress might change the way he viewed her. Sophie let out a sigh. In her experience, it always did. Sophie’s past was littered with people who’d developed their own agendas once they discovered her level of wealth. It had broken her heart time after time. More than anything, Sophie wanted to be viewed as a unique person in her own right. She never wanted to be viewed as an extension of the empire her father had built.
Annie had a very pleased expression on her face as she helped Noah obtain his library card. She kept darting her gaze toward Sophie and making gestures with her eyes and brows. Sophie pretended not to notice, and she hoped Noah hadn’t, either. The last thing she wanted was for him to think all her friends were conspiring to pair them up.
“Have a wonderful day, you two,” Annie called out after them. “Thanks for visiting the Free Library of Love.”
Once they made their way to Noah’s vehicle, Sophie settled in the passenger seat while he took the wheel and negotiated the snowy streets of Love. As they drove down Jarvis Street and past the quaint downtown shops, Sophie pointed out all the stores and landmarks.
“That’s the local bookstore. It’s called The Bookworm and it’s a great place to find unique, one-of-a-kind books. And right next door is the pawn shop.” Her voice rose with excitement. “Lulu’s Beauty Shop just opened up a few months ago. Lulu is a gal who came over to be a part of Operation Love. She did us all a favor and opened a place for hair, nails and eyebrows. Let’s just say she’s become a local heroine.”
As they drove by the Moose Café, Sophie felt a burst of pride. Cameron’s establishment was a town favorite. With its wooden sign embossed with gold, Cameron had managed to add a few stately touches to the place. The huge bay window allowed passersby to get a peek at the interior. Normally, there was a soft glow emanating from inside. According to Hazel, it made the customers feel warm and fuzzy about the place.
“Should I keep going straight?” Noah asked, not taking his eyes off the road. Sophie appreciated his diligence. All morning she’d been hearing about icy conditions. When Hazel had dropped her off at the library earlier, her truck had slipped and slid all over the street. Thankfully, Hazel was a great driver who had all-wheel drive and studded tires to help her make it through Alaskan winters.
“I want to show you the building where Hazel’s Lovely Boots are made. If you go straight, then take a right on Seaport, it will lead us down to the docks.”
Noah followed her instructions, which led them right to Kachemak Bay, where local fishermen docked their vessels and unloaded their hauls after a day spent fishing. It was a picturesque area, where one could gaze out and see nothing but water for miles and miles. Sophie had a tender spot in her heart for this spot. The moment she had stepped out of Declan O’Rourke’s seaplane, this had been her first view of the town.
“If you park over here we can take a gander at the building,” Sophie said, waving her hand. Noah steered the car into the lot and placed it in Park. Once they got out of the car, the salty smell of the bay drifted toward them, serving as a reminder that one of the town’s biggest industries was fish—mainly halibut and salmon. Although stocks weren’t as plentiful as in past years, local fishermen still relied on them to make a living. Many fishermen frequented the Moose Café, where Sophie enjoyed hearing their tales of adventures out on the water. They were some of the nicest individuals Sophie had ever met—hardworking and proud.
“This is where we landed when Declan flew me into town on his seaplane,” Noah observed, pointing toward the dock. “That landing was as smooth as glass.”
“We landed there, as well,” Sophie said. “I remember thinking it was going to be the start of a wonderful adventure.”
“And has it been?” Noah asked, a curious expression etched on his face.
“More than in my wildest dreams,” Sophie said. “I’m gainfully employed at a hip coffee bar, I’ve made lifelong friends and I’ve learned to embrace who I am. I spent a long time trying to live up to the expectations of people who didn’t seem to value me as a person.” In addition to her father and John, there had been numerous friends and acquaintances who had wanted Sophie to be a society princess and spend her life partying with other rich socialites. That lifestyle had never appealed to her and she had rejected it time after time, choosing instead to focus on simple values and her faith.
“I feel comfortable in my own skin for the first time in years,” Sophie admitted. Her one hang-up was the secret she’d been harboring.
“It sounds like you’ve found a real haven here.”
A haven. Noah didn’t realize it, but his words were right on point. By its very definition a haven was a place of safety or refuge. A sanctuary. She’d found her happy place here in Love. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but for the first time in her life Sophie felt free and unfettered. The only thing weighing her down was her estrangement from her father and the secret about being the Java Giant heiress.
“God answered a lot of my prayers by pointing me toward this town and allowing me to thrive here. I hope you feel that way, too, Noah. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but over time you’ll realize that even though you strayed from your faith
, God never left your side.”
“I do feel blessed. I don’t know how to put it into words, but being back in Alaska makes me feel more connected to God and the life I want to live. I feel more grounded. It doesn’t seem like such a stretch anymore to believe that He has good things in store for me and that He has always been here, even when I tried to block Him out.”
It made her feel good to know Noah’s faith was being restored, bit by bit. She didn’t want to analyze why it made her so happy. It scared her a little bit knowing Noah was becoming more important to her each and every day. She wondered if he would ever want to get out of the friend zone with her?
