Sophie blinked at Noah. She hadn’t really expected him to say yes.
“You would?” she asked. “Seriously?” Suddenly it felt as if she had wings and could fly.
“Of course I would. Actually, you’re the only woman in town I wanted to ask me. You’ve been a good friend.” He winked at her. “Truthfully, I was thinking about asking you.”
“Just thinking about it, huh?” she stated, wondering what had stopped him.
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?
Sophie turned away from the water and faced the building sitting up on the hill. She pointed toward it.
“This building represents hope. A few years ago this town was all set to open up a cannery. It was going to bring new jobs and opportunities to Love. To make a long story short, greed got in the way and the funds were embezzled. The cannery never even opened and this building sat here, unfinished and idle. Fast forward a couple of years and Hazel is making her gorgeous boots and selling them around town. My best friend, Grace, relocated to Love at the same time as I did, and in a moment of pure genius suggested that the town manufacture Hazel’s boots as a way to boost revenue. It was Cameron’s wife, Paige, who suggested we use the factory for Lovely Boots.” Sophie clapped her mittened hands together. “Voilà. The town now has a viable enterprise, and according to Jasper, sales are doing very well.”
Noah let out a whistle. “This town really is extraordinary. Who knew Hazel was such a superhero?”
His comment made Sophie grin. On certain days she felt the very same way about her dear friend.
“I wanted to share that story with you because it shows a lot about the people of Love. They’ve endured hard times and risen above them using ingenuity and their creative juices. And they always had hope, regardless of their circumstances. They endured. Faith can move mountains. It can restore a struggling town. It can make people hold out for a brighter day.”
“I have the feeling you’re sending me a message, Sophie.” Noah regarded her intensely. “Am I right?”
She nodded. “I am. The other day you mentioned stepping away from your faith. I know what that feels like to be so conflicted. When Mama died I was only a little girl, but I was so angry at God that I stopped believing in Him. I used to sneak outside at night and look up toward the heavens and scream at Him. I blamed Him for Mama dying. It took me a long time but I finally realized I didn’t want to walk through life without Him. Because even though there were shadows, there was always plenty of sunshine.”
Noah stepped toward her so there was no distance between them. He reached out and palmed her cheek with his hand. “You are living proof of that. I’ve never known anyone who shines like you do.”
Sophie basked in the compliment. “I think that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, Noah.”
He leaned his head down toward her, and Sophie knew without a shadow of a doubt that she was about to be kissed by the dreamiest cook in all of Alaska. Maybe he did want something more than friendship.
All of a sudden, the loud blaring of a horn rang out in the stillness of the morning, jarring them. Noah stepped away from her and swung his gaze back toward Kachemak Bay. There was a flurry of activity on the pier, with workers rushing toward the site where the boat would dock.
Disappointment washed over Sophie. She had wanted to share a kiss with Noah more than her most heartfelt words could express.
* * *
Before Sophie and Noah knew it, twelve o’clock arrived and it was time to begin their shifts at work. Once Noah got into a groove in the kitchen, the time passed by quickly. Thoughts of Sophie made him grin throughout the day. Whenever he caught a glimpse of her in her quirky moose T-shirt, it gave him a reason to smile.
As soon as his shift ended, he headed toward the dining area, where he’d agreed to meet Dwight. This evening an indie band was scheduled to perform at the café as a monthly promotion Cameron had created to draw in more customers. So far the place was still fairly quiet, which meant he wouldn’t have to shout over a noisy crowd while they talked.
“Hey, Dwight. How’s it going?” Noah asked as he approached his table and sat down. Even though there were a few hundred other things he could be doing right now, he’d promised Sophie to help her friend. Noah wasn’t about to break a promise to her, even if watching paint dry sounded better than counseling the town treasurer on his love life.
Dwight frowned. “Fair to middling, I suppose. If you want to know the truth, I’m still hopelessly single and pining away for a woman who didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye to me before leaving town. I really thought Marta might be the one.” Dwight took a breath, then continued. “If I had muscles, chiseled facial features and a body of an athlete, I’m sure the women in this town would flock to me. But when God was handing out those attributes He must have forgotten all about me.”
For a few moments Noah didn’t utter a single word. He simply stared at Dwight and counted to twenty in his head.
“First of all, you need to stop with the pity party, Dwight,” he said. “It’s a huge turnoff.”
Dwight sat up straight in his chair and leaned forward across the table. He adjusted his glasses. “Excuse me? What did you just say?”
Noah met his stare head-on. “I said you need to knock off the poor-me routine. In case you haven’t noticed, it isn’t getting you very far in the love department. As a general rule women don’t like men who whine, complain about their lack of good looks or lack self-confidence. The last time I checked, God gifted you with a bunch of attributes, most of which you’re not using in your favor.”
Dwight sputtered. “Name one.”
“You’re smart, Dwight. Women love smart men. Not in an arrogant, I-know-it-all way, but in an informative, polished manner. I don’t know who you’re comparing yourself to, but you’re a good-looking guy.”
Dwight fiddled with his glasses. “I am?” he asked.
Noah squinted as he studied him. “Honestly, I think you might want to wear a pair of jeans every now and again rather than suits and bow ties. You want to seem relatable. Sometimes you can project a fuddy-duddy vibe.”
Dwight was furiously writing down all Noah’s comments in a small notebook. He looked up and nodded. “This is good stuff, although I disagree with the fuddy-duddy comment.”
All of a sudden Finn O’Rourke made an appearance at their table. The brother of pilot Declan O’Rourke, he had become one of Noah’s biggest fans. He came to eat at the Moose Café a few times a week, usually for breakfast. In Noah’s opinion, he was just as likable as his brother.
Finn slapped his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “Hey, Noah. Dwight. I just came over to give my compliments to the cook.” Finn flashed a huge grin at Noah. “That breakfast burrito you made me the other day was the best I’ve ever had.” He rubbed a palm over his stomach. “If I’m not careful I could gain a good twenty pounds eating your meals.”
Dwight rolled his eyes and let out an indelicate snort.
“Thanks for the kind words,” Noah drawled. “Next time I’ll use fat-free ingredients in your breakfast burrito.”
Finn chuckled, then said, “Don’t you dare.”
Once he had walked away, Dwight piped up. “He’s a prime example of the stiff competition in this town. Girls fawn over guys like Finn, who has chiseled abs and movie-star good looks. The last time I checked he’s not even gainfully employed. He’s a bit of a rover.”
Noah held his tongue for a moment, reminding himself that it took all kinds of people to make a world. Dwight—bless him—suffered from a serious lack of self-esteem. Noah knew he couldn’t cure it, but he could provide him with a dose of common sense.
“First of all, beauty is in the eye of the
beholder. One person might think a Picasso is junk, while another hails it as a masterpiece. And I’ve dated women who were gorgeous on the outside, but mean as a snake on the inside where it matters most. Hating Finn isn’t going to bring you any closer to finding your match. It’s dwelling on the negative, when you should be focusing on showing yourself in the best light. We all have flaws, but don’t lead with that when you’re trying to make an impression.”
Dwight ducked his head. He didn’t speak for a few moments. When he looked up again his eyes were glassy. If he started crying, Noah knew he would throw in the towel and go home. He could take only so much.
“Thanks for the reality check. I do tend to focus on the negative. I always have. And you’re right about Finn. He’s a pretty nice guy, so I shouldn’t pick him apart. I shouldn’t be jealous of him or you or any other man in Love. Nobody ever gained anything in this world by focusing on what they don’t have.”
Relief swept through Noah. Dwight wasn’t clueless. He got it. He just needed to get his head out of the sand and take action.
Noah splayed his hands on the table. “So, what I think you should do is focus on a lady you want to ask out on a date. Maybe to the Founder’s Day celebration. Then approach her with confidence, not cockiness. Use your wits and charm. And whatever you do, don’t fall into self-pity. Even if she says no, keep smiling.”
Dwight’s face blanched. “You think she’ll say no?”
Noah let out a groan. “No, Dwight. I was just throwing that out there as a possible scenario. As I said, stay confident. Don’t make it the be-all and end-all of your life.”
Noah looked around him. The café had filled up with patrons. He noticed Sophie sitting at a table with a few other ladies he didn’t know. He felt a pang in his heart as he watched her. She was giggling over something and her entire face was lit up with sheer joy. Noah knew he’d never seen such a glow on any other woman’s face. It was a reflection of who Sophie was on the inside, he imagined. She radiated from within.
His Secret Alaskan Heiress Page 11
