Northern Escape by Jennifer LaBrecque Read Free Book Online

was no way to get out of it.” An idea presented itself and Gus offered an evil smile. “But he’ll be sorry.”
    â€œReally?”
    She made an executive chef decision. “Oh, yes. He’s got a ton of onions to chop this afternoon.”
    Merrilee laughed and then sobered. “Just be careful with him, Gus. He’s dangerous.”
    â€œYes, I know.” Merrilee would totally fall apart if she only knew just how dangerous, considering Gus had a heck of a time keeping her wits about her when he was around. Of all the men in the last four years, why him? Why now? Why the man who could, with one mention of her or her restaurant, tip Troy off to her whereabouts?
    All she knew was he affected her in the most disconcerting way. Yep, Merrilee should be concerned. She tugged on her gloves and hat and they stepped out into the kitchen. “I’m running out for a bit,” she said toLucky who could care less whether she went or stayed. Understandably, he liked to run his own kitchen during breakfast and lunch. He’d even talked to her about opening his own place in town but he wasn’t sure Good Riddance could support two restaurants and he didn’t want to cut into her business.
    Merrilee patted her shoulder again. “Relax and enjoy. God knows you work hard enough.”
    â€œI will and thanks again.” Impulsively she reached over and hugged the older woman.
    â€œYou’re welcome, honey.”
    Merrilee headed back to the airstrip. With a wave toward Lucky, Gus left through the front door. She stepped out into the morning cold, hoping the walk from her place to Curl’s would help clear her head.
    Despite being up late last night cleaning—not nearly as late as it might’ve been without Merrilee’s help—she’d awakened early this morning. She simply couldn’t seem to help herself. Sitting in bed, she’d logged on to her laptop and looked up Nick’s columns for the first time in four years.
    He was still an excellent writer. His pieces displayed a wry sense of humor and painted a picture without being too lengthy, and he certainly had an eye for the unusual. Reading his column again made her long for a change of pace, something different. And she felt guilty as hell for even thinking that.
    Good Riddance had proved a haven when she’d desperately needed one. Troy had been relentless in pursuing her. And—she could actually think about it now without going into full panic mode—he’d damn nearraped her that last time he’d found her. She’d known then it was either take desperate measures to get away from him or one of them was going to die.
    She loved the people here, although she’d never allow anyone to get too close. She was happy, but reading Nick’s column made her long for New York’s hustle and bustle. She missed more balanced seasons. She missed the outside world. And God help her, but she’d lain in her bed last night and realized just how much she missed sex.
    Sex and travel and New York. The sex she could manage, not that she had yet, but it was doable. However, New York and travel were lost to her. It was too risky because the next time Troy found her, someone was likely to get seriously hurt and most likely she’d be the one who didn’t fare well.
    She drew a deep breath. She should be content with the life she had here. It was a good life and a good town. She smiled at the whimsical moose heads mounted on the electric poles. You didn’t find those everywhere.
    Good grief, she seriously needed to get out more. She hadn’t seen Tessa’s new sign in front of the video rental/screening room she was pulling together in the center of town. Gus rapped on the glass window and Tessa looked up from where she was cataloging DVD’s on a narrow shelf. Gus pointed to the sign above the door and gave a thumbs-up, mouthing, “Nice.”
    Tessa laughed and mouthed back,