Satisfied that she’d figured that out, she went to the living room with her coffee, curled up in her recliner beneath a quilt, and aimed the remote at the television. She didn’t care what she watched. She just wanted to hear something besides the sound of her own heartbeat.
* * *
Hunt walked out of the house at ten minutes to six wearing Wrangler jeans, his brown Justin boots, and a gray sweater under his black leather bomber jacket.
His dark hair brushed the collar of the jacket as he walked to the truck and then made sure the seat was dusted off before he got inside.
He’d backed out of this drive in his mother’s car many a time during his high school days to go get his date, but he’d never felt this level of anticipation. He drove the short distance between them in haste and parked behind her car before going to the door.
She answered on the second knock and swung the door inward.
Her long hair was down and in long, soft curls, and the pink sweater and gray slacks she was wearing flattered her curves and long legs. But her dark eyes were flashing in frustration.
“Come in. I’m trying to find my phone.”
He took his phone out of his pocket and pulled up the keypad, then handed it to her.
“Call yourself.”
She grabbed his phone. “Yes! Thanks,” she muttered, and quickly keyed in the numbers.
Almost immediately they both heard her phone ringing.
Hunt grinned. It was a Bon Jovi song. “Your ringtone is ‘Living on a Prayer’?”
“Shut up and help me find it,” Ava said.
“It’s that way,” Hunt said.
“That’s the laundry. Please Jesus I didn’t wash the sucker,” Ava muttered.
Hunt laughed out loud. “Well, it’s ringing, so I doubt it’s been through the wash.”
“Oh, right,” she said, and made a run for the utility room before her phone quit ringing.
Within seconds, she was digging through the basket of laundry she’d been going to wash.
“Ta-da!” she cried, and pulled it out. “I guess it fell out of my pocket when I was gathering up laundry. Thank you, Hunt.”
“So, did I just get a glimpse of you in action?”
Her eyes narrowed. “If you think that was me being upset, it’s not even close.”
He nodded. “Right. I remember. Good enough. I always say if you’re gonna raise hell about something, make it memorable.”
She grinned. “Nurses have to keep their cool on the job. I maintain quite well. But on my own time, I lose patience with myself.”
“I empathize. Now, are we good to go? Got your jacket? It’s chilly out.”
“It’s in the living room,” she said, and then appreciated the view as she followed him back through the house. He had a sexy butt.
He helped her into her jacket and then flipped on the porch light as they were leaving.
Ava couldn’t remember a man ever being that thoughtful, and gave him a big check mark in the good manners department. When he helped her into the truck and then made sure she was seated and buckled in before he closed the door, he scored again.
The tension was there between them as they drove to Granny’s, but their friendship was older than this new stuff, and they were laughing and talking freely by the time they arrived.
“Remember the time you got sick from eating too many cinnamon candies?” Hunt said.
Ava rolled her eyes. “Are you really going there? Referring to the time I threw up on your shoe at the swings?”
“I guess I am,” Hunt said.
“So much for me getting all gorgeous if you’re going to bring up my sordid past,” she muttered.
He grinned. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not, but that’s okay. I remember you getting caught making out with that Linda girl when you guys were sophomores. Her daddy brought you home.”
Hunt chuckled. “How come you know that?”
“Emma told me. I pined for a good week that you’d forsaken me, and then the next time I saw you, you bought Ray and me ice cream and I forgave you.”
“Lord. I had no idea,” Hunt said.
Ava shrugged. “I got over it. My mother always said boys are slow on the uptake. Now, we’re here. Let’s go in. I’m starving.”
Hunt already knew he was in over his head, but if this was what drowning felt like, he wasn’t going to mind going under.
Hunt smelled barbecue the moment they walked in the door. It must be the special. At any rate, it struck a hungry chord.
“Mmmm, barbecue!” Ava said. “I know what I’m having.”
Hunt grinned. “Come on, Ava. Don’t be shy.”
She turned around and poked him on the arm. “We’ve known each other too long to be prissy about being hungry.”
“That we have, lady. Point made.”
Ava grinned, and then turned and waved at Sully.
“Hey, Sully, how’s your pretty wife?”
“You know Melissa…still being pretty,” Sully said, then picked up two menus. “Booth or table?”
“Lady’s choice,” Hunt said.
“Table,” Ava said.
“Follow me,” Sully said, and led them through the busy dining room to a table on the far side of the room.
After the funeral today, Hunt’s presence in Blessings was no longer unknown.
The fact that Ava Ridley was walking in with a man was newsworthy, but Hunt Knox being that man made it even better.
Ava waved and talked her way all the way across the room, then smiled when Hunt seated her before sitting in the chair to her right.
“Baby back ribs are the special tonight,” Sully said as he gave them the menus. “Enjoy.”
Ava shoved the menu aside and then looked at Hunt.
“What?” he said.
“Just checking to make sure I’m not dreaming,” she said. “And in my panic to find my phone, I neglected to mention how hunky you look.”
Hunt shook his head and then grinned. “You are going to be seriously good for my ego.”
She leaned forward and lowered her voice.
“If I brag on how blue your eyes are, do I get dessert?”
He laughed out loud, and everyone in the room turned and looked, then whispered among themselves about what, if anything, was going on between Ava and Hunt.