He wanted to pursue this, but at the same time, she was entrenched in Blessings, and he wouldn’t live here again if it were the last place on earth. So he sat listening to her chatter and laughing in all the right places.

A short while later, their food came, and as they were beginning to eat, Lovey finally showed up and began going through the dining room greeting her customers.

When she got to their booth, she saw Hunt and smiled.

“Hunt Knox! It’s good to see you again. I heard you’d come back for your mama. Bless your heart. I am so sorry for your loss. Marjorie was dearly loved here in Blessings.”

“Thank you, Lovey. It’s good to see you.”

“I see you and Ava are catching up,” Lovey said. “Enjoy your food…and it looks like you two need some more biscuits.”

“Hunt’s really enjoying them,” Ava said.

Lovey beamed. “They’re good, aren’t they?”

“Yes, ma’am. Best I’ve ever had,” Hunt said.

“We have acquired a new baker since you were here. Her name is Mercy Pittman. She’s married to Lon Pittman, the police chief,” Lovey said.

“Lucky man to have such a wonderful cook,” he said.

“She’s an amazing lady in more ways than one. Are you staying in Blessings long?” Lovey asked.

“Just long enough to get the old house fixed up to sell. Then I’ll be going back to Houston,” Hunt said.

“Then I’m guessing we’ll be seeing you again before you leave,” she said.

“Since I’m tearing up the house some, there’s not much cooking going on. I’d say that would be highly likely,” Hunt said.

Lovey moved on, and the waitress came by later with more biscuits. The food was as good as Hunt remembered, and Ava was way more interesting and prettier than he would have ever imagined. As time went on, he began to relax. Good food in an empty belly was never a bad thing.

After their meal, Hunt walked Ava out to her car.

“Thanks for taking time out of your day to eat with me,” he said.

Ava shook her head. “This was my dream date, remember? I didn’t ‘take’ time to do anything. I would have fought a bear before missing this.”

Hunt grinned. “Fought a bear, huh?” Then he leaned over and kissed the side of her cheek. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to call you later.”

Ava resisted the urge to touch the place where he’d kissed her.

“Of course it’s okay. Tonight is the family viewing, so—”