It was still dark, but the streetlights were bright enough for her to see the newspaper at the edge of the steps. That paper carrier needed to practice with his pitching arm. He hadn’t hit the porch once in the last two months. She glanced up at the sky. It looked cloudy, and it smelled like rain.

She hurried back in to the kitchen. Her coffee and toast were ready, so she sat down to eat as she read. Her cell phone was in her pocket, and she thought about texting Hunt but was afraid it was too early.

After breakfast, she grabbed an all-weather coat and headed out the door. It was fifteen minutes to seven.

She liked early mornings in Blessings. Lights were on in the houses as she passed, and she imagined sleepy-headed children being coaxed out of bed to get ready for school, or people like her who were getting ready for work.

She drove past the Knox house even though it was out of her way, but it made her happy to know Hunt Knox was in the vicinity again—just like he’d been when she was growing up. Even though he’d had no romantic interest in her whatsoever then, the fact that she had been able to see him when she wanted had been enough. And now, fate had brought him back…and with interest to spare.

God was good.

It was beginning to sprinkle when she got to work, and after she clocked in at the ER, her day began.

* * *

The loud clap of thunder woke Hunt out of a deep, dreamless sleep. As he rolled over onto his back and glanced toward the window, he could already hear rain blowing against the panes and was glad he’d finished caulking. At least they weren’t loose anymore.

When he saw it was after 7:00 a.m., he thought of Ava. She was already at work. He closed his eyes, remembering the way she’d felt in his arms, and the film of tears in her eyes when she’d warned him not to break her heart.

He got the message.

She had waited a long time for the man she wanted, but the warning was clear. If he wasn’t on board, he should say so now.

The thing was he was so on board he couldn’t think straight. He didn’t know how bad he’d wanted somebody to love until the offer came, and now she was all he thought about.

Thunder rumbled again.