Hunt sighed. This was prime sleeping weather, but there was too much to do to sleep in, so he threw back the covers and went to turn up the thermostat, then headed to the bathroom to shower and shave. He’d planned to remove a few boards in the kitchen floor today and see what was up with the sagging middle, but not while it was raining. Today would be a good day to tackle the attic—removing trash, sorting things that his siblings might want to go keep, and setting the rest of it aside to sell.

* * *

It was a little after nine before Ava had a chance to text Hunt.

Thank you for dinner and your company last night. I loved it.

Hunt was going through a box of old Christmas decorations, throwing away everything the mice had chewed on and setting aside the little ornaments they used to put on the tree. When his phone signaled a text and he saw it was from Ava, he dusted off his hands and read it, then texted back.

I loved it, too. How about a repeat tonight…but at your place around 5:00 p.m. I bring the food. You set the table. I promise not to stay too long. I just want to see your face and steal another kiss…or two.

He hit Send, then rocked back on his heels, waiting for the reply. It came quickly.

I would love it. Five o’clock works for me. I’ll be all puckered up and waiting.

Hunt grinned. One of the best things about Ava was her lack of self-consciousness. And all the rest of her was pretty damn awesome, too.

* * *

When the rain began, traffic in the ER slowed down, giving everyone a little space to catch up on paperwork. But as the rain continued, it began to cause problems.

Wilson Turner, the manager at the Crown, was going too fast coming into town, hydroplaned into a ditch, and rolled upside down. He called in his own accident and was transported to the ER with a broken nose and a cut on his head.

They were wheeling him into X-ray when the ambulance went out again, returning minutes later with Chester Benton, the young man who was the dishwasher at Granny’s. He’d gone on an errand for the restaurant and was rear-ended at the stoplight and taken to the ER with whiplash.

Then Sully Raines showed up to check on his employee, and the assistant manager at the Crown arrived to check on Wilson Turner, and the rain kept coming down.

Lunchtime came and went, and it wasn’t until Ava was clocking out that she realized she hadn’t eaten a single bite of anything since breakfast.

Rhonda Bailey was clocking out as Ava walked up, already wearing her raincoat with her purse over her shoulder.

Rhonda looked at her and grinned. “You look as tired as I feel. Are you okay?”