blinds fall back into place. She blinked, her pulse pounding as her stomach swooped, and reached to pull the string to open the blinds.
Hunter had gotten out of the truck. He faced her house, the expression on his face completely unreadable. He looked down the street as if waiting for someone else, and Molly followed his gaze.
Another truck pulled up with a logo on the side of it, indicating they did snow removal. Molly pressed one hand to her heart as the driver got out and Hunter spoke to him, indicating that yes, they needed to clear her driveway and sidewalk.
He shook the man’s hand and turned as another car arrived. This one had a bouquet painted on the door, with a great big heart on the roof of the car. Hunter rounded his vehicle to step into the street, as the sidewalks were covered in snow, and she lost sight of him as he went behind his truck.
The car pulled down the street and parked in front of the next house, and Hunter picked up a shovel and got to work. Molly couldn’t move. She couldn’t go heat more water and milk for those out there working to clear the snow away.
She just watched as Hunter and the other two men he’d hired dug out her driveway and sidewalk. She stepped to the side as they started up the walk to her front porch, and she even held her breath for a moment, as if they’d hear her breathing in and out through the walls.
She heard their voices talking, and she dared to peek through the blinds again. The snow removal truck eased away, and the floral car pulled into the now cleared driveway. A white van did too, and a woman got out and went to the back of the vehicle.
Hunter approached both of them, and they each said a few things before he faced the house again. He drew a deep breath, and Molly recognized the nerves on his handsome face. He fought through them, and he took a step toward her front door.
Chapter 28
Hunter had no idea what he was doing. Every time he blinked, his vision turned as white as the landscape blanketing the greater Denver area. He managed to take one step and then another, and before he knew it, he stood at the door.
Knock or ring the bell? Saltine wasn’t barking yet.
Would she be awake? They’d canceled school.
Behind him, the two women he’d asked to meet him there pressed in closer, as the temperature wasn’t anywhere near warm. It wasn’t even near cold. It was downright frigid.
Hunter reached out and pressed the doorbell, thinking finally that it was a softer way of announcing his arrival.
A few moments later, Molly opened the door, her eyes wide as she stared at Hunter.
He turned and took the first bouquet from Tessa, his new friend at Romantic Roses. He flashed her a quick smile and focused on Molly again. “Mols,” he said, the familiar nickname clogging in his throat. He cleared it away and ducked his head, embarrassed and nervous.
He looked at the pretty pink petals of the tulips. Ingrid said she loved tulips. That gave him enough courage to look up and into those brilliant green eyes again.
“I’m in love with you,” he said, shaking his head as if he wished he weren’t. He extended the flowers toward her, and surprisingly, she took them.
He took another bouquet from Tessa. These were daffodils, and they had beautiful centers in white, apricot, and yellow. All in the yellow and orange color family, their beauty made him smile. He held it out toward Molly, thinking of the conversation he’d had with her mother yesterday.
“Your mama said you love daffodils, and I have to admit they’re beautiful.” She took those flowers too, and he added, “I apologize for being so rigid in my decisions. I hope you’ll forgive me, and that we can try again.”
He took the next bouquet, his fingers shaking with cold. He was going to have to tip these women more than he’d anticipated. These were deep, red roses. “I can’t keep trying to live without you,” he said, his voice quiet. “I love you. I need you. I hate that I can’t call you at the end of the day. I hate that I can’t text you at lunchtime and say I hope you’re having a good day. I hate that I went out to the farm and saw your car leaving and nearly broke down.”