Page 42 of Finding Forever

Dave narrowed his eyes. “That sounded suspicious.”

Hank grinned. “If you want Beth to think this place came in under budget by magic, that’s your business.”

They worked for another half hour before Hank packed away his tools. “You coming over Friday?” he asked Dave as he shrugged into his jacket.

“For dinner?”

“No, to clean my gutters.”

Dave smiled. “I’ll be there.”

Hank sent him a steady look. “Bring Beth.”

Dave stared at him. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because Beth and I aren’t dating.”

“I didn’t say you were.”

“You were thinking it.”

Hank opened the door. “Rosa says I should keep most of the things I think inside my head.”

Dave smiled. “For once, listen to your wife.”

Hank laughed as he left. The door closed behind him, but his suggestion stayed.

Bring Beth.

Dave measured the last piece of trim, then realized he’d already measured it.

Meeting Kayla shouldn’t have mattered as much as it did. He’d known about her almost from the beginning. But knowing someone existed and meeting them were different things.

Kayla had Beth’s warmth and sense of humor. Dave had liked Kayla immediately. That was the problem. He’d liked watching her tease Beth. He’d liked the affection between them and the little jokes he didn’t understand.

For a few minutes, he’d glimpsed a part of Beth’s life that had nothing to do with council meetings or construction schedules.

And he wanted more times like that. A lot more.

Chapter 25

Kayla left Sunday afternoon with a car full of leftover soup and a promise to call about the table favors by Wednesday. Beth spent the next few hours in the strange, restless quiet that always followed her daughter going home.

Kayla lived in Missoula. It wasn’t too far away, but sometimes it felt like the other side of the country. Her daughter was returning next weekend for a dress fitting. It would be just as much fun as this weekend, but it would also be a reminder of how close the wedding was.

With a sigh, Beth took her recipe book out of a drawer. The church always needed extra cookies for their food boxes, and Beth was happy to provide them.

Thankfully, she’d agreed to meet Dave at the arts center that evening. The gallery wall was nearly finished, and one more night’s work should see it done. Usually, at least two of the construction crew would have joined them, but after all the extra hours they’d worked, Dave had given everyone the night off.

Beth was looking forward to finishing the wall. At least, that was what she told herself. It was a good use of their time. Two people finishing a project on schedule. Nothing more complicated than an ordinary evening at the center.

But by seven, she’d changed her sweater twice. “It’s a wall,” she told her reflection. “Not a date.” The woman in the mirror didn’t look especially convinced.

Beth sighed and reached for her coat. She’d never been a particularly good liar, least of all to herself. The truth was simpler and considerably more frightening.

She wanted to see Dave. Not because of the gallery wall or the arts center or because there was work to do. She wanted to be with him. Beth hadn’t let herself want anything that plainly in years.