Page 44 of Finding Forever

She wanted him.

Dave drew back just enough to look at her, and Beth saw the same surprise and wanting she knew must be written across her face.

Then he kissed her again.

This time there was nothing tentative about Beth’s response.

For one suspended moment, she let herself have all of it—the warmth, the closeness, the terrifying happiness of being held by someone again.

And that was when the fear arrived. She couldn’t un-want this. There was no version of tomorrow where she could go back to not knowing how it felt to kiss Dave McGuire.

Beth stepped away and her hand rose to her mouth. “I—” She drew a shaky breath. “I’m sorry.”

Concern immediately replaced the warmth in Dave’s expression. “Beth?”

“I don’t know how to do this.”

He didn’t move toward her and that made what she had to say harder. Beth wrapped her arms around herself. “I’ve spent years making my life safe. Predictable. I know where everything fits. I know what tomorrow looks like and the day after that.”

Dave watched her quietly.

“And then you came along,” she said.

His mouth almost curved into a smile. “Sorry about that.”

A startled laugh escaped her. It made the tightness in her chest ease for half a second. Then Beth shook her head. “I don’t mean it like that. I just—” She looked at the finished wall, trying to find the words. “Careful lives don’t leave much room for this. And I built mine very carefully.”

“I know.”

“I don’t know how to suddenly want something this much without feeling as though everything beneath me is about to move.”

Dave was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “I’m not asking you to know how.”

Beth looked at him.

“I’m not asking you for anything tonight,” he continued. “And I’m not asking you to forget the life you had before I came along.”

Her throat tightened.

Dave slipped his hands into his pockets. “I just needed you to know it wasn’t only you standing here wondering what this is.”

“I know.” Her voice cracked slightly. “That’s what frightens me.”

He nodded. “Then take whatever time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

And Beth believed him. That might have been the most frightening part of all.

She looked around the room, then reached for her coat. “I should go.”

“Okay.”

She put it on with unsteady hands, then started to walk away. When she reached the registration desk, she stopped and looked at Dave.

He was still standing beside the finished wall, the gallery lights warm behind him.

“It was a good kiss,” she said.

His eyebrows lifted.