Page 55 of Finding Forever

“Kathleen’s making her bison burgers tonight.”

Beth’s eyebrows rose. “The ones with Swiss cheese and mushrooms?”

“Those are the ones.”

Beth sighed. “That’s unfair.”

“I haven’t got to the huckleberry pie yet.”

Beth put a hand over her heart. “Now you’re fighting dirty. Kathleen’s Huckleberry pie is the best in Montana. I’ve tried replicating the recipe, but it never tastes as good as hers.”

Dave grinned. “Have dinner with me.”

Beth’s smile softened. “At the café?”

“At the café,” he confirmed.

“Are we having dinner as friends?” she asked carefully.

There it was.

A month ago, he would have taken the escape she’d offered. Friends was safe. Friends required nothing he wasn’t certain he could give. But Dave had kissed Beth. He knew what it felt like to hold her. And he’d spent most of the time since then thinking about when he could do it again.

“No, not as friends,” he said.

Beth’s eyes widened slightly.

Dave took a breath. “I’m asking you on a date.”

The silence lasted long enough that he heard every sound in the room. The refrigerator humming. The clock on the wall. A car passing outside.

Then Beth smiled. A real smile. The one he liked the best.

“I’d love to have dinner with you,” she said softly.

Relief hit him with enough force to make him laugh. “Good.”

“Were you worried I’d say no?”

“I wasn’t worried,” Dave told her. “I was terrified.”

Her smile widened. “You didn’t look terrified. Give me five minutes.”

Dave nodded. “I’ll be right here.”

Beth took two steps toward the hallway before glancing over her shoulder. “You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”

Dave shook his head. “Not a chance.”

Beth was still smiling when she left the room, and Dave couldn’t have been happier.

Chapter 31

While Beth was getting ready, Dave called ahead and booked a table at the café.

Kathleen had saved the booth beside the window for them. It was the best table in the room, with a great view of the lake.

On their way across the room, Dave looked at the people who were here. Even though it was only a few minutes past five-thirty, the café was already half full. And most of the people were having exactly what he’d brought Beth to enjoy.