Page 47 of Finding Forever

“And what?”

“She kissed you back?”

Dave didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

Hank’s grin widened. “That explains the lovesick look.”

“I don’t have a lovesick look.”

“Whatever you say.”

Dave shook his head and reached for the saw. He’d barely started cutting when he heard footsteps coming toward them. Beth was back. This time she wasn’t smiling.

Chapter 28

Dave placed his saw on the floor. “What’s happened, Beth?” She had a clipboard tucked against her chest and a small line between her eyebrows.

“I’m hoping you can tell me I’m reading this wrong.” Beth held out the clipboard. “I received this invoice from the plumbing store.”

Dave wiped the dust from his hands before taking it. The moment he saw the first product number, his stomach dropped. Bathroom faucets. Kitchen faucets. Utility sink. Shower fittings.

The upgraded range. The ones Beth had wanted.

He’d gone into the plumbing store after she’d placed the order and changed it himself. He knew she’d chosen the cheaper faucets because the ones she really liked would have pushed the renovation budget too far. She’d stood in front of the display for several minutes before finally admitting that nearly eighteen hundred dollars was too much to spend simply because she preferred one style over another.

Dave had agreed with her. Then he’d gone back the following day and paid the difference himself. At the time, it had seemed like a good idea.

He’d imagined Beth walking into the finished bathrooms and kitchen and discovering that somehow, she’d ended up with the faucets she loved after all.

The invoice shouldn’t have landed on her desk. Dave kept his expression neutral as he looked at the total. “That can’t be right.”

“That’s what I thought.” Beth moved closer and pointed to the product number. “Remember the brushed nickel faucets with the curved handles I liked when we first started looking at everything?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re the ones that have been installed.”

Dave looked toward the hallway leading to the bathrooms, buying himself a few seconds to think.

Beth followed his gaze. “I know I ordered the cheaper ones. I remember changing the product numbers myself.”

“Maybe someone at the store changed the order.”

“But why would they do that?”

Good question. Dave handed the clipboard back to her. “Could have been a mix-up.”

“That’s an expensive mix-up.”

Hank wandered closer. “How expensive?”

Beth looked at the invoice. “Almost eighteen hundred dollars.”

Hank gave a low whistle.

Beth closed her eyes briefly.

Dave wished he hadn’t done that.