Page 75 of Chasing Forever

“You forgot about my website,” Callie teased.

“Right. That too.”

Chase shook his head, but he was smiling.

Before long, they’d arrived at the outdoor marketplace that Miranda had mentioned. There were rows of stalls set up with a view of the ocean in the background. Ordinarily, she’d have been excited to dig in; however, she was a bit distracted.

Chase had taken her hand the minute they’d stepped out of the car, and they slowly strolled along while Miranda excitedly ran up ahead and disappeared among the crowds.

“Do you think she wanted to give us time alone?” Callie asked.

“No. I think she’s a shopaholic!” he replied with a laugh.

“I think your sister’s great.”

“I do too when she’s not being a buttinski, which is most of the time.”

“She loves you.”

“I love her too.”

He stopped in the middle of the row and glanced down at her. For a second, it almost felt like he’d said those words to her instead. There goes my active imagination again.

The moment passed when somebody accidentally bumped into them.

“We’re right in the middle of traffic,” she said.

“I was distracted.”

Me too. Even though she was enjoying the day immensely, she couldn’t stop thinking about when they’d get to be alone again.

They continued walking until Chase stopped in front of a stall with a display of sterling silver and gold jewelry displayed in glass cases.

If she’d been alone, she probably would have bought something by now. But she didn’t mind window shopping, especially when she was on the arm of a handsome man like him.

Chase pointed at a gold necklace with a pendant depicting a hibiscus. The petals of the flower were hand-painted a brilliant blue, just like some of the hibiscus located right outside their doors at the resort.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“It’s gorgeous. Is it for your mom?” She assumed it would be since he and Miranda had discussed buying something for their mom at the market.

But he didn’t reply. Instead, he motioned to the seller, a small Polynesian woman standing quietly nearby.

“Can we see this one, please?”

“Certainly,” she said. She took the necklace out of the case and handed it to him.

Callie thought it was even more beautiful up close, but it wasn’t her decision to make.

“Turn around,” he said, surprising her.

“Me?”

He laughed. “Yes. I want to see how it looks on you.”

The woman behind the case smiled, and Callie turned, lifting her hair so Chase could clasp the necklace. When she turned back to face him, he fingered the pendant, which felt cool against her warm skin.

“Beautiful,” he whispered.