Page 57 of Here & Now

She shrugged. “No reason.”

They went into the gift shop next door, which was just as crowded as the restaurant. He stuck close to her as they meandered around, and she stopped to examine various items.

“Look at this,” she said excitedly. She pointed to a tall glass vase that was like the one she’d broken. “It’s perfect.”

“I agree.” He wasn’t just referring to the vase.

“Zane?” A woman said from behind him.

He whirled around. “Sasha. Hey.”

The woman leaned in and kissed his cheek with a loud smack. “What are you doing here?”

He turned to Bree, who gave him a look he was beginning to recognize. “I’m here with my friend Bree. Bree, this is Sasha.”

“Yes, I heard. Hello,” she said to Sasha.

Sasha acknowledged her with a brief nod and returned her attention to him. “I haven’t seen you around lately. Where have you been hiding?”

“I’ve been busy at the shop. It’s tourist season.”

“It’s always tourist season around here.”

“Right.” He shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware that Bree was hanging on every word.

“When you get some free time, stop by and see me. We’ll catch up.”

He nodded, though he had no intention of doing so. As she walked away, he turned back to Bree, who was shaking her head.

“What?” he said, though he had a pretty good idea what she was thinking.

“Do you know every woman on this island?”

“No.”

“Just three-quarters of them?”

“It’s a small island.”

“Seems like it.”

She sounded equal parts amused and irritated, and he couldn’t blame her. If it were the other way around and she kept running into guys she knew, he’d be irritated too. Why am I feeling so possessive of her? Is she feeling the same way?

She turned away and picked up the vase. “I’ll take it. I should probably find something for my sister and niece too.”

“I’ll hold the vase while you keep looking,” he offered.

“Why, are you afraid I’ll drop it?”

He laughed. “You said it, not me.”

She carefully handed it to him, and as their fingers brushed, awareness seemed to sizzle between them. Then she turned away and continued browsing. He followed her throughout the store until she’d selected a palm tree necklace for her sister and a tiny onesie with a pelican on it for her niece.

When they went up to the checkout counter, he was glad he didn’t recognize the woman behind the register. After Bree paid, he offered to carry the bag.

“No wonder you’re so popular with the ladies,” she said, handing it to him.

“Why, because I go shopping?”