He simply said, ‘I’ve dated,’ and stopped at that.
‘And?’ she prompted.
He looked lost in thoughts, like he was deciding how much to say. ‘I didn’t find who I was looking for,’ he answered, locking her gaze with his.
A sliver of heat shifted underneath her skin, curling around her spine, before settling low in her belly.
Her breath caught in her throat, and before she could ask himwhohe was looking for, he tugged at her hand and nudged them toward a jewellery cart.
‘You know what? I think your first Ferris wheel ride calls for a celebration of its own.’
She blinked, startled. ‘A celebration?’
He nodded at the cart lit up by a string of fairy lights and the soft glow of hanging lanterns. ‘We have got to get you a souvenir to commemorate the first ride and… much more.’
She was scared of how fast her heart was beating. She still hadn’t fully recovered from the way he’d looked at her right before kissing her.
‘C’mon, see if you like something,’ he said, gesturing at the collection.
The wooden trays were filled to the brim with pendants and rings, glittering under the overhead light in streams of gold and silver. In the corner, a spinning case displayed all the earrings in every size imaginable.
Her attention caught almost immediately on a simple silver nose ring, studded with a single diamond stone. She picked it up, and said, ‘Kashvi would love this. She’s been obsessed with these lately.’
He watched her with a lopsided smile as she reached out to pick up an anti-tarnish bracelet. ‘This is perfect for Mihu.’
She quickly paid for it and turned to face him. A brow creased between his eyes as he asked, ‘That’s it?’
‘Yeah, I’m good.’
He gave a slow shake of his head and said, ‘I should have known you wouldn’t pick anything for yourself.’
He leaned forward and gently rifled through the trays near the back until he picked up a square velvet box the size of his palm. He turned it around to show it to her.
Nestled against the black cushion was an anklet. Silver-toned and dainty, with tiny blue seashells placed between tiny silver bells. ‘Oh, that is…’ she trailed off.
‘Very you,’ he finished it.
He plucked it out of the box and crouched down in front of her, lowering himself onto one knee.
‘Wait! What are you—’ she said, startled, looking around at the milling crowd.
‘Relax,’ he said, lifting her sandy foot onto the firm line of his thigh. ‘You’re still wearing my hoodie. No one is going to recognise you. Don’t rob me of this joy, jaan.’
The word hit somewhere low in her core, and her balance faltered when she felt his thumb brush along the delicate curve of her foot as he clasped the anklet around it. The bells jingled as they settled against her skin.
‘You can consider this my official submission for the position, by the way,’ he smirked.
‘What position?’
‘You asked earlier if I was applying for the position to be your man. This is it.’
She told herself to brush it off as casual flirting, but his words took root deep inside her. By the time he stood, dusting off his jeans, she felt slightly breathless and disoriented.
‘Thank you,’ he said, catching her off guard.
‘I should be thanking you.’
He shook his head. ‘You’re the one who made my dream come true.’
