(MORGAN)

Not often I get to drag Chris out to the store, especially without the kids tagging along. But with Connor and Lily spending the afternoon with Steve, Tristan and Tristan's girlfriend and Candace out on a job we have the time and the opportunity.

"I don't want to pick out Isabella's first birthday present out myself. You have to help," I tell Chris as I slide my arm through his.

"As if I'd miss this. Get real, Mrs. Gaines." He rolls his eyes and makes a face at me and I burst out laughing.

So far this spring break vacation has been perfect. We've had a chance to relax and spend some time together as a family and we've been able to reconnect with Candy and Steve and their family. We've hung out by the pool, we've had a barbeque with Brandon's parents and a few of Candace and Steve's other friends. The days have been filled with laughter and good times.

"Oh I'm real all right, Mr. Gaines." I give him a pinch. "And don't you forget it.""As if," he retorts again and this time he stops short, grabs me and dips me backwards before he kisses me.

When he lets me back up I'm breathless and I can't quite remember what we came to the mall for.

Chris chuckles softly, "Bella's present. And I'll take that as a compliment."

'"Raincheck on any more of those, otherwise I'm not going to want to buy anything. I'm just going to want to hightail it back to the ranch," I whisper."Anticipation makes it so much better, baby," he whispers back.

"Yeah? And just how fast can we get this shopping trip done?" I question. Grabbing his hand in my own, I tug on it. "Come on, let’s get started."

He leans in very close and replies, "Mission accomplished, already got it started. Now we just have to wait to get it finished."

"Like you said anticipation only heightens the experience," I reply, then brush my lips across his. "Oh look there's a Gymboree store. We can get her some clothes."Chris just rolls his eyes. "She's already the best dressed baby in Oklahoma."

"That means she has an image to keep up," I say cheerfully and direct him into the store. I love their clothes and sometimes I honestly wonder if I buy them more for me than for Bella. Chris is right; she has a closet and a dresser full of more clothes than she could possibly ever wear. But for some reason I just keep adding to her stash.

And today we walk back out of the store with some new outfits for her, as well as for her brother and sister. Chris looks a little shell-shocked as we continue through the mall.

"Guess I'd better make sure Simon has rescheduled those missed dates and few more besides to pay off what we owe that store."

I'm not sure if he's joking or not, until I look at him and he's smiling. "Oh you!" I say swatting at his arm.

"Where to next?" he asks.

"We could find a toy store and see what damage we could do there?" I suggest.

"Or we could do some damage in here." Chris stops short and looks to his right.

I follow his gaze and notice the predominant color of that storefront is pink, then I look up at the sign."Victoria's Secret, huh?"

"Bella shouldn't be the only one with new clothes.""I hardly think anything in there qualifies as clothing." I scoff.

"Hmmm you might have a point there. But I love knowing that under your jeans and shirts, there's something silky and lacey just waiting for me to find it."

I glance a little further down the mall and see a store I'd much rather check out so I decide a little deal is in order. "Tell you what, you go in here and find something for me. I'll walk a little further that direction and stop in somewhere else and we'll meet...." I check my watch. "We'll meet in fifteen minutes in front of Macys."

Chris doesn't hesitate to take up the challenge. "Sounds good to me." He gives me a peck on the cheek and a wink and says, "See you in fifteen." Before I can blink he's disappeared into the store.

This should be interesting.

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