The Naked Fisherman by Jewel E. Ann

Chapter Nine

Monday,I spent the day with Hailey sending out bids. Fisher put a new battery in the Outback then disappeared for the rest of the evening on his motorcycle. I didn’t get an invite to join him.

Tuesday, I went with Hailey to pick up flooring for a kitchen. She drove a company pickup, and for some reason, I found that kind of cool. After that, we picked up lunch for the crew. Apparently, it was a perk Fisher offered his guys, not the norm in construction. I found that rather cool too.

Wednesday, I was back with Fisher and that thrilled me.

“Yesterday, Hailey introduced me to some of your crew. So you don’t have to worry about introductions now. Except your dad and uncle. When will I meet them?”

“My dad is out of town until next week. My uncle just had knee surgery, so he’s out for a while.” Fisher lifted a brow and gave me a quick sidelong glance while we waited in the drive-thru to pick up our coffees on the way to the first job. “And it’s a relief that I don’t have to introduce you to anyone because that was high on my list of priorities today.”

“Is that sarcasm?”

He pulled forward and grabbed our coffees. “Nope.” He handed me both drinks and rolled up his window.

“Have you talked to Rory since Sunday?” I handed him his coffee.

“Nope.” He sipped his drink and wrinkled his nose. “This one is not mine. It’s sweet and disgusting.” After depositing it in my cup holder, he reached over and snagged my coffee—his coffee—from me.

I frowned at the one in the drink holder. “Now you’ve tasted it.”

“So? I’m not sick.”

“Yeah, but you drank out of it.”

He chuckled. “Have you never swapped a little saliva with anyone? I didn’t spit anything back into the cup. It’s the equivalent of a peck on the lips. I’m sure you’ve had a few tongues down your throat. What’s the big deal?”

Sliding the drink from the holder, I brought it to my mouth and took a cautious sip.

Fisher shook his head at my hesitation. “Do I gross you out that much?”

Just the opposite. It felt intimate sharing a cup of coffee with him. I took another sip, trying to not think too hard about how I liked the idea of my mouth touching the same spot his lips had touched.

“It’s fine.” I stared out my window while sipping the coffee, brushing my lips over the lid a little too much.

“Reese?”

“Hmm?”

“You have kissed a guy before. Right?”

I scoffed. “Yes.”

“An open-mouthed kiss? Tongue? Saliva swapping?” He was so crude. I loved it and hated it in equal parts.

“Duh.”

“Duh is not an answer.”

“Hailey invited me to her house for a party on Friday. Well, not this Friday … next Friday.” My attention remained steadfast out my window.

“You dodged my question.”

“I think I’ll go. It’s a chance to make new friends if I don’t have much luck tonight.”

“What’s tonight?”

“Singles’ Bible study at the church.”

“Sounds … titillating.”

“You could come with me.”

Fisher laughed, a little too hard. “As tempting as the offer is, I have a date. Sorry.”

A date.

Fisher had a date. That was okay. Of course he dated since he wasn’t married, and he wasn’t dating Rory. I bet he had sex too. That didn’t feel quite as okay to me for utterly ridiculous reasons. It wasn’t like Fisher Mann was mine no matter how incredibly sexy I found him, no matter how many thoughts he owned in my head. It wasn’t like he was going to wait for me to figure my life out, marry me, and take my virginity on our wedding night.

Nope.

None of that was happening, so it was just great, awesome really, that Fisher had a date.

“A new date? Someone you’ve gone out with before?”

“Blind date. A friend of a friend.”

I nodded slowly. “Where are you going?”

“Concert downtown.”

“Sounds fun.”

“I suppose.”

“How old is she?”

He grinned before sipping his coffee. “I’m not sure. Why?”

“No reason.”

“Well, if you decide to bring someone home from Bible study, I won’t tell your mom. And the house is insulated really well, so don’t ever worry about me hearing anything.”

Oh my gosh …

I bit my tongue so hard. What he implied was offensive and yes … crude. As if I was going to pick up some guy at Bible study and bring him back to have sex. Clearly, Fisher had never attended church, which meant he probably wasn’t saved. And I needed to remember that. I needed to remember all the reasons I shouldn’t have obsessed over the naked fisherman.

“So I won’t hear you either.” I felt incredibly brave saying that to him. For a breath, I tried to feel like an equal. An adult who dated and had loud sex. But inside it really … really bothered me to think of him having sex with someone else.

Or me, of course.

But mostly someone else.

“I’m not really a screamer. I may drop a few profanities if it’s worthy of it.”

Stop! Make him stop!

He enjoyed playing with me. I could tell from the smirk he wore like a favorite T-shirt. He ate my reactions up like a shark finding a wounded otter. Fisher knew I was way out of my comfort zone. And his favorite game seemed to be pushing me a few more inches with every remark. I refused to give him the verbal satisfaction, even if my feelings were on full display in the color of my face or the uncontrolled fidgeting of my hands.

“It won’t matter. I’ll probably be late anyway. Someone mentioned getting ice cream afterward.” It sounded ridiculous the second I said it.

Biting his lips to mask more of his amusement, he nodded several times. “I can see that. Well, you have my number if things get too crazy and you need a ride home. Gut ache. Sugar jitters. Brain freeze. Whatever.”

“Jerk.” I couldn’t help it. He brought out the worst in me, the crazy in me.

Fisher sniggered as he pulled to a stop at the first job site. The framers were already busy constructing the interior walls in the basement.

“Am I allowed out?” I asked.

Fisher grabbed my hard hat out of the back seat and plopped it on my head. “If you can stay out of trouble and not distract my crew with stories about wild ice cream socials.”

Had I used swear words, I would have told him to fuck off, and it would have felt so liberating. But I remained silent because I knew those other words would feel foreign leaving my lips.

“Cat got your tongue?” Fisher grinned as I fumed.

I climbed out and mumbled to myself, “No. Jesus does.”

WWJD?

Fisher walked around the perimeter looking at things. What? I had no clue. I assumed he knew what he was doing. I followed a few feet behind him.

“Plumber been here?” he asked one of the guys carrying a stack of two-by-fours on his shoulder and depositing it in the middle of the basement.

“Not yet,” the guy said just as he adjusted his jeans and stood erect again.

Whoa …

He was built like an ox. “Hi. I’m Jason.”

“I’m—”

“What about Kevin? Has he been by yet?” Fisher totally cut me off. Rude.

“Not yet.” Jason shook his head, scratching the back of his thick, tattooed neck.

I didn’t think I was a big fan of tattoos, but Jason changed my mind.

“Christ … are they fuckin’ sleeping in this morning? I don’t have time to wait around.” Fisher pulled his phone from his pocket and walked a few feet away from me, answering it with a sharp “Fisher.”

“Are you the sidekick this summer?” Jason asked, glancing up as he measured and marked a board.

“I guess. I think he offered me the job as a favor to my mom. I feel like a shadow that’s in his way. I think I prefer working with Hailey.”

“Amen. She’s awesome.”

“Yeah.” I slipped the tips of my fingers into my front pockets, glancing over my shoulder to see if Fisher was still on his phone. “Is he always in such a delightful mood?”

“Just in the mornings. He’s not much of a morning person.”

I laughed. “That’s what Hailey said.” I thought of our ride to the job site. He seemed fine with me.

“Let’s go, Reese. It’s going to be a long day.” He made what I felt pretty sure was a growling sound which meant he was mad, but not at me or anyone in our proximity.

I cringed at Jason and he laughed, shaking his head.

“Well, it was nice meeting you.”

“See ya around. Good luck with Mr. Sunshine.”

“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes and smiled. That smile quickly faded when I turned toward Fisher who was not smiling.

“Are you done rolling your eyes and talking about your boss?” Fisher asked me.

I had nothing to lose. I kinda knew he wasn’t going to fire Rory’s daughter. “For now.” I shot him an extra toothy grin.

“No lunch for you,” he murmured as he trekked toward his truck with me right behind him.

“I have a Cliff Bar in my bag. I came prepared for your less than stellar attitude. And AHHH!” I tripped. Stupid big boots. I hissed a sharp breath, sitting back on my knees as I brought my hand close to my chest with a dirty nail partially impaled into my palm. “Ouch! Oh my gosh! I’m fine.” I hissed again. “I’m not fine. It hurts.” Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to set them free in front of Fisher and his all-male framing crew.

“What did you do?” Fisher hunched down and reached for my arm.

“I tripped,” I said with a bit of irritation lacing my words. What did he think happened?

“Let me see.”

I shook my head and turned my torso, hiding my hand and the nail away from his line of sight. I didn’t want him or anyone to touch it because it hurt too much.

“Don’t. Touch. It.” I felt my control slipping. I needed someone. A female. My grandma. I needed her to fix this. She was good at fixing and mending things.

“I just need to look at it. I won’t touch it.” Fisher grabbed my forearm and forced me to show him my hand. He frowned. “Well, looks like we’ll be adding another stop to our morning.”

That did it. That made my tears escape. “I’m sorry,” I said with a trembling lower lip.

“Why? It was an accident. Shit happens. We’ll get you fixed up. Okay?”

Sniffling. I nodded.

“Can you walk?” he asked. “Or do I need to carry you?”

He didn’t want to open my door in front of anyone. I felt certain that carrying me was way out of the question as long as my legs weren’t broken.

“I’m fine.” I started to stand on the uneven pile of dirt and, just as quickly, my foot turned to the side, and I felt myself going down again, but not before Fisher grabbed my torso.

“I guess I’m carrying you.” He lifted me up, cradling me in his arms like a needy two-year-old and carrying me to the truck. After he helped me into my seat, he grabbed my forearm again.

“Don’t. Touch. It!”

He laughed. Laughed! “Just chill a sec. I’m going to get my first aid kit from the back and get some antibacterial wipes to clean the dirt off around it.”

“Don’t pull the nail out.” I slowly released my bent arm so he could see my hand.

“I’m not going to pull the nail out. God … you’re a basket case.” He disappeared to the back of the truck and returned with the wipes.

“Shouldn’t you wear gloves so you don’t get my blood on your hands?”

“You have my saliva inside of you. It’s only fitting I get a little of your blood. Might as well let everything mingle today. Do you have an STD I need to know about?” Fisher squinted at me as his hands gently cleaned around the wound.

I frowned.

“It’s a joke.”

“Terrible timing.” I jumped when his finger accidentally bumped the nail.

“Sorry.” He cringed, giving me a sincere apologetic look. “Here, sit back. I’ll get you fastened in.” After he fastened the seat belt, he drove me to urgent care where we were ushered back surprisingly quick. They removed the nail. Cleaned the wound. Bandaged it. And gave me a tetanus shot because I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had one.

“Do you need to go home?” Fisher asked when we got back into the truck.

“No.” I felt stupid. I cried in front of him. How did I expect for him to think of me as a grown woman when I cried over a little puncture wound? I bet his date that night wasn’t a crybaby like me.

“Sure?”

I nodded.

We finished off the day with me doing very little aside from waiting in the truck and holding sacks of food for the roofing crew at the final job where they were working late to finish before the rain.

After a quick stop at the office, we headed home around six.

“What time is your Bible study?” Fisher asked as we pulled into the driveway.

“Seven.”

“Are you still going?” He opened his door and paused, eyeing me warily like for the first time he felt bad about my accident.

“Yes,” I managed to say like all was good. But I was not going to Bible study. “After a nice soak in the tub, I’ll be fine.” I shut the door.

“Um … have you not noticed that there’s only a shower downstairs? A nice shower. A huge tiled shower with lots of shower heads, but still a shower.”

I’d forgotten. “Shower.” I gave him a forced smile. “That’s what I meant.” I took three more steps before he said my name.

“Reese, you’re more than welcome to use my tub. It’s a big soaker tub, and I rarely ever use it. I’ll shower in my other bathroom.”

“No. A shower is great. A shower is what I meant.”

“Well, if you change your mind, the offer stands.”

“Thanks,” I called without looking back as I headed around to the side of the house. “I’m good. Have fun on your date.”