The Lost Fisherman (Fisherman #2)(41)

“I love you today,” he said.

That was his reply. The perfect reply.

I nodded toward him. “Thought you were going to shower.”

“After I drive you home.”

I grinned, taking two steps to him then taking his hand and pulling him toward the front door. “You’re one, Fisher.”

“One in what?”

I opened the door, and he closed it behind us.

“Not in anything. Not one in eighty thousand. Not one in a billion times infinity. You’re just one. The one.”





Chapter Seventeen





“Where have you been? I messaged you and tried calling you,” Rory asked before I got both feet in the house.

I missed that message, which wasn’t good since I was on call. Retrieving my phone from my pocket, I checked for messages or missed calls other than Rory’s.

She glanced over my shoulder as I started to shut the door while slipping my phone back into my pocket. “You were with Fisher?”

“Um …” I locked the door. “Yeah. I was looking for you and Rose when I got home because I’ve had the Best. Day. Ever! And I was dying to share it. So I ran to Fisher’s house on pure adrenaline, thinking you might be there. But you weren’t. He was. So I told him all about my day. And he gave me a ride home.” I toed off my shoes.

“It’s eleven, sweetie. What time did you get home? And why didn’t you just call me? Rose and I went out with friends. I didn’t know when you were going to be home.”

“It’s fine.” I headed into the kitchen for a glass of water, feeling a little parched after my unexpected workout with Fisher. “Hey, Rose.” I smiled as she sat in her robe at the kitchen table with her laptop in front of her.

“What time did you go to Fisher’s?” Rose asked, looking at me over her reading glasses. They made her look sixty instead of forty-eight. And I loved the way they made sure I knew the time, like I was fifteen and past curfew.

“What?” I narrowed my eyes just before gulping down the water.

“What’s your great story? It must be a long one since you’re just now getting back from Fisher’s.” Rory seemed concerned about the length of time I spent at Fisher’s too.

“Well, it’s late. So you’re just getting the abbreviated version of the story because I’m tired.” And I didn’t want to play Twenty Questions about my time at Fisher’s house.

“Holly delivered a baby, an en caul baby. That means the baby was born in an intact amniotic sac. It’s a one in eighty thousand occurrence. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen. I mean … the baby was basically still in the womb, calm and content. And we just watched it, in total awe for close to five minutes.”

“That’s incredible.” Rory shook her head. “I didn’t know that was even possible.”

I yawned. It had been a long time since I’d slept. “Rare, but possible. And that’s my news. Sorry, I acted way more excited about it earlier, but now I’m dead tired.”

“So you just told Fisher and then he brought you home?” Rose … she was such a little devil.

“No. We talked about some other things. He’s seeing a therapist, but don’t say anything in case I’m not supposed to share that information. He saw Brendon the other day, so he mentioned that because Brendon recognized him. Then we talked about other random stuff, and I trimmed his beard.”

“You trimmed his beard?” Rory laughed, locking the door to the deck.

“Yes. Another secret you have to keep. I did it once before too, but he wanted everyone else to think he’d done it so he didn’t look incapable of doing it. You know how he can be.”

“Yeah, but he got his cast off. Why did he need you to do it again?” Rose’s eyebrows peaked with too much curiosity.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. He asked. I had nothing else to do, so I did it. You know, some guys get their beards trimmed professionally. Maybe it’s easier for him to let someone else do it. Maybe the cast is off but his arm has lost some muscle and it needs to build up strength again. Maybe he was just using me because he’s too lazy to do it himself.”

“That was nice of you, sweetie.” Rory kissed my head and shuffled down the hallway. “I’m going to bed, ladies. Shut off the lights.”

Rose slowly closed her computer.

“Night.” I tried to make the same quick escape that Rory made.

“Reese,” Rose said.

No escape for me.

“Yes?” I turned slowly, already deflated from the speech she hadn’t yet given me but knew it was coming.

“Is there something to tell?”

I promised I would tell Rory if the day came that there was something to tell.

“Not yet.”

Her head tilted to the side. “Are you sure?”

After several seconds, I nodded slowly, but I couldn’t hide what she saw on my face—worry and fear.

“Night.” I sulked to my bedroom and shut the door. As I sat on the end of my bed, my door opened slowly. Rose squeezed through the partially opened door and softly closed it behind her.

I blinked and the tears escaped. “I love him,” I whispered as Rose kneeled in front of me, resting her hands on my legs.