The Lost Fisherman (Fisherman, #2)

by Jewel E. Ann

“Nine down. Extravagant boasting.” I didn’t know, so remained silent so he’d think I didn’t care. “First letter is G, fourth letter is C.” I still didn’t know. “Gasconade.”

“You knew I liked crossword puzzles. That’s why you mentioned it. You were trying to jog a memory. But I hadn’t forgotten about my love of crossword puzzles. I also hadn’t forgotten that I didn’t tell people about it. But you knew. That’s why you made them for me. That’s why you tease me with twelve across. I liked you. That’s the only reason I would have told you. I liked you a lot. I wouldn’t have told you had I not liked you a lot. Because Angie knows I won spelling bees, but she’s never mentioned the puzzles. She’s oblivious to it, which means I never told her. So … the question I have for you is … did you know I liked you?”

Matt Maeson’s “Hallucinogenics”

Fuck fairy tales. Seven across. Hint: Disloyal. Ungodly. Faithless.

“I know it’s not the way you imagined … it’s not the way I imagined … but your little girl is in love. And it’s big. And all-consuming. It’s scary. It’s exhilarating. And real. So if you want to be the mom you didn’t get to be when I was going through my teenaged years, then I’m going to need a hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on as I fight like hell to get my prince.”

Judah & The Lion’s “Only To Be With You.”

“You are my favorite place in the world.”

That spoke to my soul, that place that defined us because we were everywhere our souls took us.

“Stop eyeing my cock while licking your lips.”

“I like this on you.” He tugged the strings to his hoodie. “Not as much as I like me on you, but it’s nice.”

I giggled. “How dare your mom express such gratitude for her child on Thanksgiving.”

“You can’t be in this position…” he hiked the hoodie up, completely exposing my bare butt “…with callipygian tattooed on your very sexy and shapely ass…” his knee nudged my legs apart a little wider “…and not expect me to fuck you.”

“I’m always running from you because you are the worst, Fisher Mann. The. Worst. You make it impossible to love you and just as impossible to not love you. But the worst part is you make it impossible to be with you. And you just … let me go. All the freaking time.

“I love you today.” He shrugged a shoulder. “And I’m going to wake up and do the same thing tomorrow.”

If I accepted his love and gave it freely back in return, there were Biblical rules about love I’d have to follow. It was never jealous or demanded its own way. It wasn’t irritable. It didn’t keep record of being wronged. Love never gave up. Never lost faith. Love was always hopeful. And it endured through every circumstance.

“Were you ever going to come for me?” Fisher smiled that glorious, unmatchable grin, and it instantly sent a new round of burning tears to my eyes. It blew my heart up like a balloon, and it rattled my stomach, sending those familiar, tiny wings aflutter. “I was thinking about it.” “I found my lost fisherman,”

“You remember.” He grinned. “I remember. I just had no idea the memories of us would be so … NSFW.

when it happened, when I remembered the feeling, it felt indescribable, in some way like the universe was laughing at me. How could I have not known? Not like my brain forming the memory, more like my soul tapping on my heart and saying, ‘Yo, dumb ass, remember her? We love her. ‘We will always love her.’”

“You know, I can’t play pool anymore without getting an erection. Do you have any idea how awkward that is when you’re playing against a dude?”

“Nice to finally meet you. This guy hasn’t shut up about you in days. After two beers, everything turns into Reese-this and Reese-that.” Shane sipped his beer in one hand while resting his other hand on the pool stick. “That’s not true.” Fisher rolled his eyes

“It only takes one beer for me to talk about you. But I think about you all the time. And sometimes…” his whisper got even softer “…I touch myself.”

“You invite me over for bakery fun. I brought extra frosting! Then I get here only to discover it’s a sausage fest.”

“You had me. Before I got my memory back, you had me. I thought this first love of yours was a total schmuck for not taking it if you offered it. But now I remember why I wasn’t camping out all night to be first in line for the virgin lottery.” I bit my lips to keep from laughing. Virgin lottery? “You carried that V-card like a bomb. I wanted nothing to do with it.

The intensity in his jaw when he clenched his teeth, showing a little animalistic anger. That was a “yes, please” from me. “Wanna do it again?” I said, reaching for the button to his jeans. “Fuck yeah, I wanna do it again.” He grabbed my face and smashed his mouth to mine.

“Can I do it now?” “Do what?” I asked with a soft voice, running my fingers through his messy hair. “Can I love you forever?” I swallowed a little emotion that had been building since I saw the closet. “Yes.”

“Are you going to say yes?” I asked after she blinked a thousand times. Lifting one shoulder, she relinquished a grin. “I’m thinking about it.” “Thinking is overrated.” I took the ring and placed it on her finger just before kissing her. “Say yes,” I mumbled over her lips. She kissed me while nodding, and when the kiss ended … it was another glorious yes.

“Are you going to kiss me?” She slowly rubbed her lips together, teasing me as usual. “I’m thinking about it.”