Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
S tanding in the ruined bakery, Fish watched as the workers got started on the scarred remains. Crowbars dug into burned plywood, walls crumbled, and debris fell. Fish flexed his injured hand, eager to lend it to the reconstruction. The bandages irritating his skin halted that idea. He’d had worse scraps during his time in the military, patched up hastily in the field. The pretty and precise stitches Amari gave him felt like a mockery. A part of him wanted to rip them out, but he resisted, knowing it would only make things worse.
Surveying the scene, he noticed Jules at the far end of the bakery, arguing with a contractor. Her voice was raised in a rare display of frustration. He walked over, his footsteps heavy on the cracked tiles.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked, his deep voice cutting through the clamor of the worksite.
The contractor, a burly man with a clipboard, glanced at Fish and hesitated. "I was just explaining to Ms. Chou that what she’s asking for isn’t practical. It’s too costly and complicated."
Jules crossed her arms, her eyes flashing in irritation. "I know what I want, and I know it can be done. I’ve seen it done in other bakeries."
Fish stepped closer to Jules, coming toe to toe with the contractor. He wasn’t shy about using his size to his advantage. The contractor's throat worked as he tilted his head back to peer up at Fish.
"If Jules says it can be done, then it can be done. I suggest you find a way to make it happen."
The contractor shifted uncomfortably, glancing between Fish and Jules. "Well, I suppose there might be a way... It’ll take some extra work, though."
"Good," Fish said, his tone brooking no argument. "Then get started."
The contractor nodded quickly, muttering under his breath as he walked away to relay the new instructions to his crew. Fish watched him go, satisfaction bubbling in his chest. He turned to Jules, who was looking up at him with a smile that made his heart skip a beat.
"I was handling that," she said softly, but her eyes shone with gratitude.
"You shouldn't have to handle things like that. If you tell him"—Fish jutted the thumb of his uninjured hand to the contractor—"you want it done, I'll make sure it gets done. That's how partnership works."
She looked up at him, wide-eyed. Fish's gaze dipped to her mouth as she tugged her lower lip into her mouth with her teeth. He clenched his teeth together so that he didn't gulp and give away his desire. It was a secret he was still trying to keep from her while he worked out how to make her come to care even just a little bit about him in comparison to how she had captured his whole heart.
"We have an appointment with my cousin Birdy this afternoon. She’s a lawyer, and she’s going to help us get the prenup in order before we head to city hall this weekend."
Fish nodded, trying to suppress the mounting excitement in his chest. He didn't mind giving Jules the prenup. It would never be needed because he had no plans to annul this marriage or ever divorce this woman.
Jules narrowed her gaze at him, looking Fish over as though she was scrutinizing him. Had she guessed his intentions? Was she having second thoughts? He was sure his feelings for her were written all over his face. He had no idea how no one had noticed over the last year. Well, no one except Noah and Jacqui.
"Are you sure about this? I mean, you don’t have to do this. Marrying me... it’s a lot to ask."
Fish smiled, feeling the warmth of his affection for her radiate through his whole being. He wanted to reassure her, to make her understand that this was more than just a business arrangement for him. But now was not the time. He would have the rest of his life to convince her to take a chance on him.
"I know what I’m doing, Jules. I’ll be honored to be your partner."
Jules ducked her head, her smile shy. Did she guess that he meant he wanted to be more than a business partner to her? Could she see the plans he had to expand their partnership into something personal?
"There's my girl."
The creak of the front door opening preceded the nails on a chalkboard sound of Amari's voice. His presence inside the smoked-out bakery brought a slight chill to the warm atmosphere. Then he made the mistake of reaching for Jules.
The only excuse Fish had for his actions was his training as a soldier. He stomped on a piece of wood in the floor that he'd noticed earlier was weak. The floorboard came up between Amari and Jules, bringing the doctor to a halt. Amari hopped back, lest the soot mar his fancy leather shoes or tailored suit.
Amari cocked his head to the side, looking from the floor to his shoes, and then at Fish, before lifting his gaze, which landed on Fish's hand at Jules' waist.
"You have to be careful in here," said Fish, not removing his hand from Jules' side. "It's a construction zone."
"Right." Amari cleared his throat and stepped around the board. "Right. Which is why I came to take my girl out to lunch."
"Lunch?" asked Jules. "We didn't make any plans."
"I came to surprise you."
"I can't. I have an appointment with Birdy about the prenup."
If Amari were a better man, he would've stared down the man who was about to marry his fiancée. Instead, the doctor looked at the construction workers hammering and banging in the periphery. No doubt his concern was on keeping the farce of a marriage a secret. Fish couldn't wait to relieve this fool of the treasure he didn't even try to guard.
"Fish, just give me a moment to get my purse."
Both men watched as Jules walked away. Fish gritted his teeth at Amari's gaze on the sway of Jules's hip. Soon, he would have the right to knock that look off the man's face. Soon, but not now. Right now, Fish found himself alone with Amari.
The atmosphere shifted from cool to cold. The faint scent of sawdust and the lingering aroma of baked goods mixed with the underlying tension. Amari’s expression turned smug, and he crossed his arms, looking Fish up and down.
"So, Fish," Amari began, his tone dripping with condescension, "this temporary…"—he gazed surreptitiously around the room again for prying ears—"…marriage of convenience with Jules, let’s make sure we’re clear on how this is going to go down."
Fish smiled calmly, a picture of unshakable composure. He’d been trained to lure enemy combatants into a false sense of security. This situation was no different.
"You understand that this is purely a business arrangement, right? You’re just helping her get her inheritance. After a few months, you get an annulment, and everything goes back to normal."
Fish nodded, his smile never wavering. "Absolutely. Just a piece of paper."
Amari’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he sensed something amiss but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. "Good. Because Jules has a future to think about, and she doesn’t need any unnecessary complications."
Fish remained utterly unthreatened by Amari’s condescension. He was a trained soldier, after all, skilled in the art of patience and strategy. "I agree. Jules’ future is the most important thing here."
Amari seemed to relax, lulled into a sense of false security. "Glad we’re on the same page."
Fish maintained his calm demeanor, all the while thinking how little Amari deserved Jules. She needed someone who truly understood her dreams and passions, not someone who saw her bakery as a mere inconvenience.
Jules returned, her purse slung over her shoulder. "Ready to go?"
As the door closed behind them, Fish flexed his bandaged hand, feeling the irritation of the stitches and the determination burning within him. He was going to help Jules rebuild her bakery, support her dreams, and show her the kind of love and passion she deserved.
And when the time was right, he would make sure she saw him not just as a business partner, but as the partner she truly needed in every aspect of her life. The battlefield had changed, but the stakes were just as high, and Fish was ready to fight for the woman he loved.