Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
N o one stopped Amari as he stormed away from the community gathering. Fish found that interesting. Both he and the good doctor were outsiders in this town. Their only connection to the community was the Chou women. What Fish found so interesting was that Amari could heal their wounds and save their lives. Fish fed them, and it would appear that meant more to them.
Or at least it meant more to them when it came to who they thought was best for Jules.
No one batted an eyelash when Jules linked an arm through Fish's as they headed to the parking lot. Well, that wasn’t true. Eyelashes were batted. Brows were waggled. Catcalls were whistled. But not one person at the gathering seemed in the least surprised that Fish and Jules had wound up together. So much for his stealth skills.
Twenty minutes later, Fish pulled up to Jules's apartment building. The words she'd spoken prior to Amari's departure still played in his mind. She didn't want a divorce. She wanted to stay with him. She was ready to go home. Like the snow plow she called him, Fish would give her her every wish.
As he parked the car, Fish glanced down at Jules's left hand resting between them on the passenger seat's armrest. At some point during the drive, she'd slipped the ring off the necklace and placed it back on her finger. The sight of his ring on her finger, instead of around her neck on a chain, sent a possessive surge of emotion through him. That ring—a symbol of their bond, however unconventional—looked right at home on her finger. It belonged there, just as she belonged with him.
"Do you want to come inside for a bit?"
Fish was momentarily lost, captivated by the way her lips moved to form the words. All he could focus on was the delicate curve of her mouth. The slight upward tilt at the corners. The warmth that radiated from her expression. Every fiber of his being was drawn to her, as if she were the center of his universe.
He ran the words over in his head again, but by the time he gleaned their meaning, her lips were stretching into a shy, inviting smile. It was utterly mesmerizing. It rivaled the midday sun. It cooled any of his lingering reservations and doubts about what they could be to each other. It was a smile that told him she wanted him close, that she trusted him, and that she maybe even needed him.
The words she spoke echoed in his mind, but it was the way she looked at him, the way her lips formed those simple words, that made it impossible for him to think of anything else. His throat tightened, and it took a moment before he could finally respond, his voice low and filled with the emotion he couldn’t quite keep at bay.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
Fish felt the weight of his love for her pressing against his ribcage. He would follow her anywhere, do anything she asked, because he was so deeply, irrevocably in love with her.
They walked up to her apartment in silence, the air charged with unspoken words and emotions. Once inside, Jules closed the door and turned to face him. Without a word, she reached out, grabbing his shirt and pulling him to her. Her lips met his in a passionate, hungry kiss.
If he thought the sight of her lips mesmerized him, the feel of her mouth against his was a detonation. Fish's world narrowed to just the feel of her against him, the softness of her lips and the intoxicating scent of vanilla that always seemed to cling to her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss.
Relief, joy, longing, and love all mingled together, overwhelming his senses. Jules' fingers tangled in his hair. Her body pressed against his. It was as if all the barriers between them had finally fallen, leaving only the raw, undeniable truth of their feelings.
Fish's hands roamed her back, feeling the warmth of her skin through her shirt. He marveled at the way she fit against him, as if they were made to be together. The kiss grew more intense, their breaths mingling, hearts racing in sync.
Jules tugged at him, and without thinking, he followed her, their lips still locked in a passionate embrace. He heard a thunk against the floor, followed by another. He found himself having to dip lower to keep the connection with her mouth. Belatedly, he realized Jules had kicked off her shoes.
Her hands were on his shirt, undoing the buttons there. She got the top two open and then she was tugging at him. When Fish realized she was pulling him toward her bedroom, he put on the brakes and gently pulled away from the kiss.
"Jules," he said, his voice husky with emotion, "we can't take this into the bedroom."
"Why not? We’re already married."
She launched herself at him again. Fish caught her. Of course he did. He would always catch this woman. But he pinned her arms to her sides so that he could keep his head since his heart was long ago lost to her.
Fish took a deep breath, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "You wear my ring, Jules, but I’m not yet in your heart. Not like you're in mine." He swallowed, the confession heavy on his tongue. "It was love at first sight for me."
Jules blinked, taken aback by his words. Her arms went slack in his hold. Her hands came up, but not to grab seductively at him. She rested her palms against his chest. She searched his eyes, her own filled with surprise and something else—something that made his heart ache with hope.
"Everyone else in this whole town saw it." Fish grinned, a gentle, teasing smile that softened his features. "You were the only one who didn’t."
Jules pursed her lips, as if deep in thought, her eyes never leaving his.
Fish couldn’t resist; he leaned in and brushed a gentle kiss over her lips. He felt the spark between them, the electricity that made every touch feel like a promise. Before the kiss could deepen, he pulled away again, his resolve firm.
"I want to date my wife," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "I want to woo you, Jules. I want to show you just how much you mean to me, in the hopes that you might feel even a fraction of what I feel for you."
Jules swallowed thickly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She nodded, a small, hopeful smile tugging at her lips. "Okay, Fish. Let's go on a date."
Fish leaned in for another deep, lingering kiss, savoring the moment. He loosened his hold on her arms, and her hands slid around his neck. Slowly, he placed her feet back on the ground, but not before he felt every inch of her sliding down the front of him. When they finally parted, he forced himself to step back, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "Be ready for the best date of your life."
Jules laughed softly, her eyes shining with affection. "I can’t wait."
With a final kiss to her forehead, Fish ushered himself out the door, his heart light and his spirits soaring. For the first time in years, he felt truly happy, a genuine smile playing on his lips as he walked away from her apartment. The future seemed bright and full of possibilities, and he couldn't wait to start this new chapter with Jules by his side.