Page 11 of The Oath Operation
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.
ChapterEight
They arrived at Birdy's office thirty minutes later, having taken Jules' car. Fish had no qualms when she had indicated the passenger seat. He'd nodded, but instead of reaching for the passenger side door handle, he'd rounded the car and opened the driver's side door.
At first, Jules thought she was about to have a fight on her hand. Amari always insisted on driving, even if it was Jules' car. Fish didn't reach for her keys. He simply opened the door and stepped back as though he was waiting for her to climb in. A full minute later, Jules realized that was indeed what he was waiting for.
Once she'd climbed in, he'd waited again. His gaze shifted pointedly to the seatbelt at her shoulder. Not until she was securely strapped in did Fish gently shut the door and round the back of the vehicle to climb into his side. Once buckled in, he lounged back in his seat, looking supremely comfortable, like he didn't have a care in the world.
Jules started the vehicle and pulled out onto the street. The drive to the law office was quiet. Not a tense quiet like the few times she'd driven Amari around. Amari had winced and squirmed and gasped at every left-hand turn, every yellow light, anytime she put on her blinker to change lanes. Not Fish. He didn't tense or wince once.
He was always quiet. Had been since the day she'd met him. The only sounds she normally heard the man make were grunts of assent or groans of appreciation. Those groans were always after he'd taken a bite out of whatever pastry she'd put in his hands.
Fish had become her taste tester of sorts. She'd concoct new recipes each week, eager to have him try them out Monday morning, when she would listen for that groan of appreciation. Amari rarely indulged in any of her pastries. Come to think of it, he barely made a sound when he kissed her.
"Do you want to do it together?"
Jules slammed on the brakes, causing the car to jolt to a stop. They both lurched forward, their seatbelts catching them just before they hit the dashboard.
"Sorry!" Jules eased off the brake, pulling into a proper parking spot. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"Everything all right?"
Jules' mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, most of them centering around Fish. The way his broad shoulders filled out his shirt, the spark in his eyes she had never noticed before, those faded smile lines around his mouth. Mostly, she found herself thinking about what it would be like to kiss him, to feel his lips against hers, to taste the sweetness of his breath.
"You didn't answer me. Do you want to do it together?"
Jules' heart pounded as she stared at him, then at his mouth. She struggled to find her voice.He can't be asking about kissing, can he?That wasn't part of the agreement. But it would be when they said their vows.
Fish tilted his head, waiting for her response. "Do you want to go in together to see the lawyer, or do we do it separately?"
Jules' mouth rounded in an O, and she let out a nervous laugh. "Oh, right. Together. We're going to do it together." Then her eyes went big, making two more O-shapes. "I mean, we're going to go in and talk to the lawyer together."
She reached for the handle of her door. Fish's large hands came to rest on her forearm. A shiver ran through her flesh at the spot where he touched her.
