The Lost Fisherman
by Jewel E. Ann
Self-Published
Book 2 in the Fisherman Duet
It’s been five years since I’ve seen him. An unexpected event takes me back to the place where it all began.
But I’m no longer the naive young woman he once knew. And he’s no longer the man who took nearly everything from me.
Can this be our time? Or is it too late? Did I find myself only to lose him?
Genre
Triggers
Amnesia from motorcycle accident, Cheating
The Lost Fisherman is what made this duology worth it for me.
For a multitude of reasons.
Reese is not just legally an adult now. She is an adult.
She grew up. She did exactly what she needed for herself, and what Fisher wanted for her. She found her passion in life. She started living by her own moral compass, and trusting her feelings.
She became a character I could get behind.
Another thing I liked - the tables have turned. Whereas in The Naked Fisherman, Fisher is secure with himself, and Reese was the lost one, in The Lost Fisherman, Fisher is the lost one.
He remembers his family. His job. His passion. His friends.
He doesn't remember Reese - or his childhood friend and fiancé.
Messy, but forbidden and delicious.
The chemistry that I felt was missing in the first book was in this book. Now that there is some equal footing between them, the chemistry and tension between these two is perfection.
This is a spoiler, so if you haven't read this book yet, I'm sorry. But it might help you ... digest ... this story better knowing ahead of time.
I don't like romances where there is cheating. I hated loving Reese and Fisher together, and loving them together so much. While reading this book, I loved them, while also feeling terrible for his fiancé. Learning that he had called off the wedding before his accident was a gamechanger for me.
I went from being mad at myself for condoning the cheating, to being happy that it wasn't cheating. He broke up with his fiancé, didn't remember doing so, and she was taking advantage of that to carry on with the wedding.
Gross.
Comparing Reese and Fisher's relationship in The Naked Fisherman and The Lost Fisherman shows just how much Reese has grown, and how compatible they are. One of my favorite parts of the book is at the end, when -yes, another spoiler - he tells her he is glad he didn't take her virginity.
Reese's virginity was seemingly such a big part of the first book.
It was never about her virginity.
It was about who they were at the time. Fisher was aware of the unhealthy dynamics in their relationship. She was eighteen, ten years younger than him. She had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. It was her first time away from her grandparents and the incredibly sheltered upbringing she had. It was her first time encountering situations that rebelled against the religious teachings she was brought up with.
She was innocent, naive, and her virginity was a symbol of all of that. If he took it when she tried giving it to him, it would have been the end for them.
She would have never left.
Would have never grew up and experienced all she had in the five years apart.
Would have never found her passion, or embraced her own thoughts and feelings.
He was right by saying her virginity was a bomb.
Let's add in the fact that she is happy she never gave it to him - superb. That with her growth, she recognizes that he was right.
They loved one another, but it wasn't their time.
Another thing I loved about this book was seeing how close Reese and her mom are now. At the end of the last book, Reese learned the truth about her mom, and why she ended up in prison. Despite her inner thoughts questioning her religious teachings, she needed time to deconstruct, and trust herself. I love that she not only loves and embraces her mom, but her mom's girlfriend as well. The homophobic thoughts Reese had in the first book are nonexistent now, which makes this book much more palatable in my opinion.
The Lost Fisherman was the perfect conclusion to this duology. The full arc of Reese and Fisher's relationship, and Reese's growth throughout the two books was the highlight of these books for me, and I now understand the love that other's have for this duology.
Fisher: “She’s fine. Really. A beautiful stranger. I was clearly a lucky man.”
Reese: “Was? You survived a pretty intense accident on your motorcycle. I’d say you’re still lucky. And you still have a fiancée. What’s the problem? Are you having erectile dysfunction issues? It’s not uncommon after accidents.”
He choked on his beer and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Fisher: “What the fuck? No. Why would you ask me that?”
I took his beer and helped myself to a long swig. A little mixing of saliva. He raised a single eyebrow. Yeah, Fisher … I’m not the deer-in-the-headlights girl you don’t remember. I swap saliva. Drink beer. And have sex. Sometimes I even touch myself because it feels “good.”
Reese: “I’m a nurse. It’s strictly a medical question. It can be hard on relationships when accidents impair sexual function. And sometimes it’s not a physical disability as much as it’s an emotional issue.”
Fisher: “My dick works just fine.”
Reese: “Maybe you should do something that takes your mind off your situation.”
Fisher: “What’s my situation?”
He grabbed the beer bottle back from me and frowned when he noticed it was empty.
Reese: “Your arm is still in a cast. I’m sure your family is still coddling you. And you’re living with a stranger who wants you to get fitted for a tux so she can take your name and have your babies.”
His lips twisted. After a few seconds, he nodded several times.
Fisher: “That’s not entirely inaccurate. So what distraction do you suggest?”
Reese: “I could give you some of my crossword puzzles to work on.”
There it was again. That look. The one I missed as a nervous eighteen-year-old girl with an insane crush on the naked fisherman. The one I didn’t miss when we took dinner to his house after he came home from the hospital and I told him about my hobby.
Fisher: “Why do you keep mentioning puzzles? I’m not sure I even like crossword puzzles.”
Reese: “No?”
I did his signature head cock.
Reese: “Huh … I thought I felt a vibe. Must not have.”
Fisher: “A crossword puzzle vibe?”
Reese: “Something like that.”
My lips pressed together to conceal my grin.
Rory: “Dinner’s ready,”
Rory said as she opened the door. Fisher’s gaze stayed glued to me, just where I liked it. Where it belonged.
Reese: “Need help standing?”
I pushed off the pillar and held out my hand. Shaking his head, he leaned forward and stood on his own while mumbling,
Fisher: “I don’t need help getting anything up.”
Reese: “Believing you can is half the battle,”
I murmured back to him as I headed into the house. It was just a whisper, but I felt pretty certain he said,
Fisher: “Smart ass,”
as he followed me into the house.
Reese: “I think love—the good kind—holds an equal mix of wonder and familiarity. That feeling like you know someone, yet you also know parts of them are still a mystery that you can’t wait to slowly discover. If there’s no wonder, I think the love can die. If there’s no familiarity, I think the love already feels dead. If I were the one marrying you, I would be bothered more than I am. But you chose her.”
Rose: “Angie packed a bag and has decided to stay with a friend. I think you visiting her fiancé will feel like a big deal.”
Reese: “Well, then we won’t tell her because they’re puzzles, not nude photos of me. I’m saving the nude photos for closer to Christmas.”
Rose: “Reese!”
She playfully punched my arm as I giggled.
Fisher: “Come prepared. I’m going to kiss you until your lips go numb.”
I pressed said lips together to keep from grinning.
Fisher: “I might even make a play for second base. Dress accordingly.”
I snorted, no longer able to contain it.
Reese: “Who are you?”
Fisher: “According to you, I’m the lost fisherman. Just trying to find myself.”
Reese: “And you think you’ll find yourself on the way to second base with me?”
He glanced over my shoulder into the distance, head bobbing a little bit.
Fisher: “Maybe not on my way to second base. Third base …”
His lips twisted.
Fisher: “That’s a much higher possibility. I think a home run would make me not give a shit if I found myself or anyone else for that matter.”
Fisher: “You need to get back before you freeze to death. How am I supposed to do things to you later if you’re frozen to death?”
I laughed.
Reese: “Your biggest concern about me dying is what that means for you getting to second base? Do you need me to grant you a special ten-second rule?”
Fisher: “I’m listening.”
He tipped his chin up while glancing down at me.
Reese: “I die. You get ten seconds to fondle me before it will be considered perverse.”
Fisher’s eyebrows crawled up his head.
Fisher: “You’re one sick chick.”
Reese: “Is that a yes or a no?”
Fisher: “It’s a solid yes, but I just want it on record that it was your idea.”
Reese: “Noted.”
Reese: “Fisher …”
I whispered in his ear as he kissed along my cheek.
Fisher: “Hmm?”
Reese: “Teach me.”
Fisher: “Teach you what?”
His knuckles ghosted along my other cheek.
Reese: “Everything.”
Fisher: “The only memories of my past I want to get back … are the ones of you.”
Reese: “Did you tell your therapist about me? I know it’s none of my business, but—”
Fisher: “Yes.”
He opened his eyes. I nodded slowly, pressing my lips together.
Fisher: “I told her I’m engaged to a woman I’ve known nearly my whole life. But I’m in love with a woman I’ve known for a breath, maybe two.”
Reese: “This is so messy.”
I gave him a cautious smile.
Fisher: “That’s how we know it’s real.”
Reese: “You’re one, Fisher.”
Fisher: “One in what?”
I opened the door, and he closed it behind us.
Reese: “Not in anything. Not one in eighty thousand. Not one in a billion times infinity. You’re just one. The one.”
Reese: “What are you doing?”
He stood on the trail, arms crossed over his chest.
Fisher: “What do you mean?”
Reese: “I mean, why are you standing there, staring at me?”
Fisher: “I’m keeping a watch out for you.”
Reese: “But you’re staring at me. I’m not going to pee with you staring at me.”
Fisher: “I’ve seen you naked.”
Reese: “And I’ve seen you naked, but I don’t want to watch you pee.”
Fisher: “I didn’t say I wanted to watch you. I said I’m keeping a watch out for you.”
Reese: “Turn around.”
Fisher: “Just hurry up.”
Reese: “I can’t hurry up! I have to remove my boots and my jeans.”
Fisher: “Why are you removing your boots?”
Reese: “Because I have to remove my boots to take off my jeans.”
Fisher: “Why are you taking off your jeans?”
Reese: “Because I don’t have a penis!”
And then … a middle-aged gentleman made his way down the trail, hearing me loud and clear, a tiny grin pinned to his face as he glanced over at me with my jeans unbuttoned and unzipped.
Man: “Morning.”
Fisher smiled and gave the guy a little chin nod. I dropped my face in my hands.
Reese: “Kill me now,”
I whispered.
Fisher: “I’ll turn around.”
He chuckled.
It was one thing to hear someone tell you they love you. It was something entirely different, infinitely more special to hear them say the words to someone else like it was a three-word explanation for their existence.
I love her. I was the luckiest her in the world.
Reese: “Yeah. My dad’s parents would not be caught dead having Thanksgiving here.”
Fisher: “Why?”
Reese: “Because their ex-daughter-in-law not only went to prison for growing marijuana, she also kissed a girl.”
Fisher: “And she liked it.”
I giggled.
Reese: “She did.”
Fisher: “We messed around on the pool table. In your bedroom. My closet. My bed. The downstairs kitchen. My workshop.”
I halted at his words, but I couldn’t turn around because I wasn’t sure if I was really hearing what I thought I was hearing.
Fisher: “And we slept on the screened-in porch one night after I went out with Rory and Rose. You tripped at one of my job sites and ended up with a nail in your hand. I carried you to the truck. And the whole way I smelled your hair. And I thought … if I could spend the rest of my life smelling her hair, I’d die a happy man. Did you know that? Did you know how much I liked the smell of your hair and the floral scent of your skin, and whatever you put behind your ears and down your neck? Yeah, that shit drove me crazy insane.”
I couldn’t turn around. Or blink. I could barely breathe. But I could cry. And I did. So, so much. He thought. If he thought. He knew. If he knew. He remembered … everything.
Fisher: “Five years ago, I loved you and you loved me. It was really fucking messy … but we were real. It just wasn’t the right time. Our timing seems to always suck. And I’m sorry about that. But you’re here. And I’m here. And my best friend from high school is in town for the next two weeks, and you should come play pool with us.”
I turned a degree every second, like a ticking clock, until I faced him—that gleam in his eyes.
Fisher: “I love you today.”
He shrugged a shoulder.
Fisher: “And I’m going to wake up and do the same thing tomorrow.”
Fisher: “I didn’t dump you. I dropped you off at your house, but I didn’t dump you. You were the one who left me with the parting words of ‘I will never regret not giving you my virginity.’”
Fisher used a feminine voice while mocking me.
Reese: “Well I don’t.”
I tipped my chin up. Even with a pocketful of his cum, I had no regrets.
Fisher: “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?
Fisher: “You carried that V-card like a bomb. I wanted nothing to do with it. The responsibility? Given the fact that you were eighteen and clueless as to where you were going in life? No thank you. You can ‘not regret’ not giving it to me all you want. But I ‘not regret’ not taking it from you even more.”
I like riled-up Fisher. I’d always liked that version of him. It was hot. There was no other way to describe it. Virgin lottery. V-card bomb. Double-downing on not regretting his decision. The intensity in his jaw when he clenched his teeth, showing a little animalistic anger. That was a “yes, please” from me.
Reese: “Wanna do it again?”
I said, reaching for the button to his jeans.
Fisher: “Fuck yeah, I wanna do it again.”
He grabbed my face and smashed his mouth to mine.
Reese: “What are you doing to your closet?”
Fisher: “I’m making an access door to the other room.”
Reese: “Why?”
He kissed his way to my neck.
Fisher: “Because it’s going to be a nursery.”
I turned slowly, eyes narrowed.
Fisher: “I’m pregnant,”
Reese: “Stop.”
I giggled.
Fisher: “I think it’s yours, but I’m not going to lie … Shane and I had a few drunk nights.”
Fisher: “Can I do it now?”
Reese: “Do what?”
I asked with a soft voice, running my fingers through his messy hair.
Fisher: “Can I love you forever?”
I swallowed a little emotion that had been building since I saw the closet.
Reese: “Yes.”
#agegap #alpha #cheating #firstlove #forbiddenlove #girlnextdoor #lovetriangle #new #oppositesattract #secondchance #secretidentity #slowburn #smalltown #trauma #wallflower
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