Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

sale,” Peter said, a dreamy look on his face as he gazed at Lana.
    “The one that he wrecked last fall?” Sonya asked. A motorcycle? What about tuition, books?
    “He fixed it up and promised me a good deal. Don’t worry, Ducky, I know what I’m doing.”
    The hell he did. He was thinking like a teenager after a thrill, not a responsible adult with college on the horizon. The way he was puppy-worshipping Lana, Sonya knew he had visions of the girl wrapped around him as he drove her to some secluded place where they could be alone.
    “What about you, Sonya?” Aidan changed the subject, obviously realizing Sonya was ready to go all parent-like on Peter’s behind.
    “What about me?” she asked, looking at her cards but not really seeing them.
    “What great plans do you have this year? It will be hard to top last year, since you did go out and buy a drift boat.”
    What did she hope to buy with her money? If she actually made any. “I haven’t really thought about it.” Except to wait and see if she were pregnant. Then she’d need every cent she could scrape together.
    “Ah, come on. There has to be something you’ve been wanting?” Aidan pressed, laying down three jacks and ruining the straight she had going.
    “Actually, what I would love right now is a pint of Haagen-Dazs black raspberry chip ice cream,” she finally said.
    “Ice cream? You are my kind of woman.” An uncomfortable pause followed Aidan’s slip.
    “Just so you know, if I had a pint I wouldn’t share one bite of it,” Sonya added and was glad when a few laughs followed her words. The afternoon had been going along fine and she’d felt like she and Aidan were on better footing. His gaze toward her now was bittersweet, but he smiled as though he was grateful for her dispelling the tension. Sonya realized then that even though they were no longer together, not losing the friends and family connection was just as important to Aidan.
    “Well, I plan on buying a cherry red ’67 mustang,” Wes said, closing his eyes and humming. “Man, that is one sweet ride.”
    “You and the cars,” Peter said. “Don’t you already own, like, five?”
    “Your point?” Wes asked in all seriousness, which had everyone chuckling.
    “How about you, Aidan?” Sonya asked. “What grand plans do you have this year?”
    “A house.” His smile was wistful. “I’ve always wanted a real home, and I hope this year, with what I’ve been saving, I’ll have enough for a down payment.” His eyes met hers again but then they dropped to the cards he held in his hands.
    Sonya knew Aidan’s greatest wish was to have a family of his own, and she felt a twinge of sadness she couldn’t help provide that for him. He really was a good man and someday, if he continued to work on his issues, he’d be a great one.
    “Well, would you look at the grown up?” Peter said. “You live in downtown Seattle, right in the heart of the city. Why would you want to trade that for mowing a yard, fixing a sink?”
    “Because it would be mine. A place to raise a family. All the things that make life worth living.” He looked at Peter. “Someday you’ll realize that.”
    “Hopefully not any day soon. I’d like to play a bit before I’m saddled with all that responsibility.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Lana said, picking up a card, shuffling it to the left and then discarding a four from the right of her hand. “A man who’s looking to make a life with someone is real attractive.”
    Peter seemed to sit a little straighter at her words, though Sonya doubted he totally got their meaning. He picked up a card and laid down three sevens, leaving him with only two cards in his hand. “There’s plenty of time for that stuff.”
    Sonya glared at the hand she’d been dealt. She had nothing. “Time flies faster than you think, wolf man.”
    It was Wes’s turn. He laid down three aces and discarded out, winning another hand. How did he do it?
    “Sorry folks.” His smile clearly said he wasn’t.
    “Ah, man. Not again.” Peter tossed his remaining cards down on the bunk.
    “I’m just glad we aren’t playing for money.” Aidan started counting up the points left in his hand, but then paused, and cocked his ear to the side. “Sonya, I think you’re about to have company.”
    “Double Dippin’ prepare to be boarded .”

C HAPTER T HIRTY- T WO
    “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Sonya wiped a circle through the fogged up window with the sleeve of her