Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

happened.
    “Sonya,” Garrett said, his voice sharper this time.
    “Hmm?” She’d really like a nap. Wanted to lie down and forget this even happened. Yep, now that sounded like a plan.
    Garrett caught her arm. “Hell, you’re wet clear through.” He steered her toward the pilot house, the action making her dizzy. “We’ve got to get you dry and warm.”
    He half-carried her up the stairs. She kept looking at her feet, wondering why they didn’t want to move. Guess they were already taking that nap she wanted so badly.
    “Judd, fire up the stove and heat some water. Damn fool was out there without her raingear and now she’s near frozen. I think she’s hypothermic or suffering from shock.”
    “Am not,” Sonya muttered, though no one seemed to pay attention.
    Garrett picked her up and set her on the bunk, stripped out of his jacket, and wrapped it snug around her. It was warm and dry from the heat of his body, and she wanted to snuggle into it and sleep for a week. “Stay here. I’ll get you some dry clothes.” He turned to Judd. “Watch her.”
    Sonya rested her heavy head back against the wall, her eyelids closing of their own volition. Words came at her like bouncing rubber balls, and she realized that another person had boarded her boat. Sounded like Skip. Great, just what she needed, another trooper. At this rate, they were swarming around her like mosquitoes. She hated mosquitoes. Dang blood suckers. Someone lifted her, and took Garrett’s warm jacket away.
    “No,” she murmured, trying to pull the jacket back over her. Why couldn’t everyone leave her the hell alone?
    “Hang in there, Sonya,” Garrett said.
    “Cold.” She tried to curl up into a ball but Garrett’s hands grabbed and yanked at her clothing.
    “I know, honey. I’m going to fix that right now. Guys, go away while I get her out of these wet clothes.”
    Frigid air slapped against tender skin as Garrett stripped her bare. She couldn’t help the whimper that escaped. Then he was stuffing her into a t-shirt, with a sweatshirt over that like she was a child. Next were soft, dry sweatpants, followed by two layers of socks. Garrett then wrapped her tight in a blanket.
    “Better?”
    “Hmm,” was all she could answer. Now, if she could get some shuteye.
    “I’m going to dry your hair now,” he warned as he pulled the hair tie out that held her ponytail in place. Next, he vigorously towel-dried her hair until it hung loose around her face in damp lengths. “Feeling any warmer?”
    “Fine. Sleep now.”
    “No sleep. Not until I know you’re warm and out of danger.” He sat her up and forced a hot cup of tea into her hands. “Drink this,” he ordered. Seemed like he was doing a lot of that. Wasn’t this her boat and wasn’t she the one in charge?
    He helped her hold the rim of the cup to her lips, and she sipped, grimacing at the taste. “Too sweet.”
    “Drink it anyway.”
    She took another sip and then pushed it away. “Enough. Tired.”
    “I know you’re tired. Your body’s shutting down. Fight it, babe,” he said, his tone quiet but hard.
    She looked into his worried eyes and found the strength to drink more of the syrupy tea.
    “That’s my girl.” He set the cup down and then began rubbing her limbs. “Why didn’t you tell me you were so cold? Why the hell didn’t you put on your raingear?”
    “Forgot. Worried about the boat.”
    “You need to take care of yourself or you’re no good to anyone. The boat isn’t worth your life, Sonya.”
    “If the boat sank, I’d be in the water.” She shuddered. “Can’t let that happen.”
    He moved to rub her legs and pricks of pain followed. She wanted to push him away, but knew that blood was returning to her limbs, and she’d have to bear through his ministrations. She hadn’t realized how much trouble she was in until her body started to seriously shiver in an attempt to warm itself. If she’d been alone—
    Judd and Skip entered the pilot house.
    “Give you enough time?” Judd asked, looking over Sonya with Garrett’s hands all over her. “Or do you need more?”
    “She’s getting her color back.” Garrett continued to rub her limbs, helping the blood circulate.
    Skip commandeered her captain’s chair. “You seem to be plagued, Sonya Savonski.”
    “Targeted,” Garrett corrected. “I take it you two saw for yourself the damage below?” At their nods, he continued, “This has gone on long enough. We’ve already got one dead