Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

with, a promise to him for tomorrows she didn’t even know if she had, was too much to ask. It was up to him to make sure she had those tomorrows.
    Then maybe she’d give them to him.

    A piercing boom jolted Sonya and Garrett awake.
    “What the hell was that?” Sonya asked, pushing hair away from her eyes. Garrett had already vaulted out of bed, one leg in his pants, before Sonya even sat up.
    He finished buttoning his pants, and bare-chested, reached for the gun he’d tucked under his pillow. “Stay here.”
    “Oh, I don’t think so.” She jumped out of bed and struggled into the Under Armour that Garrett had stripped from her only an hour or so before.
    “Sonya, I don’t have time to argue with you.”
    “Then don’t, because I’m not staying put.” He looked like he wanted to strangle her. Too bad. She wasn’t the type of woman who took orders.
    She was the type who gave them.
    Garrett crept up the ladder, his gun leading the way, with Sonya hot on his tail. Another whistling bang rocked the night. It sounded like she’d anchored her boat on the frontline of a war zone. Then realization dawned and she started to laugh with relief.
    “What’s so funny?” Garrett asked as he climbed into the pilot house and helped her up the last rung of the ladder.
    “Fireworks. Cranky and Crafty are celebrating the Fourth of July.”
    “They’re a week late.” Garrett cautiously peered out the window, motioning for her to stay down below the level of the glass.
    “Weather’s been bad.”
    “I don’t like this.” Another explosion rumbled and flared, lighting up the black sky.
    “That was close,” Sonya said, worrying her bottom lip.
    “Each one’s sounded closer than the last.” He peered out through the window again. “How far away from shore do you think we are?”
    “What time is it?”
    The face of Garrett’s watch shone green as he checked the time. “Just after two.”
    “High tide isn’t until three. I’d say we’re at least a couple hundred yards. Why?” She was afraid she already knew why.
    “In case we have to make a swim for it.”
    She choked out a laugh. “Are you crazy? We’re on a boat! We pull anchor, I fire up the engines and we’re out of here.”
    “We might not have that kind of time.”
    Then she heard what he obviously already had. The coughing of a skiff’s motor followed by another boom.
    This one rattled what was left of her windows.
    Garrett took another peek and quickly slunk down next to her. “Some bastard’s shooting bombs at us with a slingshot,” he grounded out. He grabbed the mic to the VHF and radioed the Calypso , filling them in on their situation and location.
    All the words ran together in a buzz of static for Sonya.
    “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and tried to haul her out of the pilot house. She pulled back, her feet planted like spruce trees.
    “I’m not leaving my boat.” Her voice shook and her body followed suit.
    The captain always went down with the boat.
    “Sonya, I know you’re scared. But we don’t have time for this. He gets any closer and we’re in trouble.”
    “W-what about your g-gun? You can shoot him.”
    “I’m damn well going to try. You need to be ready in case we have to make a swim for it.”
    She shook her head, until hair flew in her face from the force of it. “I can’t s-swim, Garrett. I can’t.”
    “I’ll be with you. It’ll be okay.”
    It didn’t matter. She couldn’t get in that water. If she did, she was dead.
    Garrett pulled her from the pilot house and down the stairs, to kneel next to the rail of the boat. The skiff sounded like it was right alongside the Double Dippin’.
    “Kyra! I know you’re there with that bastard.”
    “ Kyra ?” Garrett asked, a frown marring his forehead.
    “My mother.” Sonya was just as puzzled as the look on Garrett’s face. “I think that’s Cranky. He’s confused me for my mom before when he’s drunk.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “Didn’t think it was important.” She ignored the narrowed stare Garrett sent her.
    “Last chance, Kyra,” Earl Harte yelled from the skiff as it motored around the side of the Double Dippin’ where they were hunched down out of sight. “I won’t let you leave me for another man. Not again.”
    Garrett motioned for her to stay down as he rose to peek over the side of the boat. He quickly knelt down and whispered in her ear. “I can’t get a bead on him. The skiff’s in the shadow of the hull. Can