Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

to pretend to be “neighborly” with the old rednecks.
    “Having trouble?” Sonya asked Aidan. His actions, as he picked fish, were jerky and hasty. He didn’t take care with the net, ripping through the knotted diamond pattern when freeing the fish. This was the side of him that she hadn’t wanted to see again.
    Angry. Cruel.
    “Nope. No trouble now,” he returned, tearing the gills off a salmon as he yanked it from the net. Blood trailed down the silver scales as he threw the salmon into a brailer bag.
    Sonya glanced at Peter, hoping they’d been neighborly enough. She wanted away from here. Peter was talking quietly with Lana, coaxing a small smile from her. She’d give him a few more minutes to brighten the girl’s day and then they were history.
    “Was it necessary to shoot at Kendrick?” As soon as the words came out of her mouth Sonya could have kicked herself. She knew better than to pour gasoline on a raging fire.
    Aidan dropped the net, threw his fish pick down, and straightened to his full height of six two. His hard gaze met hers. Sonya braced herself for his biting comeback. His lips tightened, hands fisted, and then he glanced away. The muscles in his jaw flexed and then smoothed. He turned back to her. “I shouldn’t have shot at Kendrick. I’m sorry if my actions concerned you.”
    Whoa, so not what she’d expected.
    Aidan took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Thanks for coming over and checking on us.” He indicated Lana with the movement of his head, letting Sonya know that he was more concerned over how Lana was taking today’s mishaps than how his actions reflected on him. “Do you think Peter could invite her over later?” Aidan gestured behind him at Cranky and Crafty. “She could use a breather.”
    Did he know that caring more for his cousin than himself would lessen Sonya’s concerns? Sonya didn’t know what to think. Maybe Aidan had changed.
    “Why don’t the both of you come over for dinner after we pull the nets?” Sonya surprised herself by offering. “Grams will be cooking salmon.”
    Aidan’s face finally softened, and he smiled. “Isn’t she always?”
    Sonya shared his smile. “It’s what’s readily available. In fact, you can supply it tonight. That is, if you catch anything.”
    “Oh, I’ll catch plenty with enough to spare for feeding you and yours.” The gleam in his eyes raised a warning, reminding Sonya that flirting with Aidan wasn’t a good idea.
    “Yo, guys. We’ve got company.” Peter pointed to the RHIB with the two uniformed troopers fast approaching.
    Sonya’s heart did a quick jump until she realized that neither one of the troopers were Garrett. Good, she told herself. She didn’t need another run-in with that particular fish cop. Hell, what was she thinking, she didn’t need a run-in with any fish cop.
    The trooper cut his engine and drifted over, their wake rolling under them, rocking Sonya’s and Aidan’s skiffs.
    “We had reports that shots had been fired in this area. Any of you know anything about that?” asked the big burly trooper not piloting the RHIB.
    Sonya glanced at Aidan. Aidan waited for her to give him up to the cops. “Nope. Haven’t heard anything. Just fishing here.”
    “Uh, yeah,” Peter interjected, following Sonya’s lead, though she wished he’d keep his mouth shut. “Maybe someone shot at a bear. You know how sound is distorted over water.”
    The burly trooper stared at each of them individually and then seemed to come to a decision. “Well, since we’re here, we might as well check your permits and fishing licenses.”
    Sonya reached for the sealed bag with the requested materials, kept secure and close to hand in the Velcro pocket of her chest waders.
    Damn fish cops never missed an opportunity.

    Garrett stood on the deck of the Calypso and let the night wash over him. It had been another day full of craziness. Fishermen were a breed apart, most of them gifted with more than their share of deviousness. He should be sleeping, gearing up for another day of insanity, but instead he was on deck face turned into the wind.
    Did he hear music? The wind was making a racket as it blew its heart out, but…music?
    He strained to catch the notes as they waltzed on the wind.
    Sonya . She had to be playing her violin.
    “What is that?” Judd asked, joining him.
    Struggling to hear the music, Garrett hadn’t heard Judd’s approach. His SEAL sense must be taking the night off. It had been