Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

it.”
    “Sonya,” he said through clenched teeth. “I understand that you are scared over the criminal mischief you’ve experienced. Picking a fight with me isn’t going to help you.”
    There was that “criminal mischief” phrase again. It didn’t matter if Peter said it or Garrett, it caused a shudder to run through her. Garrett was right. She wanted to fight someone and he was convenient. If she couldn’t have sex with him, picking a fight was the second best thing she could think of.
    She decided it was best to keep quiet. The only problem was that without the simulation of desire or anger, her exhausted body turned on her. She slid down the wall and sat on the floor. Her hat laid there where Garrett had dropped it when he’d grabbed her. She didn’t even have the energy to reach for it. She rested her arms on her raised knees and lowered her head.
    She was asleep before she shut her eyes.

    Garrett paced the confines of the old cannery, keeping his distance from Sonya. He swore he could smell her all the way over here. He’d never been attracted to a woman to where he couldn’t think around her.
    How did she do that? Turn him into a walking hormone. He’d had more control in high school than he did around her.
    “What time do you figure we’ll be able to reach the skiff?” He waited for Sonya’s response, and when it didn’t come, he turned toward her. Her head was pillowed on her arms as she sat hunched over on the floor, fast asleep. All his pent up passion reduced to a simmer. She was lovely, with her mouth partly open, dark lashes fanning her cheeks. She seemed done in. How long had she been burning the candle at both ends? How long did she think she could get away with it before she collapsed?
    The sooner he could get to the bottom of this the better for all of them. Lord knew he couldn’t take more moments in her company like the last few.
    He walked over and lightly shook her shoulder. On a snort, she jerked awake. He couldn’t contain the smile. She was adorable.
    “What?” She blinked and straightened like she hadn’t just been caught sleeping.
    His smile widened. “Let’s get down to the beach and see if we can reach your skiff.”
    She scrambled to her feet. He went to help her and then thought better of it. If he touched her again, he didn’t know if he could keep himself off her. Instead, he reached for her forgotten ball cap and handed it to her.
    She took it and flipped her pony tail through the opening as she put it on. Then she pointed at him, her finger going up and down. “Uniform.” The yawn that surprised her completely ruined her demand.
    “Not going to change. Deal with it.”
    She narrowed her eyes and then seemed to realize that she didn’t have much of a choice. Make that any choice.
    “Fine.”
    She made for the exit, but his next words brought her up short. “I’ll drive.”
    “The uniform is bad enough. I’m not going anywhere in the same vehicle as you.”
    “Sonya, be reasonable. You’re too tired to drive.”
    “I just had a power nap. I’m good to go.” She gave him a steady stare that clearly said, don’t mess with me.
    He let the subject pass since he’d be driving right behind her on the way to the Savonskis’ camp in the Jeep. “Let’s go then.”
    “I’ll go first. You wait five minutes, then follow.”
    He folded his arms across his chest. “Not going to happen. I’m leaving with you and following right behind.” He raised a brow when she opened her mouth to argue. “Say another word and I’m carrying you out of here and driving you to camp in my big brown trooper Jeep for all to see.”
    She snapped her mouth shut and turned on her heel. He tried not to enjoy his short victory or the view of her sweet backside as she swaggered out of the cannery to her 4-wheeler. That was one stubborn woman he was attracted to.
    Why couldn’t he go for an easy-going homemaker type?

C HAPTER T WELVE
    “The skiff would have to go dry in the mud,” Sonya muttered as she stared at the mudflat the receding tide had revealed. It seemed unassuming, solid even.
    The mud was anything but ordinary. It could be deadly.
    “Don’t worry, Sonya. We won’t let the mud take you,” Gramps said as he sidled up next to her and Garrett. “Will we, Peter?” Gramps had already greeted Garrett with a hearty handshake. It didn’t seem to bother him that a fish cop was on the premises.
    Peter, on the other hand, seemed to be in the same mind-frame