Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

ice-blue eyes freezing the edges off her fun.
    “Just having conversation,” she replied.
    His jaw tightened.
    Guess he wasn’t receptive to her sarcasm as the entertained crowd. She glanced at Aidan. He was much more in tune to her mood. He had the tattooed crewman in a head lock, while the skinny one lay unconscious on the floor at his feet.
    Judd dusted himself off as Davida helped him regain his footing. Aidan’s lips smiled at Sonya, and she couldn’t help but curve hers in return. Garrett took the whole thing in, and his icy look frosted over.
    “I want to press charges,” Kendrick boomed.
    “What for?” Sonya asked. “Kicking your butt?” The crowd chuckled with her.
    “She came in here and started a fight,” Kendrick returned. A few agreements came from the spectators.
    “Is that true, Sonya?” Garrett asked.
    She smiled, enjoying every minute of this evening. “He threw the first punch.” She motioned to the nodding crowd. “I have witnesses.”
    “Did you throw the first punch?” Garrett asked Kendrick.
    Kendrick tightened his lips and, if possible, turned a deeper shade of purple.
    “Judd, take statements.” He pointed to Aidan. “Start with him. Back up is on their way.” Garrett grabbed Sonya by the arm. “ You are coming with me.”
    “Hey,” she sputtered. “I want to press charges.” She pointed to her swelling cheek. “He did hit me first.”
    Garrett took a step and stumbled. He caught himself, and then reached down and picked up a roll of quarters Sonya dropped during the tussle. His incredulous look met hers. “I suggest you keep your mouth shut and come with me.”
    Looked as though the fun was over.
    She glanced back as Garrett pulled her out of the Pitt, her gaze finding Aidan. She mouthed the words “thank you.” He grinned and winked at her. Then she caught the murderous look Kendrick sent her.
    Chills erupted on her skin. Had she just made matters worse?

C HAPTER T WENTY- F OUR
    “Pick the place,” Garrett growled once they were outside the Pitt. He still hadn’t let go of her arm.
    “What?”
    “You and me. We are going to talk. Your choices are the Calypso , the cannery, or the Double Dippin’. Since you’re so concerned over what everyone else thinks, pick the place, or I will.” His expression was firm and left no room open for discussion. “If I choose, I guarantee you won’t like where I take you.”
    The Calypso wasn’t even an option. No way would she willingly board a trooper boat. Nowhere at the cannery was private enough. Whatever he had to talk to her about would be all over the bay by next tide if they went there. He hadn’t mentioned Red Fox Camp. She didn’t want to have any “talk” around her grandparents. Plus, when they found out what she and Aidan had pulled tonight, they would conduct their own “talk” with her.
    That left the Double Dippin’.
    “Fine, my boat. But you’re not taking the Jeep.” She pointed to the big brown vehicle with Alaska Wildlife Trooper printed on the doors. “I’m not having that trooper beacon parked next to my boat. We’ll take my 4-wheeler.”
    She stomped to the ATV, not liking that she would be seen with Garrett in his uniform traveling the short distance to the Double Dippin’ . How many fishermen could be out and about? Most should be sleeping. “Here.” She picked up the rain jacket she left on the seat of the ATV and handed it to him. “Put this on.”
    He held his ground, refusing the jacket. If anything his expression went from firm to stone. “You need to get over your problem with my uniform.”
    “Not going to happen.” She shook the jacket as though to reinforce that he needed to put it on.
    “Sonya,” Garrett growled.
    The little hairs on the back of her neck rose and she put the jacket on herself. Maybe if she hunched over and pulled the hood over her head, no one would know Garrett was with her . The news of him dragging her out of the Pitt was probably already traveling the cork line. Especially since Davida had been a witness.
    With no choice, she got on the 4-wheeler. He mounted behind her. A thrill shot through her as he climbed on. As angry as she was, sexual heat mixed in. She closed her eyes and tried to filter out his enticing scent of power. Closing her eyes was the wrong thing to do. If anything it brought to focus all that he could make her feel.
    She revved the ATV and jerked it into gear. She headed down the dirt road to the cannery, and then down