Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

Garrett said. “Why is Aidan fishing with you today?”
    “Aidan? H-he wanted to understand the drift operation.”
    “He picked today of all days to do that?”
    “Another coincidence,” Judd interjected, clicking his tongue.
    “How?” she asked. “There is no way Aidan could have brought that onboard without one of us seeing him.”
    Garrett unzipped his trooper jacket, took the gaff hook, stuffed it in his jacket, and then zipped it out of sight.
    “No.” She swallowed past the bile that had returned. “I don’t believe it. I won’t. There are other ways to plant something like that. Someone could have dropped it onboard during the night. Or-or planted it when I grabbed a quick shower at the cannery this morning. I was gone about twenty minutes.”
    “Those are possibilities,” Judd seemed to agree until he continued, “but wouldn’t you have heard the gaff if someone dropped it onboard during the night? Aluminum boats aren’t known for muffling sounds, quite the opposite in fact.”
    “I wasn’t paying attention to noises last night.” A bomb could have gone off right on her deck and she wouldn’t have heard it, not with all her attention centered on Garrett and what he’d made her feel. She stole a glance his direction and wished she hadn’t, as his eyes reflected the same memories she knew hers did.
    “Judd, table the gaff for now.” Garrett’s gaze returned to Sonya as he pulled the hook free of his jacket and held it in his hand. She would never look at another gaff the same again.
    “We’re back to who wants to hurt you, Sonya.” Garrett leaned against the stove and folded his arms across his chest. “It obviously wasn’t Kendrick. So we need to go back to the beginning and figure out who wants you off this water. We need names fast, because whoever he is, he proved he’s willing to kill to do it.”

    “Sonya, no matter what the cops might think, I didn’t plant that gaff hook on your boat,” Aidan said once more as they reached the beach in front of their camps.
    Sonya wearily ran a hand over her face. She didn’t know what to think. Aidan did have opportunity but did he have motive? The Double Dippin’ was currently anchored near the running line in front of the cabin with Peter and Wes onboard until she returned.
    If she could keep Aidan walking toward their camps, maybe he’d turn in the direction of his when they reached the creek. It had been a hell of day and she didn’t see it getting any better. Particularly with the upcoming meeting with her grandparents. It was hard to believe it was only late afternoon. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
    It seemed like weeks since she’d been back at camp, when in reality it had only been a day. By the time fishing ended, she’d need a month of sleep to recover from the season. She noticed the outboard engine laying on a tarp under the bluff and almost laughed. She’d bet a steak dinner Gramps had gotten that miserable thing to run. He was probably waiting for Peter or Wes to help him get the outboard bolted onto the skiff.
    Aidan grabbed her arm and turned her toward him. She’d almost forgotten he kept step with her. “Sonya, you’ve got to believe me. I would never do anything to hurt you.”
    She raised a brow. “Never?”
    “Never again.” Frustration shown clearly in his expression. “How long are you going to make me pay for that?”
    “Name it, Aidan. Name what you did to me.” Hell, she didn’t want to go down this path. She was tired. Tired of crap drifting her way. Tired of men complicating her life. Getting into it with Aidan wasn’t something she wanted to face right now. Especially considering the answers she might get.
    “Believe it or not, the night I hit you scared me to death.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I saw the monster inside me clearly that day. I’d watched Earl beat my mother time and time again. I hated him for it. Still do. But when I couldn’t get you to do what I wanted, I turned and did the same to you.” He grasped her shoulders. “To the woman I loved. Seeing what I was becoming scared the shit out of me. I got help, and I will continue to get help. There is no way I’ll let that ever happen again. I refuse to be my father. Sonya, I love you. Give us another chance. We were good for each other.” He dropped his forehead to hers, his arms inching around her waist. “Don’t believe the worst of me anymore. Please.”
    “Aidan.” She felt