Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

Garrett swallowed as though the words had been difficult to vocalize. “What happened, Sonya?”
    “What always happens when couples aren’t meant to be, we had a fight that couldn’t be resolved.”
    “What did you fight about?”
    “We’ve already been over this.”
    “And we’ll go over it again until I get the full picture.”
    “Fine.” She sighed in resignation. “Fishing, remember? We fought over me wanting to drift.”
    “Why did that break you up? Why weren’t you able to work through it? What else happened?”
    Here was where it got tricky. If she told him that Aidan had hit her, she knew where Garrett would go with that information. “You need to understand something about Aidan. First, his father, Cranky—I mean Earl—is a real bastard. Aidan grew up in a house where his parents fought. A lot. Earl beat his mother, and even though Aidan hasn’t said as much, I think he even beat Aidan.”
    Garrett’s mouth thinned. “Go on.”
    “That night we fought it got…physical.”
    “He beat you?” His eyes turned to steel.
    She took a long time answering but then couldn’t find a way around it. “Yes.”
    “He hit you, and you don’t think he could be a part of this?” Garrett threw his hands out to the sides. “A man who would raise his hand to a woman has no limits.”
    “I knew you wouldn’t understand.” She folded her arms. The night air suddenly turned chilly.
    “Understand what? Don’t tell me you think it was your fault? You are not one of those women who feel that they are to blame. Come on, Sonya. Tell me you hit the son of a bitch back?”
    This man did know a thing or two about her. “That’s beside the point. What I’m trying to get across was that when Aidan hit me, it scared him as much or more than it did me. He hasn’t touched me that way since, and I called an end to the relationship. According to Aidan, he’s been getting help. He hates what his dad did to his mother and is determined not to turn out like him.”
    “That’s all a nice fish tale, but who’s to say part of Aidan isn’t just like his father? A part he can’t control. I’ve seen it happen before. Dual personalities: one tows the line, the other is psychotic and believes that if I can’t have her, no one else can.” He ran a hand through his short hair. “Sonya, Aidan doesn’t have an alibi for the night of Kendrick’s death. Nor can he verify his whereabouts for when your window was shot out. Not to mention, he had the perfect set up to mess with your skiffs.” Garrett indicated the Harte’s camp up the beach.
    “Yeah, but you’re forgetting, I’m his alibi for when Wes was hurt and for the damage that was done to the reel.”
    “Maybe he had an accomplice. His dad? His uncle? Possibly both of them?”
    Sonya vehemently shook her head. “I don’t buy it. Aidan wouldn’t do that to me. He loves me.” He’d told her that very afternoon how much he still loved her, and she believed him.
    “Psychotic, remember?” Garrett tapped his temple.
    “He might be troubled, but he isn’t psychotic.”
    “Sonya, right now, you can’t trust anyone. You can’t let whatever you feel for Harte cloud your judgment. You need to be on your guard.”
    “What about you? Should I be on my guard against you?”
    He paused. “Yes.” Then his next words threw her into the deep end of the pool minus a lifejacket. “For starters, there’s part of me who hopes you’re pregnant, because it’ll insure that I’m part of your life, regardless if you want me to be or not.”
    “Whoa.” She held her hands in front of her as panic and pleasure warred inside her. “Back up the boat.”
    “Babe, the boat’s sailed.” Garrett took a threatening step, scowling down at her. “Do you have any idea what I want to do with you? How hard it’s been to concentrate on my job today having you within reaching distance and not being able to touch you?” He hauled her against him now, his body making an impression on hers that caused her knees to weaken. He lowered his face, the breath of his words caressed her lips, prompting them to part with wanting. “If Harte feels about you half the way I do, I feel sorry for the bastard.” Then he crushed her lips under the plundering pressure of his.
    Her world tipped, or was it Garrett pulling her off her feet? Either way, she knew the ground she walked on was shaky at best.
    Rather than do what she should and put an end to this, Sonya scaled his body,