Hooked Read Online Free PDF Page A

still enjoy the sport. Man had tried, but he hadn't killed all the behemoths yet.
    Idle thoughts don't always behave. My imagination began to conjure up a ripe little body in a skimpy bikini wrestling a rod taller than she was. I'd met plenty of lady anglers at tournaments and they were just as good as the guys and equally taken with the thrill of the sport. I decided I'd like to share that unforgettable moment when your first big fish leaps out of the water with Lara. I began to imagine what it would be like to teach Lara about the sport and wondered if she'd get as much of a thrill out of it as I did. The thought of her in a bikini, slick with sweat as she fought a fish was a tempting image.
    Bass Pro was next door, so I went over and milled around the store for a while. There seemed to be an unusually large number of brown haired girls in there.
    I didn't need any new lures, but the Black Barts were too pretty to resist. A few more plastic squid were added to my huge collection. I hoped I'd get lucky enough to lose one to a hungry fish real soon.
    The sun was setting behind me as I walked down the pier toward El Lobo. I watched her rock gently, bathed in the pink and orange of sunset. She was as beautiful a boat as ever cut through the Gulfstream. Tomorrow couldn't come quick enough. It was almost insulting to see her bumpers barely grazing the pilings on the dock. She reminded me of a thoroughbred horse at the starting gate.
    I headed straight for Mrs. D's stateroom. She'd be itching to get out after a whole afternoon cooped up in there. She chattered in excitement on the other side of the door when she heard my approach and greeted me as if I'd been gone for weeks instead of hours. Her enthusiasm for me never waned.
    I reached into my pocket before her quick little hands could get there. She knew I'd have gummi bears in there. I always picked up a good supply of them for the journey at the Bass Pro check out. She greedily popped the first one in her mouth and barely chewed it. "You know you're only getting three," I told her, "I wouldn't gobble them down like that."
    But it was always the same. As smart as she was, the little white-faced animal always inhaled the first two bears and only slowed when she got the final one. Then she deliberately decapitated it between her sharp teeth and nibbled the body down to nothing.
    "You're a cruel little girl, Mrs. D. A cannibal for bears." She tried her best to worm another piece of candy out of me, but I resisted. I had to laugh when she patted my pocket with her tiny hand and gave me 'the look'. "No way. You aren't supposed to have sweets at all. Let's go get some air. That's a lot healthier for you than sugar."
    She jumped up on my shoulder, bobbing up and down in excitement. I headed out onto the deck and found Richard playing with some lures in the cockpit. He was checking the leaders and making sure the big marlin hooks were rust free and ready to go.
    "Practicing your macramé?"
    "You know when I'm bored I have to pick up my knitting." It was a joke that Richard occupied himself with the tying and re-rigging of tackle when he had nothing else to do. It wasn't necessary but he was a high energy man. I tossed the bag of Black Bart's beside his feet. "I bought some more toys at Bass Pro."
    Richard peeked into the bag and whistled. "Just what we needed. Another two thousand bucks worth of plastics."
    "They'll give you something to occupy your hands."
    Mrs. Dalloway saw an opportunity and made a dash for one of the big colorful neon baits. Richard snatched it up and several others besides. The little monkey could easily impale herself on one of those monster hooks.
    "I guess Mrs. D is telling me to call it a day. Can I get you something when I go in, Boss?"
    "A little Goose on the rocks would be great. Have one with me."
    "Nah, the Grey's too hard on me. I'll stick to beer."
    "That bunny piss you call beer is abominable. But grab one and let's watch the sun set over Lauderdale.