Sunday Snippet: A Nice Gesture

The Last Ship might be the death of me. Last week's episode had my heart pounding. I forgot to breathe during the escape from the minefield, which happened toward the end of the episode. Then, I live tweeted that I'd be drinking like five shots of alcohol for fortitude because there was still time for something else crazy to happen—with only three minutes left in the show! And, of course, something else CRAZY did happen. LOL What a way to end.

Killjoys is seriously becoming one of my very favorite shows. I'm completely sucked into what's going on and in love with the subtle nuances and shifts in relationships. I have a sneaky suspicion there's going to be a big payoff for some of the dynamics being set into motion. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Dark Matter has a terrific cadre of women characters. I'm interested in the newest addition to the crew and hope she sticks around for a while. Not to take away anything from the men. They hold their own, too. Nice to see a familiar face acting alongside the android in this episode. Okay, maybe not alongside, but in the same vicinity. LOL

Still no Strike Back this week due to a crazy schedule again. But… with the sad news of Jerry Doyle's passing, I'm very happy to be in the middle of a Babylon 5 rewatch. Almost finished with season two and looking forward to starting the third.

Tonight's post is from A Nice Gesture, a sexy short that started with a two-word prompt. I'm hoping to release several closely themed shorts together in an anthology in the near future.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Marah Timm and Teague McCallister work at Humpberry Farms for their summer break. Marah is prickly and standoffish, but Teague recognizes the lonely soul in need of a nice gesture.

And a snippety peek…

Teague appreciated the invitation, but didn't expect the offer. He'd made more than enough for two and even had small cake tucked in the refrigerator. Now he'd be able to see Marah's face when she discovered the surprise.

He nodded toward the food. "If you'll allow me? I'd be happy to serve up the meal." Picking up a large spoon, he held it over the baked ziti until she lifted her chin in agreement. "You could get started on the salad. Love to know what you think of the dressing." Tucking into the pasta, he carefully transferred a heaping helping onto her plate.

Marah stabbed up a forkful of salad and slid the leafy greens between her lips then chewed slowly. Her eyes went wide and she groaned low in her throat.

After swallowing, she met his gaze. "Oh, my god. Did you make the dressing?" Her tongue swiped over her lips.

Teague gave a quick nod. "Yeah. Didn't have what I usually use so I threw some ingredients together." He held a breath, hoping she gave it a good rating.

Marah shoveled another forkful into her mouth. "It's orgasmic." She chewed and swallowed again.

Teague grinned and scooped out a helping of the ziti onto his plate. "A higher compliment doesn't exist." He added the steamed green beans to each setting and sliced the warmed bread into pieces.

Marah tilted her head to one side. "Not in my book." She straightened. "Again, thank you for this." She gave him a shy glance.

Teague lifted a shoulder. "I love to cook, and like I said…" He trailed off, unwilling to put a damper on her birthday celebration.

Marah finished for him. "Everyone deserves something special on their birthday." She reached across the table, placing her hand over his. "It's nice. And very rare for me."

Teague wanted to take the opening, ask questions, but he smiled instead. "Glad you like it." He poured wine into their glasses.

Marah finished her salad and started on the main dish. Teague quickly caught up and while they didn't talk much, the silence didn't seem awkward. Just two people enjoying a nice dinner together.

Teague used his bread to clean up the extra sauce on his plate at the same moment Marah started the same.

Marah chuckled. "Can't let any go to waste." She popped the last bite into her mouth.

Teague grinned. "Clean plate, happy stomach." He stacked his dishes and started to rise.

Marah waved him off. "I'll get the dishes." She let out a satisfied sigh. "When I can move again."

Teague laughed and stood up. "Hold that thought. Be right back." He ducked into the kitchen area and opened the fridge.

He didn't have an actual birthday candle, but there was a box of sparklers on the counter and he stuck one in the center of the cake and lit the end. Picking the desert up, he carefully walked into the dining nook.

Marah took one look at the surprise and her eyes filled with tears.

Teague stopped. "Uh, I'm sorry. You don't like cake?"

She shook her head. "No, it's not that. I love cake." Her voice wobbled. "It's been over five years since anyone's done anything for my birthday." She blinked the tears away. "And you don't even like me."

Teague put the cake on the table and drew her into his arms. "I don't know you, Marah. I'd like that to change."

She buried her face in his shoulder and let out a sob.

Kind of love how this one is coming together. My themed anthology might be something like nice guys finish first. I have a big soft spot for the nice guys out there. J

That's if for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Next Year, Same Time

Well, The Last Ship finally dropped another death on me. And of course it's someone I did like. That said, they weren't in my no kill zone so I'm bracing for impact this week. LOL I still think the president is a potential bad buy. There's just some slightly slimy about him, in my opinion.

Killjoys had a terrific episode. I seriously love having everyone show up, even if only briefly. I'm kind of thrilled Fancy didn't end up dying last season, and I realize this isn't the first time we've seen him, but I like watching him in action.

Dark Matter definitely has my interest. I did worry after the "meh" first episode, but since then, they've hit on all cylinders. Loving the interaction between Five and everyone else. I also can't wait to see what happens with the android.

Busy week kept me from sinking back into Strike Back, but I did watch more Babylon 5. One of my favorite things about season two is how things start coming together. Random bits that didn't seem to be important become so. I love that!

That's all for television this week. Tonight's post is from Next Year, Same Time, a novella that got its start with a scene prompt. Write a scene where your characters mark a milestone. I liked the whole idea!

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lita Vonn is a store owner who gets caught up in a bank robbery and makes a connection with the negotiator, Saber Reyes. Saber questions her desire to get together and offers an alternative suggestion—next year, same time, they'll meet at the coffee shop across the street.

And a snippety peek…

Saber marveled at Lita's ingenuity. He had no idea if she'd been in the military, but her quick thinking and constant information updates made the entire operation run a lot smoother. Confident she'd received his coded message, he gave the go for the takedown of Chuck Barnaby.

With one sniper shot and a battering ram to the door, the situation went from red to green in less than five minutes. The hostages came pouring out of the building and Saber did a quick headcount. When he came up one short, his gut twisted into a knot.

Surely they didn't lose anyone? None of the sitreps pinging in his ear mentioned casualties. Moving forward without thinking about it, he stopped when one last person exited the bank, flanked by two officers. A woman, wearing a quirky ensemble of business casual khaki pants and an olive green cardigan paired with a formfitting t-shirt, featuring a graphic screen print of a popular television show. Her feet were clad in black combat boots. The getup totally worked on her.

Lita. It had to be.

She blinked against the sunlight then got her bearings. When her gaze met his, a smile spread across her face. Walking ahead of her escort, she thrust out her hand.

Saber grasped her palm and shook. "Lita Vonn?" Her fingers trembled a little, but she nodded. "Saber Reyes. You did a terrific job in there."

She glanced down and blushed. "Thanks. My dad's former military. Taught me Morse code and made sure I used it when we went hiking or camping." A shaky laugh escaped. "Who knew it would come in so handy?"

Saber flashed a grin. Her no-nonsense ponytail and triple-pierced earlobe—just the one side—had an inappropriate surge of lust flickering in his veins. He immediately liked her, a rare occurrence.

His luck with relationships bordered on pathologically awful.

Tugging her aside, away from news cameras and microphones, he questioned her. "Are you okay? Need a paramedic to look you over?" She didn't look worse for the ordeal, but why take any chances.

Lita shook her head. "I'm okay. Seriously." She glanced over his shoulder. "But I'm very late in relieving my part-time help." Her fingers wiggled in a wave.

Saber turned spotting a young woman with blue hair standing outside a storefront. His gaze traveled upward to read the business name—Vonn Emporium. He directed his attention back to Lita.

Nodding toward the store, he asked. "Yours, I assume?" The window display showed an eclectic product line, books, colorfully woven tapestries, crystals, and an array of antiques.

Lita beamed with pride. "Yes. The name kind of gives it away, doesn't it?" She chuckled, the sound a little raspy.

Saber's lips curved in a smile. "Business owner and kick ass inside woman. I'm duly impressed."

Lita blushed again, but recovered quickly. "I'd love to have you stop by after closing. I could buy you a cup of coffee or dinner." Her gaze held a lot of interest and her tone suggested more would be on the table.

Saber had been down the hero-worship road before. Lita wouldn't be the first woman who'd offered to hookup after surviving a dangerous situation. But she is the first you've ever been tempted by.

Right. So not a good idea. Even if his body completely disagreed with him.

Saber offered a suggestion. "I'd love to, but I feel like I'd be taking advantage of a crappy situation."

Her disappointment showed, but she masked it quickly. "I understand. No problem." She started to back away. "You're not interested."

He jumped back in. "No, no. It's not a lack of interest. Definitely not." He moved a little further down the alley, hoping for a little more privacy. "Look, let's try this. If you're still up for coffee or dinner in six months, I'll take you out." He glanced away then met her gaze again. "You see, this isn't the first— Well, I mean—" Geez, he couldn't sound like a bigger dick.

Lita's eyes went wide. "Oh, my god. You've been burned before, haven't you?" Understanding dawned and she laid a hand on his forearm.

Saber shrugged. "More than once, so I'm gun shy. It's not you or anything."

Lita's lips twisted in a wry grin. "Good to know." She removed her hand and stepped away again.

Saber reached out, grasping her shoulder. "We could meet in the coffee shop across the street, say in January? Around this time." Probably stupid, but he hoped she'd be game.

Lita tilted her head to one side. "And if coffee goes well, we'll move on to dinner?"

He grinned. "Sounds perfect." He waited a beat. "And thank you."

She gave him a long, considering look. "I have a feeling the wait will be worth it."

Honestly, the title is a working one so be on the lookout for a change in the future.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Muse it Up

Another week of not losing any favorites on The Last Ship. Now I'm really concerned whoever is next will completely gut me. The Greens need to stay safe, at least long enough for a lovely family reunion. I actually fear something will happen to Mrs. Green because that's so not the obvious choice. I'll say this… if the president or Jacob the asshat reporter tries to harm her, I'll come after them. (In actuality, it'll probably be the blonde adviser—whose name I can't be bothered to remember—who does something awful to Kara, which, yeah, will add her to my list of 'deserves to die in a fire' candidates.)

Killjoys had a terrific episode this week. I'm excited to watch the next episode. Really interested in finding out more about Dutch's history, but I also want to see more about Johnny and D'Av, too. Sprinkling in small details about Pree, Pawter, and Alvis along the way is always welcome, too. I'm a little less into the whole nine thing, but I could become intrigued if they play that out a little over this season and really dive into it during the next season. (hint, hint).

Dark Matter jumped up on the interest chart again. I have a sneaky feeling there's been a switcheroo regarding One and I'm looking forward to finding out if my theory is correct. That said, I'm enjoying the dynamic with the remaining crew and the newcomers. We'll see if that continues. J

Babylon 5 and Strike Back rewatches are ongoing. I'm leaning toward a Banshee binge since I'll finish up Strike Back before B5 is complete. I'm also debating whether to start a few of the Netflix series I've wanted to dive into. Decisions, decisions.

Enough TV. Tonight's post is from Muse it Up, a novella prompted by the idea of a writer meets a new bartender at their favorite hangout.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nate Shaunessey can't get in the groove to write his new supernatural series. When he meets the new bartender, Hunter Gant, at his local pub, a muse is born. The only problem? Nate's afraid to tell her she's his latest inspiration.

And a snippety peek…

Nate entered The Library, climbed up onto a stool, and slumped over the counter. Defeated by his lack of a muse, he wanted a shot of something strong to wash away the bitter aftertaste of no progress for the third day. He'd never had a novel give him flaming fits the way his current one wanted to.

A shot of tequila landed in front of him and he glanced up to find a new bartender behind the counter. A smokin' hot looker.

She smiled. "You look like a tequila kind of man." She wiped the surface beside him with a towel. "I'm two for three on guessing tonight. Did I peg you right?"

Nate grinned. "Consider yourself three for four. Tequila is never a bad choice." He downed the shot.

The woman lifted a brow. "No salt or lemon? Gotta say I'm impressed." She poured him another.  "The name's Hunter Gant. Nice to meet you."

Nate stuck out his hand. "Nate Shaunessey." She had a firm grip and gorgeous eyes. "You're new here, aren't you?"

She nodded. "Yep. Started last night." She propped her arms on the counter. "You look like you needed the double."

Nate's lips quirked. "Been a long and unproductive day." He lifted the glass. "A double is exactly what I needed."

Hunter cocked her head. "Author, agent, or editor?"

He blinked and she laughed.

"They don’t call this place The Library for nothing. I hadn't worked more than hour before I realized a very bookish group called this place their home away from home."

He chuckled. "You're good." And fascinating. "And it's author, although not much of one today."

Hunter sent him a quick grin. "Blocked or distracted?"

Nate sighed. "A little of both, to be honest. I've hit a wall and can't seem to scale it."

Another patron took a stool at the other end of the bar, drawing Hunter's attention. "Be right back." She leaned in. "I think this guy's a vodka man."

Nate's lips curved upward. What an interesting woman, and he didn't really know much about her. He loved her look, though. Shoulder length hair pulled back in a serviceable ponytail, leaving her flawless face on display. Moss green eyes that filled with humor or understanding and drew people in.

Ideas started rolling through his head and Nate fought an urge to leap off his seat and dash back to his house.

Not yet. Too many details warred for space in his mind and he'd have to let them settle before he could focus on building a story. But at least he had concrete picture and images floating around.

Because of Hunter Gant.

Nate had found his new muse and he barely knew anything about her.

I'm enjoying how the pieces are coming together for this story. Can't wait to finish up and get it out there.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Monumental Headache

Well, The Last Ship didn't kill any of my favorites last week. On one hand, this makes me very happy. On the other, I'm now wondering when, who, and how much it will destroy me when they take out a crewmember. LOL

Killjoys continues to rock my world. I love the show so much. I also love seeing so many familiar faces from other genre shows. Same goes for Dark Matter. After a "meh" opening episode, this week's turned out to be so much better with the possibility of a few cast shake-ups. I'm a little iffy on where things are going but I'm in for the ride.

The rewatch of Babylon 5 is up to the start of season two. I'm also in season two of Strike Back. Summer is great for sinking into and revisiting old favorites.

Tonight's post is from Monumental Headache, a novella that started with the two word prompt of "Screw you."

Here's the mini-blurb:

Cadee Walsh has a high stress job and needs to blow off steam. She spends the night with Worth Pettigrew, recharging from the incredible sex. Imagine her mortification when she finds out he's her new boss.

And a snippety peek…

Worth hated to drop truth bombs, but bad news sucked no matter the delivery. "He saw me coming out of your house the morning after." Of course, Worth had no idea he'd be running into Cadee two hours later.

But Matt didn't care about the actual facts, only what he perceived as encroachment on his territory.

Cadee cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean, he saw you leave my house? Matt doesn't live anywhere near me." Her head straightened and her eyes went wide. "Oh, hell, no." She got up and paced back and forth.

The truth and scope of Matt's obsession settled over her, slowly, one tick of the secondhand at a time. Her face went through a range of emotion, realization, disappointment, fear, disgust, and finally anger. She sank back down onto one of the chairs, her gaze stony and determined when she raised it to meet Worth's.

She nodded toward a vacant seat. "I need to hear the rest." Her tone brooked no argument.

But Worth didn't trust their conversation wouldn't be overheard. He jerked his head toward the door and Cadee frowned but got up and followed him out into the hallway. She didn't pry or prod him for details, but stopped by her office to get her purse and jacket then met him outside in the parking lot.

Worth handed her a card with an address on the back. "Meet me here in ten." He popped the door open and slid behind the wheel of his vehicle.

He waited until Cadee pulled out into traffic before checking to see if they had an observer. Sure enough. Matt stood at the main doors with his arms folded over his chest. Worth backed out of his space, exited the lot, and merged into traffic. Watching his rearview mirror, he made sure no one tailed him.

I'm having some fun with this one. Cadee and Matt's unconventional first meeting adds a layer of conflict and it's interesting to write around.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Mixed Signals

Ahhh, The Last Ship makes me so very happy. And none of my favorites ended up dead in the last episode so there's that, too. I won't hold out too much hope for a death free episode tonight. Best to be prepared, right?

Killjoys came back with a bang. Gotta say I'm super happy to see it back on my screen. Here's hoping the whole season is as terrific as the premiere.

Dark Matter… eh, I was a little disappointed in the opener. That said, there are some interesting developments, especially given the ending. I'll reserve judgment before deciding if season two is a bust.

The finale for Wynonna Earp rocked. Fingers are still crossed for a second season. Some great seed were planted for future threads and I hope Syfy gives this show a chance.

Babylon 5 rewatch continues. I'm almost through the first season and so many little things I missed on the other viewings are popping up. I love when that happens.

Strike Back is also entertaining me with the same things happening. I catch small things I missed when I watched the first time.

That's it for TV this week. Hope everyone enjoys the fireworks shows if they like that kind of thing. Me? I'm happy watching them on what else… television. J

Tonight's post is from Mixed Signals, a novella where a friendly fire shooting has my couple revisiting their relationship.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Avery and Trigg, both undercover cops, can't keep their relationship going. Their work makes it hard to stay connected. When mixed signals results in Avery shooting Trigg in a friendly fire incident, she wants to set the record straight and maybe test the waters to pick up where they left off.

And a snippety peek…

Trigg closed his eyes and growled. "Probably not." His lids popped open and he met her gaze. "That's another reason you and me… a very bad idea." One his brain fought tooth and nail.

But his heart had armor-coated protection—especially against Avery. The one woman that had the power to raise him to the heights of ecstasy and send him to the depths of depravity, usually at the same time. Trigg didn't have the energy or the mental capacity to go a round with her right now.

He reached out, grasping her hand. "Look, I'm loaded down with pain meds and can't think straight at the moment." He squeezed her fingers. "Can we revisit this topic after I get sprung?" His thumb brushed over her palm.

Avery dragged her lower lip between her teeth, but nodded. "Sure. But I'd like to keep you company, if you don't mind. It's gotta be boring as hell in here." She slid her gaze to the side, almost shyly.

Trigg blinked, not quite certain the morphine drip hadn't caused a hallucination. Avery didn't do timid. Bold. Brash. Utterly daring. Yes. All of those. The change in temperament threw him and he kind of wanted to explore the new side she revealed.

Later. When he didn't feel like complete shit. But he could use the company.

He shifted his position and gave her a smile. "Having you stick around will definitely bust the boredom." A yawn escaped before he could prevent it. "But I gotta warn you. I drop off in the middle of conversations." He'd be happy when that didn't happen anymore.

Avery laughed. "Duly noted. I won't hold it against you." She dragged the chair close to his bed and settled onto the cushion.

Trigg leaned back and pressed the button to turn up the volume on the television. "I'm not fond of most of the crap that's on, but there's a terrific sci-fi show that starts in ten minutes." He glanced sideways. "You game?"

Avery gave him a slow grin. "As if you have to ask. And if it's the one I'm thinking of, I love it." She kicked her feet up on the lower edge of his mattress.

Trigg turned his attention back to the television. They'd always had a love for the same type of entertainment—action movies, science fiction fare, or creepy thrillers. The fact she continued to enjoy the same things comforted him.

And he could use the small measure of rightness the idea brought.

I love the whole idea of a couple who breaks up but can't let go because they're meant to be together.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin