Sunday, March 24, 2019

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

Whew. Very long week where focus became a huge hurdle. Without getting into a whole too much information thing, hormones are a total pain in the ass and not a lot of fun to deal with. Bleh.

Decent viewing week in television. Caught another episode of Endeavour and it ended up being pretty terrific. Two more episodes of season five then a wait for season six.

Next up… Roswell, New Mexico. This show has been eating my brain in a really good way. I caught up on all the back episodes and started a rewatch already. Seriously, I haven't had a show do this to me since Battlestar Galactica and Arrow. I'm going to be so disappointed if Roswell, NM doesn't get a second season.

Started an episode of Midsomer Murders and it's rather interesting to see Jones sporting a beard. The character looks so different, especially when glasses are added to the mix.

Caught another episode of The Sarah Conner Chronicles and it's one I'd forgotten about. Only six or so more episodes before the end of the line. Also caught the next to last episode of Birds of Prey. I'll finish up that series and head back to Blade on CW Seed.

Watched the fifth episode of Strike Back and loved the twist and reveal of who Kingfisher actually is. Gotta say I didn't see it coming and loved not knowing. Things will get very tricky now, or more tricky because this show doesn't do anything else. With luck, the DEA agent will meet with a satisfying end. Just saying.

Caught an episode of Chicago Fire and have to comment how nice it is to not have the squirrely deputy commissioner in my face anymore. I'll keep saying that in the hopes he'll never grace the screen again. I'm still kind of "bleh" about Stella and Kelly's breakup. A little too contrived and disappointing.

Watched a Classic Roswell episode. I'd forgotten how much of an ass Kyle is in the first season. Geez.

Also caught a couple Classic Who episodes. Getting ready to watch the Time Meddler episodes, which should be fun.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of creating a scene with dancing, a kitchen, and a belt. The implied abuse angle is definitely there.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Of all the bars in the city, I walk into the one Prosper Bates works in.
Her dad taught Drew everything he knew about music. He should've recognized her right away. She had Monroe's eyes and the slight cleft in her chin matched his.
But… Monroe hadn't seen his daughter in a long, long time.
Drew nodded toward the door. "Are you leaving? Can I walk you somewhere?" He paused a moment. "Or do you maybe drive to work?" He shouldn't make assumptions.
She tilted her head to one side, a small curve to her lips. "Do you really have no place better to be at three thirty in the morning?"
He lifted a shoulder. "Not really." Did he sound as lame as he thought? "I, uh, well—" He broke off, chuckled, and started over. "I work nights so I'm up until all hours. Three thirty is about the middle of my day." God, what a dickhead thing to say.
Prosper leaned in closer to him. "I'll let you in on a little secret; it's pretty much the same for me." She moved back behind the bar and flipped a switch, dimming the lights. "And I'm not headed home, but you can join me if you want." She grabbed her jacket and small purse and came back around to his side. "I always stop in at Wakeman's Diner after work and get some much needed home cooking." Heading for the door, she quirked an eyebrow.
An invitation he wouldn't refuse. Even if it might put him in a tough spot.
He gave her a quick nod. "I'd love to. Is that the converted railroad depot?" If so, only a few blocks north of the bar.
She exited the building and swept her arm in that direction. "It is. And they have the very best home fries you'll ever eat." Draping her jacket over her shoulders, she waited on him to join her on the sidewalk then locked the door.
He sent her a sideways glance. "Does George live here?" He hadn't seen the owner leave.
She shook her head. "Nope. He always uses the back entry to come and go. And he scoots out pretty quick."
He fell into step beside her. "Wait, did he leave you there alone with me? What if I'd been an ax murderer?"
Prosper laughed. "You wouldn't have made it through the front door. George is a retired cop. He reads people better than anyone I've ever met." She stopped outside the diner's main door. "And, for the record, I don't ask people I just met to hang out with me after work. This is a first." She tugged the door open and breezed into the warmly lit restaurant.
Drew paused a moment, enjoying the way she greeted the employees with a bright smile and a hearty wave. "Man, I'm already in over my head here." But he wanted to know more, everything, about her.
Entering behind Prosper, he settled across from her in the booth she'd chosen. She held up two fingers and the waitress gave her a thumbs-up then spoke to the cook. She grabbed a pot of coffee and two mugs and started in their direction.
Drew raised his eyebrows. "What was that all about?"
Prosper flashed a quirky grin. "I ordered for us. Trust me. You're going to love it."
Drew honestly didn't doubt her word. The food could taste like sawdust and he probably wouldn't notice.

Drew is going to fall hard and Prosper will break all her rules. This one is fun to write!



That's it for this week. Happy reading!


Skylin

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