April is almost
over and it doesn't feel like we should be moving into the summer months.
Seriously, the weather is still chilly, there's a pandemic making everything
seem more lopsided and crazy, and it really just feels like we're still stuck
in 2019, right?
Anyway, slower than
usual week in television, but I did get several things watched. I started out
with finishing up the Roswell, New Mexico
episode and it ended up being pretty solid. I really want Maria to know what's
going on with everyone. Make that happen soon, dammit.
Caught another
episode of The Heart Guy and,
seriously, this show is growing on me. I'll have to recommend this one to my
brother, another fan of Aussie dramas.
The main reason I
didn't get a lot of my regular shows watched is because I got completely sucked
into the Battlestar Galactica
marathon on Syfy. It was so much fun catching up with cast members and seeing
them reminisce about the show. The marathon also made me long for the old days
when Syfy used to marathon shows on a daily basis. I miss those days so much. I
literally loathe the crap they show during the day now. Ugh.
Caught another
episode of Peak Practice, the final
one for the first season. A familiar face popped up, the man who plays
Brackenried on Murdoch Mysteries. That was fun.
Watched two
episodes of Danger Man for some
background noise. Both were episodes I didn't remember seeing in my initial
viewing of the series.
Also caught another
arc of Classic Who. I have one more
arc left with Three then will be moving on to the fourth doctor.
Watched another
series of Cirque de Soleil shows. The
talent the performers have amazes me. And the theatrical costumes and plot also
blow me away.
Started the second
episode of Picard, but the streamer
kept crapping out with error messages. Frustrating as that seems to be
happening a lot lately with various platforms. With so many people trying to
stream shows, I guess that's to be expected.
Same thing keeps
happening with Strike Back. I'm
almost finished with the fifth episode, but it's taken my three days to get
that far. Very annoying. But patience is a good thing.
That's it for
television this week. Tonight's post is from Breaking Ice, a sexy short that brings a couple back together.
Here's the
mini-blurb:
Bailee and Oakes have
a lengthy history of breaking each other's heart and leaving a long trail of
personal drama everywhere they go. But they finally have a shot at being on the
same page after going one on one in a charity sparring match, if they can trust
themselves to get it right this time.
And a sneaky peek…
Bailee stood beside the open
grave while the cemetery workers covered her mother's casket with dark, loamy
earth. "Bye, Mom." The long battle with cancer finally claimed Bette
Young.
Moving back and away from her
mom's final resting place, Bailee headed for the waiting car. The driver opened
the door and quietly closed it once Bailee slid inside. He'd return her to the
funeral home where she'd retrieve her vehicle, go home and change then greet
her two p.m. client for their hour-long session. After that, Bailee would hit
the training facility to meet Wade Blanchett to get ready for their exhibition
match.
Her phone pinged just after the
driver dropped her off by her SUV. "Bailee Young."
"Hey, Bay. You sure you want
to meet this afternoon? We can reschedule for tomorrow." Wade's voice held
sympathy and commiseration.
Bailee entered her car and closed
the door. "I'm doing what Mom wanted. She asked me to keep on track and
not make sweeping changes. She didn't want anything to possibly disrupt the
progress we've made." Not even her death.
Geez,
Mom. Ask for the world, why don't you?
Wade sighed. "Your mom was
something else." He covered the phone and a muffled conversation took
place before Wade came back. "Okay, we'll meet at three thirty, but
Frankie insists on having you over for dinner afterward. He won't take no for
an answer and you know he'll make my life hell if you don't agree."
Bailee's lips curved in her first
smile of the day. "We can't have that, can we?" Frankie Falsone pulled
Bailee out of obscurity and became her sponsor the cage fights.
He also happened to be Wade's
fiancé.
Wade huffed out a breath.
"No way. So, you'll come, right? Frankie's gonna make his grandma's
lasagna. Said we needed the carbs for the exhibition this weekend."
Bailee's mouth watered.
"Tell him I'll be there. I'd never refuse anything Grandma Falsone
created." The woman doted on her grandson and she loved the cage fights.
Wade passed her message along and
ended the call. Bailee pulled into her driveway and killed the engine. The hard
part came next—going into the house she'd shared with her mom the past two
years.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed
the door open. "Gonna be weird without you here, Mom." She skirted
past the sitting room that still had the hospital bed and various medical
equipment that a hospice center would pick up later in the week.
Running upstairs, Bailee shed the
wine-colored suit and traded it for her training clothes. She scrubbed off the
makeup she'd applied earlier and headed down out back outside to the small
studio she'd set up in the garage last year when her mom had taken a turn for
the worst. Unlocking the door, she gave the space a quick once-over. Neat and
tidy with everything in its place, the sanctuary filled Bailee with pride. No
longer under the financial burden of her student loans—thanks to Frankie's
sponsorship—Bailee now made a dent in the mortgage after her mom refinanced and
added Bailee's name to the deed.
A brief shadow clouded her proud
moment. "I'm back on track with fighting. My business is booming.
But…" She had no one to share her life with.
The stark future saddened her. While
her mom's life insurance would cover the funeral and take care of most of her
remaining medical bills—and Bailee appreciated not having to worry about either
of those—she almost longed for the days of financial disarray. And she'd miss
not having Bette any more.
Sighing, she grabbed a cold water
from the fridge. "Because the empty hours will give me too much time to
think." About the past and how she'd ruthlessly driven Oakes from her
life.
She missed him. More than she
liked to admit. She didn't want for male companionship but she didn't get
close. A few brief relationships that didn't last longer than a month or
so. Usually, she kept to short-term
hookups because Oakes held her heart, whether Bailee liked it or not.
And, geez, did she go back and
forth on that one. "Same old, same old." Laughing, she set the water
on the shelf and moved to the center of the space to begin stretching.
Wade and Frankie both thought she
should find a guy, settle down, and start training up and coming fighters.
Frankie kept nudging her to retire from singles bouts and help build the mixed
duo matches.
She paused in her warm-up.
"I'm not opposed to the idea. Just maybe not with Wade." She loved
the guy like a brother, but he had a nasty habit of getting stuck on the
injured roster.
Mainly because it gave him more
downtime with Frankie.
Bailee snorted. "I'm not
stupid." Wade loved a good cage fight but, at thirty-five, he'd earned his
stripes and deserved to have some rest and relaxation, especially with the
wedding set for next month.
A lavish affair where she got to
participate as Wade's best person.
The sound of an engine outside
interrupted Bailee's train of thought. Glancing at the clock, she nodded. Right
on time. Claire Robbins never failed to be punctual. She always wanted the full
hour and Bailee admired the woman's work ethic.
Claire approached the door, a
huge bouquet of mixed blossoms in her arms when she entered the studio. "I
hope you don't mind. I know your mom didn't want a lot of fuss, but these are
for you … to brighten what has to be a downer of a day."
Bailee's heart twisted a little
when she accepted the flowers. "Thank you. They do make a statement."
She carried the bouquet over to the small counter and placed them in the center
of the space. "A very nice one." Touched by the gesture, Bailee
turned to face Claire wearing a wide grin.
Claire smiled, clearly relieved.
"I didn't want to overstep the whole trainer-client relationship, but I'm
glad they're okay." She moved to the center of the floor and started her
warm-up stretches.
Bailee's gaze went back to the
lovely floral display. Today might not end up being as hard as she'd thought.
She still had a hard workout with Wade and a lasagna dinner to look forward to.
And preparing for the exhibition match would keep her busy for a while … and,
hopefully, keep the loneliness at bay.
This story keeps
taking twists I'm not expecting and I love it!
That's it for this
week. Happy reading!
Skylin
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