Sunday Snippet: Just Skip Dessert

Finally have a little bit of spring weather, which is a nice change from the cold and dreary yuck of last week. Taking the doggos out won't be as much of a chore and they like it when the temperatures are mild.

Super, super busy work week. I dropped a quick copy edit in for a healthcare workbook and managed to get the revisions reviewed and back to the author in record time. Might have a few tweaks left, but otherwise that project is in the books.

Also completed a clean copy return for a romance novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I've been lucky enough to edit the whole series and I'm excited for more!

Finished up a full copy edit on a novel and have the file ready for author review. I'll be forwarding it later today and I'm excited to finish book one so we can jump into book two. This is a fun series to work on.

Also finished up a manuscript evaluation for a new adult novel and I can't wait to work on this series with the author. I love the concept and the characters are messy and fun, which is what I like in the new adult genre.

All those projects didn't leave a lot of time for television this week, which I'm actually okay with. When projects are fun and interesting, I fall right into work mode and enjoy what I do so much!

I did finish up The Mandalorian. This episode ended up being terrific. Ahsoka's introduction and her interaction with Grogu topped my favorite moments. Having the Mandalorian and Jedi working together also made things interesting. I love this show.

I started the next episode of Only Murders in the Building but didn't get to finish. I'll probably watch the rest later tonight.

Also missed my weekly rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. We're doing a double-header for the last two episodes of season one and I didn't have the chunk of time needed to do that this week. Bummer.

My daughter also finished up this semester of college and came home this weekend. She'll be here about a month before heading off to Michigan for a paid internship in a summer stock theater. So excited for her!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just Skip Dessert, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Wanda Craig and Dewey Pearson are the two newest teachers at Cheltenson Academy, a private school, and they hit it off right away. When a family emergency calls Wanda away right before the end of semester dinner for the new academic advisors, Dewey gets to deal with an inappropriate advance from the headmaster's wife. When Wanda returns, she takes steps to give Dewey a better experience.

And a snippety peek…

"Welcome to Cheltenson, Ms. Craig and Mr. Pearson. It's wonderful to have two new educators to bring new insight and ideas to our institution." Headmaster Chalmers Grove ushered Wanda into his office first, then waved the other new recruit inside.

Wanda slid her gaze toward the other newb, Dewey Pearson. His six-foot-plus height and lean, chiseled frame would keep most comments about the name behind closed lips. Or maybe not. She had to get used to the idea they weren't in a public-school setting and repercussions could be different here.

Dewey lifted his chin in greeting. "Ms. Craig. You're heading up the drama program?" Interest, instead of derision, filled his tone.

Which made her happy because she almost expected the latter, especially since she'd received bored disinterest from her mom and brother when she'd graduated with honors in both of her majors—theater and media production. Both decided she'd be living at home for the rest of her natural life because what kind of job could she get with a theater degree? Part of the reason she'd accepted the position at Cheltenson had been to break away from the mold they put her in because living accommodations came with the job.

She smiled. "Yes. And you're taking over for the librarian?" The females of the school would be spending a lot of time in the stacks.

Dewey gave a nod. "I am. With a name like mine, I fit right in." His lips turned upward in a grin.

Headmaster Grove laughed. "You'll both be quite at home here. We go out of our way to make our new educators feel welcome." He moved around his desk and pulled out two hefty envelopes. "I have your residence assignments here. You'll be neighbors in the woodland quad." Handing over the packets, he moved back to the front of his desk. "We'll walk over now so you can get settled in. Classes start next week." He headed for the door.

Wanda blinked and shook her head. Grove continued talking, nattering on about the welcome brunch scheduled for the next day. Wanda slid her gaze toward her new colleague.

Dewey shrugged and sent her another smile. "After you." He caught up and fell into step beside her.

Following Grove through the main campus oval, she glanced at the map on her information packet. A group of eight bungalows formed a square around a small courtyard not far from the archery range. The layout of the bungalow showed an open concept living-dining-kitchen area with a tiny study and half bath were tucked into one corner of the back of the house along with a bedroom and full bath on the other side. All in all, more space than she'd ever had to herself.

Dewey nudged her shoulder. "We're going this way." He pointed down a narrow walking path edged with greenery on either side.

Wanda winced in embarrassment, adjusting her direction. "Thanks. Got caught up in the…" She waved the envelope.

Dewey flashed another grin. "Understandable. And I think Headmaster Grove forgets we've never been here and don't have the lay of the land yet." He nodded toward the still rambling man.

Wanda chuckled. "Quite right." She paused when they came to the arched brick entryway to the bungalows. "Wow."

Dewey huffed out a breath. "Um, yeah. This is … well, amazing." He followed Grove when the man took a right and started down the stone sidewalk but glanced over his shoulder to meet her gaze.

Wanda held it a moment longer than necessary, silently asking the question, can you believe this?

Dewey lifted his chin and smirked a little in answer. Kind of a, oh, we're going to like it here thing.

Wanda strolled along behind Dewey, admiring the view. Yep. She definitely liked everything about Cheltenson so far.

This story is in the beginning stages and I'm excited to see where things go.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin