Sunday Snippet: Approaching Midnight

What a week! My brain is all spinny at the moment because I have an abundance of work projects in my inbox. I love having a full calendar. That said, I need about five more hours in each day, please and thank you.

Honestly, the overflowing inbox comes at an excellent time for me. I have several things that need attention, one of them being the brakes on my car. Now to buckle under and get the work done.

Weather in Ohio is typical for March. Maybe a little on the extreme side, but March always seems to be whiplashing back and forth between winter and spring. Today is springlike with temps in the fifties. Yesterday we barely broke freezing for our high.

Another very limited week for viewing. I'm not kidding when I say five more hours each day would be helpful. Just saying.

I did finish up the Death in Paradise episode I started last week. So sad to see Florance leave again. But what a way to go out. And pretty sure we'll see her again.

Also started a Beyond Paradise episode, which will finish out the first season. I'm really enjoying this show.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Approaching Midnight, a novella that brings a couple together over the holidays.

Here's the miniblurb:

It's approaching midnight on New Year's Eve and Greta Davis has to decide whether to meet Mick Caplin at the NYE ball or if it's too crazy to even think they have a shot at love. After all, they've only known each other since Halloween.

And a snippety peek…

Greta approached Planks on the Square with a frisson of nervous energy. "I hope he shows." She breathed easier when he stepped out from under the awning-covered patio.

And, damn, the hot factor hadn't lessened at all. In fact, he'd added a zippered fleece jacket in a forest green shade to his T-shirt and jeans. He wore casual really well. And she liked the change of pace from douchebag Justin's penchant for tailored everything in clothes.

Mick gave her a wide smile. "How did the drop-off go?" He pulled the door open, and they ducked inside the pub.

Greta smirked. "My sister realized her mistake less than five seconds after getting Finn and Kenley back." She spied an empty high-top table and nodded toward it.

Mick lifted his chin. "Perfect." He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over the back of a stool.

The server came over and took their orders. A beer for Mick and a glass of wine for Greta.

She got settled on the stool and rested her forearms on the table. "Was the remote where you thought it would be?"

Mick chuckled. "Yep. Right on the side of the chair. Just not on the side it's normally on." He sobered. "Gramps does pretty well. He's not that old, just pushing seventy, but he's a bit neuro-spicy and struggles when his routine is altered."

Greta grimaced. "I'll bet the trick-or-treating didn't help tonight."

Mick shrugged. "Honestly, he's still trying to adjust to moving in with me. My parents moved to Arizona for their jobs, and they plan to retire there. Gramps is dead set on not moving but needs to have a little support." He pointed to himself with both thumbs. "That would be me."

The server brought their drinks and dashed away to another table.

Mick took a quick sip of his beer. "So, how about you? Do you get to have your party of five very often?"

Greta flashed a smile. "In one bunch? Not that often. Usually, I have Kenley and Finn together or Sasha, Oliver, and Gates. I also have a fur nephew. A highland maltie named Sawyer that I keep on occasion for my brother and his partner." Sven and Mark didn't trust leaving the dog with anyone else.

Mick's eyes widened. "Sounds like your family keeps you busy. That's kind of awesome. How many siblings do you have?"

Greta took a sip of her wine. "Three. Two brothers and a sister. We're basically stairstep kids. Brigit is the oldest at thirty-five and I'm the youngest at thirty-two. The guys, Hans and Sven, are in between." She had no idea how her mom handled having four kids so closely together.

Mick blinked. "Ah. I get your comment about who led who astray now. Being that close in age probably meant you guys were all for one and one for all." He picked at the label on his bottle. "I'm jealous. I spent a lot of time trying to get my friends with large families to adopt me as a kid."

Greta laughed. "Yeah, we never had a dull moment growing up." She sobered a little. "And we're still pretty close now. The other three are waiting on me to get settled, and they're not subtle about dropping hints." The one thing she really disliked about her siblings.

Especially since they still asked about Justin all the time.

Mick tilted his head to one side. "I sense a story there…" He took another long pull from his beer.

Greta appreciated the way his throat worked when he swallowed. How much should she reveal?

She might as well be up front. "Not really much of a story, but I recently ended a relationship after almost ten years together." Taking another sip of wine, she added more. "Everyone thought we'd eventually marry but I kept putting off making any kind of plans. I finally realized I stayed with Justin out of habit more than anything else." She met Mick's gaze. "And that's not a great foundation to build a life on, especially when he didn't always treat me like I mattered."

Mick gave a slow nod. "I'll bet that cost you some peace of mind to admit." His fingers swirled the half empty bottle around in front of him and his gaze drifted far away. "If it helps any, I had the same experience…" His focus shifted back to her. "Twice."

With the wine glass halfway to her lips, she paused. "Twice?" She set the goblet down. "I think it's your turn for story time." His admission did help, and her curiosity kicked into high gear.

I'm excited about this one. I love these two and can't wait to finish telling their story.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin