Sunday Snippet: Make Me

August is starting out with a weird vibe. The temperatures have been very mild and I'm wondering how much we'll pay for that in the fall months or the winter. Thrilled for the kiddos going back to school in a week or so because they might not roast during the first few weeks like they normally do.

I'm still trying to get some things that I've been putting off in the checked boxes. I did manage to fix the leak in my bathtub, which was way overdue. Should help with my water bill. I got the part needed to fix the washing machine and that's a project for this week. I hope.

Work projects are going somewhat smoothly. I did have the book that won't go away come back one more time. The developmental edit I've got on the back burner is heating up again. I'm also working on a coaching project that's part pull the manuscript together and part help the author get it ready for a copy edit. Had a solid week with copy edits and proofreads also.

Had another good week for viewing. Nothing extra but made it through my usual slate of shows. Also did another Death in Paradise binge of older seasons.

Started with another episode of Marple. I kind of like the actress playing Jane. She's kind of snappy and a little punchy (not physically) with her dialog and I love it.

Also watched another episode of Ireland Coast and Country. I'm really enjoying this series. I now want to make vermouth. Just saying.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise and finished up season fifteen. I ended up kind of liking the niece. Looking forward to the holiday episode if there is one this year. And also kind of excited about the next season. I really love this show.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. The mystery ended up being kind of twisty and I loved seeing Poirot's author friend again. She's a hoot.

Elementary ended up being really good. The whole thing with the woman who leads meetings and Sherlock kind of came from left field, but I'll hold out to see what happens with that. I'll be disappointed if she ends up being Moriarty. The whole take down of the gang is really interesting. Can't wait to see what happens there.

Watched another episode of Young Justice and pieces are falling in place. Nearing the end of the first season and I'm interested in seeing what happens to the team.

Also caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and love how the season-arc mystery is coming together. Also enjoyed the Cerritos team pulling off a ruse to get what they needed. And the name drops from other shows always make me happy.

That wraps up the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Make Me, a novella that brings a couple together under fraught circumstance.

Here's the miniblurb:

Adri Leonard and Moses Nichols train and manage recruits for a private security firm. When Adri loses a team in the field, she refuses to train a new group. Moses has to get her back on board because they need a support team ASAP for a mission-critical operation and he's not above using their long-standing personal connection to make it happen.

And snippety peek…

Her lips still tingled from Moses's kiss. But … weirdly … the lip-lock jumpstarted her brain. She didn't know how, but his mouth on hers gave her clarity when nothing else would. She knew the importance of getting support teams in the field. Knew Victor counted on her to get them up and running. He'd get some additional people up to speed to help train, but right now, she had the responsibility. And while no one blamed her for losing a full team, she didn't trust herself to not miss anything.

She glanced up to meet Moses's gaze. "We don't have to do this." She appreciated his willingness to sift through the recruits, but she had a bigger favor to ask.

Moses frowned. "Adri, we do. We can't start with anyone green. This class will put give four teams the support they need, and we—"

She cut in. "No. That's not what I mean. Bring them all back." She inhaled deeply then exhaled slowly. "I'll get them up to speed." She met his gaze again. "But … I need you with me." She paused, not quite sure how to drop the big request in his lap.

Moses relaxed. "Of course, I'm with you. All the way." He started to close the folders.

Adri shook her head. "Not what I mean, Moses. I mean with me … as in sitting in on the classes and training sessions." A huge time suck when he already had a full load of work.

Moses blinked and leaned back in his chair. "Okay. Talk to me. How will I be helping you?" He dragged a notebook out from under the folders and snagged his pen.

Adri's foot bounced on the floor, nervous energy zinging through her. "I need you to be eyes and ears and make sure I stay on track. I can't miss anything important." She pushed away from the table and paced back and forth.

Moses leaned back again. "You do realize you've been—"

She hand-waved him. "Yeah, yeah. I've been training people for dangerous situations for a long time." She paused and met his gaze. "But I seriously don't trust myself right now … which could put more people in the line of fire." She sat back down, her shoulders slumping forward.

Moses cocked his head. "Okay. I'll do this. But you have to know that I trust you." He tapped his notebook. "Vic trusts you. You're the only one who doesn't trust yourself right now." His voice lowered. "But I'll help you. Any way I can." His hand covered hers.

Adri pressed her lips together. "It's a big ask. You're already overloaded with monitoring the other teams that don't have support." She refused to let her eyes well up, even if Moses had seen her cry more than once.

Moses's lips curved. "I'll talk to Vic. Maybe he can send some help from the private venue side. We've got guys with military training over there."

Adri huffed out a breath. "Maybe I should transfer out to that side. Would be so much easier to deal with." Very rarely did anyone get stuck in a potential hot zone.

Moses snorted. "Not really … because the corporate side requires a lot of schmoozing and you hate playing nice with irritating people." He squeezed her fingers.

Adri laughed, feeling much lighter if Moses could make jokes. "Sometimes I think you might know me a little too well." And he knew her even better after that steamy kiss.

Which she had no idea what to do with … except hope there might be more.

I'm kind of excited to see how this one comes together. Adri has some issues to get through, and Moses is just the guy to help her.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin