Sunday Snippet: Justice Is Served

What a wild week. We're back to almost winter temperatures with freeze warnings this weekend and the first part of the week. My cold is sorta kinda over, but the crazy weather probably won't help.

Had a pretty decent work week. I'm in flux on a number of projects but the work is moving steadily along. I'm happy to stay busy.

Pretty good viewing week also. I finished up a rewatch and have to pick a new show to watch on one of my streamers … and I have no idea what I want to choose.

Started off with My Life Is Murder and it was so fun to see a regular in one of the shows I watch do a guest turn in this episode. Can't wait to watch the finale this week.

Caught another behind the scenes episode of Foyle's War and enjoyed it. I have one or two more before starting the next season of the show.

Watched another episode of Poirot and loved the mystery. Hastings completely falling for the girl ended up being very interesting along with Poirot kind of lending a helping hand. Very cool.

Started the new season of Silent Witness. Jack's new look is … okay? Enjoy them being in a new city, and I'm liking the vibe of the characters.

Elementary, as usual, didn't disappoint. Such an interesting case and having Sherlock go out on a limb for Shinwell was rather cool.

Finished up my Batman Beyond rewatch and, honestly, the show holds up. Not sure what I'll pick next, but it might be DC universe adjacent.

Watched another Star Trek: Lower Decks. Kind of fun to have a one-off character come back and not end up being an actual hero. I like the risky maneuver there.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Justice Is Served, a novella that brings a couple together during an advocacy.

Here's the miniblurb:

Derby Stack is a cold-blooded killer, but not by choice. She's convicted for her crime, but Nate Mobius's specialized legal firm takes an interest in her case. Nate gradually wins Derby over and together they uncover a sinister trail leading back to her childhood therapist.

And a snippety peek…

Great question.

Not like she asked to have some righteous, nosy woman poking around in her dismal life.

Derby mimicked Nate's stance, bracing her back against the chair. "You're here because I apparently have the unlucky right to an advocate … who thinks she knows what's best for everyone on the planet." She rolled her eyes. "As if." Derby shrugged again. "Whatever. Not like I'm in any hurry to die a slow death in prison."

Tired of talking, she got up and started for the door—then remembered he hadn't given her permission to leave.

Heaving a sigh, she turned and kept her head low. "Are we through here? I have to have your okay to leave." She had to have someone's okay to take a piss.

Nate gave her a tight smile and waved his hand toward the door. When she pounded on the heavy metal, he got up, gathered his stuff, and moved to stand beside her.

Wilma yanked the door open and glanced back and forth between them. "Well, now. Aren't you two a cute couple?" Her wheezing laugh grated on Derby's ears.

Derby brushed past the guard and took her place one step behind the woman. Nate exited the room.

Ignoring Wilma's presence, he addressed Derby. "I'll be in touch soon. If you need anything, let Laura know or have the warden contact the legal firm."

Derby barely stopped from rolling her eyes. She lifted her chin, acknowledging she'd heard him. Wilma watched the exchange with avid interest. She also fixed her gaze on Nate's ass and didn't stop staring until he'd crossed into the admin area to sign out.

Wilma gave a low whistle. "Man's got a hot bod hiding under that suit." She practically licked her lips.

Derby didn't doubt he probably did, but she didn't share her opinion one way or the other. Wilma could perv all she wanted. Derby didn't do fantasies—not anymore.

Wilma jerked her head toward the cell block. "Let's go, Stack. You've got extra time in the library since you missed the last thirty minutes."

Derby hid her surprise. "Yeah, okay." She followed Wilma back to the only sanctuary she had.

And smashed down the flair of hope the guard's unexpected and out-of-character kindness sparked.

I really love how this one is coming together. Derby isn't quite sure what's going on, but she's in for a wild ride.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Five Minutes

It's very sauna-like outside with muggy weather and lots of humidity. Makes me want a pool in a big way. Went down a big rabbit hole researching what's available that won't break the bank and discovered some genius ideas. It won't happen this summer, but I have a new goal for next summer!

Hit a wall on my great cleanout project. But I'm determined to get back on it this week. Even if I only get a little done each day it's something. I'm thinking I might make a chart and log increments of time spent. If I see the forward progress it helps.

Ended up having a super busy work week. Several projects came back at the same time and a new one started. It's been a plate-spinning couple of months with so many different things stacking up against each other. I love the variety and I think that helps keep me from losing my mind.

I did end up having a great viewing week. I did a full round of shows and got to include the two I tend to keep on the back burner when things are jammed.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm almost through the first season and this is total comfort viewing.

Watched another episode of Art Detectives and I'm really enjoying this show. Shazia is a lot of fun and the mystery with Mick's dad is intriguing. Looking forward to more.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise. Love to see Selwyn with his daughter. The mystery ended up being excellent and the resolution had a nice twist.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. I'm kind of fond of the episodes that don't have murders. This one was kind of madcap and that's always fun.

Watched the season four premiere of Elementary. Watson being ready to kick the shit out of the Holmes patriarch is awesome. I loved her interaction with one of the stooges. And the first glimpse of Holmes the Great? So incredible. Excellent choice of actor to play him. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond. It's one I remembered, and I enjoyed it. Terry and Max are a great team.

Enjoyed another episode of Lower Decks and definitely plan to stick with this one. Even when I'm annoyed by some of the character bits, it's a fun watch.

Got to get the season ten finale of Peak Practice viewed. Interesting to have Kate back, especially since Will is kind of ready to move on. The vehicle accident played out with lots of tension and the two little girls with Tom ended up being better than I thought it would be.

Last but not least, I got to watch another episode of Reacher. This show, man. It's so good. And that ending. Wow. Reacher's big feet keep stepping in steaming piles. Just saying.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Five Minutes, a novella where temptation might be too hard to resist.

Here's the miniblurb:

Remy Deeds never welshes on a bet, until she loses to Eli Rogers, who can't understand why she backs out. But a five-minute kiss, with tongue, isn't something she wants to risk, because giving up her last pack of coffee is so much easier than possibly losing her heart.

And a sneaky peek…

Remy shrugged. "I don't know. Intuition maybe." She put her shirt back on. "If you want total honesty? I'm already halfway gone for you, and I just had a feeling our chemistry would be fiery hot." Aw … why did she say that?

He picked up on her admission, but didn't jump on it.

Instead, he added a question. "So … what now?" His eyebrows arched.

Remy snorted. "I have no idea." How the hell should she answer?

Eli grunted. "Okay then. My truth time." He met her gaze. "I don't react the way I just did with you … ever." He ran a hand through his hair.

Remy had no idea what to say. "Um, sorry?" Lame.

Eli shook his head. "No, don't apologize. It's a great thing. The timing's just weird."

She quirked a brow. "Care to explain?"

He winced and sat down. "No, but I will." He turned toward her. "Remember how I was late for the briefing?"

She nodded.

Eli gave her a sheepish grin. "I overslept and scrambled out of bed, leaving my … well, not exactly girlfriend but a woman behind."

A sharp stab of disappointment hit her. "So, you're with someone." Her shoulders slumped. 

Eli shook his head. "No, that's the thing. She got pissed and we ended it, but I didn't feel regret or remorse. More like relief, because we didn't have—what did you call it? Chemistry?"

Remy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I guess." Sounded lamer than she imagined.

Eli sighed. "I'm tired of going from one woman to the next and just … disconnecting. There's nothing that makes me want to stay. No … structure." He tsked. "No, that's not the word…"

Remy blurted, "No foundation."

Eli snapped his fingers. "Yeah. That's it. There's no solid ground under the sex. It's just sex." His chin bobbed up and down.

Remy tilted her head. "And you want what? More than a warm body on a cold night?" How surprising.

Eli nodded. "Yeah. But doing what we do makes it damned hard."

Her lips curved. "Too true."

Eli leaned forward. "So … how about we skip the coffee and the five minutes and try something else?"

Remy arched her brows. "Like what?" She almost feared his response.

Eli grasped her hand. "You and me. Someplace private like the caves to explore this chemistry thing." He squeezed her fingers. "Can you get Sheila to cover for you? Say from after lunch tomorrow through breakfast the next day?"

Remy tugged her hand away. "Look, Eli, I don't want to let my team down by setting a crappy example." And ruin her future opportunities.

Eli nodded. "I get that. And I respect it, but if we get the nasty weather we're supposed to, you won't have any projects to direct anyway."

He had a point. When poor conditions made being outside miserable or dangerous, they would usually do equipment repairs and inventory supplies. Not exactly anything the team members couldn't handle on their own.

Remy did a gut check. She wanted to see where things might go. And after talking to Eli about his change in perspective … taking a chance didn't seem as risky as it normally would. She would regret not taking a shot if she refused.

Decision made, she gave a slow nod. "Okay. If we get the rain, I'll ask Sheila to cover." Harry would no doubt take Eli's place.

Eli leaned in again. "Great." He caught her lips with his.

She responded, meeting his tongue. His fingers threaded through her hair, drawing her closer. Remy melted into the kiss, losing all thought except for the way his body fit against hers.

Eli broke the embrace on a groan. "Damn, I gotta get out of here or all bets are off." He pressed his forehead against hers. "I want you, Remy. So much." One more quick, hard kiss and he quickly left the room.

Remy sank down on the couch, her body on fire for Eli. Only one thing for her to do.

Pray for rain.

This scene ended up being fun to write. I love a little bit of tension and yearning.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Along the Shore (a South of the Border novella)

Wow, March is being its typical mercurial self. Warm up and then plunge back into the teens and single digits. The back-and-forth weather is normal but not fun.

Crazy-busy week with work projects. I'm thrilled to have my calendar filling up and excited to start some new manuscripts. Also getting more details sorted out for Tip Jar Shorts. I need to find a full day I can dedicate to getting everything where it needs to be.

Very limited viewing this week. My brain decided it needed quiet to focus on the reading I needed to finish up for one of my work projects. I probably needed the break.

I did get more of the One Lane Bridge episode watched. I might take a brief vacation from this one. There's a lot going on in this show and focus is going to be important so I don't miss anything.

Finished up season three of London Kills with the behind-the-scenes bonus episode. I always enjoy getting a deeper look at how everything comes together in a series.

Started another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm about halfway through and I like the tension in this one. Also enjoyed Neville and Commissioner Patterson being on the same page for once.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Along the Shore, a South of the Border novella.

Here's the miniblurb:

Vail Ericsson, a freelance security expert and skilled tracker, can find anyone for a price. But when he trails Ellery Quantrell to Mexico, he discovers she's not an escapee but a target, and his role changes from pursuer to protector, whether Ellery wants him as a shield or not.

And a snippety peek…

Ellery could take the heat. She could handle bugs and plants with stinging leaves. But she could not, would not, should not have to deal with the man currently hauling her through the sand with little care to the fact it stuck to her skin, burned the bottoms of her feet, and made her scalp itch. She didn't know which she hated more. The big oaf or the tiny, granulated pebbles that made her almost wish for the frigid tundra she'd finally escaped from two months ago.

I was so damned close to getting out—all the way out—from under Puchenko's thumb. Until big, bad, and bothersome showed up to become a huge pain in my ass. She didn't voice her running commentary because, frankly, Mr. Mercenary wouldn't give a damn how hard she'd worked to flee from her brother's fucked-up bargain that landed her in Ivan's clutches.

She could ask Vail to slow down but decided not to give him the satisfaction of a nice query. Instead, she opted to blast him for making the soles of her feet become a shredded mess. Oh, and a bleeding one, as well.

She planted herself in the sand, flinching against the sharp, stabbing pain. "Hey, call me stupid, but blood leaves a trail, right?" She pulled back hard on the hand trying to drag her forward. "Something traceable your friendly goon squad could use to follow us?" She lifted her leg and turned her ankle to show the oozing, red streaks and broken skin.

Vail dropped his gaze to her feet and winced. "Looks painful." He shrugged. "But too bad, we're not stopping. Maybe you should've kept your shoes on."

She smirked. "If I had, I wouldn't have been able to wing them at your head."

Vail snorted. "Not my fault they got dragged out to sea by a wave." His hand went to his nape. "I am surprised you didn't give me a concussion when you tried to knock me out with that fallen limb."

Ellery flushed hotly but stood her ground. "You have a really hard head." And the driftwood didn't make a good weapon.

Vail sneered. "So I've been told." He grabbed her hand again. "Quit bitching. We're almost there."

He started forward and Ellery followed, each step a burning reminder of why she wouldn't get tangled up with anyone ever again.

Especially if they were hot to look at but had the personality of a big ape.

This couple is so much fun to write. They're very unhappy with their circumstances, which is a joy to explore.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Zipline and Sinker (a South of the Border novella)

Happy Kendrick Lamar Does the Halftime Show to all who celebrate. I'll be feasting on food that's terrible for me because that's my favorite part of this weekend.

I'm still doing small things for Tip Jar Shorts. I'm trying to get my other blogs and my author website updated with the new material and I'm looking at possible setting up immediate downloads. That's a goal and I hope I can get there. Trying to gauge interest first. I also kept up with drawing one oracle card a day and posting the results on Bluesky.

Had a fairly busy work week. I finished up a copy edit and completed a combination copy edit proofread. I also had a terrific meeting with a new client, and I'll be working on evaluating their manuscript over the next few weeks. Very exciting!

Slow week for viewing. I had a lot of distractions and couldn't focus on watching very much. I think lack of sleep played a role there. I'm trying to figure out what kind of sleep schedule I need right now.

I did get a few shows in, starting with Elementary, which ended up being a really great episode and I enjoyed it.

Also caught an episode of Batman Beyond. I'm very nostalgic for this show right now and thoroughly enjoying the rewatch.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. Again, the two vignettes were new to me. Although, I think they were out of order with the rest of the season because one showed how Chas and Kira ended up with the coffee shop.

I started an episode of One Lane Bridge and should finish it up today. This show has some twists, and I enjoy those but also need to be able to focus so I don't miss important details.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Zipline and Sinker, a South of the Border novella.

Here's the miniblurb:

Vaughn Dyson is a relic hunter who goes out of her way to save old treasures and preserve their place in history. But when Faulkner Roush gets word she's trying to smuggle a priceless artifact out of South America, he has to track her down before a rival, out for profit, group gets to her.

And a snippety peek…

Faulk woke up with Vaughn's naked body curved around his.

Fuck. I caved. I always do.

Every time he swore he'd never get sucked into the whole bump into Vaughn, fight like crazy people, then fuck like maniacs again, he ended up falling under her spell and giving her exactly what she wanted. Namely his dick. He sucked at keeping self-made promises, and damn, if he didn't fucking hate her sometimes.

Vaughn stirred and stretched then gave him a beautiful smile. "Hello, handsome." She rolled to her side and fished around for her clothes. "I gotta go get the artifact then we can head out. I stashed it close to where I came out of the river." She shrugged her tank top over her head.

Faulk shook his head while shoving his feet into his fatigues. "I don't think so. We go now. There's no time to waste." Did she really think she could lead him around by his cock?

Vaughn's brow furrowed and she started packing her gear.

She thinks it'll be business as usual, but I've got other plans. Namely getting her out of Cramer's reach.

She attempted to cajole him. "You know, Faulk, we make a great team." She zipped her pack and hoisted it up onto her back. "If we split the difference by having you refill the bottles and me going to retrieve the jaguar … then we can head north and take the ravine bridge to cross back into Mexico."

Faulk jerked his head back and forth. "No can do. The bridge is toast. I noticed when I parachuted in." He had a possible contact on the Mexican side that could help, but Faulk hadn't been able to reach him.

Vaughn slumped. "Fucking Cramer." She straightened, squaring her shoulders. "I'm not leaving without the artifact. You do what you have to."

Faulk raked a hand through his hair to avoid punching the nearest flat surface. "Do you always have to make things difficult?" Stupid question … of course, she did.

Vaughn gave him a look. "Fill the bottles. Then we go. End of story." She started for the entrance of the mission.

Faulk snarled. "If you're not back in fifteen minutes, you're on your own. Cramer's team is still on your ass, and it won't take long for them to double back … if they haven't already." He stuffed his bedroll into his pack. "So, yeah. That'll be the end of the story. We gotta move and get going." He checked his weapon, tucking his spare clip of ammo into his thigh pocket.

Vaughn grunted. "Fine. Fifteen minutes or I'm on my own." She cracked the door open and checked the area before she exited.

Faulk growled. "Clock's ticking, sweetheart." He grabbed the bottles and headed for the spring behind the mission.

I love this couple so much. Faulk and Vaughn are a lot of fun to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Zinging Barbs

Welcome February! The shortest month seems like a great time to start new things. I've challenged myself to post every day on Bluesky and I picked drawing one oracle card from a random deck each day. So far, I'm two for two.

I'm also going to launch the side project I've previously talked about. Tip Jar Shorts is a fun way to get sexy romance short stories right to your inbox. The blog is up and running and still a work in progress. I'm so excited to see how things go! If you're interested, check it out!

I had a busy work week with a challenging copy edit but it's almost complete and I'm happy I got to work on this mystery series. A few more bits and pieces to check and it'll be on its way to the publisher.

Had a somewhat quiet viewing week. Between getting Tip Jar finished up and the copy edit, I needed a quiet background to get everything done.

Caught another Batman Beyond episode. I remembered this one and enjoyed during my first run through of the show.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats. I'm in the final season and catching some episodes I haven't seen before.

Watched another episode of One Lane Bridge and I'm still enjoying the show. It's kind of a slow, moody narrative and I'm rather into that right now.

Caught another episode of London Kills and I'm kind of wondering what the hell is going to happen next. I'm also wondering what the superintendent thought would happen when he tried to run.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. The vibe is very different with season eleven and I'm kind of okay with that. I like the new sergeant and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go with Florance doing an undercover stint. I like that the reason is tied back to a previous murder.

Loved the episode of Beyond Paradise that I caught this week. I'm interested in how Humphrey and Martha work through their issues and was so happy to see her rebuff Archie, even if he's portrayed by one of my favorite actors. I'm still on the fence with Martha's mom. I can't quite decide if I like her or not. We'll see how the rest of the season goes.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Zinging Barbs, a sexy short that reunites some of the characters from the South of the Border series.

Here's the miniblurb:

Relic finder Vaughn Dyson sticks much closer to home since Faulkner Roush saved her life, but when an artifact all but lands in her lap, she insists on taking it to the university for safe-keeping, which Faulkner can't argue about even if they'll be late for a party in their honor.

And a snippety peek…

Vaughn circled around trying to keep the three masked attackers in her sight. "Where's Faulk when I need him." Why the hell had she not considered a Saturday for being a bad day to drop off the artifact?

The university had very low on personnel on the weekends. Especially when a festival clogged the streets with traffic. Vaughn would bet the three goons had been in the van they passed.

The tallest assailant made a grab for the artifact. "C'mon, lady. Just give us the statue."

His two cohorts spread out, trying to flank her on either side.

Vaughn shook her head. "I don't think so. This is staying where it belongs." She gauged the distance to the vault room.

No way she could make it before being overcome.

But … Vaughn wouldn't give it up. Her best option would be to at least maneuver toward the entrance. Another goon made a lunge in her direction. She held the artifact above her head and danced around him, moving away from the vault. Dammit.

Twice more she dodged and weaved, keeping a firm grip on the figurine. The men were getting pissed off … but must be conscious of the statue's value because they were careful when they made their attempts to get it from her. That wouldn't last much longer.

After another attempt, she stopped in the middle of the room and raised the artifact above her head. "That's it. I'm done playing this stupid game." She made a downward motion, ready to smash the ancient piece into dust.

Faulk breezed into the room. "Vaughn. What's taking so long."

She huffed out a breath. "Had a surprise greeting." She tucked the valuable statue under her arm.

Faulk snorted. "It's only three. You've taken on more." He quickly fanned along the way in her direction, drawing the attention of the men.

Vaughn rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, can't fight and protect the artifact at the same time." She eased her way toward the vault room.

Faulk made a hum of agreement. "I see your dilemma. Want some help?" He stopped and planted his feet, bracing for action.

Vaughn slid her gaze sideways. "Thought you'd never ask." She spun out of the way and dashed into the storage area.

Faulk went to work throwing a punch to the midsection of the tallest goon. He spun and kicked out, landing a solid blow to the knees of the smallest assailants. He went down and Vaughn focused on getting the item safely put away.

She quickly keyed in the combination to the vault and placed the artifact inside. Closing the vault, she flexed her fingers and loosened her muscles in her neck and shoulders. Then she went out to help Faulk kick some ass.

I'm striving to get this series written and ready for publishing. Working on a fun side story helps keep the creativity going.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Under the Influence (a South of the Border novella)

Hello, September. Here's hoping you're not as maniacal as August. I'd love for the weather to make up its mind and hold for a while. I don't imagine that will actually happen.

Had a lovely day off to travel to the Hocking Hills area to meet up with my cousins on my mom's side of the family. We're hoping to make it an annual event. I couldn't take the whole weekend, but it was so much fun to spend time with them. Bonus points for being close enough to my daughter's location for grad school that I could take some of the things she forgot.

Still insanely busy with work and I'm happy for the new projects coming my way. Also kind of thrilled they're all a bit different so it's not the same thing for each manuscript.

Had an okay week of viewing. I got to watch a few things when I needed a break from wall-to-wall words. Sometimes it's nice to have a minivacation to reset my brain.

Caught an episode of The Batman and enjoyed it. It's a two-parter so I'm hoping to watch the second half this week.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats. I don't really remember this one, but the later seasons of the show weren't watched quite as many times as the earlier ones.

Got an episode of My Life Is Murder watched and loved it. Again, Madison really stole the show. And the wink-wink-nod to Xena at the end was fun and awesome.

Started an episode of Signora Volpe and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when Sylvia's undercover assignment is discovered.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Under the Influence, a South of the Border novella.

Here's the miniblurb:

When her father dies, Lilith Jans inherits a piece of hotly sought after property in Mexico. She also unknowingly takes on an unpaid debt, which puts her life in danger. Hayden Knoxville makes her an offer she wants to refuse but can't—sell to him and he'll deal with the men coming to collect payment.

And a snippety peek…

Hayden Knoxville entered the cantina and spotted his friends right away.

Lars stood up and waved Hayden over. "Knoxville, how was the trip down?" He settled back down at the table and motioned for the server to bring another beer.

Hayden grunted. "Not bad. Been a while since I've crossed the border." At least into Mexico.

Vail lifted his chin. "How long has it been? Three years now?"

Hayden gave a nod. "There about. Heard you two have been busy." The scuttlebutt proved interesting, and he wondered how accurate the information could be.

He only picked up bits and pieces from a friend of a friend who had some kind of pull with covert operations. His former colleagues got out of the business and settled with—from the sound of things—two incredible women. When the trio video conferenced about Hayden making the trip down to Mexico, they didn't waste any time on small talk. But both men seemed … less haunted.

Hayden wanted what they had. And he might have the means to make it happen.

Lars kicked his chair back on two legs. "Decide anything on the problem we talked about?" Right to the issue at hand, a very Lars move.

Hayden took a long swallow of the beer the server placed in front of him before answering. "I'm willing to help but … instead of working short-term, why not consider long-term?" He'd given the situation a lot of thought and had what he hoped would be a perfect solution.

Lars arched a brow. "What do you have in mind?"

Hayden rolled a shoulder. "I'll buy her out. If she sells to me, half her headache is gone." And he had the means to make a sizeable offer.

Vail frowned. "What if she doesn't want to sell?"

Hayden snorted. "She'd be stupid not to. I absorb her old man's debts, meaning I deal with any potential fallout or blow back." And maybe take down one last asshole before closing the book on this chapter of his life.

Lars planted his forearms on the table. "Why? I mean, do you have some strange hankering to move your life down here?"

Hayden pondered how to answer. "Move anywhere, actually. I'm tired of chasing the next job." And pushing his luck.

Vail picked up the thread of conversation. "Does this have anything to do with getting shot last year?"

Hayden sighed. "Hell, I don't know. I always figured gunshot wounds and wicked-looking scars from a knife blade were part of the fun." Right up until the injuries started outweighing the positive aspects of the job.

Lars grimaced. "Sure … until they're not." He rubbed at his side, no doubt remembering his last close call.

Hayden grunted. "Exactly. I've been doing this long enough to know I've got a few good years left before age and wear and tear take too much of a toll. I wanna get out before I'm too tired or injured to do so." And starting over with a couple of friends nearby had merit.

Vail huffed out a breath. "Or too dead."

Hayden cocked his head. "That, too. Besides, when you two dropped out, it became a wake-up call." He fixed his gaze on his friends. "Got any regrets?"

Both answered in unison. "No."

Hayden gave a nod. "Didn't think so. I've got a tidy sum saved up and it's kind of nice to think about not living out of a jump bag and crawling in and out hot spots all the time." He spoke several languages, knew his way around boats and bars … why not put his acquired knowledge to work as more than a hired gun?

Lars spread his hands out. "Look, Vail and I have a good reason not to live the life anymore."

Hayden lifted his chin. "Yeah, two super-hot women to keep you in line."

Vail huffed out a breath and finished his beer. "You don't have anyone. You'll be tying yourself to business you may not even like. What are you going to do if you get bored?"

Hayden gazed out the window, soaking in the landscape. "Easy, I'll go surfing, or diving, or hiking somewhere." He drained his mug and set it on the table. "I've got this round." He got up to pay the tab … but overheard his friends' commentary.

Vail rocked back on the chair. "Guess he's got it all figured out."

Lars gave a nod. "Yep. Until something—or someone—throws him a curve."

Hayden didn't blame them for their doubts. But he had a skill set they didn't know about. "I'm damned good at shifting on the fly." He could totally do this.

This is a fun series and I'm enjoying bringing previous characters back to help the new ones.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

 

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Temporary Fallout

We definitely had a hot week and I'm so glad I got rid of most of the yucky upper respiratory crud. We're due for some major storms later today so that should be interesting.

I'm still not quite caught up on my work projects but I'm making headway. Thankfully none of them have red line due dates. I did manage to finish a proofread and will be sending it on its merry way later today. I still have another proofread and a copy edit to work on this week.

Had an almost nonexistent viewing week. Between playing catch up on my work projects and still being kind of bleh, I stuck with my comfort viewing of Perry Mason and Midsomer Murders. I did work in a few binge episodes of Death in Paradise on regular television.

That said, I did start the new season of My Life Is Murder and I'm loving the premiere episode so far. So nice to have Alexa and Madison back!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Temporary Fallout, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Witter Benson is called in from the field to take over when the head of a security firm—and his father—is shot and it's a job he doesn't want. His partner, Lane Stahl, tracks down the responsible party and Witter leaves to help her bring in the culprit, regardless of the problems his absence will create. With the future uncertain, Witter knows one thing for sure—the fallout he'll face is worth bringing in the person who caused harm to his family.

And a snippety peek…

Witter Benson nudged Lane Stahl's thighs apart then licked a trail from her belly button down to the apex of her legs. "Been waiting over a week to do this…" His tongue delved between her folds then swiped over her clit.

Lane gave a low moan. "Gonna have to stop getting separated during egress. But that diversionary tactic is one we'll use for future training." Her fingers threaded through his hair.

A burst of pride filled him. He'd come up with and executed the plan on the fly and it worked, buying the time they needed to get a family out of a nasty spot.

Sliding two fingers inside her core, he fluttered them over her g-spot. Lane hissed out a breath, squirming under his teasing onslaught. He'd give her relief soon … he couldn't wait to be buried deep and making up for lost time.

Lane draped a leg over his shoulder. "Witt, not that I don't love when you go down on me, but don't make me wait. It's been over a week." Her heel nudged his back.

Witter withdrew and kissed his way upward, stopping to lavish attention on each breast before settling his groin at her hips and entering her with a smooth thrust.

Lane made a satisfied hum low in her throat. "This one's gonna be fast for me." She rolled her pelvis, meeting his on the downstroke.

Witter nuzzled her neck. "Quick and dirty for the opener. Slow and steady for the encore." After that … well, who knew?

Lane writhed beneath him. "Mmmm … I like the sound of that." Her calves wrapped around his torso and her hands grasped his biceps.

Witter picked up his pace, edging closer to a release. He went deep and rotated his hips, grinding against her sensitive bundle of nerves. Lane gasped, her fingers digging into her skin. When she shuddered through her orgasm, he pulled back and drove forward two more times before he came, her name a strangled oath erupting from his mouth.

Collapsing sideways, he scooped her close with one arm, a kaleidoscope of colors bursting behind his eyelids and a roaring buzz thundering in his ears. Once he caught his breath, the vibrating jolt didn't stop.

Lane nudged him with her elbow. "That's your phone." She reached out and snagged the device from the nightstand.

Witter answered with his best terse tone. "Benson. This better be good." He'd put in for forty-eight hours downtime.

The voice on the other end shattered the blissful vibe with a few terrible words. "Adam Zebra. Baker Adam David." The call ended.

He didn't need more information. "Fuck." The translation amounted to the head of the security firm went down and the outlook sucked ass.

Lane propped up on her elbows. "Tell me." She already knew the news wouldn't be good.

Witter sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "We gotta go in. My dad's been shot." He met her gaze. "Doesn't look good."

This one is barely started but I'm loving the possibilities of where these two characters can go.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: On an Even Keel

I got slammed with a nasty cold and definitely feel it this week. Completely derailed my daily relaxation stress reducer posts. I'll hopefully catch back up next week or start over again for the new year.

Finished up several work-related projects and added a few to my calendar. Hoping to start the new year off with a full slate to stay busy.

Not a bad week of television, even with the icky cold making me super tired and exhausted.

Watched another episode of My Life Is Murder and enjoyed it. I'm still trying to get used to the New Zealand locale with the second season. Still a fun show.

Caught the second half of Agatha Raisin. Feel very badly for James, who kind of seems like the odd man out of the group. Loved how this one played out.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and not sure on the new pathologist. He's not bad, I guess. Clearly, it's time to shake things up for Jack, which probably means things won't go well when his brother gets out of prison.

Enjoyed another Death in Paradise, which is one I didn't remember. I'm getting into the Humphrey episodes I missed on the first watch.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite liked the dynamic. I'm very interested in getting into more of what happened with Joan's medical career. Sherlock is definitely true to form and I'm getting into this version.

Caught another episode of The Batman. I think I have one or two more episodes of the first season then a bit of a shift to the second one.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. For some reason, I think I might have missed a season or at least some episodes. I'll do a run through after I finish up the sixth season.

Continued with The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued by how the season is unfolding and I'm kind of interested in where things are going to go.

Finished out the week with an episode of VIP. Some familiar early aughts faces in this one. Also a fun episode.

That's pretty much it on the life update this week. Tonight's post is from On an Even Keel, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Security expert Goldie Swartz is presumed dead after a building explodes and she leaves behind a tangled past filled with burned bridges and messy relationships with those she loves. Ryne Kingston witnesses Goldie going down and realizes a little too late he'd give everything he has to have her back in his life. When Goldie returns, battered and busted up but very alive, she and Ryne finally acknowledge they need each other to stay on an even keel.

And a snippety peek…

Goldie stayed in the shadows. "Nothing like getting a ringside seat to the show." The Kingston men actually communicating with each other—about her—would be a big draw for anyone selling tickets.

Norm held his son's gaze. "No one thought she survived, son. You're not gonna find answers in that footage." He got up and exited the viewing room but left the lights off.

Ryne restarted the camera footage, a combination of CCTV, drone, and body camera films, to watch the building explode again.

Why is he torturing himself? He'd made the right call. She would've made the same one. Get everyone else out, make sure they were safe, and mourn the dead.

Which should've been her.

Except she survived … through the universe's grace and three kind souls who'd pulled her into their makeshift escape route.

Goldie emerged from her spot in the corner and angled in to sit beside Ryne, trying to see the event through his eyes. He spared her a quick glance then focused back on the screen. She watched the spliced material, strangely dispassionate about the playback. She didn't die … obviously … but could literally feel each internal flinch Ryne had when he viewed the footage over and over again, rewinding, hitting play, then repeating the process until he didn't wince or grimace anymore.

Her hand covered his and Ryne, not even looking at her, draped his arm around her. She leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. They didn't speak. They didn't really have to. She got it. She remembered how it felt to think Ryne died two years ago after he'd been ambushed on a mission. She'd stay as long as she had to, until Ryne wanted to finally shut the recording off.

Her heart hurt to hear the note of pain and desperation in his voice when he screamed her name during the explosion. She never heard anything as raw and agonizing, especially when he quietly answered one of the hostages when they asked about her. "She's gone. Goldie didn't make it … she didn't make it out." His voice, gravelly and hoarse, spoke to her on a primal, gut level.

How long had she wanted to know what he really felt for her? With none of the past rearing its head to get in the way. With nothing interfering and no one offering their unsolicited advice.

She had the knowledge now. Right there on the screen. His true emotion in unedited form.

At the end of the current run through, Ryne didn't restart the footage.

Instead, he laced their fingers together. "It's good to have you home." He didn't speak above a whisper, but his words filled the silence.

Goldie's lips turned upward. "It's good to be back." She squeezed Ryne's hand, and the room went dark.

Neither made a move to leave. They would sit in peace and enjoy the quiet. They'd have to talk, at some point, about everything. But not yet. Because, right now, with those simple words, they cleaned the slate and hit the reset button.

And she finally had a course she wanted to follow.

This story is in the very beginning stages, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: On a Snowy Mountain

I'm having a weird month so far. I'm doing well with posting daily relaxation, stress reducer things to avoid becoming the Scrinch (Scrooge and the Gringe combined), yet I'm also feeling kind of down, which is not the norm for me. I'm thinking a happy medium might be the best I'll do this year and I'm okay with that.

Had a week of busywork projects, which ended up being kind of fun. I like jumping around and moving back and forth between jobs. Keeps me on my toes and paying attention.

Had a solid week of television. A lot of what I worked on this week let me have background noise and I got a lot of shows watched!

I started with the first sixtieth anniversary special for Doctor Who. Thoroughly enjoyed having Ten and Donna back together. Looking forward to the second special this week.

Trying out a new to me show with Elementary. Watched the first two episodes and I like it so far. I didn't watch at all when it originally aired and I'm looking forward to seeing more of this show.

Caught two episodes of The Batman and should be semi-close to the end of season one. Looking forward to more of this one.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Liked both and loved the play on vintage TV shows the ghost stories episode had.

Watched two episodes of VIP and remembered one from the original airing of the show. Lots of fun with the ice bullets before they were really a thing.

Caught another episode of My Life Is Murder and ended up liking it a lot. The drag queen setting was fun and the snark fest between Alexa and the manager deserves a chef's kiss.

Enjoyed another Agatha Raisin episode. It's the first of a two-parter so I'm excited to see what happens next. Very fun to watch Agatha and James navigate living together.

Finished the second half of a two-part Silent Witness. Actually liked how this one played out. It's cool to revisit old cases and the one they went back to ended up being an important one.

Caught another Death in Paradise episode. I'm enjoying Florence and Humph working together. And I'm fond of the JP and Dwayne dynamic.

Also started a new Passionflix series with The Secret Life of Amy Benson. Got the first episode in and I'm intrigued so far. Looking forward to seeing how the two seasons play out.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from On a Snowy Mountain, a sexy short that follows a couple trying to live their best life after a career in the shadowy spy business.

Here's the miniblurb:

Jersey and Shaw make it through hell to be together. They get married and spend their honeymoon in a sunny paradise, where they discover their future plans to become parents is now a present situation. A couple of weeks before Jersey's due date, they're taking a well-earned break at a friend's cabin on a snowy mountain when the weather takes a turn, and all hell breaks loose.

And a snippety peek…

Shaw considered himself a lucky man. He shared his life with the woman he loved and she continued to surprise him. It might be tricky sometimes to navigate the ups and downs of her pregnancy—mood swings, wild cravings, and occasional bouts of insanity—like spending two weeks in the mountains so close to her due date. But the insatiable desire for sex he could totally handle. The way he figured it, once the kid arrived, they wouldn't have much time for it.

And quite frankly, she took his breath away.

Naked, Jersey looked exactly the way he pictured her that hot day in Mexico almost nine months ago. She looked beautiful. Rounded and soft, yet fit and healthy. Her breasts were fuller, but it was her stomach, stretched protectively over their child that held him in thrall. As if she could read his mind, her throaty chuckle made him burn a little hotter and her wicked grin had him shoving his suddenly uncomfortable jeans past his hips so he could wriggle out of them. Now he seemed to be in a rush.

But not Jersey.

Her impatience gone, she slid slowly and sensuously to the floor and knelt facing him. She met his lips in a deep, lingering kiss, their tongues vying for control. She won out and set the pace, taking things slow and easy. Her fingers glided down his arms. With one hand braced on his thigh, the other grasped his erection and she began a smooth up and down rhythmic motion.

Shaw used his hands, stroking over her skin, taking his time with caresses designed to soothe instead stimulate her senses. He focused on her lower back. The weight of their child added a strain on those muscles. She moaned softly as his fingers eased some of the tension.

His fingers skimmed along her torso and moved forward to brush over her nipples. The extra sensitive tips hardened and Jersey gasped at the sensation. Letting go of his cock, she reached behind him and dragged a cushion in front of the fire. Her lips met his again before she turned and lay down on her side, letting her stomach rest on the pillow.

Shaw spooned in behind her, trailing his lips along her shoulder and eased into position. He rubbed his hand over the curve of her behind and when she bent her leg at the knee, he gently stroked his fingers along her cleft to find her wet and ready. He used his thumb, circling it around her clit, creating a nice bit of friction.

A soft moan escaped Jersey's lips and she angled her head around. "I want you. Now."

Shaw propped himself up on an elbow and bent forward to capture her lips in a kiss. He took his time entering her, moving in short increments until fully seated. He placed a hand protectively over her stomach and set a gentle pace, taking care to work with the rocking motion of Jersey's hips.

His lips grazed over her shoulder and she shivered. She placed her hand over his, pushing it lower and together they worked on the bundle of nerves centered between her legs. And each time he thrust upward, Jersey's fingers would brush over his length and it pushed him closer to the edge. Shaw used two fingers, rubbing them quickly back and forth over her clit, building up the tension.

Jersey's breathing went shallow then burst out on a gasp as the orgasm overtook her. Her internal muscles clamped and held him deep inside and the shuddering movement of her body pulled him right along behind her. He moaned her name and emptied himself, satiated and spent.

Jersey brought her arm up and pulled his head down. Her lips were warm and soft and the kiss leisurely and sweet.

"I just might be able to fall asleep now." Jersey carefully moved to a sitting position. "But maybe after a shower."

Shaw rose and offered his hand so she could pull herself upright.

She wrapped her arm around his waist. "Gonna join me so you can wash my back?"

As if he'd have it any other way. 

I have a lot of love for this series of sexy shorts featuring Jersey and Shaw. Hoping to get this group ready for launch in the near future.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Old Habits Die Hard

Not sure I'm ready for December. The last few months have really flown by, and I can't seem to keep up. I must be getting old. Or life is coming at me fast and that's why I'm struggling to stay in the moment.

And because I'm failing at staying in the moment, I started a daily post for self-care on Instagram and Blue Sky. Each day I'm going to post something that I do just for me to help me shed stress and enjoy a few minutes of me time.

To that end, I might be including some television shows, so keep an eye out for a few specials that aren't in my normal rotation.

I did get two episodes of My Life Is Murder in this week. I'm a little puzzled by the change in location from Australia to New Zealand, but I'm running with it for now.

I also finished up the bonus episodes from Agatha Raisin season two and caught the premiere of season three. I kind of miss Gemma but Toni is a lot of fun.

Watched two episodes of Silent Witness. Hard to say goodbye to Thomas and it's weird to not see Clarissa at the Lyell anymore. I do like the new vibe Jack and Nikki have. Looking forward to seeing if they add any new cast members.

Also enjoyed two episodes of Death in Paradise. Camille left for Paris and Humph is working through the new dynamic. I really enjoy this show and I'm so glad I can see it in chronological order.

Finished Only Murders in the Building and I did get the villains right. Excellent third season and I'm excited about season four because who saw that one coming with the new victim?

Caught another episode of The Batman and enjoyed it. The dynamic between Bruce and Alfred is a lot of fun.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. The two vignettes are ones I remembered and enjoyed the first time around. I love it when the parents truly have no idea what's going on.

Enjoyed another episode of VIP. The over-the-top villains are always entertaining. I truly miss that sometimes.

Also watched another episode of Peak Practice. Once again, I'm not interested at all in one of the storylines, but I do love the two new cast members and what's going on with them.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Old Habits Die Hard, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Merrick Casey works security for a US Embassy and runs into an old flame, Neo Upton, when he arrives with his diplomat dad. They don't have much time to revisit their troubled past because the tour they're on is ambushed. Caught away from her team, Merrick has to rely on Neo for backup and she quickly discovers old habits die hard.

And a snippety peek…

"All right come with me." Neo shoved the door open and gave a quick glance back.

Merrick handed him a sidearm. "Go." She stayed on his six, scanning the corridor. "Watch out, Neo. You haven't fired one of these for a while." The adrenaline still coursed through her and the feeling of rightness only got stronger.

This … this is what she and Neo were born to do.

Neo snorted. "Doesn't matter, Merr. I let my guard down once. It's not gonna happen again." He paused when more gunfire sounded. Voice low, he reminded her. "And it hasn't been that long."

Easing around the corner of the next causeway, he moved forward, stopping at the next juncture. Merrick turned, making sure their backs were clear. Waiting for a group of attendees to clear the corridor, she took stock for a moment, wondering when the world-painted-wrong feeling would return. Oddly, deep in her gut, she didn't think it would.

Neo ducked out and cleared the next juncture, Merrick hot on his heels. Neo turned and raised his weapon, and Merrick braced for action.

"Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa." A member of another diplomatic security force lowered his gun arm.

Someone on their side. Or at least someone unwilling to shoot at them. She and Neo skirted past the other representative and started forward again. Neo paused at the next intersection when a barrage of shots being fired filled the corridor. He slid his gaze toward her. Now or never. Merrick shrugged and nodded. Go.

He moved forward and she followed, cautiously making their way through the causeway. They finally came up to the steps leading to Upton's quarters. Holy shit. Too many spent shells littered the area. Heart pounding, she dashed up behind Neo.

He turned toward her. "This isn't right. Where are the guards?"

Yeah, not good. The elder Upton should have two marines outside his suite of rooms during a lockdown scenario.

Only one way to find out the situation. Merrick moved past Neo, letting him cover her. She didn't want him to be first one inside … especially if things weren't good. Glancing his way, she silently questioned. He lifted his chin then focused on the empty hallway. She walked forward to try the door handle. Not locked.

Heart in her throat, she raised her weapon, ready for anything. She started to nudge the door, but it swung open to reveal Lanai James, the US ambassador.

What the hell is she doing here?

Quickly lowering her sidearm, Merrick stepped back, a vivid memory of firing her weapon at the ambassador churning in her mind. Not at … toward. Because the goon squad trying to take over the embassy lurked in the shadows.

Neo huffed out a harsh breath. "Madam Ambassador, you all right?"

Her voice a little breathless, she answered. "I'm fine."

A barrage of gunfire rang out behind them. Neo quickly turned, ready to draw fire if necessary, backing slowly toward them.

Merrick shoved the ambassador backward. "Get inside."

She took turns with Neo, keeping an eye out for anyone or anything to come at them. Once everyone cleared the threshold, Neo closed and locked the door then barricaded it. Merrick exhaled hard before dragging more air in. Safe for the moment.

Neo explained the sitrep to Ambassador James.

She snorted. "Uprising, my ass. An active mutiny ensues in this building. It's widespread and organized."

Merrick grunted. "Understatement, Madam Ambassador."

Neo set his weapon on the table. "Madam Ambassador, we're in danger of losing the embassy." He loosened his tie and jerked it off.

Merrick's lips twitched. About time Neo lost the tie. It would only get in the way.

The ambassador sank to the edge of the sofa. "Shit. Nate. He just left with his two marines after someone tried to get in here." She pushed a shaky hand through her hair.

Interesting. More than concern tinged her voice.

I have no idea where this one is going to go. It's a bit over the top but the sages are pushing hard to keep it that way.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin