Sunday Snippet: Curiosity Kills It

The first week of August didn't end up being horrible and hot. We did get some humidity but the temperatures weren't terrible. I didn't have any big work projects and got to focus on a lot of writing. I also had a terrific brainstorm idea that I hope to talk more about in the near future!

Solid week of viewing television in the background while I got to work on writing. I'm a little ahead of my weekly schedule and hope I can work another movie in this week.

I caught two episodes of The Snoopy Show. This is such a great thing to have on in the background when I need some noise and funny stuff.

Watched an episode of the Agatha Christie Hour. The slightly paranormal angle made me happy.

Enjoyed a two-part Silent Witness and ended up liking it a lot. A good twisty plot on this one.

Finished up an arc of Classic Who and started a new one. The cybermen made an appearance in the new arc.

Also got the last episode of Most Terrifying Places in America watched. The final episode focused on the unnatural world and had some good stories.

Caught another episode of Moon Knight. This show is such a nice mix of action and humor with some interesting lore thrown in. I really love it.

Watched the penultimate episode of Harrow. Next should be the big finale and all I have to say is nothing bad better happen to Fern or Cal. At this point, I don't care if James is a good guy or a bad guy, I'm not a fan at all. Fairley makes me so happy and Grace … well, I really hoped they wouldn't do a weird triangle thing, but it looks like that might be in store for next season, if there is one. Bleh.

Enjoyed an episode of Blue Heelers, which kind of picked up where the last one left off. Loved how the characters pieced everything together and got Nick off the hot seat for the most part. We'll see what happens on the next episode.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She talked about consuming and criticizing culture and I took a couple of valuable points away with me. I enjoy listening to her so much.

Watched another episode of the Babysitters Club. I say it often, but I'm so disappointed this show won't have any more episodes. It's fun and witty but always has some great dramatic moments also.

Thoroughly enjoyed two Classic Rugrats episodes. The Passover episode is one of my favorites and I'd forgotten that was in season three.

Caught another episode of Driven from Passionflix. So much happened and cliffhanger end hit hard. Can't wait to watch the next one!

Have to say I'm so disappointed in Natalie's characterization on Chicago Med. I realize we're close to when she'll be leaving but, man, she definitely did Will wrong on this one. I loved Daniel's arc and the understated way he showed his grief over CeeCee's death.

Finished up The Force Awakens and I'm so glad I've watched the movie from beginning to end and not in sporadic pieces. Looking forward to episode VIII.

Watched another Batman: The Animated Series episode. This is probably my all-time favorite animated series and the Dr. Freeze storyline is a particular favorite in the first season.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. This one had a lot of twists and I liked them. Gina continues to crack me up on a regular basis.

Started a new docuseries with Strangest Things. This is another show where I've bits and pieces of episodes and I'm excited to watch them in order and all the way through.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Curiosity Kills It, a novella that puts two coworkers that have personality conflicts on the road to becoming a couple.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Pagan and Chuck push each other's buttons … and not in a good way. But Pagan has a moment of clarity when she spies Chuck in the shower—they argue so much because they fight a powerful attraction. Hooking up may not be the answer, especially since they work together, but Pagan's curiosity gets the better of her and she has to find out.

And a snippety peek…

Chuck had to take a moment. The vivid picture of Pagan writhing underneath, on top, and bent over in front of him took up residence in his brain and sent the blood flow directly to his dick.

Damn the woman. "Now I have vivid images I can't escape." Who the hell knew he had a pornographic imagination?

Apparently Pagan did.

Once he got his hard-on under control, he kept her in his line of sight, thinking he'd confront her about playing games she shouldn't. But she had masterful skill at not being caught without company at her side. Frankly, probably better for both of them.

When she left, he breathed a sigh of relief. Until he got home. He spent all his waking time daydreaming about her. Imagining how incredible the sex would be.

Scraping a hand over his head, he growled. "I can't keep doing this."

He barely managed to get through their next shift. Pretty sure she had that very thing in mind when she made all those suggestions at the picnic. Well, he'd had enough. Time to turn the tables.

He stopped her on the way out. "Okay, you win. You planted the idea in my head and now I can't close my eyes without picturing us hot, sweaty, and naked together." Leaning in, he pitched his voice low. "And this whole thing better not turn out to be a bet." He'd commit violence if anyone had money riding on this.

Pagan held up her hands. "No bets, Chuck. Not even I'm that desperate for cash."

He grunted. "Fine. What's your next move?" He hoisted his go-bag over his shoulder.

Pagan flashed smile. "Not mine, Chuck. Ours." She started for the door. "And I suggest grabbing some breakfast to discuss what happens next."

She didn't name the place, but he had no doubt where to go. Roxanne's Diner … two blocks up from the station.

I'm having a lot of fun writing this one. I love characters that have a flash moment of realization that kind of changes everything.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Tell Me More

Ugh! August is fast becoming the craziest month I've ever had. This past week I filled my gas tank up on Monday and by Wednesday, I only had half a tank left. For perspective… a full tank of gas usually lasts about two to three weeks for me. Does that say anything about the week I had? LOL

Seriously, though, a lot of back and forth travel several times a day did give me lots of windshield time. It also gave terrible drivers and a buttload of construction but that's a whole different rant for another day.

I did end up having a highly productive week workwise, which means I didn't have a lot of time for television. I did hear the news of Krypton's demise unless another network picks it up. Here's hoping that happens. I really do love the characters.

I've been rather disappointed that my once favorite network is no longer in the running for my viewing time. I either watch on demand via the app or not at all. It makes me sad that Syfy has fallen so far. I literally used to watch the channel almost exclusively way back in the day.

As much as I love the convenience of streaming shows, I miss having a wide variety of stuff to choose from during the day on regular cable television. I have been enjoying the local channels' digital offerings. MeTV, Decades, Comet, Charge, This TV, etc. has some great classic stuff. That's what I've been having on in the background. I'm also a big fan of Ovation right now.

I did get to watch a few more episodes of Peter Gunn this week but that's about it.

Tonight's post is from Tell Me More, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Shannon Tewes and Webber Dillon work for a premier event planner and don't always see eye to eye. Shannon has a knack for putting Webber on the hot seat whenever their boss is around and Webber has several ideas of how he'd retaliate if he ever got Shannon in a compromising position.

And a snippety peek…

Webber Dillon yawned and stretched then swung his legs over the mattress to sit up. "I gotta stop working seventeen hours a day." A hot shower and breakfast on the go should wake him up.

Of course, coffee would be necessary for him to stay awake. Early morning meetings sucked balls.

He made the shower short even though he wanted to stand under the hot spray for at least an hour. "Right… not this morning." He had to go over the emailed images Shannon sent earlier in the week.

Right in the middle of the haunted garden project. He barely finished the wrought iron edging Marjorie insisted on adding to pathways. Of course, her last-minute faux forgetfulness amounted to bullshit. Marjorie loved to dump a pile of steaming crap in his lap so she could watch him frantically try to pull off the impossible.

Shaking his head, he poured a travel mug of coffee. "Not sure how much longer I can take Marjorie's ballbusting." Then again, he only had to do one thing to get her to back off. "Right. Not gonna happen." Ever.

So far, he'd kept his end of the deal from hell he'd struck with the event planner. And he planned to never give her a reason to pull her trump card. His work ethic spoke for itself but Marjorie had his balls in a vice and wouldn't hesitate to use any leverage she could gain to force his hand.

He took his caffeine to the table and opened the file Shannon sent. After familiarizing himself with the plans, he jotted a few notes and ideas to add during the meeting. Shannon did good work. Her mock-ups were easy to follow and she didn't scrimp on detail.

He grabbed his folder and tucked it under his arm. "And she got it in before the meeting for once." Finally… he could look forward to a less stressed and busy week.

Scooping his coffee up, he headed for his SUV ready to grab a quick breakfast taco on his way in to Fabulous Fetes.

Webber is going to lose his mind when he discovers Shannon had a last-minute, brilliant idea for the wedding. How much fun will it be when she decides to apologize?

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Violating Space

Had a terrific weekend with great weather for my middle kid's graduation party. My boys were super easy. They're pretty much no muss, no fuss guys. My daughter, on the other hand, will be a sophomore and I think I'm going to start planning her party next week. LOL She's very much a social whirl and gets involved in tons of activities. I might need to rent a venue for hers. LOL

Gotham's finale rocked. I'm so glad the show seemed to find its footing in the third season. I'm pretty much thrilled with all the storylines and where they're leading into for the next season.

Friday brought some much-needed excitement back to my television screen. The double premiere of Dark Matter kept me glued to the screen. Then the follow-up with the Wynonna Earp premiere had me staying put. I'm so happy to have the shows back and can't wait to see where everything goes. Killjoys is up this week and I'm impatiently awaiting its return.

As mentioned last week, I'm just not into this season of Doctor Who. I wish I could sink into the storylines like I've been able to in the past, but I'm struggling. A lot. Very disappointing.

Orphan Black, by comparison, had a kickass return. The clones kicked Saturday night into high gear and I don't anticipate anything less than a wild and reckless ride. My one and only hope is I don't lose any of my favorites. But I'm not holding my breath on that one.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Violating Space, a sexy short that started with the writing comm prompt of "violating personal space". I took the premise and decided to make this a coworkers who become more romance.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Reese Claymore has it bad for Eric Matthews but they work in the same department and can't really get together. Doesn't mean Reese can't express her interest—to the point of driving Eric a little insane over it. He decides to prove a point and invades her personal space, but his plan goes awry when he can't resist acting on his crazy impulse.

And a snippety peek…

Eric waited until the door clicked shut, thoroughly enjoying the view while distracted. "I hate that woman sometimes." He shifted sideways, attempting to adjust the hard-on in his pants.

Reese did the sexy siren thing on purpose, especially after the memo went out about fraternization. She understood the company policy as well as he did. And, okay, he often thumbed his nose at stupid rules for the sake of convention but… job security didn't exist anymore.

That said, her suggestive display seemed to only be for his benefit and never failed to inject some much needed diversion into his day, even if he got sidetracked from work. One of these days he'd push back just to see her reaction.

And maybe find out if she had an actual interest in more than light flirting and being a pain in the ass.

He snorted. "I'd bet she's a wildcat in bed." He had no idea why. Not really.

Her laugh had sexy undertones and did incredible things to his blood flow. Her confidence showed in her work, her attire, and her demeanor. Eric loved a woman who had her shit together and didn't make apologies for it. His preference for curves and dark hair only kicked the attraction up to a higher notch. She definitely had a lush body that should fit nicely against his, and her brunette curls fell to her shoulders. Reese tended to wear it in a different style each day. Today's was a sleek twist with face-framing wisps.

Opening the top file on his desk, his lips curved in a smile. "Just wait, Reese. I can give as good as I get. Maybe even throw you off your game." Leaning back, he pulled the folder forward and got down to business.

I'm excited to see how this story unfolds. I like the forbidden aspect of two people coming together when there could be consequences.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Under the Impression

Ugh. This has been a rough week. A nasty stomach virus worked its way through the entire family. So glad we're all back to being semi-normal.

Looking forward to catching Talking with Chris Hardwick tonight. I'm excited to see what he brings to the screen each week.

Legends of Tomorrow had a solid finale. I look forward to seeing how the team deals with the time quakes. Awesome to see Mick pretty much choose his side.

Riverdale keeps getting better and better. I love this show. Watching Archie screw things up makes me happy. It's nice to have a character who gets to grow and change… as long as he actually gets to do both.

Finished up season three of City Homicide and got a start on season four. I'd forgotten how much I didn't like Rhys. Can't remember if he ended up growing on me or not. Took a small break to rewatch Pitch Perfect and do my happy chair dance while viewing.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Under the Impression, a novella that got a start with the two-word prompt of "bloody hell". A fun one for sure!

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gris Ravenswood, owner of the hot night spot, Impressions, has it bad for his lead bartender, Kari Dans, but she's in a relationship with a semi-pro golfer. When Kari imbibes too much at an after party and puts the moves on Gris, he thinks he's finally got a chance… until Kari receives a text and runs off to be with the guy who always leaves her behind.

And a snippety peek…

Kari Dans propped her arms on the window of her boyfriend's car. "How long this time?" She'd had a whirlwind thirty-six hours with him.

Bernie shrugged. "Probably not until early on Monday next week. You'll be off, right?" He revved the motor, his impatience to take off obvious.

Kari brushed off a quick stab of irritation. "Yes. Always am." She leaned in and kissed him hard on the mouth. "Good luck with your tournaments." Easing away, she barely got her arms free before he sped out of the parking lot.

Bernie didn't stop at the entrance, merging out into traffic to the blare of several horns. Kari shook her head. She probably should've let him go earlier this morning when he'd first suggested dropping her off to get her car.

Heaving a sigh, she turned and stopped short. Gris Ravenswood had a shoulder propped against the brick façade of his bar, a frown marring his normally handsome face. Probably acted as a witness to her public display of affection with Bernie. A hot flush crept up her neck, which she squashed immediately. She could kiss her boyfriend whenever she wanted on her time.

But when had he arrived? "Hey, boss." She strode forward. "Are you in the habit of watching the private moments of your staff?" And making them feel like idiots?

Gris pushed away from the wall. "Only when they occur in a public parking lot." He keyed in the entry code of the bar. "Alcott in a hurry or something?"

Kari shrugged and tugged the door open. "Yeah, sort of. Left my car here Sunday and he had to drop me off." She entered with Gris following on her heels. "He's got a big tournament swing this week. Won't be back until Monday." God, she needed to shut up.

Gris didn't care or need to know about her boyfriend's schedule. Especially when he always looked like he'd eaten something nasty whenever Bernie's name came up. Which didn't make much sense, but Kari rolled with the reaction. She didn't need Gris's approval.

He walked behind the bar and flipped the switch for the neon backdrop. "What does Alcott do on the weekends?" He actually sounded interested.

Kari dropped her bag in the bin behind the counter. "Because those are my heavy work nights?" She laughed. "He usually unwinds from his trip and rests up to be with me." She waggled her eyebrows.

Gris wore an inscrutable expression. At least he didn't grimace or make a comment. She'd left herself wide open for one.

He lifted his chin and changed the subject. "Gonna be down in the cooler doing inventory. If you need anything…" He nodded toward the steps leading to the lower lever.

Kari grinned. "Don't interrupt while you're counting. Got it."

Gris laughed and headed down the stairs.

Kari grabbed an apron and tied it around her waist then got busy with the setup before opening. Gris gave her a lot of leeway with what happened in her domain behind the bar. She'd suggested the backdrop of vintage neon signage and he'd approved the purchase. And he appreciated her streamlined method for storing the liquor, which also received compliments for being visually pleasing. The work surface remained spotless since she'd commandeered two of the sinks for dumping rinds, peels, and mixing equipment. A dishwasher kept glasses clean and at the ready.

He ran a tight ship and treated his employees well. She enjoyed working for him. Didn't mean she had him figured out though.

She snorted. "Yeah, right." So far, he kept most of his personal details under wraps.

Which piqued her curiosity. If Bernie didn't take up her free time, she'd be very tempted to get to know Gris much better.

Although maybe not in the carnal sense. Mixing business and pleasure didn't always work out and she loved her job.

But she'd really like to know why Gris had such a dislike for her boyfriend.

I'm excited about how this one is coming together. Here's hoping the sages keep communicating.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ugly Drunk

Some nice weather, not too hot or cold. No snow, which is always a bonus. Fingers crossed it stays mild. Of course, everyone knows not to hold their breath. It's still March.

Didn't pay much attention to The Walking Dead, but did catch The Talking Dead. Definitely going to have to check out Hardwick's The Talking because it should be loads of fun.

How much longer is the hiatus for Gotham? I'm missing the dark, crazy ride.

The Flash had another crossover with Supergirl and, I have to admit, the mash-up ended up being fun and worth the watch.

Arrow… wow. I guess I'm going to assume Oliver's last buried deep secret is finally out there for, well, the viewers at least. Kudos to that walk down memory lane. That said, I've got a crap-ton of questions and need to watch again with zero, I mean absolutely no interruptions or distractions. I do have a hope some of the bad guys are now going to ripple out from Oliver's past transgressions, especially Talia. I would love to see an Oliver / Nyssa / Talia meet up. That would be worth an entire episode, right?

Looking forward to a new episode of Riverdale. I've missed seeing my new favorite group of actors.

Finally finished Luke Cage and thoroughly enjoyed the first season. I'll admit I'm not thrilled with how it ended but I'm assuming all will be addressed soon. Continued the City Homicide rewatch and have most of season two out of the way.

Still need to catch up on a few other shows and might get to those this week.

That's it for television. Tonight's post is from Ugly Drunk, a novella that got its start with the two-word prompt, "of course".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Pippa Rice is a problem solver and when she takes a job at a local watering hole, her natural skill defuses quite a few tricky situations. Too bad she can't quite figure out how to fix her boss, Wood Finnian. The guy has more baggage than an airport, but Pippa isn't one to give up on people, ever.

And a snippety peek…

Wood sobered up fast, easing away from Pippa. Her lips, lush and swollen, remained open, inviting him back for more. He cupped one side of her face and went back for another kiss.

Home. She tasted like home and great things and a future he wanted so badly he might kill to have it. And marshmallows.

Okay, maybe the alcohol still burned in his brain.

Didn't make their chemistry any less potent.

He pulled away from her, blinking several times. "Whoa."

Her lips twisted in a wry smile. "I know, right?" She moved a few feet away, putting some space between them.

Wood shook his head, still dazed and very hot for her. "I didn't. Not until just now." His tongue flicked over his lower lip and caught a hint of her flavor again. "Whoa."

She grinned, wide and full. "You're repeating yourself." Her husky tone went straight to his dick.

And realization dawned. He affected her the same way.

He met her gaze. "So that's why…" His voice trailed off.

She nodded. "Yes, that's exactly why." Pippa glanced away, wrapping her arms around her waist. "I got the vibe right away. Felt the pull almost immediately." She blew out a breath then raised her gaze to his again. "You have the power to break me, Wood. And I ran scared."

He didn't want to break her. Destroying furniture while he slaked his lust with her body wouldn't be off the list though. Carnal images of her in his bed with her fingers wrapped around the headboard filled his mind. Jesus. Could his cock get any harder? But her admission cut through the fiery haze heating his blood.

He lifted his chin. "Looks like I'm not the only one with issues." Maybe she understood better than he gave her credit for.

Her lips twisted again. "Nope. I'm attracted to danger. It's like catnip for me." She spoke with quiet purpose. "You… are super dangerous." Her eyes flashed with a spark of determination. "And you should be off-limits." A quick dart of her tongue over her top lip showed her indecision.

Wood struck fast. "That's not what you want, is it?" He closed the space between them, reaching out to grasp her hips. "You want me. Dangerous or not." Tugging her close, he met with resistance when she planted her hands on his chest.

Pippa edged away. "Doesn't matter, Wood. We're at cross-purposes." She put some additional distance between them. "You're thinking spectacular sex, which is great and all, but you're not ready for me. Not yet." Darting around him, she made a beeline for the door.

Wood quickly beat her to the exit. "What if I am? We won't know unless you give me a shot."

It's decision time for Pippa. Take a chance on Wood and the possibility of something terrific or stay safe in her comfort zone. She's a brave woman…

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Tell Me More

February in Ohio can be an angsty monster. Two days ago we hit almost eighty degrees. Yesterday, we had a fifty-degree drop in temperature and snow. Seriously… Mother Nature has a warped sense of humor. Just saying.

I'll be skipping this week's The Walking Dead but thoroughly enjoyed last Sunday's episode. I'm always up for Daryl and Carol being in the same space.

The Flash ended up being pretty good, but I need to rewatch. Too many distractions going on while it aired. I did get to see most of Legends of Tomorrow and I'm torn between really hating Rip as a bad guy and kind of enjoying it. I'm very fickle sometimes.

Arrow ended up being awesome! Thea moving behind the scenes to protect her brother is terrific, even when she goes too far. The Merlyn blood is strong in her. I loved Oliver comparing her to Moira, too. A nice, subtle reminder of her other role model in life.

Riverdale got real with the Blossom family secrets. I loved getting some dark background on them. Also enjoyed some of the other undertones pinging in the background. I'm a little confused about Fred's marital status… didn't he say he and Mary split up but they're civil to each other? Oh well, whatever adds more drama, right?

I'm halfway through season two of Daredevil and still enjoying it. It's not as tightly written as the first season, but I love where things are going.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Tell Me More, a novella that started with a two-word prompt of "don't stop".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Shannon Tewes and Webber Dillon work for a premiere event planner and don't always see eye to eye. Shannon has a knack for putting Webber on the hot seat whenever their boss is around and Webber has several ideas of how he'd retaliate if he ever got Shannon in a compromising position.

And a snippety peek…

Shannon Tewes jolted awake and sat up, scrambling for her sketchpad. "Holy crap. This is perfect." Her fingers traced out a design, lightly shading in the gauzy effect that her brain conjured while sleeping.

She wanted to get as much detail on the page as possible before adding the new concept to her presentation.

Five minutes later, she leaned back and held up the pad. "Wow. This will be amazing." She'd drawn a long tunnel draped in a crepe-like fabric. "Add some lights, probably red, and some candelabras to line the path and, viola, a stunning entry for the guests." The Halloween-themed wedding would go down as one of her favorites.

Crawling out of bed, she crossed over to her small workspace and got her laptop going. She opened the project file and scanned the sketch into the computer. She'd flesh out the idea after she made some coffee.

She'd pay for this burst of inspiration when she came down from the creative high. And she didn't need Marjorie to lose faith in Shannon if she nodded off during the meeting later today. She'd already be pushing the limits of Marjorie's patience by adding in a large-scale, last-minute stroke of genius.

Mercurial by nature, Marjorie walked the gamut when they made changes close to a deadline. Which they did all the time. Fantastic Fetes earned its reputation for pulling off the impossible.

Working the mouse to fill in the color, Shannon grinned. "It's a good thing Marjorie could sell snow to Santa Claus." Unlike Shannon.

She preferred to be well behind the scenes. But Marjorie had mad people skills when it came to clients and getting them to part with their money. With her employees, she created friendly—usually—rivalries that garnered terrific ideas from her design teams.

Ugh. "Webber's not gonna be thrilled with me." Her counterpart for the Halloween nuptials had cranky down to an art form.

But, damn, between the smokin' hot body and the way he worked miracles by bringing her ideas to life, she hated working with anyone else. She kept her serious crush buried deep and under wraps. Marjorie liked to taste-test the help, but Shannon tried to maintain the separation of personal and professional.

But if Webber ever eased up on the grouch factor, Shannon might consider crossing the line.

She snorted. "Yeah, right. As if that'll ever happen."

Especially when he got a look at her new presentation.

I think I'll fun finishing this one up. Shannon and Webber have a ton of chemistry.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Running Dialog

A very Happy New Year to all!

Hope everyone survived the holiday season and 2017 is starting out with peace and joy.

I finished up my Great Holiday Show Binge Watch Extravaganza for the most part. Mainly single episode shows from a wide variety of dramas. I still have a couple of shows on my DVR that I'll watch after everyone goes back to school and work.

Started a binge watch of the reboot of Hawaii Five-0. After watching the Christmas episodes, I had enough interest to start the series. So far, I'm enjoying the reboot and started season two yesterday.

Looking forward to the return of my regular shows this month.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Running Dialog, a sexy short about the highs and lows of living with the person you work with.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Margo Miln and Del Lamberto, two of the remote outpost's best medics, argue all the time. Sometimes their rapid fire disagreements can be a pain… and occasionally their lively discussions lead to truly awesome things.

And a snippety peek…

Margo tossed back the clear alcohol, letting it slide down her throat. If she didn't want to maintain her credibility, she'd compliment Del on the mixture. She very much doubted she'd be able to top his latest recipe.

Del entered the Pit—they were going to laughingly call their quarters the head, but decided not to risk it—and flopped down on his cot. "What a day." He rolled to his side and propped his head on his hand. "What's the verdict? Is the swill top shelf or rot gut?" His gaze remained steady when it met hers.

Put on the spot, Margo answered honestly. "Top shelf, Del. It's ready to serve to the masses." She didn't have to tell him he'd made his best batch yet, right?

Del fist-pumped the air. "Yes. Great news!" He leaned over the edge of his cot. "The natives were getting a wee bit restless." He sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the mattress. "I'll go post a notice on the community board." Rising to his feet, he started for the door.

Margo jumped up. "Hey, wait. Let's make this a party. Something themed, like a luau or something retro-inspired." She caught up and followed Del out the door.

He glanced down. "Not sure that's a great idea. None of us brought along much." Making the turn, he entered the commons area. "But we could check the supply closet and see what's in there."

He grabbed a sheet of paper from the printer and started making a sign. Margo opened the supply closet and pulled out boxes left behind by other crews. After rifling around, she came up with an idea for the party. Several costumes had been tucked away and the assortment of decorations should prove more than enough to carry out the concept.

She dragged the crates to the middle of the floor. "So… I'm thinking—"

Del turned around. "Roaring twenties." He tacked the notice to the bulletin board.

Margo nodded. "Yeah, think speak easy and—"

Del snapped his fingers. "Bathtub gin."

Margo grinned. "Exactly." She separated some of the boxed items and made piles for the other crew members. "We'll drop these off outside quarters and tell everyone to add their own ideas to the theme." She couldn't wait to start turning the commons into a smoky gin joint.

Del gathered up the piles. "I'll drop these off. You get going with the decorations." He hustled toward the corridor. "Will a couple of hours do?"

Margo nodded. "Yep." She started moving chairs away from the large table in the center of the room. "Hurry back so you can help." She glanced up to see Del's middle finger provide his response.

But he'd be back in plenty of time. Del wouldn't leave her hanging.

She hoped.

Having fun figuring out where this one is going. Margo is a hoot to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quid Pro Quo

What a great week in television for writing inspiration. I love to do my weekly roundup of viewing fare because it always gets my creative juices flowing. Sundays tend to be great writing days. LOL

Gotham might be having its best season yet. Truly, I love everything about it so far. I'm hoping the momentum continues and the show doesn't crash and go off the rails.

The Flash remains excellent. Loved seeing Jessie and Wells again. Also like the slow reveal of Caitlyn's issues. I'll leave it there for folks who aren't caught up yet.

Agents of SHIELD had a great episode. Everyone is finally back in the fold and it's time to move the story along.

Once again, Arrow proved to be awesome. Overall, it's still my favorite show. I love how they worked Quentin into the storyline and the way it went down. He makes so much sense for the new role he's taking on. Looking forward to the next episode to see how things go with Diggle.

Legends of Tomorrow also brought a great episode to my screen. I'm enjoying how hard the team is finding being an actual team. Very interested in seeing what happens with the new guy. Between Gideon and the two resident geniuses, I think he'll be alright.

MacGyver stayed fun. I have a fondness for train hijinks and the show delivered a terrific episode with a last minute save. Can't ask for more.

As usual, Van Helsing left me a little "meh". It's probably time to drop the updates since I'm not completely into the show. Sadly.

And that's it for television this week. I'll have some feelings about Murdoch Mysteries in the next post. YAY!

Tonight's post is from Quid Pro Quo, a sexy short where coworkers decide whether to act on their mutual attraction.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Abel Reynolds gets injured and laid up for a couple of days, Lark Munroe decides to provide a little quid pro quo check in on him, except she's got way better ideas to pass the time than Abel ever did.

And a snippety peek…

Abel blinked and shook his head. Lark tended to breeze in, work up to a gale force whirlwind then exit on a hearty gust that sucked the energy from the room. And none of it in a bad way. He didn't know he needed or wanted human companionship until she walked through his front door.

Why did she really stop by? Her visit surprised him, mainly because he had no clue what her angle might be. Repaying a kindness would be something she'd do, but he'd dropped in on her because—as second in charge—he had a responsibility to make sure his people got what they needed.

Lark didn't owe him anything. Which she totally understands, you moron. Right, but she has no reason to stop by.

Unless… No, he shouldn't read anything into her visit. "Because then I'd have to decide what to do, if anything." Acting on a mutual attraction—if one existed—could be sticky.

He couldn't indulge the fantasy of being with his perfect woman. But, damn… he'd love to explore each and every possibility. Lark had the total package. Great looks. Super smarts. Terrific personality.

Visualizing how hot and steamy they could make a room never proved to be a problem. The raging hard-on it gave him did. Kind of like now, when she'd be returning in the near future. Adjusting the rigid length of his dick under his pants didn't help. And no way could he grab a pillow to cover the evidence. She'd know in a heartbeat.

Growling, he brought his good leg up and propped his foot on the couch cushion. "Could I be any more screwed?" A sexy image of Lark with her head thrown back while she rode him hard and fast flashed in his mind.

He grabbed the glass of cold tea and settled the glass over his cock. Probably wouldn't help much, but a cold shower couldn't happen until much later tonight.

Something tells me that cold shower might happen before Abel thinks it will.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Pregnant Pause

Okay, Gotham, you have my attention. I'm now very interested in Bruce Wayne and what's going on with him. Also loved the whole Fish / Penguin interaction. Not sure how I feel about the reporter, Vanessa Vale, yet. I'm not really down with a major triangle but I might be jumping the gun. The whole Ivy thing is also in the I'm-not-sure-about-this corner. Looking forward to Monday!

Agents of SHIELD didn't have a bad premiere. I'm still a week behind. Ended up with a nasty cold / respiratory ick and missed the episode Tuesday.

Van Helsing is still kind of "meh". I'll see if the next few episodes get better and bring the various threads together.

MacGyver is still not too bad. I'll keep watching and see if ends up going too cheesy for my tastes.

Rewatch fare remained with Miss Fisher. I started a fandom bullet journal and hope to jot down my favorite moments from the series. I've been using it to help keep track of what I like and don't like about all my shows.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Pregnant Pause, a novella that started with the prompt, "I'm pregnant" and took off from there. One of the primary themes is doing everything backwards. Fun!

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nora Dunne and Logan Rider are wildly attracted to each other and doing a stint in a remote location for a research project. When sexual tension gets in the way of the work, their decision to act on the magnetic pull leads to unexpected consequences.

And a snippety peek…

Logan popped his head into the lab. "Stir fry or breakfast for dinner?" His fingers drummed a rapid staccato beat on the jamb.

Nora closed her eyes. She couldn't take much more. Three days into their program and the guy would not get out of her head. Now he invaded her workspace. Gah!

She whirled around. "Would you stop with the constant questions?" Gathering her notes, she stomped across the room and flopped down on the couch.

Logan's eyes went wide. "Whoa." He entered the lab and braced his hands on his hips. "This is the first time I've said jack to you all day." His eyes darkened with anger. "You asked for space and I gave you plenty of room. Excuse the fuck out of me if I thought you'd like some input on dinner." He made a disgusted sound, turned, and started for the door.

Nora sighed. Crap. She could be a raving bitch sometimes. But Logan had stayed out of her way today. Not his fault her thoughts kept landing on him all the time.

Rising, she followed him out of the lab. "Logan. Hold up." She fell into step beside him. "Look, I'm sorry. Still trying get my feet under me and snapping at you isn't going to help." They entered the kitchen. "I'm down with doing breakfast for dinner. I've been told I make kick ass pancakes—"

Logan cupped her face in his hands and slanted his mouth over hers. Nora swallowed her startled gasp and responded to the kiss. His lips left a heated trail along her jawline and his thumbs tilted her chin, giving him access to her throat. Nora moaned, a shiver of desire sliding down her spine. God, so much better than she imagined.

Logan's heated embrace moved back up and she met him, her tongue flicking against his.

He groaned and finally released her. "Sorry. I'm sorry." He moved away, putting a healthy amount of space between them.

Nora dragged air into her lungs. "Sorry you kissed me or sorry you stopped?" She scrambled to figure out how to deal with the simmering want and need he'd unleashed.

Logan shot her a glance. "Right now? Both." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "You've been snarking and snapping since we got here. I've been thinking about nothing but you." He stopped speaking, staring at the floor.

Well… how interesting.

Nora crossed the space between them, waiting until he met her gaze. "The whole reason I've been off balance is because I can't get you out of my head." Her lips curved. "Which means we've got a bit of a problem here, Logan." Reaching out, she grabbed his hips. "And the big question is… what are we going to do about it?"

I'll give you one guess as to what they're going to do about their mutual attraction. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Photo Ops

September 25, 2016

New television started for me this week. Gotham kicked off with a pretty solid premiere. I like Gordon playing bounty hunter. He's definitely got enough escapees to keep him busy. Really interested in where things go with Bruce and OtherBruce (aka Dude Who Looks Like Bruce).

Missed the premiere of Agents of SHIELD, but I'll catch up before the second episode. Looking forward to seeing how the team moves ahead.

Caught the second half of Van Helsing and I'm in for now. My fear is this show will be similar to Hunters where the first few episodes were good but things unraveled from there.

MacGyver ended up being better than I expected. As one of my favorite early adult shows, the original will be hard to beat. Then again, if the updated vibe continues and darker themes are explored, I could get behind the new reboot. Fingers crossed.

Needed some lighter fare, so started Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries again. I'll get back to Strike Back soon. Can't leave Stonebridge and Scott hanging for too long. LOL

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Photo Ops, a fun little romp prompted by a charity photo shoot idea.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Mace McKenna decides not to participate in the annual Officers of the City charity calendar photo shoot, Nina Dean won't let up until he caves. But when Nina loses a bet and has to pose for the women's version, she soon discovers Mace is the orchestrator of the whole thing.

And a snippety peek…

"One final thing in closing. We need to do our part to keep morale up in the city."

Nina Dean snuck into the shift briefing and grabbed the closest seat to the exit. Mace McKenna stood at the podium, giving no indication he'd spotted her sliding in at the end of the daily rundown. Maybe she'd managed to stay off his radar for once.

"We've had a rough quarter. Major crime and the murder rates are up. Tensions are running high." Mace came out from behind the stand and stepped down off the dais. "Everyone, whether you work the beat, vice, major crime, homicide, or special response, needs to do their part to diffuse situations and rebuild communication. Trust doesn't come cheap. We all have to do our jobs and go above and beyond with problem solving." He pinned Nina with a scathing look. "That means making it to the morning briefings on time, right, Dean." A dark brow arched, daring her to refute the statement.

She sank down in the seat she occupied. "Right. Even if a commissioner's rep waylays us in the hallway, we need to be on time." She met Mace's gaze. "Won't happen again, Mace." Until it did, because it would.

He rolled his eyes. "I don't think any of us will hold our breath for that one, Dean." A round of laughter followed his verbal barb.

Nina took the insult in stride. "That's good. Wouldn't want anyone to die of suffocation." She almost always had a ready comeback for him.

Mace smirked. "Touche." He moved back behind the podium. "You're all dismissed."

Nina bolted up and made a beeline for the exit. The others followed, most carrying on conversations about how rough the day would be. She didn't disagree, but the commissioner's representative asked her to stop by as soon as the morning briefing ended and Nina didn't plan to be late for that meeting.

No way. The rep had been light on detail, but definitely caught her attention with two words.

Photo op.

If her friend Micha laid the groundwork like he'd said he would, she'd have a primo opportunity to put a feather in her cap.

And serve a little comeuppance to Mace in the process.

The back and forth of this one is so much fun to write!

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Once in a Lifetime

The Last Ship continues to blow my mind. I love the words that come from Chandler's mouth. Is the man perfect? Hell, no. But I'd totally back whatever play he wanted to make, even if it blew up in our faces. Can't wait to see what Blond Ambition tries to pull this week. And I have to say, the whole building of a wall thing, making the regional borders permanent, haunts me a little. I'm very interested in how that whole thing plays out. And hey… I get to see a familiar face on this week's episode!! YAY!!

Killjoys stayed dark and twisty and I won't complain. I'm saddened by the loss of a character who became a favorite. I'm also really interested in finding out what the hell is up with the faux scarbacks Evil Delle has working with her. Because that's a snag I want to see play out.

Dark Matter dialed the tension back a little and I'm okay with it. I continue to be amused by the little callbacks to the Stargate 'verse—this week it was a personal shield—and hope the inside references don't get to be too much. We'll see how that goes.

No Strike Back this week, but I did finish up season two of Babylon 5. I'm taking a small break to start on some 80s movies with my daughter and I've also got season one of Killjoys on tap. I'm revisiting the first episodes to see if there are some seeds planted that I missed. :)

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Once in a Lifetime, a novella that started with the prompt of one character hearing the other calling their name in the throes of passion. I loved the challenge of coming up with something for that crazy idea.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Evan McCoy overhears Sasha Knepf shout his name when she's in the throes of passion with another man. He confronts her the next day in the hotel suite and demands an explanation, which she's not inclined to provide since he ditched her after their second dance at the annual ball.

And a snippety peek…

Sasha Knepf tugged her shirt over her head and looked up to find Evan McCoy staring in her direction.

She blinked. "What?" Fighting the urge to finger-comb her hair, she met his gaze.

Evan waved a piece of paper back and forth. "You get the security assignment? For the big deal shindig at the Hampshire?" He yanked his locker open and pulled out a shower kit.

Sasha bit back a groan. She'd give anything to be a fly on the wall when he showered. The man had a gorgeous physique.

Evan snapped his fingers. "Sash? Are you on the detail for the formal thing?" He cocked his head to one side.

Sasha shook her head. "Yeah, and I got the note it's civvie attire instead of full dress uniform." Her lips curved. "Which is terrific because it's too damned hot to wear long sleeves and wool in the middle of the summer."

Plus she wouldn't have to drag the heavy garment to the dry cleaner.

Evan closed his locker door and leaned toward hers, catching a whiff of the inside. "Probably a good thing." His nose wrinkled.

Sasha's face flamed. If nothing else, she needed to get rid of the socks piling up in the bottom of her bin. And maybe do a couple loads of laundry.

She quirked a brow. "Are you calling my personal hygiene into question?" Based on the smell of her locker she couldn't blame him.

Evan snorted. "You have hygiene? I seriously can't tell." One side of his mouth turned up in a smirk.

With a wink, he strolled into the shower area and pulled the curtain around the stall.

Sasha gave him a long hard look. "We'll see about that, Evan. Just you wait."

Having a truly wonderful time meandering through the writing on this one. Sasha and Evan are a joy to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Monumental Headache

Well, The Last Ship didn't kill any of my favorites last week. On one hand, this makes me very happy. On the other, I'm now wondering when, who, and how much it will destroy me when they take out a crewmember. LOL

Killjoys continues to rock my world. I love the show so much. I also love seeing so many familiar faces from other genre shows. Same goes for Dark Matter. After a "meh" opening episode, this week's turned out to be so much better with the possibility of a few cast shake-ups. I'm a little iffy on where things are going but I'm in for the ride.

The rewatch of Babylon 5 is up to the start of season two. I'm also in season two of Strike Back. Summer is great for sinking into and revisiting old favorites.

Tonight's post is from Monumental Headache, a novella that started with the two word prompt of "Screw you."

Here's the mini-blurb:

Cadee Walsh has a high stress job and needs to blow off steam. She spends the night with Worth Pettigrew, recharging from the incredible sex. Imagine her mortification when she finds out he's her new boss.

And a snippety peek…

Worth hated to drop truth bombs, but bad news sucked no matter the delivery. "He saw me coming out of your house the morning after." Of course, Worth had no idea he'd be running into Cadee two hours later.

But Matt didn't care about the actual facts, only what he perceived as encroachment on his territory.

Cadee cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean, he saw you leave my house? Matt doesn't live anywhere near me." Her head straightened and her eyes went wide. "Oh, hell, no." She got up and paced back and forth.

The truth and scope of Matt's obsession settled over her, slowly, one tick of the secondhand at a time. Her face went through a range of emotion, realization, disappointment, fear, disgust, and finally anger. She sank back down onto one of the chairs, her gaze stony and determined when she raised it to meet Worth's.

She nodded toward a vacant seat. "I need to hear the rest." Her tone brooked no argument.

But Worth didn't trust their conversation wouldn't be overheard. He jerked his head toward the door and Cadee frowned but got up and followed him out into the hallway. She didn't pry or prod him for details, but stopped by her office to get her purse and jacket then met him outside in the parking lot.

Worth handed her a card with an address on the back. "Meet me here in ten." He popped the door open and slid behind the wheel of his vehicle.

He waited until Cadee pulled out into traffic before checking to see if they had an observer. Sure enough. Matt stood at the main doors with his arms folded over his chest. Worth backed out of his space, exited the lot, and merged into traffic. Watching his rearview mirror, he made sure no one tailed him.

I'm having some fun with this one. Cadee and Matt's unconventional first meeting adds a layer of conflict and it's interesting to write around.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Mixed Signals

Ahhh, The Last Ship makes me so very happy. And none of my favorites ended up dead in the last episode so there's that, too. I won't hold out too much hope for a death free episode tonight. Best to be prepared, right?

Killjoys came back with a bang. Gotta say I'm super happy to see it back on my screen. Here's hoping the whole season is as terrific as the premiere.

Dark Matter… eh, I was a little disappointed in the opener. That said, there are some interesting developments, especially given the ending. I'll reserve judgment before deciding if season two is a bust.

The finale for Wynonna Earp rocked. Fingers are still crossed for a second season. Some great seed were planted for future threads and I hope Syfy gives this show a chance.

Babylon 5 rewatch continues. I'm almost through the first season and so many little things I missed on the other viewings are popping up. I love when that happens.

Strike Back is also entertaining me with the same things happening. I catch small things I missed when I watched the first time.

That's it for TV this week. Hope everyone enjoys the fireworks shows if they like that kind of thing. Me? I'm happy watching them on what else… television. J

Tonight's post is from Mixed Signals, a novella where a friendly fire shooting has my couple revisiting their relationship.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Avery and Trigg, both undercover cops, can't keep their relationship going. Their work makes it hard to stay connected. When mixed signals results in Avery shooting Trigg in a friendly fire incident, she wants to set the record straight and maybe test the waters to pick up where they left off.

And a snippety peek…

Trigg closed his eyes and growled. "Probably not." His lids popped open and he met her gaze. "That's another reason you and me… a very bad idea." One his brain fought tooth and nail.

But his heart had armor-coated protection—especially against Avery. The one woman that had the power to raise him to the heights of ecstasy and send him to the depths of depravity, usually at the same time. Trigg didn't have the energy or the mental capacity to go a round with her right now.

He reached out, grasping her hand. "Look, I'm loaded down with pain meds and can't think straight at the moment." He squeezed her fingers. "Can we revisit this topic after I get sprung?" His thumb brushed over her palm.

Avery dragged her lower lip between her teeth, but nodded. "Sure. But I'd like to keep you company, if you don't mind. It's gotta be boring as hell in here." She slid her gaze to the side, almost shyly.

Trigg blinked, not quite certain the morphine drip hadn't caused a hallucination. Avery didn't do timid. Bold. Brash. Utterly daring. Yes. All of those. The change in temperament threw him and he kind of wanted to explore the new side she revealed.

Later. When he didn't feel like complete shit. But he could use the company.

He shifted his position and gave her a smile. "Having you stick around will definitely bust the boredom." A yawn escaped before he could prevent it. "But I gotta warn you. I drop off in the middle of conversations." He'd be happy when that didn't happen anymore.

Avery laughed. "Duly noted. I won't hold it against you." She dragged the chair close to his bed and settled onto the cushion.

Trigg leaned back and pressed the button to turn up the volume on the television. "I'm not fond of most of the crap that's on, but there's a terrific sci-fi show that starts in ten minutes." He glanced sideways. "You game?"

Avery gave him a slow grin. "As if you have to ask. And if it's the one I'm thinking of, I love it." She kicked her feet up on the lower edge of his mattress.

Trigg turned his attention back to the television. They'd always had a love for the same type of entertainment—action movies, science fiction fare, or creepy thrillers. The fact she continued to enjoy the same things comforted him.

And he could use the small measure of rightness the idea brought.

I love the whole idea of a couple who breaks up but can't let go because they're meant to be together.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin