Sunday Snippet: Just Do It Already

Well, April still feels like a mix of winter and summer but not spring. We have hot days then plummet back to cold. I’m hoping May evens it out and we hold steady for a while.

Had a crazy-busy week with work. More projects coming in hot and needing immediate attention. I’m so happy that all of them are absolutely fun and exciting to work on. I love them!

I did have very limited time for viewing this week. I don’t mind the trade off, because I usually have an old standby on in the background like Perry Mason, Columbo, or Murder, She Wrote.

I did finish up Strangest Things and I ended up enjoying the episode.

I also caught another episode in my great rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. This upcoming week, we’re going with a double header to round out season one.

I’ll be starting a new episode of The Mandalorian later tonight.

I also got to listen to my daughter’s radio show. It’s finals week and they get to choose their music. My daughter and her co-DJ picked seventies hits for their time slot. And they made great choices if I do say so. And I do.

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

Here’s the mini-blurb:

On an annual get together with a group of friends, Minnie Roberts gets her chance to test the waters with Reuben Harper who's had a string of bad luck with the dating pool. Reuben is blind to Minnie's interest, and she catches him off guard when she suggests a strings-free weekend with each other.

And a snippety peek…

Minnie decided to pull Reuben out of his shell—kicking and screaming if necessary. "Give me two shots of lemon vodka." Something sour to match his disposition.

The bartender deftly poured two glasses and slid them over.

She smiled her thanks, grabbed the glasses, and headed for the table where Reuben sat alone, still sulking the night away.

She placed the shot in front of him. "Drink up. My treat." She settled onto the chair next to him.

Reuben gave her a startled look. "Thought you were meeting the crew outside." His finger traced the rim of the glass.

Minnie shrugged. "I'll make it out there at some point. Right now, you and I are going to do these"—she picked up her tumbler and raised her brows—"and you're not going to leave me hanging."

Reuben's lips quirked. "Fine. But just the one." He raised his shot and tossed it back then sputtered when the tangy lemon hit his taste buds.

Minnie drank hers down with a chuckle.

Reuben's mouth puckered. "You could've warned me." He shook his head then grabbed his water, diluting the lemon taste.

Minnie nodded. "True. But you kind of needed a taste of your own medicine. You've been a true downer since you walked in the door of the rental." Not that she didn't understand, but his vibe had everyone on a downturn.

Reuben narrowed his gaze. "You're not gonna start, too, are you?" He shoved the glass to the middle of the table.

Minnie held up a hand. "Not really. This isn't about ribbing you. More like offering some friendly advice." She might get slapped back, but she'd make an effort.

The timing would never be this good again.

Reuben put his forearms on the table. "Okay, let's hear it."

She slid her gaze sideways, then leaned in closer to him. "Get some, Rueb. You need it." She patted his shoulder.

He huffed out a breath. "Oh really? What makes you say that?" His brows arched.

Minnie rolled her eyes. "You're kidding, right? You're cranky and driving everyone crazy." She pitched her voice lower. "Get laid. It'll make everyone happy. Believe me." Okay, everyone but her, depending on how things went.

Reuben schooled his features. "I'll think about it." He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest.

Minnie blinked. "What's to think about? This bar is full of exciting prospects. All you have to do is choose one." She waved her hand toward the main floor.

Reuben cast his gaze in the direction she indicated then grunted. "I have standards, Minn."

She bit her cheek, a flutter of hope sparking in her veins. "You're missing the point." And at least two blondes, a brunette, and a cute girl with a blue pixie cut.

Reuben met her gaze. "Not really. I don't have to overthink it, but I do have to be attracted to someone before making a move." He glanced away and toyed with the napkin.

Minnie tilted her head. "Hmm. Okay then." She debated for less than a second before she put herself out there. "What about me?"

Reuben's head snapped back up. "What about you?"

She straightened and squared her shoulders. "Am I not up to your standards?" Her heart hammered a little because his answer could sting.

He blinked. "Wait. What? Are you suggesting…" He motioned between them.

Minnie lifted her chin. "I'm putting it out there." And really hoping not to get stomped on.

Reuben cocked his head. "Okay, why?"

He didn't sound disinterested or freaked out. A good sign. But how to answer?

The truth usually worked well. "Look, I've always found you hot. But we've been friends for a long time, and you've never expressed an interest."

His eyebrows shot up. "I could say the same about you."

Her lips twitched. "The hot part or the interested part?"

His lips curled. "Let's go with both." He sobered. "But the whole friends thing could get complicated."

She wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. "Look, it doesn't have to be anything more than a hookup. You know, helping a friend out…" And hopefully not getting wrecked in the process.

I love how Minnie is willing to go for it even if she fears having her heart slightly bruised. Reuben better tread carefully…

 

That’s it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: A Golden Moment

We've had the most insane weather this week. Three days in the high sixties and low seventies then a thirty degree drop on Friday with rain, rain, rain, followed by another dip in temperature and snow in an area not far from where I live. I predict a lot of people will end up with upper respiratory issues in the near future.

Had a very busy week with work projects. The two I've been working on are both wrapping up and we're down to the final tweaks and polishing. I've thoroughly enjoyed both and I'm looking forward to a small break to get some additional things accomplished around the house.

I didn't watch much of anything this week, mainly because I needed the quiet focus again. I did get most of the way through Resisting Roots and I started Enola Holmes 2. I have so much love for this movie!

I also got an episode of Star Trek: Discovery in. I'm thrilled everyone is back together and I love the changing dynamic of the characters. Looking forward to seeing more of this season.

I'll hopefully be back to a partially normal viewing schedule in the next week. I also found a streaming service that has a classic television network I've been missing for the past three or so years. I'll be giving that a whirl soon.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

A group of friends sets up Pam Yardley and Desmond Hyde with prospective dates, hoping to get the last two remaining single friends into committed relationships. Pam and Desmond aren't enthusiastic but only because each harbors feelings for the other but neither want to ruin their long-standing camaraderie. When their friends start pushing for serious commitment between the two couples, Pam and Desmond finally have a heart-to-heart about the future they really want.

And a snippety peek…

"Pam! Hold up!" Monica Wells hoofed it across the school parking lot, weaving between cars. "Pammy! You'll never believe the news I have."

Pam Yardley arched her brows. "Considering you're speaking in exclamation points, it better be good." She laughed at her friend's antics.

Monica rolled her eyes. "Ha-ha." She leaned in. "Listen, I just set you up with the most awesome guy. I don't know why I didn't think of doing this sooner."

An awesome guy she didn't think of sooner? Could she mean Desmond Hyde? That news would make Pam's day.

Wary, but hopeful, she eyed Monica. "Okay, who is this incredible man you should've matched me with sooner?" Please let it be Des.

Monica waggled her eyebrows. "Paul Harrison. He's meeting you at Bobby Ques for dinner at seven." Her feet did a happy jig.

Pam narrowed her gaze. "Is Paul the new tech guy at the fire academy? The one James keeps talking about?" Monica's husband hired Paul so he didn't have to deal with the headache of running the state fire instruction school and keeping the computer system up to date.

Monica squealed. "Yes. That's him. He's settled in at the academy and his new apartment and he's ready to have a social life." She propped her hip on Pam's car. "He's a lot of fun and since you're both single, James thought you two would be perfect for each other." She grinned. "Of course, I agreed and when Paul answered the phone in James's office, I figured it was kismet and suggested he meet you for dinner."

Pam widened her eyes. "And what if I have plans?" She didn't really, only paper that needed grading.

Monica snorted. "You don't. It's Thursday, which means you're going to grade papers and plan next week's lessons so you'll have the weekend free." She folded her arms over her chest. "You can grade the papers before and after dinner and do you lesson plan during lunch tomorrow." Her lower lip jutted out. "Please say you'll go. Paul has to be tired of hanging out with me and James."

Pam laughed. "I doubt that. More like he needs a break from your overwhelming, but loving, attempts to keep him entertained." She sobered ... because she didn't want to lead Paul on. "It's just dinner, right? I mean, you didn't promise him a wedding in the near future or anything?" With Monica, no one could be certain.

Monica's gaze slid sideways. "A wedding? No. But I did mention you've been single for forever and you don't have any ex-husbands or boyfriends he should be concerned about."

Pam sighed. "That's by choice, Mon. Not that I don't want to find someone to share my life with, but after Chad … well, I'm very picky." And a blind-date setup wouldn't be her first choice in finding a someone.

Desmond Hyde, however, would. The only problem there? He happened to be James's best friend and if they did hook up and things didn't work out…

Monica clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Chad Harlow is an ass and we rightfully cut ties with him. No one cheats on my best friend and lives to tell the tale."

Pam loved Monica's fierce support. "Of course he does. He just doesn't work in the same school district anymore because he moved halfway across the state." Word traveled fast through their circle of friends and Chad decided to cut his losses and move on.

He also ended up being stranded at the altar by the woman he cheated on Pam with.

Monica waved her hand between them. "Whatever. He's dead to me and that's all that matters." Her gaze turned pleading. "You'll meet Paul, won't you?"

Bobby Ques did happen to be Pam's favorite restaurant. The owner, Robert Quinn, made the absolute best barbeque on the planet. And, if nothing else, Pam could introduce Paul to the marvelous cuisine.

She gave a nod. "Yeah, I'll meet him." She held up a hand when Monica started clapping. "But only for dinner. Don't start planning a couples' vacation over summer break." If she didn't nip that idea in the bud now, her best friend would have them sharing a room for their annual two-week trip to the condo on the beach.

Monica smirked. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Pam rolled her eyes. "Yes, you would. But let's wait until I actually meet him before you start waving your magic wand, okay?"

Monica hugged her. "Fine. But you're going to like him. I know you will." She let Pam go and stepped away. "I'll let you head out so you can get started on grading those papers." With a waggle-fingered wave, she trotted back across the parking lot.

Pam shook her head. "What am I getting into here?" She popped her door open and slid inside her car with a chuckle. "Better question would be what's Monica getting me into?" Starting the engine, she backed out of her space and headed for the exit, her mouth already watering for barbeque.

This story is barely more than a scene or two at the moment, but it's fun to write. I love having friends who mean well but sometimes miss the forest for the trees.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Future in Play

Had a truly fall-weather week … to the point we had to turn the heat on. We'll probably get another brief spell of warmer temperatures before things settle down into actual fall. Or, we could have snow before Halloween. It's Ohio.

Busy work week with several projects going at the same time. I did get through a round of my usual viewing schedule.

Ted Lasso didn't disappoint with Rebecca's reveal and the catalyst for her finally making it happen ended up being so good. I rather hope Rupert dies in a fire or maybe gets hit by a double-decker bus in the near future. What a twat. Keeley continues to make me laugh out loud and I have so much love for her.

Caught another episode of The Agatha Christie Hour, which ended up being quite a fun episode even if the whole point was to gaslight one poor guy into handing over something that didn't even belong to him.

I picked up where I left of with Endeavor in season five and caught back up with the characters. I'm looking forward to more and seeing where things go.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and thoroughly enjoyed the twists in the episode. I'm not quite sure who the culprit is and that's always fun for me.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Who. Loved seeing Three's car pulled out of mothballs and the interactions between the brigadier and the Doctor. So much fun.

Finished up the first season of Strangest Things and I'm looking forward to the second. I love seeing how they try to figure out what the relics are and how they were used.

Started Ms. Marvel and loved the first episode. I'm very excited to dive into this series. Kamala and Bruno are awesome!

Only Murders in the Building had an awesome episode with the Superfans. Seriously, I loved so much about how everything played out. Okay, except at the end. Now I can't wait to find out what happened to the bassoonist. I have so many theories, but two stand out and I'll share if either one of those is correct.

Finished up season three of Blue Heelers and said good-bye to Wayne. I'm actually kind of glad it was indeed a random act as the episode title suggested. I'm kind of bummed out that I'll only be able to watch one more season in order then I'll have to skip to the later seasons. Streaming sucks sometimes.

Watched another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She discussed being a good literary citizen in this one and I enjoyed what she had to say. Kindness doesn't cost a red cent and being considerate of others is sometimes a lost gesture that should be the norm instead of the exception.

The Umbrella Academy had another terrific episode. I love how much chaos there is and also how the characters end up being there for each other even when they'd rather be anywhere else.

Caught an episode of Classic Rugrats and laughed out loud more than once and remembered doing the same when watching with the kiddos.

Finished off the week with Batman: The Animated Series and the introduction of the Clock King. I loved this episode when it originally aired and enjoyed it again this time around.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nellie Finch is a little bored with her family's annual fall money-maker, the Apple Butter Festival. But when the village council decides to add a competitor to the yearly event, Nellie faces off against Mace Bigelow to see who makes the best mouth-watering spread and find out which challenger will win bragging rights and maybe the other competitor's heart.

And a snippety peek…

A little after eight a.m., Mane Bigelow stepped out of the SUV in the casual-dining restaurant parking lot. "Thanks, Dave. Safe trip to Pennsylvania." He lifted a hand in farewell when his shipmate reversed out of the parking space and drove toward the road.

He hoisted his rucksack over his shoulder and got his first look at home in over five years. The three-rivers bridge had recently been renovated and looked pretty amazing, all things considered.

Dave had been nice enough to drop Mane off in Ohio and not ask a bunch of questions Mane couldn't answer yet. He had thirty days. More than enough time to decide if he'd reup for another stint or not.

A lot depended on how his visit went.

The door to the restaurant pushed open and a group of women exited, carrying takeout boxes with them. One in particular caught Mane's eye. Nellie Finch. Her laughter rang out and waved to the group heading to their vehicles.

The sound transported Mane back to high school. He'd had it bad for Nellie. But she'd been taken all four years by Jace Stewart. Hell, she might still be…

Mane didn't want to think too much about her status. "Nellie? Hey, how are you?"

She turned and stopped short. "Mane? When did you—" She shook her head. "Stupid question. Obviously, you just got back." Her gaze went to his rucksack.

His lips twisted. "Uh, yeah. Like five minutes ago." He moved toward her, crossing the short distance to the row of cars lined up. "It's great to see you."

Her head bobbed a little. "Yeah, good to see you, too." Her chin lifted and her brows arched. "Are you waiting on someone? Your grandma?" She popped her back door open and set the takeout box on the seat.

He shook his head. "Not yet. I literally just got dropped off. Haven't had time to call her." He'd decided to wait until he got into town before letting her know he got leave.

Nellie blinked. "She doesn't know you're here?" She shut the door and leaned against the car.

He rolled a shoulder. "Didn't know if I'd get leave or when I'd be coming through. Thought I'd wait until I got here to check-in with her." He also didn't want to call too early.

Nellie tilted her head. "Were you thinking of surprising her? Because I can give you a lift out to her place if you were."

Mane smiled. "Didn't think that far ahead, but that would be great." He started around the vehicle. "If you don't mind. Do you have to get to work or anything?" He had no idea what she did or where she worked.

Nellie huffed out a breath. "I'm finished for the day." She slid behind the wheel. "Just finished a planning breakfast for the Apple Butter Festival. I'm usually off on Wednesdays." Starting the engine, she waited for Mane to get his rucksack in the back and then for him to get settled in the front. "I work part-time at the chamber of commerce." She backed out of the parking space and drove out of the lot. "So, what's it been? Five years?" Her teeth worried her lower lip.

Mane gave a nod. "There about. You went to OU, didn't you?" On a scholarship if he remembered correctly.

She lifted her chin. "Yeah. Graduated two years ago and I'm almost finished with a master's degree." She made the turn onto the county road heading toward his grandmother's place. "Not sure what I'll do with it, but my mom insisted that I keep going." She rolled her eyes. "If I moved to Columbus, Cleveland, or Cincinnati, it would make sense. But here—" She broke off, not completing her thought.

Mane soaked up the scenery. The fields were pretty much the same as they'd always been. The trees weren't as dense. Probably some harvesting of hardwood.

Mane focused on the driver again. "You plan on sticking around then?"

Nellie shrugged. "Kind of have to. Mom and Dad decided to pull up stakes and move to North Carolina. Both brothers live there with their families." She turned onto the township road his grandma lived on.

Mane frowned. "Is your grandmother doing all right?" He remembered her as a go-getter.

Nellie laughed. "Gram's fine. But she can't manage the orchard by herself and since I'm not planning to get married or have a family any time soon, it's logical that I shoulder some of the workload." Turning into the drive, she pulled up close to the house.

Mane angled around. "Logical? Maybe. But is it what you want to do?" Something in her voice suggested differently.

Nellie cut the engine. "Honestly? I have no idea." She pasted on a bright smile. "But, right now, it's what I'm doing." Her attention when to the front porch when his grandma came out. "Looks like Hannah is definitely going to be surprised." She waved.

Mane wanted to keep talking to Nellie but his grandma already started toward them.

He popped the door. "Hang on one second." Exiting the car, he crossed the short distance and met his grandma, sweeping her up into a big hug.

When he set her down, she had tears in her eyes. "Oh, Mane. Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?" She patted his cheek.

Mane gave her a quick smile. "Wanted to surprise you. Caught a ride out with Nellie." They walked to the car together.

Nellie leaned across the seat. "Hi, Hannah. Found your grandson and thought I'd better return him to you."

Mane chuckled and grabbed his rucksack from the back. "She makes me sound like a lost puppy instead of a sailor on leave." He ducked into the front of the vehicle. "Can I reach you at your grandma's?" He wanted to take her to lunch or dinner as a thank you.

Nellie's eyes widened. "Uh, sure. Or, better yet, call me directly." She riffled around in her bag and handed him a card. "Number's on the back."

He tucked the contact information into his shirt pocket. "Thank you for the ride. It was great catching up. If you're up for it, I'd like to take you and my grandma to dinner. Or lunch, whichever you prefer."

Nellie blinked, clearly surprised. "Um, depends on when. But I'd enjoy that. Give me a call." She started the car again.

Mane shut the door and lifted a hand in farewell.

His grandma waved and waited until Nellie got turned around and headed back down the drive before she spoke. "I'm so glad you're home, Mane. I've missed you." She wrapped an arm around him. "And a ride from Nellie Finch. Bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?"

Mane laughed. "Grandma! It's been five years and she didn't know I was even alive in high school." He grabbed his bag and walked up to the house with Hannah.

Hannah chuckled. "She knows you're alive now. And she's very single at the moment." With a sly look, she ushered Mane inside the house and bustled directly to the kitchen.

Mane shook his head. Damn, he'd missed his grandmother and her keen perception.

This one is going to be fun to write. There's a bit of a rivalry that's going to come into play and the characters will have fun with that.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Open Shelter

Had a family wedding this weekend and it ended up being terrific weather, kind of warm but the venue had air conditioning and it cooled off in the evening and the mosquitoes weren't awful.

Had another weird mix of a week. Got a lot of writing done and several new projects on the horizon I prepped for. Not a bad week for television either.

Started out with a new episode of Blue Heelers. Didn't quite finish it up yet, but I'm over halfway through.

Watched another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm still enjoying this one. I'm a little on the fence with Zelda but I'm kind of invested in finding out what happened to Sabrina's parents. And Harvey's dad is a total ass.

Caught the second class on graphic design in the Master Class series I started. This one focused on typography and ended up being pretty interesting and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Started the Ready Room episodes for Picard. I enjoyed Wil Wheaton's mix of insider knowledge and uber-fan vibe. Looking forward to more of these.

Watched another Passionflix holiday Quickie. The Package ended up being another fun elevator setting. I'm a fan of being trapped with nowhere to go and having to deal with a bad day.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med. I'm really happy I'm finally able to watch this series from the beginning. A heartbreaker of an episode but happy at the end.

Watched the series two finale of No Offence. This ended up being a really terrific season. I'll look forward to starting series three this week.

Also started the first part of a Silent Witness two-parter. I vaguely remember this one and the next episode marks the end of series ten. We'll be getting into the seasons I've watched before.

Caught the final episode arc for season fifteen of Classic Who. Leela stayed behind on Gallifrey so I'm assuming there'll be a new companion when I start sixteen this week.

Started the second season of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. The first episode opened with a deep dive into Nazi secrets surrounding unidentified flying objects. I've seen quite a few of those clips on another program but it's interesting to see how different experts interpret things.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show with Milton Berle and Rich Little as the guest stars. Lots of fun to have the comedians interact with the muppets.

Also started a new episode of The Hardy Boys. I had a long conversation with my brother about the show, which he recommended. I enjoy the intrigue and clues and I love how the brothers interact with each other and their friends.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Open Shelter, a novella that gives long-time friends a chance to pursue something more.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Jay Hestwick meets Weslee Noss at the open shelter his mom operates and sees through her sarcastic rogue front to the scared kid underneath and decides to be her new best friend. Fifteen years later, Jay runs the program and Weslee comes home, ready to assist, but she doesn't realize she's bringing a dangerous menace out of hiding now that she's back.

And a snippety peek…

Jay studied Weslee while she unpacked her satchel. "Big Bertha's happy to have you back." The woman insisted on cooking them dinner then ordered them back to Weslee's office while she got to work.

Weslee glanced up. "I missed her. There's something about the combination of grandmotherly warmth mixed with the drill sergeant vibe I've never been able to find anywhere else but here." She chuckled.

Jay nodded, understanding exactly what Weslee meant. "When she considers you one of her own, she's not bashful about making it known." Bertha wore a lot of hats for a lot of people.

Weslee put some files in the desk then settled behind it. "You and she are all I have now. And I'm glad I've got both of you." She smiled. "Should we tell her she doesn't need to matchmake?"

Jay shook his head. "And ruin her fun? Nah. Let's give her tonight." He'd be reluctant to admit Bertha's dinner idea took some of the pressure he'd put on himself off.

He wanted Weslee's first night back to be amazing.

But he didn't quite know what his next step should be.

She tilted her head to one side. "What are you worried about?"

He blinked. "How did you know I'm concerned about something?"

She arched a brow. "Master's degree, remember?" She got serious. "And I've known you forever even though I've been gone for a while."

Jay didn't want to downplay anything. "Thinking about later … after dinner." He shifted in his seat, his confidence from earlier a little off.

Her lips curved in a half-smile. "As in your place or mine?" She got up and came around the front of the desk.

Jay huffed out a breath. "Pretty much." He leaned back in the comfortable chair. "I mean being on the same page is terrific, but I didn't really think past letting you know I'm interested." He met her gaze. "Kind of pathetic, right?"

Weslee pushed away from the desk. "Not at all." She moved to sit on his lap. "In fact, it's one of the things I love about you. You're confident without being arrogant." Her lips brushed over his forehead. "A lot of men with your background can't pull that off. They're assholes because they didn't have your mom or Big Bertha in their life." She rested her head against his. "I, for one, am glad, because between the three of you, I had a safe zone when my mom went off the rails and I eventually learned how to function with normal people."

Jay's arms went around her. "I'll never forget the day you arrived here." She'd been sarcastic, snarky, and used swear words in every sentence.

At the age of eight.

Weslee groaned. "God, we were a mess. My mom's … boyfriend … dumped us at the front door, peeled rubber, and never looked back." She shook her head. "And thus a pattern was established."

Jay rubbed her back. "You went through a lot. My mom took to you right away." The same way he had.

And she'd seen what he did under the surface of the rogue daughter—a scared little girl who'd never admit her fear and would fiercely protect herself and her mother.

Weslee chuckled. "She was horrified I knew how to swear better than most sailors." She eased back. "I'm so sorry you lost her."

His heart gave a twist. "Me too. But her legacy lives on here."

Weslee lifted her chin. "And in you."

Jay nodded. He'd taken over at the shelter two years before her death and hoped to continue improving on her passion project. Adding Weslee to the staff definitely counted.

"Hey. You two gonna come out and break bread with me or what?" Bertha poked her head inside the office.

Weslee laughed and scooted off his lap. "Wouldn't miss it. Whatever you made smells wonderful."

Bertha basked under the praise. "Stroganoff and fresh bread. And a salad from the extra produce our veggie guy dropped off." She turned and started for the kitchen.

Jay got up and fell into step beside Weslee.

She put her arm around his waist. "Let's make it your place … mine's not livable yet. I have zero furniture."

Jay grinned. "My place it is."

I'm excited about this one. I love friends to lovers, especially when there's not a secret crush—although those are fun too.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: A Kiss is Just a Kiss

Greetings, September! I decided to start at least thinking about what to do for holiday shopping this year. I'm fairly certain I've decided the direction I want to go in for the kids and the husband. Possibly even my parental unit. This never happens. I fully expect the world to stop spinning sometime in the near future. Just saying.

Had a super crazy and busy week, but still got some solid viewing in. Granted, I did end up doing the usual marathons of Murder, She Wrote and In the Heat of the Night. I also got a solid block of The Saint in. Also got two episodes of Classic Who watched.

I started Sunday with Midsomer Murders then followed with Babylon 5 and The Sarah Conner Chronicles.

Monday, I caught the Birds of Prey pilot episode. I loved this show so much when it premiered. Tuesday was Pensacola Wings of Gold. Wednesday, I watched another episode of Lexx and on Thursday, I watched Surprised by Love, a Hallmark original. Finally found one I thoroughly enjoyed.

On Friday, I started season five of Strike Back. I got interrupted during the first episode so I'll finish it over the weekend. I did finish Band of Brothers, which is one of my rewatch at any time shows.

Saturday has been a big block of The Saint again. Not sure what else I'll get into but I'm writing the blog post a little early so it's out of the way.

Still behind on Killjoys and Wynonna Earp, but I'll definitely make sure to watch every single episode in the near future.

That's it for this week. Tonight's post is from A Kiss is Just a Kiss, a novella that got a start with a scene prompt of writing one character teases the other with a kiss on Fourth of July weekend. The one being kissed makes an alpha!appearance.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A kiss is just a kiss… except when it’s not. Betsy Roarke shares a brief lip-lock with Wash Mulligan and can't stop thinking about it. He's got her all twisted up and turned sideways and she aims to make him feel the same.

And a snippety peek…

Dear Dad, I've decided to leave the navy.

Washburn Mulligan stared at the blank screen. "Nah. Like he'd care." Not like Butch supported Wash's decision to join in the first place.

Maybe ten years had mellowed the old man out.

Wash snorted. "Right. As if." But he needed to find something to put in the e-mail.

Keep it simple, man.

 Wash typed in a brief message saying he'd be coming home and listing his flight time. Not that he expected his dad to meet him at the airport, but Wash had enough time with his mom before she died to learn manners. He wouldn't be rude and just show up on his dad's doorstep.

It's your doorstep too, dude.

Wash hit send then kicked back to wait for his ride to the airport. He pushed an unsettled feeling aside. Mustering out of the service had been the right call. After losing his best friend on the last deployment, Wash didn't have the drive to stay in anymore. Didn't help he hadn't been there when Sam went down. I should've been able to save him.

But he hadn't been and he couldn't change the outcome.

"Wash. Your ride's here." Norm Chantley stuck his head into the room.

Wash got up and swung his rucksack over his shoulder. "Thanks." He stuck out his hand. "It's been an honor to serve with you."

Norm grasped Wash's palm. "Same, Wash. Won't be the same without you."

Wash's lips kicked up in a grin. "It's gonna be different, going back to civilian life." But hopefully good.

Norm gave Wash a slap on the back when he exited the room. "Keep in touch, man. We'll look forward to hearing about what you get into."

Considering Wash had no idea what his future held, he almost laughed. Instead, he promised to let Norm know when he got settled.

If he got settled. No guarantees there.

Getting into the waiting car, Wash slouched down and fished his phone from his pocket. Maybe he'd call his dad. No… they'd argued the last time they'd talked around the holidays. Wash grieved for Sam and Butch had been cranky about something work-related. But something in his dad's voice gave Wash pause. The old man sounded tired. Except when he talked about Betsy. The girl could do no wrong in his dad's eyes.

Wash delved into memories. She'd been in high school when he left, involved in music, drama, and lots of committees. He'd been doing his own thing working for his dad and tried not to pay much attention to her. So much easier said than done when a cute, outgoing female breezed into their home and put down roots.

And the poor kid tried to play peacemaker when he and Butch got into it. Didn't take more than a couple of major blowout arguments with his dad before Wash enlisted. He needed time to figure out what he wanted from life.

He snorted. "And I needed discipline. Something the old man wanted me to have but never took the time to teach." Getting away had opened Wash's eyes.

He might not know what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, but he had found himself. No longer the boy who lived in his dad's shadow, Wash had become the man he wanted to be. For better or worse.

Now he had to strategize how to fit back into Butch Mulligan's world.

Oddly, he welcomed the challenge.

I enjoy writing Wash. He's a little damaged on the inside but not mean and surly about it. Yet. Being back in his dad's orbit might change Wash's demeanor just a little. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

I'm amazed we're at the end of April. I think because the weather has been so winter-like in Ohio, it doesn't feel like we should be four weeks away from summer vacation. Even yesterday, the chilly weather felt more like a warm winter day than spring. LOL

At least the ramp up to season-enders on television seems to be worth staying inside for. That said, I have to play catch-up. The lead up to the school musical took a lot of time this week along with several editing projects.

I'm almost finished with Blindspot's second season. I have one more DVD to watch. My only complaint would be how slippery Shepherd continues to be. I truly hope the takedown is worth watching and, you know, actually happens.

I'm catching some new to me episodes of Midsomer Murders and I'm excited to see what else Acorn TV has to offer. Also caught an episode of Chicago Fire and Chicago PD and enjoyed both. Nice to see Casey move up the rank chain. Also great to have Antonio back at District 21.

I'm up to episode nine of Jessica Jones. So far, the second season has been a little slower than the first, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's given me time to really, really want to bitchslap Trish. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet. Usually it's Geri I want to smack really hard. LOL

Finally got to watch the musical episode of Riverdale. Watching Cheryl get her groove back? Excellent. I'm kind of on the fence about Hal and Alice. I had some investment in FP maybe finding some happy moments, you know? Archie and Fred being kind of on the same page made me happy, along with Betty and Veronica burying the hatchet. The ending though? Wow. Definitely some twisty shit.

I like Krypton. Seriously, the pacing is terrific so far with backstory being woven in with current plots moving forward. So far, so good. Also caught another episode of Ghost Squad and I'm a little on the fence with this one. The end of the episode threw me a little.

Endeavor is keeping my interest. I rather like seeing how Frost grew into his big shoes. Also started a subscription to BritBox and watched The Coroner. Really terrific first episode.

Today, I'm catching up on The Flash and hopefully Arrow. Also started Constantine: City of Demons. I'm gearing up for the character to be a regular on Legends next season.

That's it for television. Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella exploring how a couple comes together after the death of someone they care about.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Valerie Queen and Jay Pennyworth meet through Chad Adsworth, Jay's best friend. When Chad is killed in a plane crash, Valerie reunites with Jay after five years. When the chance meeting leads to a long discussion, they end up spending the night together… but the specter of Chad hovering between them may be more than they can overcome.

And a snippety peek…

Jay patted his stomach. "You weren't kidding about the food." He'd had a sampling of everything, which ranged from casseroles in the oven to slow cookers on her counter along with several meat and cheese trays and a cooked ham.

Valerie's lips twisted in a wry smile. "Nothing brings out the food brigade more than births and deaths. Good thing my freezer is mostly empty. I'll have plenty to fill it up." She started clearing out a few of the foil casserole pans.

Jay stepped up beside her. "You empty. I'll stack the packages in the freezer." She looked like she might argue but relented and grabbed a box of plastic containers.

Thirty minutes later, Jay put the last of the food in the freezer and Valerie stowed some of the leftovers in the fridge. She'd changed into a form-fitting T-shirt and soft, fleece warm-ups. A pair of fuzzy socks completed her outfit. He'd shed his dress jacket, but excused himself to swap his uniform for clothes similar to hers, a pair of black workout pants, a gray T-shirt, and a pair of black no-show socks. He fought the weird vibe of not having Chad there to trade barbed banter with and returned to the kitchen.

She nodded toward the living area. "Wanna watch a couple of movies?"

Jay didn't care what they did; he wanted her to relax a little. "Sure. Stream or DVD?" He followed her into the next room.

Valerie dropped down on the sofa. "Let's stream. I'm in the mood for action movies." She grabbed the remote and brought up the onscreen menu.

Jay cracked a smile and settled beside her. "Always a good choice." He didn't have a preference, but action movies sounded like a safe bet.

Valerie picked a recent superhero flick and pressed play. "Chad wanted to see this when it came out, but our schedules didn't match up and we ended up not going. I've been looking forward to watching this one." The opening credits washed over the fifty-inch television.

Not even five minutes into the movie, Jay shifted his position. He couldn't seem to get comfortable. Watching the movie without Chad's rambling play-by-play didn't feel right. He'd always offered up a random commentary when they'd had movie nights, especially during action scenes. One of the many little things Jay would miss about his friend. And if Jay struggled with the small stuff… how did Valerie cope?

He gave her a sideways glance and almost kicked himself for being an idiot. Silent tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. Obviously, Valerie had finally reached her limit. Probably a good thing, but Jay didn't know how to help.

Following instinct, he wrapped an arm around her and tugged her toward him, tucking her against his side. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs and Jay let her go with it. He didn't tell her everything would be okay… it wouldn't, not for a while. Instead, he held her, oddly comforted by having her in his arms. Other than smoothing a hand over her head and quietly handing her a box of tissues, he didn't get in the way of her grief. She needed to take the time and mourn her loss.

He'd had a ten-hour flight to work through most of his. Jay had lost friends before, but Chad's death made Jay angry. A senseless death on a mission somehow didn't compare to the twist of fate Chad suffered.

A few minutes passed before he realized Valerie had gone quiet. He glanced down, discovering she'd fallen asleep. Haven't slept more than a couple of hours since I got the call. She'd finally succumbed to the exhaustion and stress. Maybe the crying jag released enough tension for her let go and truly begin grieving and healing. Maybe his presence helped. He sure as hell hoped so.

Jay got comfortable. He didn't care if her cheek rested on his tear-soaked shirt. No way in hell would he wake her. She needed the rest.

And he wanted to give her whatever comfort he could.

I'm so pleased with the tone of this scene. I didn't know how it would turn out, but the underlying care is exactly what I wanted.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Dodging Bullets

January 7, 2018

I hope 2018 is off to a great start for everyone. For myself, it's like an arctic tundra in Ohio but that gives me time to write, edit, and catch up on lots of television. Unless it's three a.m. and the dog has to pee… then it takes fifteen minutes to bundle up to go outside so we don't end up coming back in as popsicles. LOL

As mentioned, I watched Passionflix's The Trouble with Mistletoe last week and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Honestly, the adaption hit all the right emotional notes. There were moments that felt a little rushed, but I have to give props for being able to convey small story beats so masterfully.

Also got caught up on Riverdale. The winter finale tied up the black hood storyline… I think. That new janitor dude is very sketchy-looking so, yeah, not sure. I am looking forward to new episodes to see what new fresh hell Hiram has planned for Riverdale.

I'm almost halfway through season two of Chicago Fire. I'm still not wholly down with the entire McLeod arc. The resolution, while satisfying—watching Isabella shut Gail down was a thing of beauty—didn't exactly make up for not know why she had it in for station fifty-one. Her bonus notwithstanding, I didn't quite buy the whole vindictive nature.

I'm looking forward to the return of my regular network fare in the next two weeks, especially Arrow.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Dodging Bullets, a novella that sprang from an idea of having childhood friends who grow adept at ducking for cover.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Sable and Gage live on the same street and survive their childhood by having each other's backs. When they grow up, they're still looking out for each other, but instead of ducking verbal barbs and flying objects, they're dodging bullets instead.

And a snippety peek…

Sable Rich withdrew her weapon and crouched low against the back of the building—an old warehouse marked for demolition next year. Major crimes had a lead on a human trafficker working out of the location and Sable volunteered to follow up. Raised voices and an exchange of gunfire brought her up to the front of the brick façade. She darted around the corner and stopped short.

"Shit." She'd stumbled into an active takedown scene.

Damn her superiors for not knowing another squad already had dibs.

Her exclamation drew the attention of a tactical unit member. His head angled around and she breathed easier. Gage Waterson. Best friend. Fellow officer. And possibly more.

He cocked an eyebrow and sent her a look—one that said shit just got real—and she heeded the warning. She dove for cover right before a hail of bullets rained down from an upper level window. From her position, she had a line of sight to the second floor and she didn't hesitate. She fired her weapon and the automatic rifle fire ended.

Gage shot a thumbs-up in her direction then everything went back to standard operating procedure. The tactical unit fanned out, rounding up two suspects outside while simultaneously breaching the building to find the others. Sable hung back until the all clear then made her way to the unit commander, hoping like hell she didn't end up with a reprimand for jacking into their op.

The lieutenant shook his head. "Detective Rich, we weren't expecting you." He motioned for the uniformed officers to start loading the criminals into the van. "If we had been, you wouldn't have had to dodge so many bullets."

"She's been dodging bullets since grade school." Gage stopped by her side, his helmet tucked under his arm. "You winged the second-floor shooter. He'll be patched up then escorted to jail with the others." He directed his comment to Sable but spoke for the benefit of his commanding officer.

Sable appreciated the gesture. Might save her ass.

The lieutenant leveled his gaze on Sable. "That was you?"

She shrugged. "I had a good vantage point. Didn't know if you needed him for questioning. I tagged his shoulder so he couldn't keep firing."

The lieutenant inclined his chin. "Nicely done, detective. And it makes up for you being somewhere you shouldn't have been. What's major crimes' interest here?"

Sable held up her hands. "In my defense, we didn't know you planned a takedown tonight. We caught a lead on our human trafficking case and I came to make inquiries about Jordan Blake—"

Gage cut her off. "That's the guy you put out of commission."

Sable met the lieutenant's gaze head-on. "I'd like to talk to him when you're through."

The lieutenant lifted a shoulder. "You'll need to get with vice. They're the ones who requested our unit for the operation."

Sable gave a terse nod. "Thanks, I'll do that." She also tried to end on a positive note. "Sorry about the mix-up. Vice neglected to inform our division they had an active operation."

The lieutenant waved her off. "Sometimes the work moves faster than the red tape." A uniformed officer approached him and Sable took the opportunity to make an escape.

Gage fell into step beside her. "Nice to know we've still got that silent communication thing going."

Sable cracked a smile. "And that I can still duck for cover faster than most normal people."

Gage nudged her shoulder. "You've had a lot of practice." He would know… he'd been there for most of her crazy childhood.

But he missed the very first time Sable had to duck and run.

I truly love where this story is going. Now I need about four more hours in each day to really dig in and finish it.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Winning Hand

Bleh. I'm feeling under the weather today. Allergy season is in full swing and my sinuses hate me right now. LOL

Got caught up on the premiere of Killjoys but haven't been able to watch the other two episodes yet. I hate it when On Demand makes me wait. Might have to see if they're available on SyFy. One of my favorite things about Dark Matter is how trippy they get with episodes sometimes. I love it when I have to keep up or get lost. Wynonna Earp… wow. Seriously, just wow. This show gets better with each passing episode. It's crazy, batshit, and over the top and I love every single moment.

Hoping to get into Orphan Black later this week. With five or so episodes ready, I'll have a good amount to binge watch.

I'm excited to see they've started filming season six of Arrow! Can't wait for the new season to start.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Winning Hand, a sexy short that got a start with the two-word prompt "dream big".

Here's the mini-blurb:

A night of poker takes a sexy turn when Hahn Canedy ups the ante and wagers a night of hot sex as his tithe. Tawni Capps can't resist calling the bet—either way she'll have the winning hand.

And a snippety peek…

Tawni Capps grinned when she turned into the Atwood Lake park entrance. "Finally… can't wait to catch up with everyone." The year had flown by.

She followed the winding road, soaking in the natural habitat of huge, old trees and a gorgeous waterline. July on the lake. Didn't get much better, especially with the group of tightknit friends she'd met in college.

Pulling into the gravel drive of cabin ten, she flashed another smile. "The gang's all here." Ellie, Robin, Davin, Brett, and Hahn—her pulse kicked up a notch when she spotted his truck.

Shutting the engine off, she relaxed, tension from work, the drive, and life draining away.

"Boo!" Davin stuck his head in her window.

She jumped, startled. "Dammit, Dav. Cut it out." The guy never changed, immature but too cute to stay mad at.

He flashed a cheeky grin. "About time you got here." He yanked her door open and reached for the trunk release. "Lemme help you get your gear." Not waiting on a reply, he hustled back and pulled the cooler out.

Tawni slid out and followed him around. "You always start with the food and beverages." She shook her head, her lips twisting in a smile.

He gave her a "duh" look. "Hell, yeah. I'm not taking any chances with your girly stuff." He hefted the cooler onto his hip and started up the path to the cabin. "Never know what weird ass objects might fall out of a suitcase." He shuddered for good measure.

Tawni laughed and grabbed her bag. She didn't blame Davin for getting a little wigged out. The last time he helped Robin take her gear into the cabin a dildo fell out of an outer pocket—in front of everyone. Davin turned twenty shades of red and steadfastly refused to unload any more suitcases to avoid having way more information than he needed about his roommates.

Tawni closed the trunk, started for the cabin and smacked into a wall of solid muscle. Her gaze flew upward to meet the warm hazel one of Hahn Canedy. He reached out to steady her, grasping her elbows, which kept her up close and personal with one of her oldest friends and a secret fantasy.

Her lips curved in a wide smile. "Hahn, how's it going?" She brushed a kiss over his cheek. "How're the 'rents?" His folks ran the best roadside diner in their hometown.

Hahn gave her a slow once-over, a lick of heat entering his eyes. The always there spark zinged between them. Tawni hovered on the fence over whether to do anything about it.

"The parentals are great. They're off on a month-long excursion along the east coast." He took the bag from her and draped an arm over her shoulder. "Unlike Dav, I don't get all twitchy with device envy." He rolled his eyes.

Tawni barked out a strangled laugh. "Geez, Hahn. Did you two start the bro brawl already?" She walked up the landscaped path with him. "Wait. Hold up. Who's in charge of the diner while your mom and dad are gone?" Surely they wouldn't close the place down while they were away?

Hahn slid her a sideways glance. "Would you believe Tyler?" He paused outside the door.

Tawni blinked. "Your brother Tyler?" The younger Canedy had a severe allergy to anything work-related. "No way." She shook her head, not quite believing Hahn.

Hahn chuckled. "Yes way. He finally pulled his head out of his ass and decided to try the whole adulting thing." Pulling the door open, he let Tawni enter first.

Everyone swarmed around them. Robin and Ellie squealing their welcome, Dav and Brett doing air high fives. Tawni shot Hahn a quick look and mouthed the word "later". He gave a nod and started toward the remaining open bedroom with her case.

Tawni hugged the girls, but her mind strayed to later, once the sun went down. She and Hahn had a lot of catching up to do and possibly some unfinished business to sort out. If Tyler Canedy could finally grow a set and take some responsibility, Tawni might have to do the same and find out where she and Hahn really stood.

I love to write friends who become more than friends and Tawni and Hank are fun to work with.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin