Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

September is starting off with a bang. And crazy busy. Also a full blood moon, which is always fun to see.

Spent all day Saturday in Hocking Hills with a group of cousins on my mom's side of the family. We have so much fun when we get together. We're already planning the third annual gathering for next year.

I finished up two work projects this week and made progress on two more. I have a new one starting this week also. Possibly two. I'm hoping the due dates are a little more staggered.

Had an okay viewing week. I made it almost all the way through my usual slate of shows with the exception of Lower Decks. I started it but need to finish it up. It's the first season finale so there seems to be a lot going on.

Started with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and it's one I really enjoyed on my original run through. Always fun to see Dot stand up for not only herself but others.

Finished up season four of Madame Blanc Mysteries. Very happy to see Jean and Dom work through their issues. Loved how Dom proposed and how everyone knew they were meant to be together.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm interested in where things will go with Selwyn. The new officer is going to be fun. I love the vibe he has. DI Wilson might or might not grow on me.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. The entire trip to the coast just to hear good things instead of bad from Japp is such a Poirot thing to do. And the side plot with Lemon was fun.

Elementary had an interesting case along with an interesting side case. I like how Moreland reached out to Joan, and she figured things out with what's going on with him. And I love that she told Sherlock. Also really thrilled Sherlock met the character on the autism spectrum at her level, seemingly with care and patience.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and I didn't remember much of this one. Ended up quite enjoying it.

Started the Lower Decks episode. I do enjoy how many easter eggs are in this show. Mentions of other characters and episodes from all the various series are so much fun.

I didn't get to start season two of Reacher. I'm hoping I have the time this week, but I'm not going to rush in. I like to be able to focus on this show.

Also didn't get to finish up the Peak Practice episode I started, but I'll get back to it soon.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella that brings a couple together over shared grief.

Here's the miniblurb:

Valerie Queen and Jay Pennyworth meet through Chad Adsworth, Jay's best friend. When Chad is killed in a car 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…

Val touched up her makeup. "This is stupid. Why bother?" After all, Jay had seen her at her worst.

Yeah, he had and wouldn't care what she looked like. But she cared. Jay freaking Pennyworth. In her bookstore.

She tilted her head to one side. "That took some thought." She couldn't quite deny being a little impressed he'd made the effort.

So … dinner and … what? What did she think would happen?

Frowning, she left the bathroom and grabbed her purse. "Hell, what do I want to happen?" The way he eyed her … sex could be in the mix.

She shook her head. "But maybe not a good idea." For a lot of reasons.

The main one? She'd be breaking her number one rule—no entanglements—if anything happened between them. She had a strong connection to Jay.

Leaving her apartment, she walked toward O'Shae's. "Just wait and see, Val." No need to get ahead of herself.

Jay waited outside the restaurant under the awning. "Place has had a bit of a face lift." He smiled and glanced at the new sign on the brick exterior of the building.

Val grinned. "The original is inside behind the bar in all its weathered glory." She preceded him inside when he opened and held the door.

While she spoke with the hostess, Jay perused the photos hanging in the entryway. Probably some good memories for him. The restaurant had been a mainstay in for decades.

They were led to a two-person booth in the back corner of the main eating area.

After giving their drink order, Jay arched his brows. "This is cozy. I don't remember this booth being here." He craned his neck, looking at some of the other updates.

Val nodded. "About three years ago, they renovated the kitchen and this space opened up." The cute little booth and two small café tables added extra seating.

While they ate, they caught up on other new additions and improvements. Valerie appreciated the vibe of getting to know each other again over light conversation. Nothing heavy and not a word about Chad … yet. Talking about him would be inevitable … but perspective and hindsight gained over five years put her in a good place to do it.

After the server cleared their dishes, Jay settled back in his seat. "How long have you had the bookstore?"

Valerie's lips quirked. "Almost four years. The space came on the market, and I was looking for something new and different." She'd used the bulk of the life insurance Chad left her to buy the building.

Jay arched his brows. "And you're doing okay? I mean, how could you not be. The location is great."

Valerie nodded. "It is. And, yeah, I have a dedicated clientele, and my online orders almost surpass the store sales." She gained a lot of customers from her social media posts and interactions.

Jay peppered her with more questions, and she got to explain her theme nights for romance, cozy mysteries, and thrillers, a new feature she'd added this past year. A popular one. She even had some Zoom participants.

Jay shook his head. "That's amazing, Val. You've really found your niche." His lips curved in a wry grin. "Here's hoping I can find mine."

A perfect opening. "Gotta admit, you surprised me when you said you'd mustered out. I really thought you'd be career military." She smiled. "Excited for you, though. Did your interview go well?" She hadn't wanted to ask earlier but now seemed like a good time to do so.

Mainly because she enjoyed spending time with him and didn't want the night to end yet.

Jay inclined his chin. "I think it did. I have an interview with a different company in Colorado, but I'm not sold on moving there." He rolled one shoulder. "I guess it'll depend on what they offer if they decide I'm a good fit for them." He met her gaze. "Frankly, I think I'd like to stick around here even if the pay might be better in Colorado. Might be better perks."

Val's brows furrowed. "Such as?" Maybe the hometown connection appealed to him

Jay didn't hesitate. "You're here, for one."

A charged moment passed between them. He'd surprised her again. And not in a bad way. In fact, his response nudged her to do what she'd wanted since he walked into her store.

She nodded toward the exit. "Would you like to come back to my place? If you don't have plans…"

Jay waved for the check. "I'd like that. A lot."

Her heart did a flip. She had no idea where this might be headed, but she really wanted to find out.

Even if they broke all her carefully thought-out rules.

This story is near to my heart. Val and Jay are taking some tentative steps, and I enjoy writing their journey.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

November is off with a bang. We've had way higher than normal temperatures this past week. It's throwing me off kilter to have seventy-five degree weather right now. The trees are bare but it's like summer outside. Weird.

I had another busy week with work projects. I also got my new washing machine and got caught up on laundry. Last but not least, I think I have about half my holiday shopping done. I'm trying hard to be ahead of things this year.

I didn't get a lot of viewing completed this week. I've been on a kick where I need quiet time to get things done. I did watch a couple of things…

Caught the premiere episode of season two of Only Murders in the Building. Gotta say, I love how they've kicked the season off. This is such a fun show.

Also watched an episode of Peak Practice and ended up enjoying it a lot. I like it when they have characters who've been on previously. Adds a bit of realism.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. I think I'm going to catch up on a couple of movies this upcoming week. Stay tuned.

Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella that puts the characters in a position of getting past a shared history with someone to see if they can have a future.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Valerie Queen and Jay Pennyworth meet through Chad Adsworth, Jay's best friend. When Chad is killed in a car 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…

With plenty of time to kill after his interview, Jay strolled down memory lane and visited some old haunts. He'd loved growing up here. Could he see coming back?

He paused and nodded. "Yeah, I could." Almost too easy to jump up and say yes if an offer ended up being made for that reason alone.

But the job also had great perks. He could work from anywhere but the location had advantages. He'd be close to some fellow military friends who'd left the service before he did.

Jay continued down the sidewalk. "And Valerie lives here."

Okay, his brain didn't want to focus on anything else right now. Why would it? She looked incredible.

"Five years have been kind to her."

She styled her hair in softer waves and her face looked a little thinner, but her curves were still lush and voluptuous. His hands itched to grasp her hips. Hell, his body craved intimate contact, skin-to-skin.

"Slow down, dumbass. She may have someone. You had one night, a long time ago."

One night of an incredible, awesome connection. Never mind the fact they'd just buried Chad—the man who meant the world to both. The heavy guilt over that night only gave Jay a twinge now. Leaving Val with only a note—and a lie—bothered him more. He should come clean about the falsehood and let the chips fall. Maybe she didn't care?

He snorted. "Doesn't matter. I do. It was a shit thing to do." So, he'd own being a dick.

And if she hated him or thought it would be weird or creepy if he moved back, he still had the interview in Colorado. The area wouldn't be home, but Jay liked the mountains and wide open spaces. And he'd probably need to be a good distance away from her if she didn't want him in her life.

Otherwise, he'd be too tempted to keep trying.

I love where Jay's head is for this scene. Cautiously hopeful is fun to write.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading! 

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

Kind of a crazy week. Honestly, 2020 can hurry up and be done. Thankfully, only a few more months.

Not a bad week for television. I finished up the first season of Silent Witness and got a running start on the second. I'll have it finished up this week.

I got to catch the behind the scenes video for Dirty, Sexy Saint. Really enjoyed the actors in that movie.

Also started a series of videos about casting runes. It's a topic I've long been interested in and I'm having fun learning about the practice.

Last but not least, I finally got to watch the series finale of Strike Back. There's so much I want to say about this episode! First and foremost, a heist. Seriously. That was actually a lot of fun. The double cross was also a nice little wrinkle. Breaking things down from the beginning. I loved how Coltrane got out of the gulag. Having Wyatt there and their banter was so awesome. I mean, who else but Coltrane would take a detour during a carefully planned escape? And horses! Excellent. Having Novin take on the entire casino security force also proved to be a wild ride. I'm going to miss her a lot. Loved the beats between the characters when she got back to the apartment and almost took out Wyatt.

The heist itself ended up being an awful lot of fun, with the exception of Gracie getting shot. The boat ride out ended up being beautifully filmed. Then, to find out the big reveal about the, well, I guess it's not really a double cross for the section twenty team, more a double cross of the Russians and Albanians and I love the double meaning behind the comment, "They'll never stop looking for us." Anyway … probably in my top five moments is when Coltrane blithely takes Arianna out then strolls nonchalantly past the pool boy. But my favorite moment is at the very end when the trio heads out to go their separate ways. I mean there can't be a heist episode without the going-off-in-different-directions pan out. Very reminiscent of shows like Leverage or Hustle. Good stuff. Seriously good stuff.

Some final thoughts … the only thing I would have loved as much as the actual ending would have been Coltrane finding Zarkova and / or Wyatt and Novin heading out for lots of adventures. The shipper in me will definitely let my imagination run wild on that front.

Also thoroughly enjoyed the Strike Back Declassified for the series end. I love shows that put behind the scenes or inside looks together for their fans. Having those extras is always a lot of fun, especially when the characters have become like second family.

And … that's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella that has a friends to lovers theme with a side of guilt.

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…

Valerie finished taping the box for an online order when the bell over the door rang. "Be right there!" She printed the address label and stuck it on the carton.

Straightening her blouse, she headed for the main floor but paused. "God, I hope it's not the last guy I went out with." Okay, more like hooked up with.

She'd been lucky only three people over a five-year period wouldn't accept she only wanted to scratch an itch. But the latest one? Didn't want to take their one-shot deal as the end.

Shaking her head, she continued onward. "Haven't heard from him for at least a week." Hopefully, that signaled the end of his courtship attempt.

She entered the main section of the store and stopped short, shocked to find Jay browsing titles by the window. Rooted to the spot, her hungry gaze drank him in. He hadn't changed much. His face had filled out a little more and he'd added some muscle to his already broad shoulders. A burst of lust quickly unfurled. She blinked and licked her lips. Then came the question … of why he stood in her store?

He turned and his lips curved in a sexy grin. Her heart stood at attention then did a happy dance.

Valerie finally reacted, moving forward. "Jay? Oh, my god, how are you?" She tried to remember what she'd worn today then thought fuck it, why should she care?

Jay greeted her. "Hi, Val. You look … incredible." His gaze swept over her.

She tingled from head to toe, kind of pissed about her reaction. Five years, dammit. But only one night. An incredible one she hadn't forgotten.

Val found her voice. "Are you on leave? How did you find me? And why stop by now?" Gah! Shut up, Val.

Jay flushed. "I'm at loose ends, actually. I'm done. Mustered out." He stopped and shook his head.

Val's eyes widened. "You left the military?" She really thought he'd end up going career. "What are your plans?" A million more questions crowded her brain. Why did you take off? How come you never contacted me? Where the hell were you for five years? She ruthlessly squashed those at the bottom of the pile.

Jay's lips quirked. "Right now? Dinner sounds good. Are you free?" He propped a shoulder on the bookshelf.

She blinked, surprised by the invitation.

He pressed on but held up a hand. "Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm in town for an interview and thought I'd look you up while I'm here." He glanced away. "The dinner thing kind of popped out. Please don't feel obligated."

She recovered, shaking her head. "No, actually, I'd love to meet you." She glanced at the time. "How does O'Shea's sound? Six o'clock?" Within walking distance, she could get there quickly after she closed.

His lips curved. "O'Shea's? I'm glad it's still around. Six o'clock is great." He turned to leave. "I'll see you there." He sent her another heart-melting grin.

She lifted a hand in farewell then made her way to the sales counter. Grabbing hold, she took a moment to let reaction set in. Holy hell. Jay Pennyworth dropped in out of the blue and he looked amazing. If she didn't get her heart rate under control she might have to skip dinner.

Dinner.

Val moaned. "Shit." She wanted more than one meal with Jay.

 

I love writing friends to lovers couples. Val and Jay are fun and seeing how they navigate trying to start a relationship is a treat.

 

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: Ghost of a Chance

Ugh. Got hit hard with a nasty cold / flu something. It's been a miserable week trying to hit editing deadlines and maintain my sanity at the same time. LOL

This week's Teen Wolf brought back an old, well… I can't really call the character a favorite, so let's say a familiar face instead. I like having some old school peeps back on my screen. Nothing wrong with the new crew, but eh, I think a lot can be said for taking care of the roots, too. Hopefully, I'm not being too spoilery.

My shows are back this week. The Flash, Arrow, the premiere of Legends of Tomorrow, and maybe even Agent Carter. Not sure about the premiere date for X-Files, but I'll be checking to make sure I don't miss it.

And that's it for this week on the TV front.

Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella where loss is hard to overcome but love might win out in the end.

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…

Valerie Queen stood beside Chad Adsworth's grave, eyes dry but stinging in the wind. She couldn't cry, not right now. She'd shed plenty of tears when she got the news.

Muffled footfalls came from her left, the sound stopping when a man stood beside her. Jay Pennyworth, in full dress uniform, removed his hat, tucking it under his arm.

He stood, his head bowed for a moment. "I tried to make it in time, but my transport flight got in late."

She nodded, understanding and remembering what military flights were like. Chad had been out before she'd met him, but her dad had gone career like Jay appeared to be doing.

A light rain started and Jay put his hat back on then took the umbrella from her hand, opening and holding the muted grey shield over her head. "How are you doing?" He moved in closer when the wind picked up again, blocking out some of the cutting cold.

Valerie slid her gaze toward him. "How do you think I’m doing?" Anyone else would have received the standard "fine" answer.

But with Jay, Valerie didn't have to hold up any pretense.

He huffed out a breath. "I'd say you're doing shit awful."

Valerie cracked a wobbly smile. "That's about right." She finally remembered her manners. "How long do you have?"

Jay frowned. "Forty-eight hours. The CO gave me as long as he could. We've got a mission going hot in seventy-two." His words were terse, but directed at fate, not her.

Valerie nodded, glanced sideways and met his gaze. "Have you eaten yet?" The thought of food turned her stomach, but again, manners.

Jay shook his head. "No. Came straight from the base."

She'd figured as much. "Place to stay?"

Jay head jerked back and forth again. "Haven't made any arrangements, yet."

Again, typical, for a military man on a last minute furlough. "Don't bother." She slid her gaze toward the casket, finally being lowered into the ground. "I've got an entire kitchen full of food I'll never be able to eat…" She met his gaze again. "And I wouldn't mind the company." She hated the idea of being alone in the home she'd shared with Chad.

Jay quirked an eyebrow. "Are you certain?"

She studied him for a moment, trying to stay numb, but having him here meant the world to her. And it would've meant everything to Chad. And Valerie couldn't quite face going home alone and dealing with the onslaught of memories waiting for her.

Looking past Jay's shoulder to focus on the heavy drizzle coming down, she nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure." She met his gaze. "Maybe I'll finally sleep. It's too quiet without Chad." She gazed at the shiny buttons on his jacket. "Haven't slept more than a couple of hours since I got the call." She probably looked like a member of the walking dead.

Jay reached out, grasping her arm. "In that case, I'd be happy to have a place to stay." He turned, making sure to keep the umbrella over her head.

She started forward, but paused to fish her keys out of her purse then held them out to him.

Jay frowned. "You drove yourself?"

She shrugged. "I needed to feel in control and, I don't know, riding in a limousine would give me too much time to think." Her eyes welled up. "But now… I'm too close to losing it." Blinking away the tears, she met his gaze again. "Would you mind driving?"

He took the keys and hauled her close, holding the umbrella at an awkward angle. "Not at all, Val. I'm so sorry."

Instead of making her cry, his words eased the ache in her heart.

She hugged him. "Thank you." Pulling herself together, she stepped back. "Let's go put a dent in the abundance of food stashed in my kitchen."

This scene came together almost exactly the way I pictured it in my head. When that happens, I do a mini chair dance of joy. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

Hello!

Okay, no Arrow episode this week and I missed my favorite show. L But, we did have new Walking Dead and Bitten, which made me super happy. I love reading the speculation about Daryl and whether he'll fall in with those rogue survivors or play nice until he can track down Beth. I'm rather hoping for the latter. It would make a nice bookend to the episode where he more or less sent his past life up in flames.

Bitten's episode for this week has me full of anticipation. I cannot wait to see Elena's worlds collide. J Orphan Black is gearing up for next month and I'm following their instagram page with an obsession. My twitter feed is rife with speculation… to the point I'm pondering a blog post with my wish list for the season. I'll just add that to my ever growing pile of stuff that needs attention. J

Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella featuring main characters whose guilt for having a connection almost keeps them apart.

Here's the tagline:

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 specter of Chad hovering between them may be more than they can overcome.

And a snippety peek…

Valerie drained her glass and worked her way up to asking the big question. "Why me? And why now?" She set her glass on the coffee table.

Jay narrowed his eyes. "With regards to what?" He poured wine into her goblet.

Valerie rolled her eyes. "Coming back. Possibly staying. At the shop, you said you wanted to look me up while you were in the city. Over dinner, you mentioned coming back for me."

Jay nodded. "I did? Yeah, okay, I did." He leaned back against the cushion, slouching down. "I came because I wanted to see you." He met her gaze. "And maybe see if you'd be interested in something more."

Valerie tried to wrap her head around the 'something more'. "After five years? Seriously, Jay. Why would you want me? I'm not even your type." She tucked her feet under her thighs.

Jay's eyebrows rose. "My type? How the hell would you know what my type is?" He grabbed his glass from the table.

She shrugged. "Chad said—"

He inclined his head. "Ah, that explains it." He took a sip of wine. "You know what, Valerie? My best friend had no damn clue about the kind of women I went out with." Jay stopped. "No, that's not right. Chad knew exactly what kind of woman I wanted. And he told you the opposite." His lips twisted in a sardonic smile.

Valerie frowned. "Why would he do that?" The idea made no sense.

Jay slid his gaze toward her. "Because you fit the bill, Valerie. And Chad figured it out. He wasn't stupid." He placed his goblet on the table.

Valerie opened her mouth and shut it again. "No, sometimes he was smarter than anyone gave him credit for. Including me." She should've known, after spending time with Jay, how far off the mark Chad led her.

Jay scooted closer on the sofa. "He knew me the best. Would've seen right through me when he introduced us." He reached out and laced their fingers together. "Knew I'd give you wide berth because he found you first."

Valerie untwined their hands, picked up her glass and drained the contents. "Then why tell me a bunch of lies?" She paused, then answered her question. "He didn't trust me." She gripped the glass harder, pushing back the hurt.

Jay shook his head. "No, that's not it." He pried the goblet from her fingers and set it aside. "He didn't trust himself. To be the man you thought him to be."

Valerie huffed out a breath. "That's stupid." She crossed her arms over her chest.

Chad's insecurities continued to baffle her. Smart, generous, loyal, how could he think so little of himself?

Jay's lips curved. "Love can make people stupid, Valerie. Chad wasn't immune."

Valerie scoffed. "Doesn't seem to affect you." Bold, confident, and still amazing-looking, Jay couldn't have lacked for company during their five year separation.

Jay snorted. "You're so wrong. I've never loved anyone, Valerie." He shrugged. "At least not enough to take any kind of chance. I always walk away."

Valerie nodded. "Like you did after Chad's funeral?" She sighed. "I woke up and you were gone."

Jay glanced away. "I couldn't stay, Valerie. Losing Chad, the funeral, then spending the night with you… I couldn't deal with everything all at once." He met her gaze again. "Guilt over sleeping with you consumed me. I betrayed Chad and took advantage of you."

Valerie shook her head. "No, you didn't. I did exactly what I wanted that night." She moved away, sliding to the end of the couch, needing some space. "I'm insulted, no make that pissed, you think I'd let you take advantage." Agitated, she rose and cleared the glasses and bottle from the table. "Christ, Jay, I get feeling like you betrayed Chad, or more like we betrayed him, but I didn't sleep with you to be close to him."

Jay got up and followed her to the kitchen. "I'm sorry, Valerie. This, coming back and seeing you? Bad idea." He propped his hip against the island. "Look at us. Five years later and the ghost of my best friend is still between us."

Valerie whirled and met his gaze. "For you, maybe. I put Chad's memory to rest a long time ago. You should do the same, Jay."

He studied her a moment then nodded. "You may be right." He straightened and started for the foyer. "I'd better take off, get back to the hotel." He grabbed his jacket from the coat rack.

Valerie stepped out into the hall. "So, you're walking away, then?" She waited a beat. "Again?"

I seem to have a major thing for putting siblings and best friends between my main couple. The possibilities are so endless.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin