Sunday Snippet: How to Tell Off the Boss

Can't believe we're in the final few days of the year. I can't say 2025 has been stellar, but it has been interesting. I'm looking forward to a new year.

Our weather is still wild. Our low for today is going to be about four degrees higher than the high for tomorrow. We're currently at fifty-eight degrees for our high and we'll plummet to twenty-nine. The high for tomorrow? Twenty-five. Seriously.

Slower work week with the holiday out of offices. I finished up a copy edit and started a new proofread that won't be due until the first week of January. Also got started on a developmental edit of a five or six book series. Continued work on the memoir and making good progress with the author. This is such a great story.

Had a pretty good viewing week. I got a couple of holiday special episodes in and that made me happy. I have one more I'm looking forward to this week.

Started again with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. I'm getting closer to the end with a handful of episodes left. I'm thoroughly enjoying the rewatch.

Caught the holiday special episodes of Madam Blanc Mysteries. At first, I didn't realize it was a two-parter and had to impatiently wait for the second half. Excellent episodes! I love the holiday specials.

Watched part two of Silent Witness and honestly didn't expect the twists and turns. I'm enjoying the newest team member. She's going to be a great addition to the Lylle.

Enjoyed another episode of Poirot. I kind of like it when Poirot is under the weather. He's such a cranky dude but also hilariously funny.

Caught another episode of Elementary and, wow, Joan could be headed for some serious trouble with Moreland. I have a sneaky suspicion Sherlock knows exactly what's going on and I'm interested to see if I'm right.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond and remembered it on my original run through. Good episode.

Enjoyed another episode of Lower Decks. So fun when lore from all the other Trek incarnations pops up and play a big role in the episode.

Caught the holiday episode of Beyond Paradise and loved seeing Commissioner Patterson! Also very happy to see Humphrey and Martha tie the knot. The rest of the background story ended up being super emotional and I love this episode a lot.

I did skip Foyle's War but should finish up the episode this week. Looking forward to watching the rest of the show.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from How to Tell Off the Boss, a novella featuring a fun couple that get together while playing a game of cat and mouse with their boss.

Here's the miniblurb:

Orin Murdoch's boss, the newly installed VP of sales, is driving him insane with new promotions that just don't work. Edda Case, an upstart marketing whiz, takes Orin in hand and teaches him how to tell off the boss with style and how to win Edda's heart in the process.

And a snippety peek…

Orin took a moment to commit the vision of Edda, naked in his bed, to memory.

Leaning in, he caught her mouth with his. She slipped her tongue past his lips and amped up the heat of the kiss. She tasted a little sweet with some tart mixed in … just like her personality. He loved having her here.

And he wanted to blow her mind.

Ghosting his palm along her side and down over her hip, he sought the apex of her thighs. Sliding his fingers along her folds, he discovered her wet and ready. He definitely didn't need any extra stimulation. His dick ached with the need to be buried inside her.

Easing away, he moved his mouth up to her ear. "Top or bottom?" He inserted two fingers into her slick passage.

Edda moaned. "Don't care. Just want you. Deep." Her hips bucked against his hand.

Orin decided to change things up. "In that case…" He turned her away from him, keeping his fingers close to her clit. "I say we spoon." Pulling her thigh over his hip, he lined up and thrust forward.

Edda made a low hum of satisfaction. "Ahh. Good choice." Her butt bumped against his groin, drawing him deeper inside.

He used his free hand to cup a breast, which drew a hiss of response from Edda. Brushing his thumb over the taut nipple, he also rubbed the bundle of nerves at her core. Edda angled her head back and pressed kissed along his jawline.

He flexed his hips, thrusting forward and drawing back. Edda's hand fisted in his sheet and her breath came in short gasps. She rolled her pelvis, seeking more friction. He complied and pressed his fingers against her clit and amped up the speed.

Edda shuddered, her internal muscles gripping him. The hot, slick heat surrounding him pulled him over the edge and he came right behind her. Stars exploded in his brain and a groan escaped from deep in his chest.

Being with her topped anything he imagined.

Slowly coming down from the high of great sex, he nuzzled her throat. She reached around and grasped his hip, her hand sliding back to hold on to his ass. Another shudder rippled through her and goosebumps covered her skin.

He gently withdrew and rolled to his side to get rid of the condom in his bedside trash can. Edda turned and spooned up against his back, her lips ghosting along his shoulder. When her angled around, she burrowed into his side and rested her chin on his chest.

She traced circles on his skin. "Gotta admit … that kind of blew my mind." Her gaze met his.

Orin flashed a smile. "That's sorta what I was going for." He grabbed the light throw at the end of the bed and draped it over them.

Edda snuggled closer. "Now I'm definitely sleepy."

Orin brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. "I'll wake you early so you can get home to change." He set an alarm on his phone.

Edda gave him a tired smile. "Thanks." Her head popped up. "I really don't like the fact you're going to take a hit over the campaign."

Orin nodded. "I don't either. But we have some threads to pull. I think I can put Linna off a little longer."

Edda grunted and settled in beside him again.

Orin held her close, enjoying her in bed next to him.

I'm having so much fun writing this couple. Orin has a side he rarely lets anyone see and Edda brings it out without even trying.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: How to Tell Off the Boss

Well, February has so far been a crazy mix of freezing, in the teens temperatures and mild almost spring-like weather. Mother Nature is in a mercurial mood right now and it's wild trying to figure out how to dress for the day. I miss being able to get my winter stuff out and not having to bother with warm-weather clothes for a couple of months.

Had a busy week with work projects and have a couple more lined up in the near future. I'm kind of happy they're all different types of manuscripts and none are in the same stage of editing.

Had a slow week of television. I'm still working to get everything from the old PC to the new one and ran into another snag with trying to set up my email accounts. Spent a large portion of the week trying to figure that out and get it working. Bleh.

I did catch the pilot episode of Pennyworth and really enjoyed it. I've heard great things and now that I know season three is the end, I'm going to attempt to watch before it disappears too.

I also watched the second part of the Battlestar Galactica miniseries with one of my friends. I'm so excited to have this rewatch party to look forward to each week. We'll be trying two episodes a week starting with season one.

Got a start on the latest season of Midsommer Murders. Barely got through the opening credits so I'll have to finish up this week.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from How to Tell Off the Boss, a novella that teams up coworkers to solve a problem and they discover they're very well-matched.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Orin Murdoch's boss, the newly installed VP of sales, is driving him insane with new promotions that just don't work. Edda Case, an upstart marketing whiz, takes Orin in hand and teaches him how to tell off the boss with style and how to win Edda's heart in the process.

And a snippety peek…

Edda stayed focused on trying to track Linna's movements for another hour then suggested calling it a night. "My eyes are crossing. That usually means it's time to change gears." She closed the laptop and set it aside.

Orin leaned back and folded his arms behind his head. "I think the lack of a presence on social media means we're on the right track, would you agree?" His eyes slid shut and he exhaled on a long breath.

Edda gave a nod. "That along with the lack of public records. Yeah, we're getting closer." She bit back a yawn.

Orin straightened and closed his laptop. "Thanks. This is above and beyond." He put the computer on the table beside hers.

Edda stretched. "So … you got anything I can sleep in?" A T-shirt would work, or an oversized sweatshirt.

Orin turned to face her, leaning in close and cupping her nape. "I could probably find something … but I don't think we're gonna be sleeping." His lips hovered over her mouth.

She groaned. "That's good news because I'm really hot for you right now."

His mouth crushed hers and he grasped her hands then stood up. She followed, keeping her lips firmly against his. His hands cupped her face, and he backed her toward the bedroom. She loosened her buttons and started on his.

He nudged her inside his room and finally broke the embrace. Dragging his shirt off, he unbuckled his belt and undid his pants. Edda unzipped her skirt and let it slide to the floor. Standing in her lacy camisole and thong, she boldly met his gaze before letting herself take in the sight of him. He stayed fit and had defined abdominal muscles and nicely sculpted biceps. Her eyes drifted lower, and she swallowed at the large bulge hidden by his briefs.

Licking her lips, she unclasped her bra and shrugged it off.

Orin gave her a sexy, sly grin and shucked his knit boxers.

She slid her fingers under the waistband of her thong, but Orin shook his head.

He stepped forward. "Let me…" Hooking his thumbs under the fabric, he slipped the lacy garment down her legs.

Anticipation filled her and Orin didn't disappoint. He scooped her up and deposited her on the mattress then eased down beside her.

I love how this one is unfolding. Edda is a fun character and she's working to bring Orin out of his constant work mode. I think it's working.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: How to Tell Off the Boss

Well, another week kind of flew by. My work schedule is filling in again and that makes me very happy.

Had a semi-decent week for television. I ended up watching a lot of behind the scenes and bloopers from Passionflix. Gabriel's Inferno, Dirty Sexy Saint, The Will, and Matchmaker's Playbook. Thoroughly enjoyed all of them!

Caught up on some classic television. Watched a lot of Perry Mason and The Saint. I'd forgotten how much intrigue the classic Perry Mason shows had in them. Lots more than the modernized version from the eighties.

Also started a new mystery on Ovation. Caught the first two episodes of Crossing Lines. Enjoyed both so I'll be trying to catch those as they air.

I'd hoped to catch Gabriel's Inferno part three this past week but couldn't find time to really sink into the movie. I'll give it a go this week coming up. Also want to watch the holiday quickies releasing on Passionflix.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from How to Tell Off the Boss, a novella where two coworkers end up falling for each other while dealing with some corporate shenanigans.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Orin Murdoch's boss, the newly installed VP of sales, is driving him insane with new promotions that just don't work. Edda Case, an upstart marketing whiz, takes Orin in hand and teaches him how to tell off the boss with style and how to win Edda's heart in the process.

And a snippety peek…

Orin found Edda in the parking garage later than expected—just after five thirty. Relief filled him that she'd waited. Standing by her car, scrolling on her phone.

He apologized when she glanced up. "I lost track of time and I'm sorry." Nodding toward his car, he made a suggestion. "Look, I'm beat. Would you object to picking up Korean and going to my place?"

Edda's gaze widened. "As in somewhere super private where no one can see us?" Her tone came across as flirty, especially when she added waggly eyebrows.

Caught off guard, Orin rushed to explain. "Uh, didn't think of it like that. We can dine in if you'd rather." Damn, now he sounded lame.

Edda laughed and held up her hands. "I'll back off. It's been a rough week for you." She followed him to his car and got in on the passenger side. "For future reference, I go after what I want, but I can be patient, too." Her implied meaning broke the ice a little.

Orin managed to settle down and enjoy their conversation, which started out being about the food. Once they got to Orin's, he bounced between being charmed by and attracted to her and being distracted, while they talked about how to dig into Linna's background.

By the time ten thirty rolled around, he wondered aloud. "What would you think if I asked you to stay?" A tad forward, but he didn't want the evening to end.

Edda cocked her head to one side. "Why don't you ask me and find out?" A small smile curved her lips.

He did. "How about a suggestion of you're going to stay?" He folded his arms over his chest. "Now tell me what you think."

Edda's mouth curved more. "A man who's a little assertive? Hmm…" She gave a little shudder. "I think I'm going to like … spending the night with you."

He caught the hesitation—and the suggestive tone—but didn't comment. Not yet. They still had work to do—on their laptops giving search engines a workout.

I love the vibe between Orin and Edda. They're on the trail of a mystery and falling for each other at the same time. Good multitaskers!

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: How to Tell Off the Boss

I'm coming off another busy week. My youngest is finally doing her driver's training classwork and driving with the instructor. She also had her first week of summer band camp so the back and forth driving to and from kept me busy.

Not a bad week of television viewing. The return of Wynonna Earp and Killjoys topped the terrific stuff. I'm so excited to have both shows back on my screen.

Other than those, I got another episode of Pensacola Wings of Gold in along with the second episode of Lexx. The latter is such a trippy kind of show. I'd forgotten how off the wall it could be.

I caught a Garage Sale Mysteries episode, "A Case for Murder". Not a bad little movie series. Enjoyed my first experience with the Hallmark show.

Also caught my military shows, Band of Brothers and Strike Back. I'm close to finishing up both seasons of each show.

Caught two DVD viewings of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, with season two's first part. I'm kind of looking forward to the second part of season two if only to figure out the whole star-shaped villain thing.

I'm two-thirds of the way through Chicago Fire's sixth season. I'm going to miss Gabby in a big way. I'm almost afraid of what Matt's storyline is going to become. I'm also close to the last episode of Sense 8's first season. Looking forward to the holiday-themed movie that's next up and launches the second season.

Watch some classic television on the Pluto app for Roku. Fun stuff there. I've also been hitting some nostalgia by watching old episodes of Murder, She Wrote and Heat of the Night. I used to watch both shows when I lived with my Gram. We lost her this past March and it's been kind of wonderful to stroll down memory lane by revisiting these two shows.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from How to Tell Off the Boss, a novella that started with a two-word prompt of "bug off". I had a scene pop into my head the moment I read the words.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Orin Murdoch's boss, the newly installed VP of Sales, is driving him insane with new promotions that just don't work. Edda Case, an upstart marketing whiz, takes Orin in hand and teaches him how to tell off the boss with style.

And a snippety peek…

Edda entered the office the next day with her brain on Orin Murdoch. Weird. But she chalked it up to the ass-chewing he received. She firmly believed the jump bag campaign would take off. Hell, it should have taken off. Her work had been on the mark for the target audience.

Sitting behind her desk, she pulled some numbers from her projections. She'd built in a cushion—she always did—for stragglers. There were always customers who came on board later than most—they still had serviceable cases, they always waited until the initial launch and paid full price, or they had to go through a budget process. Marketing might be her forte but she could crunch numbers with the pros.

Like Orin.

The guy might be a little buttoned-up, but he had too much intelligence to suffer a loss of epic proportions. Especially with her kick-ass marketing campaign. Something smelled rotten and she wanted to get to the bottom of what caused the stench.

Printing the report, she got up and grabbed her coffee then headed down the corridor to Orin's office. She wanted to chat with him about the big picture stuff he always had a solid handle on.

She found him sitting with one hand under his chin and the other tapping out a rapid staccato on his desk. "Skyscrapers are too quick of a way for Linna to go. Edda totally got that wrong." He muttered something else about three hours of sleep sucking ass.

Edda made a mock protest. "I'll have you know I rarely get anything completely wrong." She set her coffee on the credenza in front of the window and placed the printed pages next to the cup. "Can you think of anything better?"

He leaned back and she'd never guess he didn't get much sleep. His crisp blue shirt stretched over his chest just enough to show the definition under the fabric. His bold royal and gold paisley-designed tie brought out the warm amber flecks in his brown gaze. Only when his gaze met hers did she see the dull thread of weariness there.

Orin chewed his lip before answering. "A hot sun and about a million fire ants sounds about right."

Edda bit back a laugh. "Wow, that's kind of vicious." She lowered her voice. "And kind of brilliant. Count me in if you need an accomplice."

Orin rolled his eyes. "As if. But she's driving me insane." He leaned forward again. "She's called three times this morning and she's only been here for an hour." A sigh escaped him. "I put her off until tomorrow. I need to do a complete audit of the whole campaign and if she wants the projections for the new launch by lunch today, she has to cut me slack somewhere." He closed his eyes and dragged in a deep breath. "I'm beyond tired of being her whipping boy."

This one is so much fun. I'm thinking it might need to be renamed to 1001 Ways to Wish Death on the Boss. Then again… that might be too bloodthirsty even for me. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: How to Tell Off the Boss

So, first week of April in Ohio and we had a wintry mix of sleet and snow yesterday. *shakes head* Come on, Mother Nature, cut us a break. LOL

On the television front… The Walking Dead set everything up for the finale tonight. I'm actually thinking I won't watch it live. It's been a rough week and my brain might just break if one of my faves doesn't make it out alive.

Missed Gotham on Monday and haven't caught up yet. This plays into the rough week angle. My teenage daughter had her first track meet Monday night and badly sprained her ankle during the warm-ups. The poor kid didn't even get to compete. The good news is she cleared all the hurdles. The bad news? She needs to work on the landings. LOL Needless to say, she's on crutches and miserable but gets to see the orthopedic guy tomorrow. Whew.

The Flash and Agents of SHIELD had great episodes. I liked seeing the fallout from previous episodes on both shows. Time travel always kicks my interest up a notch and The Flash usually pulls off nice twists when it happens. Henry Simmons is terrific at playing Mack and I'm glad he's on Agents of SHIELD.

Arrow added some new layers to relationships and it was cool to see a Flash villain show up in Star City. I kind of liked having Felicity save the day and Curtis was a total riot in the Arrow cave / bunker. I love his character so much.

Legends of Tomorrow surprised me with revealing how Mick survived his encounter with Snart. Very cool to see Sara back in Nanda Parbot and being introduced to Talia. I loved the little seeds / references to Nyssa, too.

I checked into The Magicians and love the kind of twisty things they're doing with the relationships there. Bitten also had a great episode, but I'm truly sad another pack member met his end. I'm very ready for Elena and company to kick ass and end the menacing presence in their lives.

I'll be catching up with Wynonna Earp and Banshee sometime today. Will probably be adding little bits to next week's post on both.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from How to Tell Off the Boss, a novella built on the two word prompt "Bug off". I love a challenge and this one ended up not being as hard as I thought it would.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Orin Murdoch's boss, the newly installed VP of Sales, is driving him insane with new promotions that just don't work. Edda Case, an upstart marketing whiz, takes Orin in hand and teaches him how to tell off the boss with style.

And a snippety peek…

"Yes, Linna, I'll cross-check the dates of the campaign. No. No, I don't know what could have happened to result in a loss that big." Orin Murdoch heaved a sigh. "Yes. I'll have something put together for a meeting tomorrow." He hung up and shook his head. "Please, whatever rules the universe, let that woman get hit by a bus in the very near future."

A garbled snort drew his attention and he glanced up to find Edda Case, their marketing genius standing in his doorway. She had her messenger style bag hoisted over her shoulder and her polka-dot trench coat draped over her arm. At least someone got to leave work at a decent hour.

Edda smirked. "If you're talking about Linna, a bus would be too quick." She stepped into the office and made her way to stand in front of his desk. "Now, something along the lines of falling from the top of a skyscraper might be a good way for her to go." She dropped her bag on the floor and grinned.

Orin rolled his eyes. "Seriously, I don't understand what happened to the last campaign. And she's demanding answers." Meaning he'd be here most of the night.

Edda shrugged. "Look, I'm getting ready to meet some friends for either Korean or Thai food, not sure which yet." She grabbed her bag again. "Either way, it's comfort food for me. You should join us." She widened her eyes and nodded.

Orin sighed. "Yeah, sorry, can't." He pointed to the open files on his desk. "I've got the next launch to get in order and, of course, the research for why the last campaign didn't meet expectations." His stomach growled, but he ignored the pangs.

Edda shook her head then leaned forward a little. "If you ask me, we put forward a no-fail plan. There's something not quite right about the low sales." She straightened and met his gaze. "Think about it." Without waiting for a response, she turned and sailed out of his office.

Orin grabbed his pen and tapped it on the edge of the desk. Edda couldn't be thinking someone deliberately tanked the project, could she? Nah. Who in their right mind would pull a stunt like that?

If using possible sabotage as an excuse wouldn't make him look like an inept ass, he'd absolutely use the idea. Instead, he'd run the numbers forwards and backwards and figure out where the breakdown occurred. The grumble from his midsection sounded again and he got up, crossing over to the break room to grab some yoghurt and granola. A terrible dinner, but something to tide him over for an hour or two. He could always order something for delivery later.

Sitting back down, he pondered Edda's invitation. They worked well together but didn't associate outside of the office. Polar opposites would describe their personality types. Edda's brash, bold, and colorful style translated into her work. She dreamed up marketing and advertising that put products front and center and dared people not to see them. Orin didn't have a creative bone in his body, but he thought and worked with the big picture in mind. And numbers were his refuge. Forecasting, projecting, finalizing. He rarely missed the mark.

So what the hell happened to the jump bag project?

Something along the lines of falling from the top of a skyscraper might be a good way for her to go.

Edda's words played over in Orin's brain. He chuckled. Then laughed. He gave Edda props for creativity. And he regretted not taking her up on the offer to have dinner. Even with a group of her friends, he doubted the evening would be anything but fun and enjoyable. Edda might not be his usual type—not that he had a type anymore, considering he couldn't remember his last date—but she drew people to her with vivacious wit and keen intelligence.

Finishing off the yoghurt and granola, he tossed the items in the trash can and settled in to crunch some numbers.

Gotta say this one is very fun to dive into. Hoping to have a finished draft sometime this summer.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: How to Tell Off the Boss

Greetings,

Whew. Wild week in TV. Arrow, of course, amped up the tension and drama with a total shocker at the end of the episode. Okay, maybe not a total surprise, but wow, I'm dying to see what happens next. S.H.I.E.L.D went to great places and planted some new seeds for a future season (I hope!) and Orphan Black delivered another taut hour of viewing pleasure. I have several things I want to see happen with Rachel, but I'll save those for a fandom blog post. LOL I'm honestly not sure about the whole Helena/religious cult dealio, but I'll keep watching to see what happens.

Writing wise, the week ended up being way more productive than expected, in a truly odd way. I've been updating my Works in Progress page and the exercise is shaking off some cobwebs and getting the creative juices flowing again. I love it when that happens. J

Tonight's post is from How to Tell Off the Boss, a novella where my main male character has to grow a set… with a little help from a new co-worker.

Here's the tagline:

Orin Murdoch's boss, the newly installed VP of Sales, is driving him insane with new promotions that just don't work. Edda Case, an upstart marketing whiz, takes Orin in hand and teaches him how to tell off the boss with style.

And a snippety peek…

Edda crossed her arms over her chest. "Orin, what would you tell Linna if you had the chance?"

Orin shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe, bug off." He tossed the pen across the desk.

Edda snorted. "Bug off? Are you five?" She crossed his office and placed her palms on the smooth oak surface covered with files. "The response is, 'Shut the fuck up, bitch, and leave me alone."

Orin quirked a brow, but leaned back in his seat, pondering the idea.

Edda waved a hand. "Go on. Try it out." She dragged one of the client chairs forward and settled down on it.

Orin straightened. "Shut the fuck up and leave me alone." He spoke clearly and used just the right amount of inflection to get his point across.

Edda nodded. "Good tone. Authoritative without sounding menacing." She chuckled. "You couldn't quite get the bitch part in, could you?"

Orin lifted one shoulder. "Hey, it's the VP of sales, Edda. A little decorum has to be used."

Edda rolled her eyes. Whatever, Orin. I'm sure she'll remember your tact and diplomacy when she orders you to do something stupid again." She added. "And she won't lay the blame at your doorstep when we start tracking the spectacular lack of sales when her new brand of promotions generates nothing but headaches for Accounting and Production." Edda pushed a little harder. "Look, I know you're not me, but covering your ass is always smart. Don't give Linna the opportunity to fry it when her lack of research comes back to smack her in the face."

Orin studied Edda for a moment. "Okay, you've got a valid point, except telling Linna to shut the fuck up will only go so far." He frowned. "She's ignoring the sales projections for a reason, but I can't figure out why."

Edda snorted. "Figure that one out and three departments will throw you a party."

Orin leaned forward. "What are your plans for the evening?" A sly smile crossed his face.

Edda tilted her head to the side. "Why?" She hoped like hell he had something sneaky planned.

Orin met her gaze. "I'm going to dig around and find out why. I could use some help."

Edda's lips curved. "I'm game… if you throw in dinner."

Orin stuck out his hand. "Deal. Korean or Thai?"

He'd remembered her comfort food?

Edda tamped down a zing of excitement. "Surprise me." She stood and made her way to the door. "Meet in the parking garage after work?"

Orin nodded. "That's a plan. I'll see you then."

Edda exited his office and grinned. Subterfuge with a hot guy. Her night just took a turn for the unexpected.

She couldn't wait for five o'clock.

And five o'clock doesn't disappoint. J

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin