Sunday Snippet: Hot Water

Crap. It's December. I'm not even close to being holiday-ready. Then again, it's been a really weird year. Update from last week. The youngest is negative for Covid. She's home and having fun with the dogs. The middle kiddo? Well, he ended up back in the emergency department again. The acid reducer seems to be working, but we've discovered he's got kidney stones. There might be more going on but we won't know until he follows up with a urologist. All I know is he's tired of feeling like crap. Fingers crossed we get whatever is up with him figured out.

Kind of a slow week in television. I watched several more episodes of Silent Witness. I'm almost finished with season seven. I'll start eight this upcoming week and then I'll be at the place I originally started watching the series.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and got about halfway through. I'll finish it up this week.

Also plan to watch Gabriel's Inferno part three and some holiday quickies from Passionflix this week. Looking forward to diving into those!

Tonight's post is from Hot Water, a novella where my main characters bond over the lack of hot water.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Demi Strange and Nathan Jordan work together at a summer camp, things get heated. The campers use up the water ration, leaving Demi to borrow Nathan's shower and it lands her in more than hot water.

And a snippety peek…

Demi hated the shower situation. She finished rinsing off under an icy deluge.

"Damned tweens and their brilliant minds."

She never got to the shower stalls in time to grab a hot one because the girls figured out they could each get one extra minute of rationed time if they kept her busy and took their turns one after the other. After toweling off, hoping to create some heated friction, she dressed quickly and grabbed her kit. Her third cold shower of the week left her teeth chattering and she counted herself ready to do something she'd never done before—maim her campers. All ten of them.

"Little demons."

Okay, not so little. Most were in the ten to twelve age group. And every one of the girls got along, something almost unheard of in her three years' experience. She wouldn't ruin their fun at her expense … yet. She needed to play their game and beat them. No more distractions.

She exited the building and bumped into Nathan.

With a grunt, he steadied her then narrowed his eyes. "You're shivering and you have goose bumps." His gaze showed concern. "You didn't get a hot shower, did you?"

She shrugged. "It's the chilly weather. Very unseasonable this summer." She backed away, trying not to choke of the falsehood even though the temperatures had been in the high sixties the past week.

Nathan trotted to catch up with her. "Look, you can use my shower anytime. No strings attached. I mean it." He paused at the juncture leading to the boys' side of the camp.

She gave him a brief smile but kept walking. "Thanks."

She'd started to thaw out, both from the icy water and around Nathan. She really did appreciate the offer. A small shiver went through her. She might have to take him up on the use of his cabin.

Entering the girls' dorm, she shook her head. "But I'm not ready to cave just yet."

Way too much temptation she might not be able to resist.

Demi definitely won't be able to keep resisting Nathan's offer … or him.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Five Minutes

Final Sunday of August. I'm kind of looking forward to the fall season even if it's going to very different. With a global pandemic and an election coming up, I don't think it'll be the lovely season I always look forward to. That said, cooler temperatures will be welcome. Even though it hasn't been overly hot this summer, I really love the crisp air of fall.

Had a decent week of office reorganization and not a bad one for television viewing, considering I had no power for twenty-one hours thanks to a thunderstorm with wicked nasty lightning. A tree not far from our house got struck and it took out a couple of pole transformers. We were really lucky that we caught a break from the heat of the day before.

Not a bad week for television viewing but not great either. I caught an episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I'm halfway through the second season.

Watched the third episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and it's definitely my favorite of the four episodes. I love the sci-fi feel and the background with Bertie.

Caught the Classic Who run of Genesis of the Daleks arc. I've seen this group of episodes before and enjoyed them. It's especially fun because New Who brought in big tie-in to these episodes.

Also watched another episode of Danger Man. I'm on the last two available on Amazon, which makes me sad.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Five Minutes, a novella that works a teenage game into a point of conflict between the main characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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

And a snippety peek…

"Remy, hold up!"

Remy paused outside the main cabin to wait on a friend.

Harry Whitmore jogged outside to catch up. "I didn't get a chance to congratulate you on the move up to team leader." His shoulder nudged hers. "Congrats, my friend."

Remy's lips curved. "Thanks. I'm excited." And nervous as hell.

Harry fell into step beside her. "You're gonna do fine. Everyone on your team knows you and they also know you're a first-time leader. They'll test your mettle but they'll also have your back." He stopped with her outside her designated team meeting place.

Remy ducked her head. "Yeah, I got a good group." She tilted her chin up. "You're playing referee. Any tips? I figure I've got the first responder stuff nailed. Not so sure about rappelling." She had at least one member with a fear of heights.

Harry rolled a shoulder. "Look, as long as you keep the mood light, your group will focus. They'll pull their weight when they need to." He stepped back when two members arrived. "See you up there." With a brief lift of his hand, he waved and walked away.

Remy appreciated the fact Harry didn't bring up Eli. Harry's inside knowledge of her past experience with Keith and her confession over beers one night about her piqued interest in Eli probably had Harry dying of curiosity. Thankfully, he'd at least wait until they were at the remote location before peppering her with questions.

Remy greeted her two teammates. "You two set?" They had the standard clothing of sturdy boots, lightweight layers, and rugged head-coverings on.

John Parsons nodded. "Yep. I'm good." He gave her a lopsided grin. "Looking forward to having you lead the team. We'll try not to let you down."

Remy smiled. "I know you guys won't. I've been blessed with the best mix of skillsets for a first-timer. We're going to have a great time." Well, she would have fun once the roller coaster settled down in her stomach.

Makenna Wilson laughed. "I'm already having fun. That briefing was crazypants. I mean Eli slid in two minutes late and his team will get docked for that." She wiggled her hips back and forth. "We're already at least two points ahead."

Remy shook her head. "Don't get cocky. Eli's a seasoned vet. He knows all the tricks and shortcuts." Her other two team members appeared, looking slightly disheveled.

Remy gave Sheila and Cody Sula a speculative once-over.

Sheila staked her claim. Good for her.

Cody tried to play things cool. "Sorry, we're late. We, uh …" His voice trailed off.

Sheila came to the rescue. "Took the scenic route. But we're good to go." She hastily tucked her shirt in and smoothed down her cargo pants.

Remy bit back a laugh. "All right, then. Let's decide which route we want to take up to the site." She laid the trail chart out and everyone bent over to get a good look.

A swell of excitement filled her. She couldn't wait to get started.

I'm enjoying this one. Remy is a quirky character that got burned and doesn't want a repeat experience, but she also has the biggest attraction for Eli and she doesn't want to blow her opportunity with the camp. She's definitely a ball of stress right now, even if she doesn't show it.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Bonus Score

Ugh… what a week. I've been down with a combination of cold / flu symptoms. I'm pretty sure I've pulled at least three different muscles from coughing, sneezing, and blowing my nose incessantly. Bleh.

Not a bad week for television viewing. The Flash had a girls night out that brought Felicity Smoak over from Arrow and entertained in a big way. Legends of Tomorrow kind of disappointed me by bringing Damien Darhk back, even if the fight sequence proved to be very entertaining.

Arrow also had a great episode. Loved getting to know Dinah's former partner and have some background there. I'm fond of the actor who's in the role and look forward to seeing more of that storyline play out. Also liked having Oliver work with Slade. I'm excited to see where that goes, too.

Riverdale turned things up to triple digits. I'm still liking my theory about who the black hood is. Alice's past coming out and her reaction made the whole show for me. I want to see that story explored a little more. My one true hope? The snake charmer ends up being Alice's long, lost sister. How much fun would that be?

Once again, I have to catch up on Gotham. The whole cold / flu thing had me napping when it was on. LOL

The holiday movie overload is ongoing. I thoroughly enjoy the cheesy, sappy, happy fare. I've even watched a couple of them more than once.

Looking forward to more terrific TV this week. Tonight's post is from Bonus Score, a sexy short that's been a lot of fun to brainstorm.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Zeva and Bo meet through a gaming community and hit it off. They start spending time together and a series of wagers over who the better gamer is takes an interesting turn when sexy distractions become part of the strategy. When they decide to settle up once and for all, a bonus score leads to an unexpected win and the crown is claimed.

And a snippety peek…

"Java Jump. Wednesday. Four p.m.?"

Bo Schneider tamped down the kick of excitement when he read the response. He quickly fired back with an affirmative reply. Wednesday at four couldn't get here soon enough.

He shook his head. "Whoa… slow down, Bo." Wouldn't do to get too caught up in the moment.

Then again, he'd had zero luck finding someone who got the gaming aspect of his life. He hoped Zeva turned out to be more in tune than the last five gamer girls he'd gone out with. Those women defined hardcore way differently than he did.

He lifted a shoulder. "Zeva seems different." For one thing… she didn't chat during a campaign, which drove Bo crazy.

If you're playing a MMORP and teammates are counting on you, don't be typing in the text screen asking if anyone else is hungry.

Zeva also liked the single player experience as much as Bo did. Massive multiple online role-play gaming gave him a way to connect with large groups of people from all over the world. And the anonymous aspect helped him grapple with his shyness.

His lips curved. "Enough that I can actually make dates and keep them now."

Hadn't always been the case. He suffered through elementary school and junior high, until he joined a gaming club his freshman year. Having a group of kids who got him boosted his confidence and their encouragement helped him crawl out from under his shell. First by engaging with others online then by meshing the boy behind the keyboard with the man who needed to interact with other humans if he ever wanted to get somewhere in life.

He'd definitely carved a niche. As the head of marketing for a game developer. Immersing himself into a virtual world never failed to spark creative ideas.

"And getting paid to play video games doesn't suck."

He grabbed his keyboard and loaded up an old favorite.

So far, the vibe between Zeva and Bo is a lot of fun. I'm hoping the story comes together the way I keep seeing it play out in my head.

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

Sunday Snippet: Laundry Night

Whew. Even though the television pickings are fairly slim for the next week or so, still some great stuff to watch.

Orphan Black, once again, didn't disappoint. One of the things I love about this season is how nuanced the layers are. Every time something is resolved, a new snag reveals itself. The enemy of yesterday is the ally of today. Terrific writing and stellar acting make the entire show shine.

Wynonna Earp still makes me happy. I'm intrigued by the little seeds dropped here and there and look forward to more of the origin backstory.

The Last Ship starts next week and I can't wait to see where things go. I'm kind of holding out hope some underhanded tactics are being used regarding Rachel, but I won't hold my breath. This show loves to kill off my favorite characters. LOL

I'm sadly not overly excited about some of the other newer shows. Preacher didn't really grab me with the trailers and I never got into Fear the Walking Dead. I do look forward to the return of Killjoys and Dark Matter, which should provide some good fodder for my blog posts.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Laundry Night, a sexy short built around a writer's group prompt of: choking, apartment laundry room, mismatched socks. I could not resist the challenge of this one. LOL

Here's the mini-blurb:

Dixie Stores has a thing for her hot neighbor Neece Bovary, but he's heard all the rumors about her series of bad—and sometimes loud—breakups. Determined to win him over, Dixie breaks a cardinal rule and folds his laundry, mismatching the socks to get his attention, but gains the wrong kind when the innocent prank goes awry.

And a snippety peek…

Dixie couldn't breathe. Her eyes watered and her lungs burned. She stumbled out from behind the soda machine, waving her hands frantically. Stupid potato chips. She should've known better than to eat junk food.

Neece quickly strode to her side. "Dixie? Are you okay?"

She jerked her head back and forth, lifting her hands to her throat. The need for oxygen made everything go fuzzy and gray. Neece whipped her around and pressed his hands against her diaphragm, dislodging the food clogging her windpipe. Dixie gagged, but dragged blessed air into her lungs, coughing and sputtering with tears streaming down her face.

Neece pressed a tissue into her hands and she wiped her eyes then quickly blew her nose. Her throat raw and scratchy, she coughed one last time, finally clearing the last of the offensive food. Neece put some change into the vending machine and selected water.

When the bottle dropped, he retrieved it, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her. "Here, take a drink, but go slowly."

She complied and sipped, the blissfully cool liquid soothing her sore throat. She swallowed, relieved to find the scratchy feeling gone.

She lifted her gaze. "Thank you." The close call left her a little shaky and she braced her shoulders against the wall. "I'm never eating potato chips again."

Neece crossed his arms over his chest. "I take it you're the one who decided to play laundry fairy?"

Dixie lowered her gaze. "Seemed like a fun idea at the time."

Neece rolled his eyes. "Let this be a lesson learned. Never fuck with someone else's clothes."

Dixie slapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, I almost choked to death for you. I think that earns me some slack here." She started sorting his socks again, matching them correctly this time. "Or maybe dinner." Why not go for broke?

Neece barked out a laugh. "Yeah, right. How does you messing with my laundry and me saving your life equate to me buying you dinner?" He started putting the matched pairs in the basket.

His hand brushed hers and Dixie glanced upward. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and she chuckled. The man seriously did crazy things to her libido.

She tilted her head to one side. "You know… you're right. How about I buy you dinner?" One finger trailed along his forearm. "We could make dessert optional." She made the double meaning clear by straightening her head and holding his gaze.

Neece leaned in close, his breath fanning against her ear. "Now we're talking." He caught her hand in his. "And dessert is my favorite part of the meal."

Dixie got what she wanted, but definitely not the way she expected. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Bonus Score

So… I have the final two episodes of Strike Back waiting to be watched and I'm putting it off. Because I want to savor the last two hours before it's over for good. LOL

Teen Wolf… eh, this past week felt like a bunch of set-up, which is okay, but I'm kind of wanting the new guy to be found out and I really want to know what the hell is going on with Stiles. Here's hoping Monday's episode sheds some light.

The Last Ship continues to keep me glued to the screen. I love everything about this show, the actors, the pacing, the storyline, and most definitely the characters. So much awesome rolled into forty-five minutes. Just saying.

Friday night lineup is still kicking major good vibes. Defiance and Killjoys each turned in superb viewing. Repercussions abounded and I pretty much loved both episodes. Dark Matter also dropped some interesting info bombs, which did indeed tie back to the clues in previous episodes. Really liking the dynamic and the way it changes when new stuff is revealed about the characters.

Tonight's post is from Bonus Score, a sexy short where my characters get their game on.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Zeva and Bo meet through a gaming community and hit it off. They start spending time together and a series of wagers over who the better gamer is takes an interesting turn when sexy distractions become part of the strategy. When they decide to settle up once and for all, a bonus score leads to an unexpected win and the crown is claimed.

And a snippety peek…

Zeva Bloom's finger hovered over the send button. "Jen, am I crazy to meet up with this guy?" She glanced up from the monitor, digit still poised to make the connection.

Jenny Blake shook her head. "As long as you tell me where and when then stay in touch, no, you're not crazy." She waited a beat. "Okay, you're totally bat shit, but for completely different reasons." Her laughter spilled out, long and loud.

Zeva eyed her best friend but sent the private message. "You're not amusing. And I just replied, so cross your fingers for me." She closed the tabbed window and logged back on to her gaming comm.

Jenny's eyebrows rose. "You're not going to wait for a reply?" She joined into the game, coming to Zeva aid, wiping out a ton of rebel soldiers.

Zeva shrugged. "Nah. I might really want to meet this guy, but I can't seem to eager, right?" Her fingers flew over the keys, moving her avatar steadily along to get to the egress point for the next level.

Jenny nodded. "Yeah, I suppose you don't want be all in like you were with douche canoe Dane." She blasted a long line of cannons, clearing a spot for Zeva to slip through.

Zeva bit back a smile. Jenny nicknamed Dane Studtgardt douche canoe when he'd led Zeva to what amounted to a flash mob in his honor. And the ass hat hadn't had the courtesy to show up in person to see the fifty females gathered to meet him, all thinking they had a date. Instead, he'd had a buddy of his show a recorded message on the big screen televisions in the bar, claiming a total win for pulling off the amazing stunt. At the time, Zeva wanted to crawl to the nearest dark corner and lick her wounds, but now she could almost laugh about the experience. Okay, maybe not laugh, but the smile part she had totally down.

Thanks to Jenny.

Her friend snapped her fingers. "Yo, Zeev. Get with the program. Hit the next level already."

Zeva blinked and got back into the game. "Yeah, right. Getting with the program." She wouldn't score much this round, but she really just wanted to relax and blow stuff up.

The foray back into possibly meeting another gamer, someone who had the same interests and lived to play, proved highly distracting. But BoSS89, also known as Bo Schneider, could wait an hour—if he'd even responded to her reply yet. On screen, he seemed perfect, but Zeva had the same experience with douche canoe Dane. No… actually, she hadn't. Bo used a biting wit and snappy snarkasm Zeva loved. Dane had pretty words and practiced prose, something Zeva wouldn't fall for again anytime soon.

Her phone pinged. She'd forgotten to turn off notifications. A response, maybe? Her gaze slid sideways, trying to read the screen.

Jenny sighed. "Dammit, Zeva, just check it already. We're pretty much playing for fun tonight anyway."

Zeva grabbed the device and swiped her finger over the message app. Bo's avatar popped up on the screen.

Jenny glanced up. "You'd better read it out loud. I wanna know what's going on." She stopped playing and waited.

Zeva's lips quirked. "I quote, 'Coffee sounds great. Are you close to the Java Jump? I have Tuesday and Wednesday off this week. Either day works for me, but sometime after noon.'."

Jenny laughed. "A man after your own heart. I'll bet he doesn't get up before eleven. Just like you."

Zeva grinned. "I'm going to reply. Wednesday okay with you?" She started tapping out the message. "You don't go in until after six, right? In case anything goes sideways."

Jenny nodded. "Yep, I'm working the late shift that day. I'll be around."

Zeva hit send and tried to fight the wave of excitement surging through her veins. Douche canoe Dane taught her to be a little more cautious. Screw it. She had a date and a good feeling.

She'd roll with it for now.

So far, this one chugging along. The sages are a little stingy with the flow, but when they get on track, it's fun to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: All Bets Off

How did half the year slip by already? Seriously, I think I'm still stuck back in January. LOL

Then again, I know it's summer when Strike Back returns! It's not on in the US yet, but I'll be happy to do a rewatch when it hits Cinemax. I'm totally bracing to not have a full team by the end of the ten episode run. Something tells me Stonebridge and Scott have been way too lucky to date. Just saying.

Orphan Black continues to bring it's A game. I love, love, love the dynamic of putting Helena with Allison. I will say I'm not at all surprised Rachel pulled a magic rabbit out of her ass. I'm actually a little thrilled I can still hate her. I totally want to see her and Rudy in a room together and honestly don't care if neither comes out. LOL

Bitten had its US finale on Friday and I knew what would happen but the losses still smacked me in the gut. Season three can't get here fast enough for me.

On the Teen Wolf front, I'm about halfway through season four and I'm slowing down a little so I don't have so long to wait for new episodes. Although, I guess I could totally do a complete rewatch from start to finish if I get through the last handful of episodes too quickly. :D

That's it for TV this week. Tonight's post is from All Bets Off, a sexy short where my main characters are close to realizing their attraction and acting on it.

Here's the tagline:

Kellen Bairds and Pierce Abbotson make friendly wagers on a regular basis until Kellen won't admit Pierce won their latest round. When he calls her on the lie, she gets angry because no amount of money on earth will make her reveal how kinky her dreams are. Or her feelings for him.

And a snippety peek…

Kellen always looked forward to the after closing wind-down with her coworkers on Sundays. From three AM to whenever they all got too tired or too drunk to continue the crew would do something fun to bust up the grind of working all week. Since the bar remained closed until the evening on Monday, no one would have to be available for the opening shift.

She wondered what mischief they'd get into this morning. Sometimes they played shots and darts, or flipped quarters, maybe truth or dare. None of those really interested her so she hoped for one shot, one question or high card picks. The last time they did the high card draw, she hit a streak and didn't drink a single glass, but she got each of her six coworkers completely drunk.

Winnie burst through the café doors, exiting the kitchen. "Kells, what's your fancy tonight?" She shuffled stools out of the way and dragged two tables together.

Kellen cocked her head to one side. "I don't know. Was thinking one shot, one question or maybe high card picks." She helped Winnie replace the chairs around the tables.

Pierce entered the bar area. "No way are we doing high card tonight. The last time we played Kellen had to walk us all home." He snagged several bottles of alcohol and carried them to the table.

Mark snorted. "Good thing we all live within five blocks of the place." He made two stacks of shot glasses and brought them over.

Roma and Kinley came in through the front door, Roma locking up and turning off the neon signs in the front window.

Kinley handed the inventory clipboard to Mark. "Storage is all locked up and the inventory listed. We're going to need paper products in the near future." She planted her butt on a stool. "What's the plan?"

Roma settled beside Kinley. "Yeah, who's choosing tonight?" She grabbed the shot glasses and slid one in front of each person.

Kellen laughed. "Apparently I'm not allowed to choose high card picks, so we'll go with one shot, one question." She poured tequila in each glass. "Who wants to go first?"

Kellen's lucky streak ends and she can't escape facing what she feels for Pierce, but she'll most definitely try. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Merry and Bright

Greetings!

Whew! I'm relieved to say my favorite characters are still intact on Strike Back and Sons of Anarchy. And I got to see more of Stonebridge than I have in a while. :D

Arrow returns Wednesday and I'm dying to have it back on my TV. The behind the scene teases and brief clips are only serving to whet my appetite. Come on, Wednesday!!

Enough about television. It's time to share some good news!! I submitted a novella, Merry and Bright, for Silver Publishing's special call for Holiday Wishes and received the contract tonight! Tonight's post features another snippet from the now upcoming release!

Here's the tagline:

After losing her parents, Presley wishes new holiday traditions were easier to establish. Instead of being alone, she ends up in bed with Gunnar and Frazier. The cop and the firefighter heat things up and cool them down. Presley can't think of a better way to be merry and bright.

And another snippety peek…

Presley Griffith exited the treatment area and made her way to the staff lounge. Her shift had ended over an hour ago, but when the paramedics brought in an abuse victim fifteen minutes before her scheduled leave time, she stayed to help out.

She loved a good trauma, but she often wondered what drove people to commit violent acts against each other—especially close to the holidays when good cheer and glad tidings were supposed to be abundant.

"Right. Not so much." At least she'd left the patient in the very capable presence of Detective Gunnar Stewart.

She pushed the door to the lounge open, grabbed a large mug of coffee, and plopped down beside Frazier Boyle, the lead medic from two house. His good looks fooled some of the nurses, but he had a keen mind and cared about his work. He also flirted shamelessly and had loads of charm, just a few reasons why Presley enjoyed his company so much.

He glanced up from his report. "Tough one. That kid is barely legal and her pimp kicked the shit out of her for calling home."

Presley grimaced. "I hate seeing the stupidity of the human race sometimes. At least I left her in good hands." She paused. "I didn't think Gunnar had duty tonight."

Frazier winced. "He didn't. I called him. He pulled a similar case last week."

Presley nodded. "Ah. Gotcha." She tilted her head from side to side. "Man, it's been a long day."

Frazier scooted his chair back and patted his lap. "Come on, gimme your feet."

Too tired to argue, she slid her clogs off and propped her legs against Frazier's thighs. It felt so good to stretch out a little.

Frazier grabbed both of her feet in his hands and squeezed. Presley bit back a moan—the man had great hands, and her twelve hours plus had taken a toll.

Shit. Twelve hours.

She straightened. "Look, I've been here since seven am, my feet probably—"

His thumbs dug into the balls of her feet.

Her head lolled back. "Oh, my God, that feels sooooo good."

Frazier grinned. "I have magic in my fingers, Pres. You should experience everything they can do."

Presley chuckled. "So you keep saying." She sort of had no doubt he could make her sing with satisfaction… if she'd let him.

Frazier focused on her right sole, kneading and massaging between her toes. Even through her socks, the warm touch of his hands soothed her aching muscles.

Frazier snorted. "And you keep turning me down."

Presley didn't answer, lost in the exquisite play of his ministrations. She didn't exactly turn him down, but she chose not to take the bait. Frazier, with the full, sensual curve to his lips, hit her hot spots. But his best friend, Gunnar—cool, aloof, but intensely sexy—also got her blood thrumming and her heart pounding. She truly liked both and didn't want to choose… not yet. But it didn't stop their friendly rivalry.

Frazier switched to her other foot and pressed his fingers along her arch. A relaxed languidness settled in her limbs. She could almost die happy.

She groaned. "God, yes. That's perfect. Right there." She flexed her toes and shuddered.

"If I didn't know better, I'd swear there's hot sex going on in here."

Presley jerked her feet from Frazier's grasp and angled around. "Gunnar, how's my patient?"

Gunnar sat in the empty chair at the table and gave a quick rundown. "She's scared and hurting." He picked up Presley's forgotten mug of coffee and took a large gulp. "And she's not talking much yet. But she will. I've got good vibes about this one." He glanced toward Frazier. "Thanks for calling me."

Frazier nodded. "No problem. Not exactly SOP, but I figured you'd be interested. What are best friends for?"

Gunnar drained the mug and got up for more. "She liked you a lot, Pres. Commented how you made her feel safe."

Presley smiled. "I'm glad I put her at ease. She fought the doctors when they tried to restrain her to get x-rays because she wouldn't settle down."

Gunnar eased back down in the seat. "That's because her pimp set up for a bondage session. She's still pretty green"—he added a tub of creamer to the java—"she balked and ran, called home, and barely hung up before the bastard caught up to her."

Presley sighed. "She could've potentially been home for the holidays. Now she'll be here—safe, but alone."

Gunnar nodded, a hard edge to his gaze. Presley had no doubt when he got a hold of the pimp the guy would remember Gunnar for a long time. Frazier finished writing his report and closed the file. Presley tried really hard not to get caught staring at either man. She had a case of the holiday blues and didn't want to drag either guy into it.

And that's where I'll leave it for now. Needless to say, Presley's holiday starts looking up in a very big way. :D

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Down in Mexico (South of the Border, Book One)

September 29, 2013

Hello!

All right, people, I have dire thinky thoughts about two of my favorite shows, Strike Back and Sons of Anarchy, which I won't share here, but suffice to say, it's not looking good for a few characters. EEK!

Thank goodness, Arrow returns in two weeks and I can get my superhero fix again soon. Whew.

Tonight's post is from an already released manuscript, Down in Mexico, and features two of my very favorite characters in the South of the Border series—Kiernan and Lars.

Here's the tagline:

Kiernan Darby spends five long years playing dead, living life in limbo, but it lets Lars Rademacher do his job and eliminate members of a lethal crime syndicate. Lars tracks Kiernan down in Mexico and their reunion is sweet… until Lars reveals a pesky detail he forgot to mention.

And a snippety peek…

Five long, damn years and it all rushed back, the way she felt about him. Kiernan shoved his shirt off his shoulders then yanked her tank top over her head. Started on his shorts while he peeled hers down. Their eyes met and he hauled her to him, mouth crushing hers in a bruising kiss. He lifted her, walked the ten steps across the patio to back her up against the weathered wood exterior of the house, never once breaking the kiss.

Less than three feet from the open door, they didn't even make it inside the home. Kiernan wrapped her legs around his waist and welcomed his smooth thrust of entry. Lips, teeth, hands, everywhere at once, kicked up the heat. She didn't last long. Pent up need and desire had her breaking after a few strokes, breathing hard against his shoulder, shattering in his arms, gasping his name.

Lars followed right behind, cupping her ass, pumping his hips two more times before coming hard, her name a burst of harsh air against her ear.

When he caught his breath, he murmured. "I love you, Kier."

Words she so badly wanted to hear. Kiernan went from the mind-bending, exquisite high of sex to gut-wrenching sobs. For all the lost time, the loneliness, the fear and the limbo-like existence she'd been living. She lost it, completely, but Lars didn't let go.

Instead he carried her into the house, figured out the way to her room, settled them on the bed and held her. His arms a safe haven, Kiernan let it all pour out. His hands smoothed over her hair, stroking gently, lulling her into relaxation.

She had no idea how long they sat there, Lars whispering words that further soothed her tired soul. The sun, no longer high in the sky, cast shadows in the room when she finally exhausted her supply of tears.

She sniffled and kissed his chest. "I love you too, by the way." She looked up and gave him a lopsided grin. "Not that you'd know from the waterworks display."

His arms tightened around her, his answering smile sad, but very sexy. "You earned every one of those tears." He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. "But it's really over, Kier. We finally have a chance."

Kiernan nodded, jerkily, almost afraid to believe it. After all, she still had trouble believing the events that led to her playing dead. But everything would prove true.

She'd been such an idiot. Young and desperate, she took on a job without asking questions. Snuggling against Lars, she finally went back to where it began.

Ahhh. Reunions are so much fun to write. :D :D

Click to Buy

That's it for this week. Happy Reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Baring Skin

Greetings!

Okay, I have to take a break from mentioning what's going on during my favorite shows to completely toot my horn over making apple butter for the first time and having it turn out totally awesome! Seriously, if it passes the man and kids test, it's pretty much a 'write it down for posterity' kind of deal. LOL

Tonight's post is from Baring Skin and my main characters keep revealing parts of themselves, which builds a lot of tension between them. It's actually been a lot of fun to write. :D

Here's the tagline:

Rachel Maddox and Jack Luthor work together and avoid acting on their attraction, until they catch each other in compromising positions. But when they do finally hook up they have to decide if they can maintain their professionalism on the job or start looking for a place to transfer.

And a snippety peek…

"Why don't medics get combat pay?" Rachel dragged the restraints around the thrashing woman on the cot.

Jack snorted. "Where's the fun in that? The adrenaline rush is supposed to be the fringe benefit here, Rach." He strapped the lady's legs down and stepped back.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Right. How could I forget?" When she turned to get up in the back of the ambulance, the woman reached out and grasped Rachel's sleeve in a strong grip, her eyes wild with fear.

Rachel placed her hand over the woman's. "We're going to get you loaded up, now. Hold on."

The woman shook her head. "No, no. Don't wanna go nowhere. Let me go."

Jack stepped in and tried to loosen their patient's grip, but she only got more insistent, tugging so hard on Rachel's sleeve, it ripped at the seam. Jack secured the woman's wrists.

Rachel used a brisk, but firm tone. "Ma'am, you have to calm down. We're taking you to Mercy Med Center." Climbing up in the back of the rig, she ignored the hanging fabric until she finished helping Jack get the cot loaded.

She and Jack ignored the loud protests coming from their patient. They'd treated her self-inflicted wounds, but couldn't do more than splint the broken ankle.

Once they started for the hospital, Rachel grabbed her shears and handed them to Jack. "Cut the rest off. It'll drive me nuts and get in the way." She lifted her arm so he'd have better access.

He sliced what little remained away and slid the sleeve down her arm. "Rough day and it's our first call."

Rachel snorted. "My gut says it's gonna be one of those up and down roller coaster shifts." She shot him a sideways glance. "Be ready for anything."

Jack adjusted the drip on their patient's IV. "Always am."

Rachel had the distinct impression Jack would be proven wrong before the twenty-four work day ended.

And things pretty much escalate from this moment. LOL Jack thinks he's ready for any and all things, but Rachel will prove him wrong.

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ugly Drunk

September 15, 2013

Howdy,

Remember when I said I was ready to start marking the death toll on Sons of Anarchy? Totally didn't know it would include so many. Will have to wait until next week's post to note the number, if that's even possible. I admire Kurt Sutter's willingness to make a bold choice and stand by it. He always claims his show doesn't flinch from showing the ugly side of things and honestly, I'm thrilled to see what happens when something the club is involved in bites them on the ass. Hopefully I've made my thoughts clear without giving away too many details. J

Strike Back is almost halfway through its run and my head sorta spins with everything going on. It's one of the things I love about watching. Stonebridge better catch a break soon and he needs to figure out what the hell he got into when he slashed his arm open. Something tells me that seemingly small injury will end up being the key to everything about whatever attack is being planned.

GAH! My shows are eating up too much of my brain. LOL

Moving on…

Tonight's post is from Ugly Drunk, a short story where Pippa and Wood have to figure their roles out and how to mix business with pleasure. :D Another of my favorite tropes.

Here's the tagline:

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

And a snippety peek…

Pippa entered the darkened bar after cleaning the kitchen. She grabbed her coat and draped it over her shoulders, ready to exit and head home. The scrape and thud of a chair's legs hitting the floor had her turning towards the sound. Shit. Wood. Alone. Drinking whiskey? Vodka? Didn't matter what he imbibed, the damage would be done. Her shoulders slumped and she shook her jacket off, hanging it back up on the hook by the door then made her way to the lonely table illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the window.

Wood faced away from her and she laid a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. "Wood, it's past closing. Kitchen's scoured and scrubbed. You need anything else?"

He huffed out a harsh breath. "Of course. How could I forget? The great Pippa Rice does it all and does it right." He poured another tumbler of vodka. "The one who makes no mistakes and gets the gold star." He glanced around. "Don't have one ready to give out, so you'll just have to leave empty-handed."

His words slurred a little and Pippa wondered how long he'd been sitting out in the bar while she finished up for the night. Judging by the almost empty bottle, he'd been there since last call.

She sighed. "You're ugly drunk, Wood. We should probably get you upstairs and into your bed." She grasped his arm, hoping to help him up and keep him steady.

Wood snorted. "Now she wants to drag me into the sack." He jerked away. "You know what, Pippa. I don't think so. I'm gonna sit right here and go from ugly to stupid drunk." He picked the tumbler up and drained half the contents. "Go. Away."

She couldn't leave him. The shit day combined with bad news about his brother. Yeah, not a good mix. She walked around the table and plopped down across from him. "I don't think so, Wood. If habit holds true, you'll hit stupid drunk and then trash the place. You can't really afford to replace everything."

He directed a scathing glance her way. "Nah, I'm not gonna trash the place. But after stupid comes mean and not even you can withstand the shit I'll throw your way."

Pippa tilted her head to the side. "Is that a challenge, Wood? Try me."

He laughed—empty and humorless. "Pippa, do not say something like 'try me' to a man who wants you as badly as I do. And never, ever think of me as a challenge. I'm not yours to fix, you made that very clear." He drained his glass. "Do us both a favor and get out. Now. Before I take your presence as an invitation."

Pippa leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not leaving. Say what you will." She dropped her hands and leaned forward. "Do what you will, but I'm staying."

Wood studied her for a moment then nodded slowly. "You're not a stupid woman, Pip. None of my trouble is gonna disappear because you offer a warm cunt to ease my hurt."

Pippa flinched, the crude reference stinging, but held her ground. "And you're a smart guy, Wood. You should know by now that being an asshat and a ginormous dickhead isn't going to send me running."

Wood moved fast, scooting his chair back and rising. "Fine." He nodded towards the steps. "Let's go." He swayed slightly but remained upright.

Finally. Progress. Pippa got up and eased around the table, wrapping an arm around his waist. She planned to haul his ass upstairs, dump him onto his bed, and head home. She got him up the steps and opened his door, dragging him in behind her. She glanced around, looking for his room and after finding it, started to lead him in the right direction. Wood stopped and kicked the door shut with his booted heel then grasped her hips, hauling her close. His head lowered and his lips meshed with hers, his tongue sliding over her bottom lip, thoroughly exploring her mouth. Her hands skimmed over his arms to wrap around his neck and she lost the ability to think coherent thoughts—after realizing her plan had gone straight to hell.

And she didn't care one damned bit.

Pippa will definitely care later, but even she has to throw caution to the wind sometimes. J

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin