Sunday Snippet: Getting Schooled

A quick break from discussing television to talk about the crazy weather in Ohio. Okay, make that the weird weather everywhere. If you're experiencing it, let me know. LOL

Finally watched The Abominable Bride and thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the back and forth and I'll leave it there so I don't spoil anything. But I'm looking forward to seeing a new season, whenever that might be.

Excited to have my shows return but also so busy I'm struggling to keep the dates straight. LOL Nothing like having a ton work to plow through. J I did catch the winter premiere of Teen Wolf and I'm glad to have that bit of crazy to look forward to each week, especially with a familiar face returning.

Tonight's post is from Getting Schooled, a novella where my main characters end up having to work together after they've already squared off against each other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tamsin and Ike are resident leaders at neighboring summer camps. Tamsin works with upper crust girls and Ike has underprivileged boys. When a grant program director suggests bridging the gap, neither is very excited by the prospect, but once they meet, both get schooled by how well the kids get along.

And a snippety peek…

Tamsin Kane zipped up her suitcase and added it to the other one sitting beside her front door. She closed the blinds and checked to make sure she'd unplugged everything in the studio apartment she'd be away from for two months. Gathering up her keys and her purse, she took one last glance around before she opened the heavy oak and dragged her cases outside.

Locking up behind her, she huffed out a laugh. "I can't believe I'm excited to head for camp." At twenty-three, she shouldn't be so thrilled to spend most of her summer with a bunch of tween girls who had being posh down to an art form but still lacked maturity.

Tamsin hoped she earned enough this summer to replenish her bank account, especially after the expense check she'd just written. Last year, the generous tips her girls' parents provided covered the rent for Tamsin's little home and allowed her to pursue a graduate degree. And she'd had so much fun last summer while getting a different kind of education, one where a smart ass girl from the wrong side of town garnered the respect of a group of tweens and used her new connections to open doors for her future.

After loading her stuff into her car, she slid behind the wheel and started the engine. With a quick grin, she backed out of the parking space and headed for the expressway. A two hour drive would put her close to her destination. Of course, she'd pass the neighboring camp for boys and when she did, she'd try not to grit her teeth. The only black cloud over her experience last year, the lead counselor made life miserable for Tamsin when they had joint sessions, especially during prank week. Ike Kennedy might have looks any guy would kill for, but his underprivileged boys behaved better than their leader. Then again, Tamsin had been so focused on the networking opportunities she could build, she hadn't prepared for something like Ike to invade her headspace.

A slow smile twisted her lips. She wouldn't make the same mistake this summer. No way.

Ike didn't know a thing about Tamsin, but she'd happily give him the cliff notes version of how not to screw with her. She hadn't grown up, fighting to get into a position where she didn't have to struggle to get ahead for nothing.

Ike Kennedy better get ready to bring it.

Tamsin laughed and exited onto the freeway. "Hope you're ready, Ike. Because I know I am."

Ike won't be ready at all for what happens next. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Hot Water

Hello!

Happy Easter to those who celebrate.

Lovely week in TV. Arrow had a rockin' episode. I love it when Oliver doesn't get things right and makes huge mistakes. S.H.I.E.L.D also had another awesome episode. I'm really looking forward to seeing how they end this season. Also? Orphan Black returned!! I love this show SO MUCH!!

And seriously? What an opening episode. I have sooooo many theories and I can't wait to see if I'm on track or totally off the rails. LOL The writing never fails to keep me coming back for more and the acting just blows my mind. If you're not watching this, you should be. J

Tonight's post is from Hot Water, a sexy, fun story about water rations at summer camp.

Here's the tagline:

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 cut the water and grabbed the closest towel off the rack. "Shit. A damned hand towel. Way to think things through." She tossed it on the floor and strode to the small closet by the sink.

The front door opened and Demi spied Nathan entering. Fumbling for something to dry off with, she grabbed the first thing her hands landed on. Another fluffy, but small, towel. Dammit. She shook it loose and clasped the fabric close, covering as much as she could. It stuck to her wet skin, clinging to her body, barely hiding the necessary parts. Risking a glance up, she met Nate's startled gaze. He recovered quickly, lifting  a brow.

God. She had to look like a drowned rat. Her hair, plastered to her neck, dripped rivulets of water along her shoulders. Goose bumps rose on her flesh and she shivered. After a moment of stunned silence, Nathan dragged his T-shirt over his head and tossed it on the couch before striding across the small living area and into the bath. The temperature notched upward when he raked his gaze over Demi.

She shuddered again, but not from the cold. The fire banked in his eyes had her lowering the towel, inch by inch. Nate took her gesture as a cue and worked his belt loose before popping the button on his jeans.

Demi dropped the wet terrycloth to the floor at the same time the denim landed at Nathan's feet.

Two strides later, he had her wrapped in his arms. "What happened? Did the campers go over the hot water ration again?" His head lowered and his mouth hovered over hers.

She chuckled and nodded. "Yeah. Didn't think you'd mind if I borrowed your shower." She tilted her chin upward, meeting his lips.

The kiss spun out, Nathan's mouth moving over hers, teasing her with light, little nips before he slipped his tongue inside to amp up the heat. His hands skimmed along her sides coming to rest on her ass.

He eased away. "Let's use my bed to dry you off." His fingers moved lower, urging her to lift up.

Her lips curved. "We'll be doing more than getting me dry, right?" She stood on her tiptoes, then wrapped her legs around his waist when he picked her up.

Nathan hauled her close, trapping his erection between their bodies. "Most definitely."

It's a good thing Demi has a friend who owes her one and will keep an eye on the campers during dinner. ;)

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Getting Schooled

March 9, 2014

Whew. Crazy weather week of back and forth between frigid temps and snow and a lovely little warm-up that didn't last very long. LOL At least I had good television to watch.

As predicted, Arrow's episode fifteen, The Promise, proved to be seriously bad ass. I almost think they crammed too much into the hour—I would have loved to see a little more detail. I'm just not quite down with Slade being so uber-pissed at Oliver over Shado's death. Yes, I'm aware the Mirakuru IS the reason he's not particularly rational. But Ivo's manipulation seemed a little conveniently heavy-handed. Of course, Oliver's guilt doesn't help so there's that. LOL I'm also really interested to see if the rumor mill speculation about who Felicity's father is proves correct.

Bitten is still eating my brain. Seriously, the final episodes of the season should be mega-uncomfortable for the characters. And if Daniel Santos doesn't die a horrible death like he did in the books, I'm gonna lose my mind. J

Only one episode of Banshee left and I'm actively praying Rabbit gets his due. Then I'll probably have to wait for next season to see what the fallout will be from Proctor, but I can deal. Something to look forward to. J

Tonight's post is from Getting Schooled, a novella where my characters get schooled by their tween-aged campers. Fun times!

Here's the tagline:

Tamsin and Ike are resident leaders at neighboring summer camps. Tamsin works with upper crust girls and Ike has underprivileged boys. When a grant program director suggests bridging the gap, neither is very excited by the prospect, but once they meet, both get schooled in by how well the kids get along.

And a snippety peek…

Ike spun around and snarled. "Up yours."

Tamsin lifted a brow. "Really? Do you have any idea how juvenile that sounds?" Her lips twitched, but she didn't laugh.

Ike sighed. "I spend my day with twelve-year-olds. Can't help it if they rub off on me." He gathered up the folder he'd put together for the grant director.

Tamsin snorted. "I don't know any twelve-year-old who still says 'up yours'." She neatly stacked the flash drives she'd used for her presentation.

He narrowed his eyes. "Probably because you're spending a lot of time teaching them to say 'fuck you'." The insult rolled off his lips before he could stop it.

She blinked. "Wow. Harsh." She sank down onto one of the brightly painted, wooden folding chairs.

Contrite, Ike apologized. "Yeah, sorry. You seem to bring out the mean in me." A terrible excuse for being an asshole, but Tamsin's stunt with director pissed him off.

She definitely took advantage of all the privilege at her fingertips. He chose to keep things simple and opted for a dry erase board and the file. He'd donated new laptops to the camp, paid for out of his pocket, so his boys could gain some experience working with graphics and gaming programs. Her girls had more interest in the latest make-up and fashion trends than learning valuable skills and Tamsin encouraged them by staging a big end of summer soiree, complete with a runway show and 'virgin' cocktail party. What pre-teen needed to learn how to walk a catwalk and make small talk over non-alcoholic mixed drinks?

Ike has preconceived notions about Tamsin. He's going to be very surprised when Tamsin reveals where she comes from. J

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin