Had a busy week with
a new work project landing in my inbox. It's a holiday novel and I'm so excited
because I love editing holiday stories! I'm also working on a proofread, which
is a nice complement to a copy edit.
Had a slow week of
viewing due to another loss of a relative. 2023 has been a rough year for the
older generation in my family. I hope the final months are loss free.
I did watch the
premiere episode of Cannes Confidential and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's
got intrigue and charm and the cast is stellar. Looking forward to the next
episode.
Also caught another
episode of the Madame Blanc Mysteries. I'm slightly disappointed in the
angst factor between the main characters but I'll roll through and see what
happens. Very excited Gloria has a new guy even if he's competition for Dom.
Watched an episode
of Peak Practice and found it kind of interesting. I liked getting some
additional screen time for the deaf characters introduced earlier. Also kind of
liked Andrew figuring out what he doesn't want.
Started a new
two-part Silent Witness and, wow, this one had some twists and a
heartbreaking scene that I almost couldn't watch. Kind of looking forward to
seeing where it goes.
Caught another Death
in Paradise. Enjoyed the guys trying to avoid bringing Richard in on the
case while he was down with a tropical fever but loved that they ended up doing
it anyway.
That's it for the
life update this week. Tonight's post is from Level Need, a novella in
the VC Security Solutions series.
Here's the mini-blurb:
Dita Burgess and Newton Malley work for a private
security company and end up giving into a long-burning attraction and spending
the night together. But when Dita gets a call to bring an asset in—one she made
a promise to and cares deeply for—the happy beginning she has with Newton is in
jeopardy.
And a snippety peek…
Dita Burgess rolled to her side and
cupped her lover's face. "I've been called back. Are you sure you won't
leave with me?" She had less than an hour to get out of the vicinity
before law enforcement arrived.
Sean Rigby shook his head.
"Can't. If I bail now, I'm a dead man." His hand brushed over the curve
of her hip. "'Sides, more important for me to stick around and do some
clean up. Maybe get this club into legitimate operations." He palmed her
ass.
Dita waffled on taking the time to
get one last steamy sex session in or extract herself now. She'd been living in
Sean's pocket almost from the moment she crossed the threshold of the Blow
Torch's bar almost a year ago. From that moment, they'd been inseparable, and
he'd given her the access she needed to get the goods on the trafficking the
motorcycle club did on the side.
She nuzzled his throat. "I
wish you didn't have to stick around. The blowback on this is going to stick to
all of you." The bar doubled as the motorcycle club's base of operations.
Sean shrugged. "Better I do.
I'm not involved in the illegal shit like my uncle. Me and Pop stay on the up
and up, running the welding business." He frowned. "The only reason
we're members of the MC is because Uncle Jack insisted." His hands caught
her face and tilted her chin up. "You're the only person who's ever looked
past the surface to see what lies underneath." His lips meshed with hers.
"I love you for that."
Her eyes welled, but she didn't let
the tears fall. "You made it easy. And I promise if you're ever ready to
bail on this life, I'll help you start a new one." She met his skeptical gaze.
"I mean it, Rig. One call and I'll arrange a meet with a new identity and
enough cash to start over wherever you want." She could do no less for
him.
Sean grunted. "And you'll
what? Leave everything behind and go with me?" His lips twisted in a wry
smirk.
Dita laced her fingers with his.
"Not much holding me here. I'd be happy to walk off into the sunset with
you." And she would … because he'd given her something she hadn't had
since the age of ten.
A place to call home.
She'd lucked into her job with VC
Security Solutions after meeting the owner's daughter while doing community
service. Dita didn't have any solid connections with the firm yet. She only had
weekly check-ins by phone and monthly in-person meetings when possible. And, okay,
she'd broken the number one rule of her training. Do not get personally
involved with the informants.
Her timing might suck, but when did
it not? Her entire life had been a series of misfortunes, almost theres, and
too close to call situations. Sean liked how she'd seen past the surface to the
real man underneath. Well … she loved him for giving her his trust and
protection—the first time anyone had freely offered both.
Sean brought her hand up to his
mouth and brushed his lips over her knuckles. "You better go or you'll get
snatched up with the rest of us." He reached down and grabbed her clothes.
Dita slid from the bed and quickly
dressed. "Promise me you'll call when you're ready to ghost on this
place." She shoved her feet into her boots and picked up her bag.
Sean's lips curved into a smile,
but it didn't reach his eyes. "Not gonna make a promise I might not keep.
But I'll try to call if I'm ever free to do so." He didn't say it might be
years … but the reality hung there between them.
Dita leaned down and caught his
mouth in a hard kiss. "If you call, I'll come to you … no matter
where." She straightened and backed toward the door, unwilling to look
away until she had to.
He lifted his chin in farewell then
grabbed his shirt and yanked it over his head then picked up his pants. No
doubt he didn't want to be cuffed and dragged out without a stitch on. When he
reached for his boots, Dita finally twisted the knob and made her way out through
the bar. Her training kicked in and she clocked the members that were present
on her way to the back door. When she cleared the alley and headed across the
street, she dug out her phone, hitting the speed dial. The call got picked up before
the first ring went all the way through.
Dita kept her gaze straight ahead
when she spoke into the device. "I'm clear. Target's on sight." She
ended the call … and her first assignment for VC Security Solutions.
I'm not quite sure
where this story is going to go, but I love the extra wrinkle of having the main
character fall for someone who isn't her endgame.
That's it for this
week. Happy reading!
Skylin
