Had a weird week.
The weather is still doing the yucky back and forth stuff, which makes me
unhappy. My sinuses go insane when the temperature rises and falls and won't
make up its mind.
Still super busy
with work projects. I think I'm slowing down productivity-wise and that's
disappointing, but I also tend to not work on three projects at the same time.
Not a bad week for
television but I didn't get a lot watched. I did finish up the Silent
Witness episode I started last week. Nikki ends up in trouble on a frequent
basis and I like that she's always willing to put herself out there to solve a
mystery.
I started a new
season of Strangest Things and should have it finished up later this
week. I kind of love digging into weird things from history and watching the
group of commenters explain what they think things are.
I also caught
another episode of Battlestar Galactica. "Water" is a terrific
episode that lays the groundwork for a lot of what follows in the rest of the
season. Frankly, the first season of Battlestar is as close to perfect as
anything I've seen. There's not a wasted episode in the batch of thirteen.
There are stronger episodes, obviously, but every installment has important information
and terrific character moments. I'm so excited to watch another episode this
week!
That's pretty much
it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from In a Moonlit Meadow,
book one of the Last Best Chance to Get Things Right trilogy.
Here's the mini-blurb:
Jersey Saint and Shaw Barnaby, private security agents
undercover as journalists, survive a terrible ordeal—being held captive by a
hostile regime—and realize they're meant to be together. It only took a full
decade of getting everything wrong to finally get things right. They don't
waste time after they're rescued—they commit to spending their future together
in a moonlit meadow.
And a snippety peek…
They both promised
forever.
And
the universe is pleased.
Not to mention the
throng of people waiting for them after their quiet handfasting. Everyone
who’d made their rescue happen and those who'd been along for the decade-long
ride to this moment. Shaw Barnaby liked to think those that hadn’t survived and
had given their lives were still present anyway.
He’d learned a lot
about faith from the woman he married.
Surrounded by a group
of well-wishers Jersey looked radiant … relaxed … happy.
Beautiful.
Her attire for their
ceremony had been casual. They each wanted something comfortable, especially
after being held captive for three months in formal wear under the worst
circumstances.
She had one of his
button-down shirts knotted around her waist, a hint of tanned skin peeked out
every time she gestured while speaking. The only thing different from earlier?
The leather sandals she’d slid her feet into when they arrived for the
festivities at his dad's house.
Watching her from
across the room, he decided he missed the bare feet she sported while saying
their vows. Shaw wondered how much longer before they could escape so he could
see those feet again.
A hand clasped his
shoulder and Shaw turned to see his father step up beside him. “She’s something
else, isn’t she?” Jersey’s laughter rang out, loud and long, making Shep
chuckle at the timing of his words.
Shaw spared his dad a
quick glance. “She is, Dad. She’s everything.” It felt good to say it … to be
able to voice the feeling he’d held in his heart for so long.
The elder Barnaby smiled.
“You’re happy. It’s about time, son.”
Shaw's eyes settled
back on his wife. “Thanks, Dad. We are … and it really is.” Ten years of
screwing everything up finally resolved.
Also about time he and
Jersey took their leave. Especially when she jammed her hands in her pockets,
dragging the low-slung jeans down a little further, exposing more skin.
Shaw had to swallow
before he could remember to breathe. The hot look she leveled at him didn’t
help.
It appeared Jersey might
be more than ready to ditch the crowd, too. If it didn’t happen soon … Shaw wouldn't
be able to walk comfortably.
His once clueless dad
unexpectedly offered the save.
Clearing his throat, he
leaned toward Shaw, his gruff voice going soft so only his son could hear. “Go.
Grab Jersey and take off. I’ll run interference … you cut out early.” He didn’t
wait for Shaw’s response, moving off to mingle with the crowd so Shaw could
make his escape.
Looking at Jersey from
across the room, Shaw gave an almost imperceptible jerk of his head. Jersey
stopped mid-sentence and ducked out of the conversation. She met up with him at
a side door, a broad grin on her face.
Stepping up close, her
hand snaked out to draw him into a kiss. Her tongue slipped past his lips
packing it with some heat. Shaw lost his ability to think. He backed Jersey up
against the door, dragging his lips down her throat, his teeth scraping along
the sensitive skin. Her hands were on his ass, tucked into the back pockets of
his jeans, pulling him forward until he could feel his hardened length pressed
up against her.
Geez, he loved her.
His mouth moved back to
hers, snagging her lips for a quick kiss before drifting along her jaw.
He wanted her.
Catching her earlobe
between his teeth, he bit down gently to feel the shudder rip through her as
his hands skimmed up her sides.
He needed her.
Deeply. Desperately.
Immediately.
He lifted his head,
squinting in the dim light while he worked to undo the buttons of the shirt she
wore. So focused on the task, he barely registered the question Jersey asked
him even while she untucked his shirt.
"We gonna do this
here?"
Here?
What's wrong with here?
Here. At the celebration
for their marriage.
Shit.
He rested his forehead
against hers, gratified her breathing sounded as heavy as his. He snagged her
lips for another kiss while he let go of her shirt giving her room to button it
up. He stepped back to grab her hand lacing their fingers together.
He matched her sheepish
grin with one of his own. “Uh … no. Not here.” Then laughed at how close they’d
come to putting on a show for everyone.
Could he help it if
being married to Jersey only made him want her more?
Pushing the door open,
he led her out into the balmy night air and headed for their truck.
The idea for this
series is a collaborative effort with my brain twin. Here's hoping we can get
the trilogy in great shape to release together.
That's it for this week.
Happy reading!
Skylin
