Sunday Snippet: Exit Stage Left

Well, I can finally breathe again. I'm truly hoping I'm done with the cold / viral ick / seasonal funk now. Yeesh.

Gotham had a great episode. I loved the end with two potential villains putting their heads together. That combo could lead to some truly good viewing.

The Flash is getting interesting. I have a sneaking suspicion about who Zoom is going to turn out to be, but I'll refrain from speculating for now. My biggest hint is in looking at his garb…

Arrow keeps getting better and better. I like seeing Oliver and Felicity having some conflict. And it's always fun to see Mama Smoak.

Not much to say about the other shows, but Agents of SHIELD is staying twisty and I like that. Unless it gets too hard to tell who is on what side. Then I'll be annoyed.

One final television note. Doctor Who. Yeah. So disappointed. I can't shake the feeling Moffat and company are trying to be too clever and they're sacrificing the emotional component to do so. "Sleep No More" came off as a jumbled mess, in my opinion. Maybe I'm too stupid to 'get' the cleverness. I don't know.

Tonight's post is from Exit Stage Left, a novella where my main characters don't want to mix business with pleasure but can't resist.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Sage Winesboro, the new production director of his local playhouse theater, doesn't always see eye to eye with his current set designer, Georgie Freed. When she proves her worth, but decides to exit stage left, he realizes he's missing out on what could be a great working and personal relationship.

And a snippety peek…

Sage Winesboro pulled into the back lot of the Triple Crown Theater, resident home of the Footlight Troupe. Excitement thrummed under his skin when he exited his vehicle and walked to the rear entrance. A new start with an established company. A new act in the production of his life—this time without internal conflict and drama. No more getting involved with anyone from the group. The fiasco of the last production at his former venue nearly drove him to the brink of madness.

You only had to give it up to Marianne one more time, you moron. Sage shuddered. By closing night, he discovered Marianne had big plans for a long and happy life together, and she didn't take his decision to end their toxic relationship with any kind of grace. Dumbass, she wouldn't have gone out of her way to sabotage the final act, if you'd only let her have your big dick. Sage stopped walking and shook his head. He hated his internal voice sometimes.

"Shut up." And no way.

Regardless of his size, which might be above average but not huge, the breakup with Marianne happened when it needed to. He couldn't let her believe they'd be moving in together after the final curtain fell on the show. One more day, stupid. Twenty-four measly hours. You could've flown to Paris, as planned, for two weeks and let her get the picture when her skinny ass remained in the US.

Sage paused outside the door. "Yeah, yeah. Too bad that's not how things played out." He opened the reinforced metal, happy to find it unlocked.

The lack of other cars had him a little concerned.

Letting his eyes adjust to the dim interior, he looked around for the building super. Instead of trying to find the guy, he waited by the exit, running through the last night of hell and the final act of horrific mayhem. Marianne's deft hand made sure everything that could go wrong did. You could have at least waited to dump her after the encore. But no, you had to do it at intermission. Okay, not his best move. But his acting skills weren't great. He brought out the best in his thespians. He'd reached the limit of his ability when Marianne cut an understudy to shreds over a missed cue. Totally not her job, and completely unnecessary, especially when everyone rolled on without missing a beat or a mark.

Yeah, he'd been pissed about the flubbed delivery, and yeah, he upheld a high standard for the entire crew. But he'd learned a long time ago that tearing into people rarely garnered good results and watching Marianne screech and rave like a lunatic cemented his certainty—about ending their relationship and how deal with simple mistakes.

What about ginormously huge ones made by you?

Sage ignored his internal voice. He'd had enough of it today.

Time to find the super. "Hello!" His voice echoed in the empty hallway.

Taking a step forward, he almost bumped into the man coming out of the stage area.

The super flipped a switch on the wall. "How do. You must be the new big shot the Triple Crown brought in to run the place." The lights flickered to life, revealing a wide smile on the man's face.

The guy couldn't be more than five-two. And with the number of keys jangling from the keeper on his belt, Sage wondered how he hadn't heard the man coming. He shook his head again.

Thrusting his palm out, Sage nodded. "Uh, yeah. Sage Winesboro." Instead of a handshake, he received a set of keys.

The man lifted a hand. "Nice to meet you. Name's Wilbur and I'm hoping we're not gonna have any problems getting along." He started toward the office.

Sage followed. "Why would you think—" He stopped talking.

No doubt his reputation for being a stickler probably preceded his arrival.

Wilbur shot a glance over his shoulder. "I keep my ear to the boards, Mr. Winesboro. I've hear aplenty." He jabbed his finger toward the lock on the wood panel. "Number three will get you inside your new domain. The list for all the others is on the desk." Wilber sidestepped, giving Sage room to move in.

He slid the key into the mechanism and turned the bolt. "Thank you, Wilbur. I won't keep you from you work, but please stop by when you have time and I'll make sure you have a season pass and reserved seats of your choice." Hoping the gesture would dispel any preconceived notions, he entered the large space he'd be calling home for the summer—maybe longer if all went well.

Wilbur ducked his head inside the room. "Well, thank you, Mr. Winesboro. The missus will sure enjoy hearing the news." He paused. "I have a feeling you're not nearly as hard to deal with as rumor suggests." He folded his arms over his chest.

Sage grinned, happy as hell he'd guessed correctly that Wilbur enjoyed theater productions. "Call me Sage, please. And do me a favor… don't let word get out about my soft touch, okay?"

Wilbur snorted out a laugh then winked. "Your secret's safe, Sage. Welcome to the Triple Crown." He pointed to the wall beside the desk. "My numbers are on the contact sheet. If you need anything, give me a buzz." Backing out of the office, Wilbur strolled down the hall, the keys jingling with each step.

Sage laughed. Not a bad start to his new position. And he figured if everyone thought he'd be a hard ass, he'd spend less time whipping them into shape for the new season.

How's that for a ginormous stroke of luck?

For once, his internal voice remained silent.

I'm having a great time writing this one. The internal voices are almost as much fun as the characters. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: The Ex Files

Tis the season to battle nasty colds. Bleh. But it's a great time to catch up on my reading while drinking hot tea. :D

Television this week… The Walking Dead had a great episode. I'm rather enjoying the way we have batshit crazy episode where people are dying or might be dying then we follow it with a different pace, but no less intense episode. Seriously, kudos to the producers because I'm still glued to my screen each week.

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow again had good showings. I'm kind of ready for the twisty dance of the new mayor of Gotham to be completed and his hand fully revealed. And the same goes for Pandora on Sleepy Hollow.

The Flash is making me happy with several little twists. Having a different Wells in the mix is actually pretty fun and I’m crossing my fingers he doesn't turn out to be evil, but we'll see. I love how snarky he is towards everyone.

Arrow is also winding up with a great arc. I love the way the past is still being woven in with the present. And I’m really intrigued with Diggle's brother and what really happened. I have a feeling Darkh isn't being totally forthcoming, because where's the fun in that? LOL

Agents of SHIELD… yeah, totally didn't see the reveal of Lash coming. I should have, but I didn't. And now things are going to get really interesting. I am sort of hoping Ward gets some additional development and doesn't become a cardboard villain.

I watched the final episode of Lost Girl and got weepy because I’m going to miss that show so much. What a great run. I'll definitely enjoy a full rewatch sometime in the future.

And that's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from The Ex Files, a novella where my main characters help each other out and end up together.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Effie Stone helps Reed Rettos avoid an ugly scene with his ex-girlfriend and halfway falls for him over coffee. When an old flame contacts Effie, she asks Reed to return the favor. Reed hesitates, not sure he wants to get tangled up in more drama, but he's very smitten with Effie and agrees to make it clear she's got a new man in her life… even if only for a night.

And a snippety peek…

Reed Rettos tensed the moment he caught sight of his ex-girlfriend, Gianne, enter the diner. He didn't need a confrontation today. Seriously. He'd spent the night responding to emergency calls, back-to-back-to-back, and only had about two hours of sleep. He loved working on the medic with his fire department, but sometimes—like now—he cursed stupid people doing stupid things that made nights like the last one long.

And left him ill-equipped to deal with his drama queen ex.

Flashing a smile, he thanked the waitress for his to go cup of coffee, left a big tip, and tried to sneak out the side entrance.

"Reed! Hold up a minute. I need to talk to you." Gianne's voice sounded like gunshot in the otherwise quiet restaurant.

He paused, trying to decide if he should just make a run for it and met the gaze of a lovely blonde, stirring a mug of coffee while she picked at the remnants of her breakfast platter. A cross between humor and commiseration lit her eyes and her lips twisted in an understanding smirk. She seemed to get the entire picture without a word needing to be said. Finally, someone who understood, even if a complete stranger.

With a shake of his head, he started for the door but the brief exchange with the unknown woman lasted long enough for Gianne to catch up and she latched on to his coat sleeve, her fingers fisting the fabric. Reed braced for whatever shit storm she wanted to unleash this morning.

She didn't disappoint. "Reed. You're not answering my calls. Just because we split up doesn't mean you can't be civil and speak to me when I need something." She swung around to stand in front of him. "It's like you're trying to avoid me. Is that what you're doing? Because you said we'd always be friends."

He'd lived to regret that promise. Offering a platitude to avoid a teary-eyed goodbye had totally blown up in his face. Gianne considered friendship one tiny step away from still being a couple.

So not his intention.

He inhaled, counted to three, and slowly exhaled. "Gianne, we're not a couple anymore. You've called me ten times in the last two days." His grip tightened on his coffee cup. "That's more than you contacted me when we were together."

Her eyes narrowed. "Did it occur to you it might have been important?"

He fought the urge to roll his eyes. "You and I don't define the word 'important' the same way." They didn't define anything the same way.

The blonde in the booth bit back a grin and her action distracted him. Gianne's mouth flattened into an angry slash and a stab of irritation throbbed behind his eyes. Two months after breaking up and Gianne hounded his every move. She needed to move on… if only to save his sanity.

Gianne squared her shoulders and opened her mouth, no doubt to blast him for being a dickhead.

The blonde stranger rose from her spot and pushed the side door open far enough to make the bell jingle. Then she saved Reed's life.

Lifting her hand in a wave, she called out. "Reed. Sorry I'm late." Making her way around Gianne, the stranger angled in close, brushing her lips over his in a lingering kiss.

Needless to say, Reed's going to be eternally grateful to the blonde stranger that doesn't stay a stranger for long.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Enforced Confinement

Wow. Only two months left in 2015. Where did my year go? LOL

TV round up… pretty great this week. I have a feeling The Walking Dead is going to blow my mind. I couldn't watch Doctor Who due to a crazy, insane, busy weekend, but I'll catch up soon.

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow were quite good. I love how Gotham is all about the rise of the villains and the focus on the new crop, but I'm really enjoying Nygma's slow burn. I'm pretty excited to see where things go there. And Sleepy Hollow's crossover with Bones ended up being pretty fun.

The Flash and Arrow are still ranking high on my 'can't miss anything' list. Both seasons are kicking serious ass and I hope it continues.

Agents of SHIELD had what I think will end up being one of my favorite episodes of the season and I'm pretty excited to see more. I don't know, even with all the various different plot threads vying for attention, I feel like this season is actually better and more cohesive than last season. This is not a bad thing.

Lost Girl is almost over. *sniffles* I'm dying to see how it ends even though I'm going to miss the show so much. And The Murdoch Mysteries had a great episode last week. I'm looking forward to more this week.

That's it for now. I'm still trying to figure out if I love The Romeo Section or not. Will keep everyone posted.

Tonight's post is from Enforced Confinement, a novella where my characters have no choice but to face their issues head on.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After a break-up, Baylee and Noah get trapped in a confined space and neither is happy about the situation. But the enforced intimacy gives them a chance to meet their issues head on in a place they can't take each other for granted.

And a snippety peek…

Noah Nelson checked the time on his phone again. After seven. Baylee should've shown over an hour ago. She often ran late, but a slice of worry cut through him. The weather sucked balls tonight and she usually called if she got stuck in traffic or had to work late.

He shoved away from the bar and strolled into the private party room, hoping he might have missed her coming in.

A hand slapped his shoulder. "Noah, where've you been?" Ben Johnson, the recipient of tonight's festivities, shook Noah's hand. "Where's Baylee?"

Great question. "No idea. She must be running late." Noah nodded toward the huge cake on the buffet table. "Awesome job. Melissa outdid herself." The replica of a blue phone box from Ben's favorite show towered over the nearly empty catering dishes. "How are you going to cut that thing?" Nearly two feet tall, Noah wanted to see his friend's attempt to cut through the confection.

Ben snorted. "I'm just hoping the cake isn't bigger on the inside than the outside." He nudged Noah's arm. "If Melissa can pull that off, she'll be rolling in the dough."

Noah cracked a smile at Ben's joke. But his gaze scanned the set of doors leading out to the bar. Still no sign of Baylee.

Melissa tapped her knife on a goblet, announcing Ben would be cutting the cake.

Ben turned to Noah. "Look, the storm blew in fast. Maybe Baylee got stuck in traffic. You know how the commuters freak out when we get heavy rain." He started for the table. "It's like the world is ending and no one remembers how to drive."

Noah's lips quirked. "You're probably right. Go cut that bad boy and see what's inside." Stepping back, he checked the bar area again.

Still no Baylee.

Heaving a sigh, Noah waited until Ben sliced through the top section of the phone box before making a quick exit. Concern battled with frustration. He swiped through his contacts and tried Baylee's work number. The answering system picked up and he ended the call. He tried her cell phone again. Straight to voicemail.

Dammit.

He might as well head home and see if she'd forgotten about the party. He doubted she had, they'd discussed the event this morning on their way out the door. Dodging as much of the rain as possible, he slid behind the wheel of his car and started the engine. The wipers swished back and forth and he tried Baylee's number one more time. Still nothing.

Pulling out of the parking lot, he headed for home, hoping like hell nothing had happened to her.

Failure to communicate is only the tip of the iceberg. Baylee and Noah have some deeper issues…

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Elective Campaign

WooHoo! Halloween is almost here! I love the fall holiday and even plan to decorate my all-year-round tree with some cool lights and creepy ribbon. I'm even planning to do a Thanksgiving themed tree if time doesn't get away from me. LOL

Television round up this week… not bad overall. I totally stayed away from discussing The Walking Dead, mainly because I didn't want to spoil anyone and I couldn't talk about the show without going into detail. I'll take a moment to say I LOVE how this season is kicking off and leave things there.

As always, I'm thrilled with how The Flash and Arrow are progressing. I thoroughly enjoy the alternate Flash and I like how Thea's time in the pit is being handled. Really interested to see how Sarah's resurrection plays out. (Hint… she'll be fine… eventually).

Agents of SHIELD continues to intrigue me. I have several theories floating around in my head about how things will play out, and I'm actually loving how many different storylines are being addressed. Keep it up!

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow are on my catch up list. Last week's schedule went off the rails so I'm watching both shows on demand.

Lost Girl and The Murdoch Mysteries are also staying excellent. And I started a new show called The Romeo Section that has me very interested. I'll keep everyone posted on how I fare with that one.

Finally, Doctor Who… eh. Seriously, I'm seeing so many people rave about the new season and I'm really not feeling it. The fandom theory that Ashildr will end up being Missy and the Doctor created the Master doesn't work for me. However, there is one way I could get behind the concept… Missy isn't a regeneration of the Master, but she decided to play the role. That might be an interesting twist.

Anyway, TV update for the week is over.

Tonight's post is from Elective Campaign, a novella where my main characters lose the battle of fighting their attraction.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mac is running for reelection and needs a logistical planner on his roster to win. Yancy has the training and background but she presents a problem… Mac is very attracted to her. They fight the pull but give in and once it's discovered, he might lose more than the election.

And a snippety peek…

Mac Davison settled back in his chair and heaved a sigh. "You're sure Steve is going to retire?" He didn't begrudge the man's decision, but the timing couldn't be worse to lose his logistics manager.

Tyler nodded. "Yeah. And he knows the move is going to leave you in a bad position for re-election." His campaign manager and best friend settled into the seat across the desk. "Stewart's got thirty years and a previous reign as mayor to work from and launch his platform."

Mac snorted. "Said stint in office left the city almost bankrupt and took two other decent guys winning to put to rights." He snagged the petition signature list from his top drawer. "The top twenty-five names will the cronies who back him financially and he'll want to repay their loyalty by making one of the logistics manager."

Steve knew the city inside and out, kept everything running smoothly and had a plan for the expansion of services.

Tyler agreed. "None with Steve's experience and know-how. I'd give it less than six months before the entire operation is a total mess." He steepled his fingers. "And less than nine for Stewart to start lining his pockets again by diverting funds to his 'special programs'."

Stewart Jackman would effectively rape the city's coffers and ignore the opportunities the revitalization of the lake quadrant could bring to their collective doorstep.

Mac slapped a hand on the desk. "Dammit. I don't want to lose the momentum we've built with the parks and rec renovation and expansion, the big homecoming weekend celebration, and the new vacation trade we've drawn from the lake quadrant project." He'd spearheaded those projects and wanted to add a few more.

Tyler shook his head. "Look, Mac. No one says you're going to lose. People do know you're the one who got things moving with the vacation trade. We're close to the lake shore, but far enough away to keep prices reasonable." His lips curved. "I don't think there was an empty B&B, cabin, or rental home the entire past two summers."

Mac nodded. "And that's not including the two hotels and three motels. Sandy Beckman told me the conference bookings are up year round at her location." He pinned Tyler with his gaze. "The Christmas festival is gaining traction, giving businesses an extra push at the end of the year."

Tyler started jotting notes on his legal pad. "See… that's something to build on with your campaign."

Mac heaved a sigh. "Except without a logistics manager, who's going to make sure we've got adequate parking available for bigger crowds? Or the budget to add extra sanitation and police presence to cover the week-long shindig? Those are necessary details."

Tyler shrugged. "Your new logistics manager? You need to put the word out now, before Steve makes it official. I can clear channels and make sure he understands you're not pushing him to leave sooner, but trying to replace the irreplaceable."

Mac grinned. "Your spin-doctoring skills are unmatched, my friend. I'm glad you're on my side." He opened up his laptop. "I'll get started on the job posting now and forward it to you to get Steve's input." With any luck, he'd have the man's help with the hiring process, too.

Tyler stood up. "Sounds the beginning of a plan." He crossed the office to the door. "Next time… you're picking up lunch before we have an impromptu meeting."

Mac frowned. "Yeah, sorry about that." He flashed a grin. "Next time, bring me better news and I won't be so distracted."

Tyler chuckled. "Deal." He left the office and whistled an off-key tune.

Mac shook his head again. He'd need a lot of luck to find someone and have them in place before the election. And maybe a touch of intervention from fate.

Mac is about to get his fondest wish… but the other shoe doesn't take long to drop.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Drowning Pull

I can't quite believe half of October is over. Yeesh, time flies in a big way. LOL

My usual television ramblings will get underway after a brief pause to let everyone know I'm still not feeling this season of Doctor Who. The reason behind the 'repeat' face, so far, is beyond lame. I'll have to watch the conclusion to see if I still feel the same way.

I finally watched the last two episodes *ever!* of Strike Back. I can safely say I'm thrilled with how Stonebridge and Scott's story ended. YAY!!! Now I'll have to start a rewatch of the entire series. LOL

Arrow and The Flash are keeping me glued to the screen. I love both shows so much. And Agents of SHIELD isn't doing too bad either. I like where things are going there.

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow are maintaining solid episodes. Looking forward to seeing where Gotham takes the Bruce in Training story. I'm also really excited to see how Gordon keeps all the plates spinning in his life. On a side note, I am a little sick of Barbara but I have a feeling her story might pay off in a big way. I'll keep watching.

Got caught up on Haven. I'm really going to miss this show when it's gone. I love the every quirky thing about it. The same goes with Lost Girl. I'm dying to see how Bo's story ends, but I'm savoring every moment I get to watch.

And that's the TV wrap up this week.

Tonight's post is from Drowning Pull, a novella where my characters need to overcome some issues.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lane Addison drowns his grief over losing his brother in alcohol, until a blonde distraction sits down beside him. Injured and off the circuit, Weslee decides to have a pity party for one until she sees someone deeper in the well than she is. A hot hook-up later, Lane thinks he's found the perfect woman in Weslee, until she mentions her fiancé.

And a snippety peek…

Lane Addison woke up slowly, his head throbbing and his vision fuzzy. The room came into focus—not his. Where the hell had he ended up last night? Thinking made his brain hurt, but he tried to back trace his steps. A vague memory of being in O'Halloran's pub started taking shape. Then a vision of Lori James formed. She wore a clinging black dress and sat across the table, sipping on something, probably a drink that ended in 'tini.

Why on earth would he have been drinking with Lori?

The reason hit him. Hard. And the pounding head and blurry vision got worse. The two sensations battled with the bone-deep ache of loss, striking him full force once more.

Liam's funeral, his life over too soon. Lane's brother wouldn't come strolling through the fire department on Lane's next shift. Killed in the line of duty when a three-alarm fire turned into a five-alarm catastrophe, the department had lost a great man. And Lane didn't want to accept he'd never see his brother again.

A warm body rolled over and snuggled up against Lane. Lori. Vague snatches of the previous day and night flashed through his mind. His divorced parents, being civil to each other for the first time in years, put aside their many differences to mourn the loss of their son. The long line of friends, family, and members of the fire service forming a long line, waiting to offer their condolences. Lane listened to so many stories about his brother from so many people. Nothing brought out the narrative genius than remembering one of the fallen. Lori, slithering into the service, gluing herself to Lane's side, held court, accepting hugs and handshakes like she belonged with the immediate family.

He had a clear picture of her dragging him from Liam's graveside and driving him to O'Halloran's. From there, events went a little fuzzy. Copious amounts of alcohol did nothing to ease the pain of Liam's death. He had no idea when they left the pub, but they'd ended up back at her place. He figured odds were on a night of sex—not that he remembered any of it—and probably expectations of a morning repeat.

His stomach rebelled at the thought.

Or maybe the alcohol gave him the queasy, nauseous feeling.

Lori yawned, stretched, and smoothed her hand down his torso to cup his flaccid dick. The urge to heave got stronger and before she could get any bright ideas of getting him hard, he flung himself out of the bed and made a dash for the bathroom. Emptying the contents of his stomach in the toilet eased the rolling in his belly, but made the headache take a vicious turn for the worse. Easing away from the commode, he leaned against the tub, keeping his eyes closed, inhaling and exhaling slowly.

Puking his guts up made him thirsty and he chanced trying to stand so he could find something to drink. Maybe if he kept his eyes closed he could still make his way to the sink. A cool hand grasped his elbow and Lane blinked to find Lori holding a glass of orange juice, a wet washcloth, and a toothbrush.

She didn't speak, but handed him the scrap of fabric first. The cold cloth felt awesome against his clammy skin. He scrubbed his face and neck, leaving the rag at his nape. He glanced in the mirror and groaned. Shit would look better than he did at the moment. He dropped the washcloth on the side of the sink.

Lori broke her silence. "I know it'll taste terrible, but toothbrush before OJ." She handed him the toothbrush. "Coffee's brewing, but you need some vitamin C and aspirin first."

While he took care of his teeth, she grabbed a bottle of tablets from the medicine cabinet. She shook out four and handed them over with the orange juice.

He didn't argue, scarfing the tablets and orange juice together. After draining the glass, he felt almost human again.

Giving her the cup, he nodded. "Thank you." Making his way through her bedroom, he looked around for his clothes.

The suit pants were by the bedroom door. He slowly bent down and picked them up. Tossing the pants over his shoulder, he spotted his shirt on the back of her couch. He snatched it up and shrugged his arms into the garment, leaving the buttons undone. His jacket lay in a heap by the main entrance. He'd grab it on his way out.

Making his way into the kitchen, he braced his hips on the counter and carefully put his pants on. The coffee finished brewing by the time he zipped and buttoned up. Out of habit, he poured two mugs, adding two sugars to one and cream to the other. Lori came in, a silky robe billowing out behind her. She grabbed the sweetened mug and took a sip. Lane drank his milky brew and tried not to think about Liam or being at his ex's place. He failed on both counts.

Lori popped some bread in her toaster. "You know, the Tinderbox is looking for product managers. You could fill out an application online." She crossed over to the fridge and grabbed butter and jelly. "Or, if you want to stay in the industry, I heard Parma Medical is always looking for sales reps who know the equipment." The toast popped up and she buttered the slices. "Of course, you'll want to take some time, I'm sure, to consider all your options." Spreading jelly on the surface, she shot a look over her shoulder.

Lane blinked, trying to follow the conversation. She sounded like a recruiter, which okay, she would. She worked as the HR director for the local hospital. But what options did he need to consider? The Tinderbox sold woodstoves, fireplaces, and everything to do with both. And yeah, his experience in the fire service would make project management a snap, but no way. Same applied to a sales position. Lane wanted to sell emergency medical equipment like he wanted to jab a fork in his eye. He didn't.

He drained his coffee mug. "I'm not interested in a new job, Lori. I like the one I have perfectly fine." Out of habit, he rinsed his cup out and put it in her dishwasher.

Lori took a bite of toast, chewed, and swallowed. "You're staying with the department? After what happened with Liam?" She put the food down, dusting off her hands. "Are you fucking insane? Of course, you're going to find another job."

Lane exhaled on a slow breath, thankful he barely remembered the sex from the night before, because the memory of why he and Lori broke up smacked him right in the face. His job. He loved being a firefighter and Lori hated it.

Lane shoved his hands in his pockets. "No, I'm not. I'm damned good at what I do and have no plans to quit." He shoved away from the counter and started doing the buttons up on his shirt. "I should go." He wouldn't get back on her crazy 'if you love me, you'll do something else' train. "Thanks for last night, Lori, but we're not together anymore. Don't forget that."

Lori's mouth thinned to a flat line. "That's how you're going to play this, Lane? Get me drunk, sleep with me, then slam out the door?" Her nostrils flared. "You're an ass."

Lane had a brief flash of memory from the previous night. Lori kept the drinks coming, not him. And she suggested they head to her place afterwards.

He tucked his shirt in his pants. "And you're still the queen of manipulating facts to suit your needs." Exiting the kitchen, he made his way to her front door.

Reaching down, he gathered up his coat, happy to find his shoes underneath. Jamming his feet inside the footwear, he yanked the door open.

Turning, he gave her one last comment. "I won't be slamming your door, but I won't be back either." He stepped out into the corridor and gently closed the carved wood behind him.

Gotta say, this one is coming together nicely. I really like the way the characters are interacting.

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Drag Out the List

Okay… getting right to the television part of my post.

The Flash and Arrow premiered!!! Both had excellent season openers. I kind of love where everything is headed and can't wait for this week's episodes. *EEP*

And I'm totally NOT freaking out over whose graveside Oliver and Barry were standing beside. Nope. I'm not. I know who I'd kind of like it to be, but I'll hold off and not speculate too much. LOL

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow had terrific episodes, too. I missed the opener for Sleepy Hollow and still need to watch, but the second ep has me intrigued already.

I also need to watch the double dose of Haven so I'm caught up on that one, too. I've started watching the final episodes of Lost Girl and Strike Back. Two shows I wish didn't have to end. *sniffles*

The conclusion to Doctor Who's two-parter didn't exactly cement the show as awesome for me, so we'll see how things continue. It's still good television so I'll still watch.

But… the best thing of the week? The Walking Dead premieres!!! So looking forward to tonight's episode!!

And that's it for TV. I thought I might do a rambly post about Arrow and The Flash, but you know, they would get a little too spoilery if I attempted to do so.

Tonight's post is from Drag Out the List, a novella where my heroine gets firsthand knowledge of my hero's mental checklist.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Velma and Kade have loads of sexual tension, but Velma keeps him at arm's length. Kade gets the why, but when she pushes him a little too far he turns the tables on her and she ends up in a compromising position—number seventeen on his list.

And a snippety peek…

Velma Arndt glanced out the front window of her beachwear shop and groaned. "Dammit. That can't be the new owner of Ice Caps."

Tall, broad-shouldered, and ripped, the guy had short, dark hair, a well-defined back, and powerful legs if the way he climbed a ladder could be considered anything to go by. Velma fanned her face and continued observing the prime specimen of man working next door to her business. He moved with fluid grace, hanging a new awning to provide shade over the main entrance. His beat-up cargo shorts hung low on his hips, but his ass filled out the rear in a pleasing way. Her eyes slid shut and a sexy image of stripping his shorts off to get a good look at the sculpted globes of flesh had another groan rumbling in her chest.

She turned away from the window. "Geez. I need to find a studly, single tourist and have my wicked way with him." Scratch the itch and carry on.

Hmmm. Maybe the sexy guy hadn't bought the ice cream parlor and only came to do the initial work to get the place ready to reopen. Man, she couldn't get that lucky, could she?

She sure as hell wanted to find out.

Making her way to the front of her shop, she propped the door open and walked outside, shielding her hand from the afternoon sun. If possible, he looked even better without the tinted glass of her windows distorting the view. Mid-thirties by her guess and his hair had streaks of golden brown, lightened by the sun. God, he hit all her hot spots. Please let him be a subcontractor for the new owner.

Velma strolled over, watching him finish with the awning. "Looks great. I love the colors." The bold stripes looked colorful against the pale yellow exterior of the store.

The man swung down from the ladder. "Thanks. Figured it would be noticeable for at least a couple of blocks." He grabbed his shirt from the back side of the ladder and shrugged it over his head.

Much to Velma's disappointment. His droolworthy abs should come with a warning sign—please don't forget a towel.

He stuck his hand out. "Kade Valdossi. I just bought the place from Jim and Dee." He flashed a warm smile.

Velma's heart sank, but she grasped his palm. "Velma Arndt. I'm next door." A zing of awareness shot up her arm. "Nice to meet you." Oh, why did he have to be so damned attractive.

Kade quirked an eyebrow. "You're the sweet, little thing the Rubens raved about?" His mouth curved again. "They didn't tell me you were gorgeous, too."

Velma cracked a smile. "Jim and Dee were great. I hope they're going to enjoy Arizona." The couple decided to try their luck in a drier climate. "Do you plan to live here year-round?"

Kade nodded. "Yep. Moved everything out from Ohio. Lived on the Lake Erie and wanted to stay close to water." He folded up the ladder and stashed it inside the entrance. "Looks like we'll be neighbors… as soon as I get my furniture moved in."

The shops on their strip of beach had residences built-in behind the stores. Most were fairly small, usually a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and small living room set up in a studio style apartment, but this block had expanded units, two or three bedrooms with a separate kitchen, bathroom, and larger living area. Each place also had a patio with privacy fences and small garages facing the alley. For owners who lived beachside year-round, the convenience proved immeasurable.

Velma glanced inside the ice cream parlor. "When do you reopen?" The season wouldn't officially start for another month, but he'd be surprised how busy the locals would keep him.

Kade motioned her to follow him into the store. "I'm thinking sometime next week. The interior only needed a few updates—Jim and Dee took great care of the place—and my first delivery arrives this weekend." He nodded toward the back of the shop. "The apartment needs a little more work, but I have new appliances coming tomorrow so at least I'll be able to cook and keep up with laundry while I'm renovating." He paused and laughed. "I'm kind of excited. I'm tired of eating out all the time—which probably sounds stupid, considering I'm in the business."

Velma chuckled. "Actually, it doesn't sound stupid. It sounds normal."

Velma liked Kade. She wouldn't use him for a booty call, but she could be a good neighbor and invite him to dinner. And no, she absolutely wouldn't be tempted to break her number one rule and get involved with him. Zing of attraction, raging lust, or not.

She met his gaze. "Since you're tired of restaurant fare, why don't you drop by tonight for dinner. I'm planning to do some chicken on the grill and I've got plenty." She'd whip up a salad and maybe add some pineapple to the menu, too.

Kade tilted his head to one side. "I'd love to. What time?" His eyes traveled over her from head to toe.

She warmed under the scrutiny, but hoped it didn't show. "Seven? I'm open until six on weekdays during the off season." She turned to head over to her shop. "Come around back. I'll be on the patio." With a smile and a wave, she ducked out of the ice cream parlor and darted back into her store.

Her heart pounded with excitement and dread. She had to be crazy to start down a path that might end up with complicated roadblocks. And yeah, they'd be her hurdles, but she had damned good reasons for not getting tangled up with relationships. But Kade had an air of decency that drew her in. And the smokin' hot looks didn't hurt either.

God, what an idiot she'd become.

Reaching for her phone, she scrolled through her contacts and hit send. Two rings later, her best friend answered. "Howie… I need a favor. Can you come over for dinner tonight?"

Howie to the rescue, but the sages tell me he's going to have a ringside seat to his best friend's struggle to remain impassive to Kade and Howie will enjoy the show. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Down the Middle

Happy October!

So, after going off on a tangent last week about my 'blah' feeling for the new season of Doctor Who, I can't say my impression has changed, but I did enjoy this week's episode better. So there's that. *grin*

Gotham is kicking some big time butt so far. I like the rather darker edge it opened with and actually can't wait to see this week's episode. I missed the Sleepy Hollow premiere, so I need to catch up on that one ASAP.

And the best news! The Flash and Arrow are back this week!! And I truly hope nothing tries to get in the way of me and my TV those two night. LOL

So… probably a long ramble about television next week. But on to tonight's post.

Down the Middle is a novella where my heroine doesn't want help, but can't refuse.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Bounty hunter Ursa Goode always gets her man… if Jake Weatherwax doesn't beat her to him. But when a target escapes and comes after her, Ursa has to take Jake up on his offer to work together and split the reward right down the middle. The need for a partner rubs her wrong, but Jake definitely doesn't.

And a snippety peek…

Breaking news. It's been reported that Llewellyn Cavil escaped custody during a transfer to his permanent facility for the mentally impaired. He's to be considered armed and dangerous and any sightings should be reported to the sheriff's department immediately.

Ursa Goode rolled out of bed and grabbed her phone. A sick feeling of dread and a hot kick of rage filled her when she scrolled through her contacts and hit send. She fought to stay in the present and not let her mind get stuck in the past. She wouldn't throw up. She would not. Would not. Would. Not.

Her handler, Rob Morse, picked up on the third ring. "Urse? I take it you heard the news?" He never minced words or made small talk.

Ursa appreciated the directness. "Yeah. I'm in. And you'd better keep the path clear. I want Cavil." She waited a beat. "And you know he's going to want me." The goddamned maniac always would.

Rob sighed. "I had a feeling you'd be wound up and half-cocked. My phone hasn't stopped ringing since he escaped—"

She cut him off. "Dammit, Rob. Why the hell didn't you call me when you found out?" Instead of letting her hear it on the news.

He didn't respond. Didn't have to. Her brain only needed a quick second to process.

She blew out a breath. "Right. Phone hasn't stopped. You've been fielding calls." A painful throb started between her eyes and she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sorry. Shit. You know my mouth works faster than my brain sometimes." Try all the time, but she always got the job done.

Sometimes in the messiest way possible and Llewellyn Cavil had been the biggest cluster fuck of her entire career. The man taught her everything she knew about bounty hunting—by holding her captive for three weeks. She managed to escape his clutches then turned the tables by bringing him in. For seven years, he'd dragged his case through the courts, convincing everyone he had a diminished mental capacity. No way in hell. The guy had a genius IQ. But did being highly intelligent stop him from being bat shit insane? Absolutely not.

Rob finally broke the silence. "Urse, I'll do what I can. Hell, I already have by calling off most of the smaller crews." He paused a moment. "But you know Gaffington is going to bring someone in. And you know who they'll call."

Fuck. Yeah, she did.

Jake Weatherwax.

Gaffington Incorporated had a lot of money invested in Llewellyn Cavil. Mainly because of a family connection. Whether Llewellyn proved to be guilty or not, protecting the corporate image by keeping as much information out of the media ranked high on their list. And Jake almost always got quick results.

Ursa growled. "I'm not letting Weatherwax take the tag on this one. Cavil's mine."

Rob huffed out a sigh. "I want you to be careful, Urse. Llewellyn feels the same way about you being his. Don't forget that."

Ursa would use Cavil's obsession against him. "I know. I'm counting on that fact." She got up, crossed to her dresser and dragged out a pair of pants, a tank top, and her weapon of choice—a four-inch blade. "If I go dark for a couple of days, don't worry. I'll check in when I can." Cutting the call before Rob could sputter and spew cautions, she tossed her phone on the dresser and ducked into the bathroom.

Twisting her hair up on top of her head, she stripped off her pajamas then went back in the bedroom, dressed quickly, got her gear—the knife and her phone—and made a quick exit from her sublet basement apartment. Walking up to street level, she took a right and strolled down the road, stopping to grab some coffee from the Java Café truck two blocks up. Glancing around, she figured she had twenty-four hours before Llewellyn made a move.

And before Jake Weatherwax could butt in and muck things up.

Ursa bites off way more than she can chew. Maybe having Jake show up won't be such a bad thing.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin