Sunday Snippet: Quixotic Cake Capers

So… not a bad week overall. A little slower, which I truly appreciate. I did have a sick kid, but she's on the mend now. A quick trip to pick her up from work had to happen but otherwise, she's feeling much better.

Had some decent television viewing. Mainly some repeat watches of current favorite shows and catching up on a few marathons. I did catch a few new episodes also.

Chicago Fire had a terrific episode. I have to say I'm not a fan of the boys fighting amongst themselves. New guy breaking the ice is going to be one of my favorite bits from the series.

Watched Iron Fist and things are moving along. Nice to see a little progress with Ward but I have a dreadful feeling his trust will bite him on the ass. Thrilled to finally see what the hell is up with Mary and, boy, the reveal didn't disappoint. Looking forward to the next episode.

Caught another episode of Classic Roswell. I'd forgotten about the Native American angle. Looking forward to the next episode.

Also watched an episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I don't know if this is the last season, but they seem to be tying off a lot of loose ends. If it is… it's been a wonderful twelve years.

I started casually watching Blue Bloods. It's not really a show I want to add to my roster, but marathons are on every day and I've seen pretty much of the first five seasons. I'm now paying more attention and trying to catch up on season six and onward. I do love the family angle of this show.

Started a new Canadian show, The Murders, mainly because Dylan Bruce is one of the regulars. That said, I loved the first episode. I'm looking forward to more.

With no new episode of Roswell, New Mexico this week, I started another rewatch. This show… man, I can't get enough of it right now. I might have to start a recap series on my fandom blog. Stay tuned. I'll let everyone know if it happens.

That's pretty much my week in television. Tonight's post is from Quixotic Cake Capers, a sexy short with a fun little twist.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tori Plum decides a making a cheesecake for Gray Calhoun isn't beyond her capabilities even though she's definitely not a domestic goddess. Seventeen tries later, she's ready to call in the troops or throw in the towel.

And a snippety peek…

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

"Shit!" Gray Calhoun rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom.

After swiping snooze on his alarm for the third time, he'd almost left it too long to even grab a shower before he had to leave for his conference.

Turning the water on, he ran a hand over his head. "Gonna have to make a strict rule of no sex the night before an early flight." Yeah, right. As if.

Stepping into the shower stall, he winced when the stinging spray hit his back. Tori's teeth left some marks last night.

Tori Plum. Sexual dynamo. Erotic goddess. A woman with an imagination that never quit.

And she's all mine. "How did I get so lucky?" He lathered up his washcloth and gingerly scrubbed down.

Last night, per usual, she'd blown his mind, not to mention his dick. Using a technique she'd read about, her mouth worked its magic in new and wondrous ways. Who knew a guy could come from barely there suction, lots of tongue play, and waiting until the last possible moment to grip the head of his cock with her lips to send him bucking into an incredible orgasm?

He huffed out a breath. "I do. Now." Jeez, and it didn't stop there.

Nope. She managed to get him hot and hard again in record time. Of course, giving him access to go down on her helped. He loved sliding his tongue between her slick folds to give her a gasping release. She followed up by lowering her hot core over his hard shaft and rocking her hips until she drained him dry.

And now his dick rapidly got hard again. "Argh. Can't have that." Switching the water to cold, he stayed under until his hard-on went down.

As much as he'd love a repeat of last night, he had to get to the airport. He didn't take long to dry off, get dressed, and grab the bag he'd packed the night before. Tori no longer occupied the bed and Gray made his way to the kitchen, following the smell of coffee and something not quite as pleasant.

Tori had breakfast made… or what might have resembled breakfast if a thin sheen of smoke didn't linger in the air and the smell of blackened bread didn't coat the inside of his nostrils. Holy fuck. The toast looked like it might disintegrate if he touched it.

Tori frowned. "Dammit. I'm sorry." She scooped the charred remains into the trash can and met his gaze. "Thought I'd help with breakfast since I kept you up late last night." She referred to the mind-blowing sex, which she called research.

He called it donating his time for scientific study and didn't mind one damn bit.

Tori edited and assessed erotic and romance novels, working with authors from start to finish. She also wrote amazing books on top of helping others launch theirs.

Domestic diva didn't fall under her purview and normally he couldn't care less. Today, he would've loved escaping without the acrid aroma of burnt offerings lingering in his nose. The foul scent would probably last throughout his entire flight.

Breakfast on the go, it is. "Uh, thanks. I'll figure something out on the way." With a quick glance at his phone, he considered his options.

Tori lifted a shoulder. "Yeah, probably a good idea." She poured a mug of coffee and stirred some sweetener into it.

The dejected look on her face almost had him asking for a cup, but he needed to get going. He'd grab a bagel and coffee at the airport. His stomach would definitely thank him for it.

He wrapped an arm around her. "I love you for thinking of me, but stick to the microwave." He dropped a kiss on her nose, grabbed his suitcase, and left so he didn't miss his flight.

I kind of love this scene. It needs a few little tweaks, but overall it came together better than I'd hoped.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quitters Never Cheat

Man… another week full of crazy sauce. In all honesty, I could do with a bit of slowing down and a tiny amount of smooth sailing. That said… I won't hold my breath. And it's not like anything majorly negative is going on. It's only being busier than I normally am.

Not a bad week in television. My current obsession with Roswell, New Mexico continues and I rewatched the first nine episodes. This week's episode didn't disappoint and my conspiracy theory side is having a heyday about the fourth alien. I'm such a big fan of how… messy… the relationships are. Awkward interactions abound and I'm totally here for watching all that unfold. So far, I'm also a big fan of how those touchy moments are being portrayed. I love how the core characters are letting the subtext shine and mixing it with lots of snark and offbeat comments. This show… if you're not watching it, give it a whirl. You won't be disappointed.

Caught another episode of Murdoch Mysteries and loved how the show title got worked into the book William and Julia are writing. It makes me wonder if the twelfth season might be the last. If so, I'll fondly say goodbye and look forward to rewatching from the start.

Watched the Arrow "Unmasked" episode and thoroughly enjoyed. I should be to the point where I can catch up on the crossover event with The Flash and Supergirl. I'm behind on The Flash but, sadly, I don't miss it as much as I thought I would.

Caught a great episode of Painkiller Jane. I remembered this one and enjoyed the second viewing. I actually wouldn't mind a reboot or reimagining of this concept at some point.

Started from the beginning of Peter Gunn and watched the first two episodes. I finally found another streaming source that has all of the first season episodes. This is such a great show to watch when the mood to write noir strikes me.

Watched another episode of Underbelly: Razor. Things move fast in this series and I kind of enjoyed watching Kate get served even when she did the right thing. Communication would go a long way in her world. Tillie and Nellie are probably next and I'll look forward to seeing how the cracks and chips start showing in their armor too.

Caught one of my favorite episodes of The Sarah Conner Chronicles. I truly loved how Jessie's gambit finally got revealed and the sole purpose she brought Riley back to the past came into play. And I also liked how Derek is finally edging toward knowing they're working at cross purposes. Good stuff.

Watched the final episode of Birds of Prey and I'm glad I took the time to rewatch this single season show. The last scene is more than worth watching the entire series for.

Started the sixth episode of Strike Back's sixth season. Gotta say the Mac and Wyatt interactions are terrific in this episode. Also love Coltrane's bits so far. I really want to see him rip into the DEA agent for blowing their cover. He's too smart not to know she had a big ass hand in doing that.

And that's it for this television this week. Tonight's post is from Quitters Never Cheat, a novella that started with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Robbin Rhayne, a talented sculptor, believes she has to suffer for her art. Ewan Arthur makes her almost reconsider the concept—sex has never been better with anyone—until he wants more and she won't commit. Several years later she runs into Ewan again and the spark is still there… too bad they're both in relationships with other people.

And a snippety peek…

Ewan waited five minutes after seeing Stan drag Robbin into the cabana. He didn't like the dark thundercloud look on the guy's face. He'd check to make sure she could hold her ground then take off. No need to stay since Stephie had given him the thumbs-up after meeting with her bosses.

Making his way to the cabana, he poked his head inside and saw red. "I suggest you let go of her before things get out of hand here." Stan had a hard grip on Robbin's forearm and a firm grasp on her shoulder.

Stan tossed an angry look over his shoulder. "Who the hell are you?" His fingers tightened on Robbin's arm. "This is none of your business."

Ewan whipped his phone out and hit the record button. "I'm making it my business. Mind if I record this in case the lady decides to file assault charges?" Mother fucker better let go soon or Ewan's fist would be flying.

Stan whirled around, dragging Robbin in front of him. "Butt the fuck out, asshole. The lady happens to be my girlfriend and she won't be filing any charges. Not like she'll even remember what happened." He sneered in her direction.

Ewan resisted the urge to faceplant the guy on the nearest flat surface. "Kind of my point, dickhead. Look. At. Her. Arm." Chafed and red from his grip, no doubt she'd bruise up tomorrow.

Stan glanced at Robbin's arm and let go, wheeling away from her. "Shit. Shit. I didn't mean to hurt her. She got up in my face and then started—" He broke off, probably realizing how stupid he sounded. "Doesn't matter. I didn't mean to hurt her." He flicked his gaze in Ewan's direction. "Do you really need to save that recording?"

Ewan barely kept his mouth from dropping open. "Uh, yeah. Unless she tells me to delete it, it's staying on my phone." He moved forward, putting himself between Robbin and her asshole boyfriend. "You okay?"

Her gaze glanced toward him but didn't stay. She nodded, rubbing her arm and rolling her shoulder. "I just want to go home."

Stan growled. "Well, I'm not ready to leave yet, so you're stuck, babe." He made a move toward her again.

Ewan held up a hand. "I don't think so, buddy. You can fuck off if you think she's going back out there." Seriously, she could barely stand up straight. "She can't even function right now."

Stan snorted. "Not my problem. Maybe if she didn't try to drink the entire bar in one sitting, she'd be in better shape."

Ewan bit back his anger. "You might consider why she did that." The whole group heard Stan's less than supportive stance on her work. "Can't you see how much pain she's in?" And, maybe Ewan needed to own his part in making her hurt.

Stan blinked. "From what? I barely touched her."

Ewan begged to differ. "I've got video proof that says otherwise, but I'm talking about the total lack of respect you showed her out there, man. Everyone's talking about it."

Stan glanced toward the pool area. "Fuck. That's just perfect. She brought all that on herself." He flicked a gaze in Robbin's direction. "Find your own way home. I've got damage control to do." Ducking out of the cabana, he didn't even look back.

Robbin swayed forward, her knees buckling, and Ewan caught her before she hit the ground. "Hey, let's get you out of here. I'll call a cab to get you home."

Her eyes filled with tears but she blinked them away. "Yeah, thanks." She stood and straightened her shoulders then swayed again. "I screwed everything up." Her eyes slid closed and she tilted to one side.

Ewan tucked her against his shoulder while dialing for a cab. "Come on, Robs. Let's get you home."

And just like that… he ended up smack in the middle of her world again.

I'm quite happy with how this story is unfolding. Robbin and Ewan are complicated characters and finding their way back to each other is a challenge… and fun to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

Whew. Very long week where focus became a huge hurdle. Without getting into a whole too much information thing, hormones are a total pain in the ass and not a lot of fun to deal with. Bleh.

Decent viewing week in television. Caught another episode of Endeavour and it ended up being pretty terrific. Two more episodes of season five then a wait for season six.

Next up… Roswell, New Mexico. This show has been eating my brain in a really good way. I caught up on all the back episodes and started a rewatch already. Seriously, I haven't had a show do this to me since Battlestar Galactica and Arrow. I'm going to be so disappointed if Roswell, NM doesn't get a second season.

Started an episode of Midsomer Murders and it's rather interesting to see Jones sporting a beard. The character looks so different, especially when glasses are added to the mix.

Caught another episode of The Sarah Conner Chronicles and it's one I'd forgotten about. Only six or so more episodes before the end of the line. Also caught the next to last episode of Birds of Prey. I'll finish up that series and head back to Blade on CW Seed.

Watched the fifth episode of Strike Back and loved the twist and reveal of who Kingfisher actually is. Gotta say I didn't see it coming and loved not knowing. Things will get very tricky now, or more tricky because this show doesn't do anything else. With luck, the DEA agent will meet with a satisfying end. Just saying.

Caught an episode of Chicago Fire and have to comment how nice it is to not have the squirrely deputy commissioner in my face anymore. I'll keep saying that in the hopes he'll never grace the screen again. I'm still kind of "bleh" about Stella and Kelly's breakup. A little too contrived and disappointing.

Watched a Classic Roswell episode. I'd forgotten how much of an ass Kyle is in the first season. Geez.

Also caught a couple Classic Who episodes. Getting ready to watch the Time Meddler episodes, which should be fun.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of creating a scene with dancing, a kitchen, and a belt. The implied abuse angle is definitely there.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Prosper Bates, bartender and music lover, hears Drew Langerford play and his songs haunt her. Drawn to the gorgeous musician, she falls hard for him, but when his mentor shows up, the new relationship may end before it even gets started.

And a snippety peek…

Of all the bars in the city, I walk into the one Prosper Bates works in.

Her dad taught Drew everything he knew about music. He should've recognized her right away. She had Monroe's eyes and the slight cleft in her chin matched his.

But… Monroe hadn't seen his daughter in a long, long time.

Drew nodded toward the door. "Are you leaving? Can I walk you somewhere?" He paused a moment. "Or do you maybe drive to work?" He shouldn't make assumptions.

She tilted her head to one side, a small curve to her lips. "Do you really have no place better to be at three thirty in the morning?"

He lifted a shoulder. "Not really." Did he sound as lame as he thought? "I, uh, well—" He broke off, chuckled, and started over. "I work nights so I'm up until all hours. Three thirty is about the middle of my day." God, what a dickhead thing to say.

Prosper leaned in closer to him. "I'll let you in on a little secret; it's pretty much the same for me." She moved back behind the bar and flipped a switch, dimming the lights. "And I'm not headed home, but you can join me if you want." She grabbed her jacket and small purse and came back around to his side. "I always stop in at Wakeman's Diner after work and get some much needed home cooking." Heading for the door, she quirked an eyebrow.

An invitation he wouldn't refuse. Even if it might put him in a tough spot.

He gave her a quick nod. "I'd love to. Is that the converted railroad depot?" If so, only a few blocks north of the bar.

She exited the building and swept her arm in that direction. "It is. And they have the very best home fries you'll ever eat." Draping her jacket over her shoulders, she waited on him to join her on the sidewalk then locked the door.

He sent her a sideways glance. "Does George live here?" He hadn't seen the owner leave.

She shook her head. "Nope. He always uses the back entry to come and go. And he scoots out pretty quick."

He fell into step beside her. "Wait, did he leave you there alone with me? What if I'd been an ax murderer?"

Prosper laughed. "You wouldn't have made it through the front door. George is a retired cop. He reads people better than anyone I've ever met." She stopped outside the diner's main door. "And, for the record, I don't ask people I just met to hang out with me after work. This is a first." She tugged the door open and breezed into the warmly lit restaurant.

Drew paused a moment, enjoying the way she greeted the employees with a bright smile and a hearty wave. "Man, I'm already in over my head here." But he wanted to know more, everything, about her.

Entering behind Prosper, he settled across from her in the booth she'd chosen. She held up two fingers and the waitress gave her a thumbs-up then spoke to the cook. She grabbed a pot of coffee and two mugs and started in their direction.

Drew raised his eyebrows. "What was that all about?"

Prosper flashed a quirky grin. "I ordered for us. Trust me. You're going to love it."

Drew honestly didn't doubt her word. The food could taste like sawdust and he probably wouldn't notice.

Drew is going to fall hard and Prosper will break all her rules. This one is fun to write!

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quid Pro Quo

March 17, 2019

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate. I'm not big on drinking green beer, but I do have Irish—apparently from County Cork and County Down—on both sides of my family so I love to visit some of the traditions around this time.

Once again, we've had crazy back and forth weather. A lovely high in the upper seventies on Thursday with a thirty degree drop to the mid-forties on Friday. Lots of wind and rain Thursday night. Everyone who just got over the nasty upper respiratory ick that went around is probably going to end up with it again. Bleh.

Had a decent week for television. Caught another episode of Chicago Fire. Gotta say I'm a little "meh" about the whole Stella and Severied breakup. Honestly, and I don't say this lightly, her accusation of Kelly being jealous kind of put me off. First… because she's the one who went a little crazy when Kelly's former flame came back to town and second, because Kelly never really tried to keep her from hanging out with creepy friend dude. The distant thing, I definitely feel. But if she knows Kelly… and she does… his go-to coping mechanism is to be kind of aloof and alone, not to mention he's been giving her some space because of creepy friend dude. So, yeah, the whole breakup thing? Not thrilled with it. Too forced, in my opinion. Casey's situation, though, really played out well. I enjoyed the whole storyline of the reporter getting her story with his help.

Caught an episode of Iron Fist. Actually loved Ward and Joy's interactions with everyone. Ward is such a dickhole but I love how it's played. Kudos to the actor because he's perfect for the part. Danny and Colleen make me happy even when they're not really communicating well. The whole Mary or whatever her name is better start making sense soon. I'm a little lost with that arc.

Watched another Passionflix movie, The Protector, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm truly thrilled to be a founding member of this group. If you haven't checked out a subscription, please do. And if you're not big on streaming subscriptions, maybe think about getting a DVD. Their original movies and programs are excellent.

Also caught another episode of Classic Roswell. The one where Liz's journal goes missing and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed that episode. Michael started growing on me after this one.

Watched an episode of Murdoch Mysteries and I'm getting into the story of William and Julia's endeavor to write a book. The case this week also intrigued me. I love having some backstory with William.

Caught another episode of Arrow and it's one I've been waiting to see. "Slabside Redemption" didn't disappoint. I've been excited to see how the prison storyline would end and I'm quite happy with how it played out. My one and only "meh" moment? Stanley's escape. That means we'll be seeing him again, right?

Watched another episode of Roswell, New Mexico. This show is starting to eat my brain in the best way. It's messy and I love it. There's nothing uncomplicated about any of the relationships. I'd love to see a better and stronger Maria and Liz vibe because I loved that friendship in the original. The Rosa storyline is starting to grow on me and I'm hoping the whole illegal alien thing smooths out soon. On one hand, I like the topical aspect to making Liz's dad illegal. On the other, I struggle a little because it's so very different from the classic version. We'll see if that one starts growing on me.

Caught another Painkiller Jane episode I either missed or forgot about the first time around. "Breakdown" ended up being a terrific episode. I loved how it ended.

Started another episode of Underbelly: Razor. This show goes to some interesting places and I'm kind of interested in where this episode will end and who will be left standing. Hopefully will have time to finish it soon.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quid Pro Quo a sexy short that started with the prompt of "one character gets hurt; the other provides comfort".

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Abel Reynolds gets injured and laid up for a couple of days, Lark Munroe decides to provide a little quid pro quo check in on him, except she's got way better ideas to pass the time than Abel ever did.

And a snippety peek…

Lark eyed the binder with Abel's paperwork… and the bag containing two dinners sitting in her passenger seat. "Am I taking blatant advantage here?" Maybe.

The reports didn't take long to pick up and she drove right past the local hangout that had Abel's favorite burger combo. She'd opted for grilled chicken. The delicious aroma coming from the boxes made her stomach growl in anticipation.

Turning into Abel's driveway, she cut the engine. "God, I hope he lets me stay." She tucked the binder under her arm and grabbed the food.

She paused before she popped the door open. What the hell am I doing? Finding reasons to spend time with Abel. Away from work and prying eyes. Not that hard to figure out.

But what if he guessed? Would be it be so bad if he did? Possibly.

Because she wanted Abel in a big way and taking advantage of and using his injury as a way to maybe hookup might not be the best idea she'd ever had. Then again, as a catalyst, it might work.

And I can always fall back on the returning the favor thing.

She exited the car, made her way to the door, and knocked once. She didn't wait for a response, letting herself in like she'd done earlier. Handing him the binder, she waved the takeout bag back and forth.

Abel quirked a brow. "Is that the three-meat burger I'm getting a whiff of?" His stomach growled, leaving no doubt she'd made the right call.

Her lips curved. "Yep." Placing the dinners on the coffee table, she started taking the boxes out. "It's your favorite, right?" She'd heard him order it often enough.

He nodded. "Oh, yeah. Perfect blend of beef, lamb, and sausage." Rubbing his hands together, he took the container from her.

Lark put hers on the table and glanced up. "Hope you don't mind. Thought I'd join you." Hopefully, she kept just the right amount of casual in her tone.

He shifted his position on the couch, wincing a little. "Uh, no. Don't mind at all." He reached over and grabbed a pillow to settle it on his lap.

She narrowed her eyes, but when he put the container on it she shrugged off the move. Made sense for comfort if nothing else. She snagged his glass and refilled it then grabbed some water for hers.

Sitting in the chair next to the couch, she grinned. "See, way better than boring soup heated in the microwave."

Abel paused mid-bite. "How'd you know that was my plan?"

She laughed. "The cans lined up on the counter are a dead giveaway."

He gave her a sheepish grin and took a huge bite of his burger.

So far… so good.

I'm having a good time writing Abel and Lark. She's got the perfect opportunity to test the waters away from work so there's a little downtime if things don't go well. But… I think they'll go along just fine. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quick on the Draw

As usual, the weather in Ohio is crazy. Snow and cold to start and last most of the week and a semi-thaw today with a ton of rain and wind. It's supposed to get cold again by next weekend. Sigh.

Kind of a slow week for television. I had several work deadlines that needed a lot of my attention and focus. I did get some viewing in though.

Finished up the Killjoys season and, holy crap, I'm truly ready for next season already. Where they left things? Yeah, I need to know what happens.

Caught another episode of Painkiller Jane and it was another one I didn't remember for the original airing. A pretty good one, too.

I watched an episode of Underbelly: Razor and I gotta say I'm really mad at Kate. That's the whole point but the whole deal with Bruce just burns my chaps. Tillie and Nellie are ripe for a downfall and I'll be interested in seeing how that comes about.

Caught the third episode of Endeavour and really enjoyed the case and hints dropped about the robberies. I like that there's something of a through line into the next episode. At least I hope that's what will happen. The robbery guys are total doltheads, just saying.

Watched one of my favorite episodes of The Sarah Conner Chronicles and I’m almost at the end of the road for the series. I really forgot how terrific and ahead of its time the show is.

Caught the third episode of Roswell, New Mexico. I'm truly loving this show and have become quite a fan. Here's hoping it gets a second season.

I'm two episodes from the end of Birds of Prey. Watched "Reunion" this week and enjoyed how Barbara and Helena discovered some internal truths. Also caught the first episode of Pensacola Wings of Gold season two. Not sure about continuing but I did like how they transitioned from the previous season.

Started episode four of Strike Back. Got distracted by work so I'll have to finish it up in the near future. Hopefully the very near future.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quick on the Draw, a sexy short that started with a scene-staging prompt of hanging upside down on a playground with a water pistol. I put a bit of a spin on the prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Willa Hown opens her property to paintball enthusiasts on the weekends and enjoys the antics of grown adults finding their inner child. Kip Jarvison rarely takes time off but his brothers drag him to Willa's place for a weekend of fun and messy sport. Kip's not thrilled—until he meets Willa and she shows him how much fun paintball can really be.

And a snippety peek…

Willa grabbed her cleaning gear and loaded up the utility vehicle. "Only decent thing moron Nash ever talked me into." They'd made the purchase at Christmas and she'd already put it to good use plowing the driveway and hauling firewood.

Climbing in behind the wheel, she pulled out of the garage to head out to the campers by the pond. "Now I get to brave the mud and see if this can handle the path out there." She didn't doubt the UTV could make the trip, more whether she could maintain her calm and get one of the small trailers cleaned up to house guests.

Dammit, Nash.

They weren't really ready for prime time. She'd talked Nash into making the purchase. Helped they bought the trio of castoff campers from family members who'd upgraded. The original plan had been to offer them for weekend packages starting during the summer season.

Stopping outside the largest one, she grabbed her bucket and cleaning supplies. "Guess a trial run won't hurt." At least she'd had time to renovate the big one that slept six.

Nash suggested she start with it because it held not so pleasant memories of cousin Artie threatening to kick Nash's ass.

She snorted. "Not sure it'll sleep six comfortably, but three brothers should be able to bunk in without too much trouble." Maybe not having Nash here wouldn't be a bad thing.

Making quick work of spot-mopping the floor and checking the lights, water to the sink and bathroom, and turning on the heating unit, she'd loaded up the UTV when the crunch of tires started down the long drive to the pond.

Dusting off her hands, she waited for the SUV to come to a stop before flashing a smile and waving to Kyle, sitting in the back seat.

He got out and made his way over to her. "Hey, Willa. Thanks so much for letting us come." His sheepish grin made dimples in his cheeks.

Willa shrugged and pulled him into a one-armed hug. "No problem. Of course, Nash didn't tell me he set this up until this morning." She rolled her eyes and Kyle shook his head.

The two brothers emerging from the car bore a family resemblance. Kell—she assumed—ran up and grabbed Willa in a big bear hug, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around. She let out a startled shriek and hung on for dear life.

He settled her back on her feet. "Hi, I'm the middle brother, Kell. And what my baby brother means is we're thrilled you didn't kill Nash for dumping his roommate and his brothers on you at the last minute." He stuck out his hand and tossed Kyle a look over his shoulder.

Laughing, she grasped Kell's palm. "Hi, I'm Willa. You're obviously familiar with my brother's shortcomings." She shot Kyle a quick look. "And his bad habits." One day, Nash would cross the wrong guy.

Good thing Kyle had such a laidback attitude.

Kyle's lips curved. "Eh, he had the right moves and I didn't. No big loss." He jerked his head toward the final sibling. "Besides, gives me a chance to spend time with my oldest brother."

Her gaze followed his line of sight and she shifted her attention to the last guy. Holy hell. Where Kyle had quick wit and dimples and Kell had exuberant enthusiasm, the oldest brother had a dreamy, dark and handsome thing going on. His sharp features, high cheekbones and a strong chin, matched his siblings's but in a starker way. This guy had depth and lots of it.

Which made sense, being the oldest. Something Willa had a wee bit of experience with.

She stepped forward, giving him a nod. "Hi, it's Kip, right?" She put her hand out in welcome.

He tilted his head to one side and studied her a moment before grasping her palm in a firm grip. "Uh, yeah, dibs." He blinked and shook his head. "I mean, Kip. The name is Kip."

A shiver of awareness coursed through Willa, but she raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?" She hoped she injected enough sass into her tone to keep things from going into awkward territory.

Kell groaned. "Aw, man. It figures the first woman he shows an interest in forever happens when it's our boys' weekend." He made a dramatic show of indignation.

Kyle looked from Kip to Willa and back again. The speculative gleam in his eye put Willa's red flag firmly in the ground. Time to wrangle control of her group and get them into their weekend digs.

She held up a hand. "Kell, fear not, I won't be getting in the way of your bonding experience. I'll get you outfitted every day but I'll be up at the house otherwise." She started walking toward the trailer, shooting a quick look over her shoulder. "Kyle, don't even think about it. Whatever revenge scenario you've got brewing in your head involving using me and your brother to mess with Nash isn't going to happen." Opening the door, she stood back to let the guys into the camper.

Kyle and Kell bounded inside, leaving their bags by the SUV. Kip picked up his overnight case and slung the strap over his shoulder. He made slower progress, his gaze sweeping over the trees surrounding the pond on the north side.

He paused at the door. "This is a terrific area."

Willa snorted. "Seriously? You're going to comment on the surroundings after you basically called ownership?" She almost felt bad about giving him shit.

But not quite.

Kip flushed. "I didn't really. More like…" His voice trailed off and uncertainty and maybe a little disbelief crept into his gaze.

Willa supplied a response, still not ready to let him off yet. "Staked your claim? Marked your territory?" Her lips twitched, but Kip didn't notice.

Instead, he frowned. "That's not really what happened." He didn't sound like he believed himself.

Her eyebrows shot up. "I grew up with guys. I'm pretty sure that's exactly what happened. I mean, I can keep going if you want, until I hit the right phrase." Why not be helpful, right?

Kip dropped his bag on the steps of the trailer. "I thought you only had a brother?"

She smirked. "I do. But we have a crap ton of cousins. All guys. I'm the only female on both sides." Her inside knowledge came in handy sometimes.

Kip sat down on the top step. "Okay, fine. I acted like a caveman and basically told my brothers to back off the female." He shook his head. "Not a normal reaction when I meet women, even really hot ones like you." He met her gaze. "I'll forget it happened if you will and please accept my apology."

Willa smiled. "I'll absolutely accept your apology… but who says I want to forget it happened?" Backing up, she held his gaze when she made her way to the UTV. "The water and gas are on so you guys can get settled in. I'll be back down around four to get you loaded up on paintballs and explain where the staging areas are." She got behind the wheel and started the engine. "Nice to meet you, Kip Jarvison."

I truly enjoy writing the sibling banter in this story. I can't wait to get Willa and Kip alone so they can compare notes on their brothers among other fun things.

That's it for this week. Happy reading.

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quick Draw

Well, hello, March. So far, I'm still battling the stupid respiratory crud I thought I was over last week. It was just a little reprieve. That said, I do feel way better than I did three days ago when I had a moment where I thought death might actually be a better option than being sick. LOL Then I remembered to not be a ninny and get over myself. In the grand scheme of things, a stupid recurring cold won't last forever.

I did have a decent week of television viewing. Started off with a weird episode of Lexx that I honestly don't remember if I finished or not. Cold meds make things a wee bit fuzzy.

Followed up with an episode of Strike Back and, man, did they cram a lot of stuff into a single episode. I love that about this show. So much goes down it's hard to keep up.

Started an episode of Midsomer Murders while doing laundry. One of the best things I've ever done is add a television to my laundry room. Makes the chore of sorting and folding much more enjoyable.

Watched the first episode of Iron Fist's new season. While the pace is a little slow, I loved catching up to where everyone is. Joy is the biggest surprise that isn't actually a surprise. It'll be interesting to see where she ends up by the end. And Ward just fascinates me. Looking forward to seeing him work through all of his issues. Or not. LOL Danny and Colleen are terrific and I'm curious about how the episode ended. Danny's got some internal drama to work through or so it seems.

Chicago Fire had a great episode. I'll be really pissed if anything happens to Cruz's Chloe. Here's hoping that works out okay. The way the episode ended though, with Matt's place in flames, doesn't bode well for him.

Gotham had such a great episode. The ending though? Holy crap. I did not see that coming. I'm actually loving this season so much.

Caught another Classic Roswell episode and it's one of my favorites where Liz's grandmother suffers a stroke and doesn't make it. Michael being sneaky is such a not-Michael thing and I loved it, too.

Watched another episode of Arrow and I'm slowly but surely getting caught up. A great theme about what being a hero entails. Also liked getting confirmation that Stanley's a weasel. Loved Oliver's face when that realization kicked in. Also watched another episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I loved seeing some of the secondary characters shine in this one.

Caught a few episodes of Classic Who while attempting to get through the huge stack of dishes I have waiting to be washed. Being down with the sickness doesn't mean those buggers wash themselves. Bleh.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quick Draw, a sexy short that started with the idea of how first impressions aren't always what they seem.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Utah Slace has a constant stream of male visitors coming and going from her apartment and Hoyt Lancelot, her neighbor, draws the quick conclusion he's moved in next to a prostitute. Utah decides he needs a lesson in why making snap judgments is not a good idea.

And a snippety peek…

Utah Slace finished hammering the canvas to frame that took up most of her wall. "Morse is gonna love this." She stepped back to admire the empty visual space.

Morse Morrison. Man, what a tough nut to crack. But she'd finally had a breakthrough with him. Easels didn't cut it for the big, beefy former soldier. He needed a huge expanse to work with, a place to pour out everything locked away in his mind. The trauma of four deployments to active military zones found an outlet through art therapy and holistic counseling, her specialty and chosen profession.

Utah checked the floor-to-ceiling drapes she'd installed to cover the huge canvas. The soothing blue panels whisked along the track and covered the big, empty space waiting to be filled color and emotion. She couldn't wait to show Morse.

After checking her phone for messages, she had just enough time to grab a quick dinner before Morse's appointment. "Corner deli, here I come." Zipping up her sweatshirt, she flipped the hood over her head and left her apartment.

She exited the building and shook her head. This morning's rain continued to fall in a miserable drizzle. Which meant she might have longer sessions with her clients. The shitty weather often brought on bouts of depression or aggravated old injuries.

Intent on getting to the corner and back, she kept her head down and moved quickly. When she slammed into a couch, she finally glanced upward. Two movers had the piece of furniture blocking her path.

Utah flushed hotly. "Um… sorry. Totally wasn't paying attention." She sidestepped and let them through. "Man, I feel for you guys. What a crappy day for your line of work." Yellow slickers covered their dark blue uniforms, but their boots showed signs of trudging through mud.

The larger of the two lifted his chin in acknowledgment. "This is our last load. Thankfully this guy doesn't have a lot of stuff." He shifted his position and turned around to lead the sofa through the doorway.

His partner did a one-shoulder shrug. "He already gave us an extra tip so we're good here." He disappeared through the entrance.

Utah continued down the sidewalk and made the turn for the deli. "Looks like I'm getting a new neighbor." The building had two empty units, one on her floor and one in the lower level.

Might be nice to have another tenant. Then again, she'd probably have to go through the whole explanation of what she did for a living. Unless Mrs. Bonice sang Utah's praises, which the landlady often did.

Utah's stomach rumbled and she put aside any thought that didn't involve turkey and bacon on whole wheat with some hearty soup on the side.

It won't take long for Utah to meet her new neighbor and, no, Mrs. Bonice didn't have time to sing Utah's praises yet.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: A Pumpkin Patch Honeymoon

I'm finally pretty much through the worst of the respiratory nastiness. It's so nice to breathe semi-normal again. It's amazing what a difference it makes to take a deep breath on not end on a coughing spasm.

Not a bad week for television viewing. I finished up Endeavour's second episode of the fifth season. Also caught an episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I rather like where they've put things with Brackenreid.

Finished Luke Cage and, honestly? I liked where the series ended. I'd love to see more and I'm disappointed I won't be able to. The biggest drawback to all the streaming options now is how proprietary they're all becoming. Makes me a little sad.

Watched some Classic Roswell, third episode of the first season, which ended up dovetailing in an interesting way with the second episode of Roswell, New Mexico. Isobel using her powers to freak Maria out in the classic version played against Michael and Isobel using theirs to mess with Liz in the reboot. I'm invested way more than I thought I'd be in the new version. It's moving up the list of shows I don't want to miss.

Caught the Killjoys episode where they rescue the kids and blow up the RAC… and lose one of their own. Seriously, this show grabs me every time I watch. There's so much going on but the emotional beats always shine and don't get lost in the action. I'm looking forward to finishing out season four.

I'm through the halfway mark of Underbelly: Razor. The death toll keeps rising and the "Blood Alley" episode added to it with one of the major players going down. I'm loving the odd little beats of inner betrayal and turmoil, too.

On the sci-fi front, I watched an episode of Painkiller Jane and The Sarah Conner Chronicles. Each episode had a theme of painful past memories. Also caught an episode of Birds of Prey and had forgotten this one. I think I'm at the next to last episode before the series ends.

Finally, I watched the season one ender of Pensacola Wings of Gold. It's a to-be-continued-in-season-two thing and I guess I'll watch the first episode to see how they resolve getting rid of the entire team and starting from scratch. After that… eh… not sure I'll watch more.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Pumpkin Patch Honeymoon, an Organic Nature Short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Eppie and Vin's unconventional journey comes full circle when they make a lasting commitment in the pumpkin patch where their story began. They decide a staycation will be the perfect endcap and discover during their idyllic week that passion only grows the more in love they fall.

And a snippety peek…

Eppie Collins put the finishing touches on the chic shed and turned to survey her handiwork. "Vin Derbish, you're going to love this week." She pulled up her mental checklist, ticking boxes in her mind.

Ready-made meals for seven days. Check.

A glorious copper tub—courtesy of her sister Dani—in the small nook behind the bed. Check.

Ambient lighting with candles, fairy lights, and rustic lanterns. Check.

A new streaming device connected to the television so they could curl up in bed and watch whatever they wanted. Check.

She double-checked the small wine rack and made sure the bottles she'd selected were all in place. Clothes for the week, if they wore any, were stashed neatly under the bed in cute containers designed by Lily. Eppie encouraged her coworker to make more and add them to the new online store they planned to launch in November.

The rightness of everything settled over Eppie and she relaxed into the feeling.

Her grandmother's voice echoed in Eppie's mind. "It's time, Epinera. Be happy and enjoy the life you've built."

Eppie wrapped her arms around her middle. "I will, Gram. I really will." She took one final glance around the shed then back out and closed the door.

Later this evening, she and Vin would return and spend a bliss-filled week together in the cozy little home away from home Vin built for her.

Eppie couldn't wait.

I love this series of sexy shorts so much. Eppie and Vin are a joy to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin