Sunday Snippet: Quitters Never Cheat

Another crazy-busy week but I got a lot of television watched. Finished up some short-term projects and got started a new long-term project that I'm excited about. July is almost over and I'm kind of surprised by how fast it's flying by.

On the television front, I actually got four episodes of The Muppet Show watched. Julie Andrews, Jaye P Morgan, Peter Sellers, and Petula Clark were the guest stars. Had a funny conversation with my brother about the reason I've been rewatching the series—mainly because it's something I remember us doing when we were way younger—and he regaled me with how he remembers certain skits more than he remembers the guest stars … and that's actually kind of true for me, too.

Ended up getting in two episodes of The Hardy Boys also. Really excited the guys got into the secret room and I loved how they completely disagreed about what to do with the pieces of the eye. Interested in what Stacy's game actually is. Something tells me she's not quite as ready to trash everything to do with the circle as she claims. I love how shady all the possible baddies are on this show. I can't wait to see how the first season ends with the finale.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice and enjoyed both. I liked being able to see Beth and Jack grieve for their loss. Andrew is definitely growing on me, which is a good thing because he sticks around for a long time. Will is Will and I like him as he is.

Watched two more Master Class lessons with David Carson. The first focused on designing impactful magazines and I got some good information from that one. The second one was about designing your future and had the four group members trying to predict what their future would like in design. It was interesting and I liked the group overall.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The final with midwinter as the backdrop ended up being really good. The opener of season two with the epiphany set some interesting dominoes in play. I'm kind of excited to see where things go.

Loved the finale of Street Legal. I'm kind of hoping there's a second season because I'd like to know where the characters end up going. I kind of didn't see the partners hooking up coming but I'm interested in how that ends up playing out.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med. Both were excellent. I'm so happy I'm finally able to catch this show from the beginning.

Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries had a great episode. Watching James and Peregrine tiptoe around each other makes my heart equally happy and sad. I love seeing the ramifications play out with them though. Next episode looks really good with Percy the Putz stirring the pot again.

Watched the second part of Silent Witness and ended up really enjoying the ending. I think I caught it during my initial run because I vaguely remember how things played out.

Got a full arc of Classic Who in and enjoyed the four episodes. I'm still not sure about the whole new regeneration of Romana but we'll see how the season plays out.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I'm nearing the end of season two and I'm not sure if there's another season or not but I quite enjoy this show.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and, so far, it's interesting. There's a reporter that's annoying but otherwise good story rolling out.

Started a new-to-me series with Brokenwood Mysteries. I loved the first episode and look forward to see how the next few hold up to the premiere.

That's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Quitters Never Cheat, a novella that has the main characters reuniting after a breakup.

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…

"Argh!" Robbin Rayne tossed her gloves off and swiped a hand across her face. "It's terrible." Her latest sculpture lacked … hell, everything.

Robbin paraded around the metal, steel, and iron structure. "No heart, no emotion, no life." Her work suffered.

Her creative mojo abandoned her—leaving half-assed monstrosities in its wake. Robbin shook her head. "So much for my brilliance." After selling all of her previous work and garnering some critical acclaim, she'd hit a wall. "None of my new pieces speak to me." Or anyone else. Not that she'd shown them to many people yet. Her coworkers at the factory and Stan. Man. I thought hooking up with Stan would spark some creativity. No such luck. Then again, she'd picked Stan because she didn't want to get sucked into anything too deep. But they didn't have much of a connection either. He liked to show off and tried to impress her and she let him do both, hoping some of his confident bravado would seep into her. But Stan barely cared about her struggle with her current projects. He loved the zeroes in her bank account from her previous sales. Liked that he didn't have to support her financially—even though he hated her job at the factory and never mentioned it when he introduced her to his friends and colleagues. When it came to her new material, he'd shrug and say the piece looked fine. Fine? What the hell did fine mean?

"Would be nice if he offered a supportive comment now and then."

You had that once … with Ewan.

Ewan Arthur.

She'd done her best work when they'd been together.

"But Ewan made everything too easy." She feared becoming complacent.

Of having life become too good. Ewan gave her stability, which often became a death knell for creativity. So why does all your new stuff suck? A damned good question. One she didn't want to examine too closely right now.

Robbin is about to face a reckoning but it'll take her a while to admit what she needs.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quit the Music

It's been a busy week with medical emergencies—not mine, thankfully—and vacationer pickups. Also had a few work projects to get worked in.

Had a great week for television. Started out by finishing up the sixteenth season of Classic Who and I got a start on season seventeen. Interesting choice to have Romana regenerate as the princess of the final arc. We'll see how that plays out.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. The focus was on the Royal Air Force and I enjoyed the episode. I also started the next one which feature sacred sites and UFOs.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Lou Rawls and Cleo Laine were the guest stars. Had a great conversation with my brother about watching this show while we were growing up.

Enjoyed another episode of The Hardy Boys. The jury is still out on whether the grandma is a good force or a not-so-good one. I'm really excited to watch the next episode with the secret room.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and, yep, a tragedy occurred. I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing the last of Beth and Jack, which is actually what I expected. I'll look forward to their sendoff.

Caught another Master Class with David Carson. This one talked about working with clients and I got some solid information from the session. I might not work full-time with graphic design, but I do work with clients on a regular basis and the lesson had some good strategies for meeting expectations that can apply universally.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina had an interesting episode. I'm still not a Wardwell fan and even less so after this episode. I'm kind of excited to see what Cerebus is going to bring to the story and Zelda made a bold choice I didn't quite expect.

Watched the penultimate episode of Street Legal. I have to give Steven Lund kudos. I loved his journey in this episode. Olivia overstepped in a way I didn't quite believe. I hope there's a bit of an explanation in the final episode of season one.

Enjoyed another Ready Room recap. I'm having a lot of fun with guest stars who were previous cast members. I might not be able to say the same with season two. I'm not a Q fan in the slightest. Here's hoping the writing makes me change my mind.

Finished up another episode of Blue Heelers and enjoyed it. I also caught another episode and started a new one. I'm creeping up on the halfway point of season three.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med. Again, I really enjoyed the multiple threads. Will's arc impressed me. I loved the opening scene with Rhodes and Will working together and getting along, mainly because of the reactions of the rest of the team.

Watched another episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. Bertie cracks me up. I love Samuel and Violetta. I'm hurting for Peregrine and James but I can't wait to see more and how they work things out. I miss Fleur and I'm kind of hoping we'll see more characters of the Adventuress Club. So far, season two is making me very happy.

Enjoyed the first part of Silent Witness's two-parter. Nikki's dad is a piece of work. I'm kind of glad I can't remember how things play out with him. Looking forward to seeing the second part this week.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quit the Music, a novella that has a family reunion one of the characters isn't sure they want.

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…

Prosper grabbed whatever she could fit inside a suitcase, an overnight bag, and a backpack.

It's your eighteenth birthday, meaning my obligation is done. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

Prosper refused to cry or let the tears gathering in her eyes fall. "Thanks, Lanie. Kick me out three months before graduation." And after midnight.

She zipped up her bags, slipped her backpack over her shoulders and carried the other two into the living room. Prosper kind of hoped her dad would, by some miracle, show up and finally make everything right. Not much chance of that and her mom stood with her arms folded over her chest, tapping her foot on the floor. Prosper wouldn't bother asking if she could at least have twenty bucks to get some food.

Prosper turned before she left the house. "I hope you find your true happiness, Lanie. Have a great rest of your life." She dragged her stuff out the door and headed down the sidewalk.

Mixed feelings of being free and scared at the same time hit her. "What am I supposed to do?" She had nowhere to go.

She wanted to at least graduate. Overwhelmed, she entered the park and sat down on the bench ready to let the tears fail. She had a job, weekends at a small diner, and she could probably get ready for school there. But where could she sleep?

For tonight, right there. She didn't have anywhere else to go and no money to get a room somewhere. Her phone had a full charge but she didn't want to risk using it. The older model didn't stay juiced if she tried to do more than make a call.

A man entered through the gate and Prosper hunched down a little. When he got closer, he shined a flashlight her way. She stared straight ahead, hoping he'd leave.

He didn't. Instead, he made his way toward her. Thankfully, he wore a uniform and a badge.

Stopping beside the bench, he arched an eyebrow. "Miss, what are you doing out after curfew?"

Prosper started to make an explanation then paused. "I'm not out after curfew. I turned eighteen today." A fully functional adult in the eyes of the law. "I don't have one anymore."

The officer stooped down and asked her a gentle question. "Okay, then, what are you doing here?" He rested one arm on his knee.

She didn't know how to respond. The urge to protect her secrets and how much her mother hated her made words stick in her throat. But the officer's understanding gaze showed concern not judgment.

Tears welled in her eyes and Prosper gave a watery answer. "I guess I'm homeless and I didn't know where else to go." Could she sound any more pathetic?

The officer moved up to sit next to her on the beach. "Why don't we start over? I'm George Dearman, an auxiliary officer with the city. And you are?"

She looked up and held his gaze. "Prosper Bates, kicked out my home two hours ago." Her stomach twisted when she said the word aloud.

George gave a nod. "I retired after thirty years on the job. I'm auxiliary now and I patrol the park two nights a week. I'm glad I found you tonight." He pitched his voice a little lower. "Why don't you tell me what's going on…"

Her whole sad and sordid tale spilled out and, by the time the first blue tinge of dawn began, she'd released a lot of her pent-up emotions.

George slowly stood up. "Why don't I take you down to job and family services and we'll see if we can get you into some temporary housing."

Prosper grabbed hold of the lifeline but had to know the reason he gave one to her. "Why are you helping me?"

George didn't hesitate with his answer. "I had a wife and daughter. Both were killed in a head-on collision. My little girl would've been your age."

Prosper paused, hit with a weird notion. "I can't take her place." She wouldn't have a clue how to act like a loving daughter.

George gave her a sad smile. "No. No one can. But if Maddie were still alive, I'd want someone to help her if she ever found herself in a situation like yours."

Prosper didn't say it, but Maddie would never have found herself in a park at the ass crack of dawn.

Because she'd had two loving parents who had given a damn about her.

I'm very pleased with how this story is coming along. Prosper got a rough break but she'll turn things around.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Quick Draw

Happy Independence Day if you're in the US. If not, I hope you're having a terrific weekend. Our weather is very pleasant and mild so I'm not going to complain about that. I will express frustration with random people letting off fireworks, but only because our doggos hate them.

Had a truly jam-packed, great television viewing week. Started and ended the week with No Offence. I finished up the series and I'm not disappointed at all. What a experience!

Also watched Silent Witness and I'm almost through the second episode of the two-parter. I watched the first part at the end of last week and should have this one finished up by the time I'm ready to post this blog entry.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. The fifth part of the key has been found so I'm almost ready for season sixteen to come to a close. So far, I've been on the fence with this season but it's enjoyable.

Watched an episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one dived into the cover-ups in the US. I'm always fascinated by how much this show reminds me of the X-Files. I love it.

Enjoyed two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Rudolf Nereyev and Elton John were the guest stars. Really enjoyed Elton.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice. I'm starting to like the new doctor. He kind of rubs everyone the wrong way but I truly feel for the guy coming to a small village where the residents are all used to things being a specific way.

The Hardy Boys had a terrific episode. I'm kind of interested in how the boys are dealing with starting at a new school and uncovering their mom's past there.

Dove into another Master Class with David Carson. I didn't think I'd get much out of the whole collage lesson but I did walk away with a few ideas about how textures and colors work together on a physical level.

Watched Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and, wow, Sabrina definitely had a bomb blow up in her face. I'm kind of glad to see it but also now wondering how everything is going to play out. Still not a big fan of Wardwell.

Caught another episode of Street Legal and thoroughly enjoyed. I'll be honest … I'm not always a fan of Olivia but I enjoyed her interaction with Emily. I'm also really interested in the dynamics of the partners. Definitely going to enjoy watching the rest of the episodes.

The Ready Room had a great recap and family reunion with Wil, Jonathan, and Brent. Such a fun episode and really looking forward to the next one.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and really enjoyed it. I'm totally down for the rivalry between Halsted and Rhodes but I'm looking forward to when they're really great friends too.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm kind of interested in how this one plays out because Nick has been getting on my nerves lately. We'll see if that improves or not.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Quick Draw, a sexy short featuring characters that get off on the wrong foot.

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…

Hoyt Lancelot crawled into bed a little after midnight. "Never fails. I always move during bad weather." He pulled the sheet up, setting a mental reminder to actually make the bed when he got up.

The play of lightning on the walls kept him awake for a while. The rumble of thunder getting closer. During the quiet moments, he listened to the sounds of his new apartment.

Rolling to his side, he tucked his hand under the pillow. "Always takes a while to settle in to the vibe of a new place." He closed his eyes, drifting to sleep.

A loud pounding woke him up. Glancing at his phone, he squinted to make sure he had the time right. One thirty a.m. What the hell? Throwing the sheet off, he got up and went to his front door, looking out the peep hole. A tall, skinny man stood with his head resting on the door of the apartment across the corridor. The paneled wood opened to reveal a woman wearing a kimono over a tank top and … a pair of cutoff scrubs?

He blinked and shook his head then checked again. "What a combination." Right, like his metal band T-shirt and boxers ranked high on the fashion charts.

The woman wrapped her arms around the guy then tugged him inside her living space. Hoyt narrowed his gaze then went back to his bedroom. Flopping down, he heaved a sigh. He had a feeling it would be a weird night.

Around five a.m., the utter quiet woke him. No more rain or thunder. He got up to take a leak and glanced outside the window. Heavy fog lined the street, the powdery yellow light from the lamppost barely visible.

On the way back to bed, he heard knocking out in the hall again. He changed direction and glanced out. A woman in a scruffy jacket shuffled her feet her fingers clenching and unclenching. The door opened to reveal his neighbor wearing the same attire from earlier. Hoyt stepped away, his mind spinning. He looked out one more time and the woman withdrew a crumpled up handful of bills and handed them to his neighbor.

Hoyt's stomach dropped. "What the hell is going on next door?" He tamped his curiosity down. "No, don't go there." None of his business anyway.

He eased back into bed and closed his eyes. Too amped up to sleep, he grabbed his phone and scrolled through some news sites. Thirty minutes later, his eyes got heavy and he yawned. He'd read another news bit then try to rest some more.

At eight thirty, he jerked awake with his phone on his chest. Blinking to clear his vision, he sat up and stretched, wincing when his shoulder hitched for a moment. Damned injury.

Rubbing at the spot, he got up and made his way to the kitchen. "Need coffee and a hot shower." He set the pot to brew and ducked into the bathroom.

The heat from the water helped loosen up his shoulder and by the time he got out, he could move freely. He'd have to ice it later then maybe head to the station house to make use of the whirlpool. He hadn't caught up with the guys in over a week.

Throwing on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, he poured a cup of coffee and put two pieces of wheat bread into the toaster. "Gotta finish unpacking the rest of the kitchen so I can actually cook something." The toast popped up and took the butter and jelly with him to the table.

He had another month of rehab before he'd be cleared to return to duty at the fire department. At least he'd picked up some extra shifts behind the counter at Boscoe's. The bar featured his drag queen sister as the headlining act and she'd put in a good word for Hoyt.

He grinned. "I'm a better bouncer than a bartender but that crowd takes care of its own." And he'd been included as family even before he started working there.

Scooting back, he rinsed his cup and washed the knife then grabbed his keys, wallet, and phone to head out for some groceries. When he exited his apartment, he almost bumped into a guy wearing camo fatigues and a black T-shirt. On the way down the steps, he heard the guy knock on his neighbor's door.

Exiting the building, Hoyt glanced up to the row of windows on the second floor. "Geez, she gets a lot of visitors."

I think I might live next to a sex worker.

I love how this story is coming together. Hoyt's first impression is so off the chart wrong and it's going to be fun when he has to shift gears after he meets Utah.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Pumpkin Patch Honeymoon (an Organic Nature short)

Long week with a zillion phone calls to settle everything on getting a new vehicle to replace our totaled one. Happy to say as of Friday it's all taken care of. Yay!

Not a bad week with work projects and a solid week of good television. Started out with Street Legal and I'm ending with another episode of the same. Starting to really enjoy this show.

Caught another episode of the Ready Room and thoroughly enjoyed Evan Evagoria's interview. Such a great character he played. And he's a huge fan of the franchise and that came through so much.

Also watched another episode of Chicago Med and enjoyed the three threads playing out during the episode.

Enjoyed another episode of No Offence. This show … man, it's so good. Not sure if there will be more episodes, but I'm so glad I found this one.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness's two part episode. Yeah, they're all two part episodes, I know. This was a really great one and I liked how everything came together by the end.

Watched another arc of Classic Who. They're still on the trail of the time key components and this episode ended up being more fun than I originally thought it would be.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and it's got some drama, which seems to be woven in more than usual. Great episode so far.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused around UFOs and US presidents. Actually pretty interesting viewing.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Dom Deluise and Bernadette Peters were the guest stars. I'm still nostalgic for the first season, which is probably my favorite.

The Hardy Boys had a great episode. The tall dude is finally—maybe—done for. Liked getting a little more information on Laura's past and I'm trying to decide if I want the grandmother to be super bad or a red herring of goodness.

I viewed another Master Class with David Carson on graphic design. This one had another lesson about color and I found it fascinating.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is going to some interesting places. I can't decide if I want Sabrina to really twist everything on its ass or if she needs something to blow up in her face. I'll find out by the next episode if that happens.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Pumpkin Patch Honeymoon, an Organic Nature short that circles back to where everything began with Eppie and Vin.

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…

Vin Derbish closed the file cabinet and handed Greg Rhodes the schedule for the next week. "Sure you don't mind acting as the boss for the next five days?" He met the former soldier's gaze.

Greg shook his head. "Hell, no. I'm thankful for the opportunity. A slow ease back to civilian management is exactly what I need right now." He tucked the folder under his arm and thrust out his hand. "Thank you, Vin. You have no idea how much this means to me."

Vin shook and pulled Greg in for a bro hug. "I think I do, man. And you know the crew'll help any way they can. They'll look to you when anything weird happens—and it will—then they'll follow your lead." Vin waited a beat. "And you can call if shit really goes sideways."

Greg backed away holding his hands up. "Uh-uh. This is your honeymoon. Just because you guys have been together for a while doesn't mean you shouldn't have uninterrupted time together." His lips curved upward. "Seems like getting hitched really agrees with you."

Vin nodded. "It totally does." He started for the door and Greg followed. "I thought it would be pretty much the same. I mean, we've lived together for a while, but it's not. It's better." Making the final move from his house and handing the keys over to Greg kind of closed a door.

And it didn't bother Vin one bit.

Greg lifted his chin. "Yeah, well, if you're ever in the dog house, your house is always open." He chuckled. "Not that you'll ever need it. You two are what couples should be, crazy in love and happy to be there. Gives me hope I'll find that someday."

Vin stopped by his truck. "From what I hear, you might not have to look far." He referred to one of Eppie's employees that had been spending a lot of her free time with Greg since the Memorial Day parade.

Greg got a silly grin on his face but sobered quickly. "It's early days yet and I have a lot of baggage to check, but she's patient and not in a big hurry to put labels on what we are."

Vin's gut said the new couple would be end-game material but he kept that idea tucked in the back of his mind. "There's nothing wrong with being gun shy or taking things at a slow pace. I speak from experience there." Eppie's ex had done a number on her and she didn't her trust lightly.

Greg nudged Vin's shoulder. "You'd better get going. Your week away officially starts in"—he looked at his bare wrist—"zero point two seconds from now."

Vin laughed and hopped into the truck. Greg waved and Vin backed out of the drive and made the turn to head home. To the woman of his dreams and a bliss-filled week in the little cabin he'd built for her.

I love Eppie and Vin so much and taking them on their year-long journey has been a joy to write. I might have to pop in again at some point to see how they're doing.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Pregnant Pause

Apparently, the week before last ended up being bizarre not only because Mercury is in retrograde but two other planets are squaring up. I'm kind of glad I made it through the insanity. The past week had some challenges but things finally started coming together and smoothed out. Whew.

My youngest kiddo returned from Alaska where she had a great time. She graduated high school last year and she and my dad finally got to take a trip this summer. They had great weather and got to do a ton of fun sightseeing events.

Had a slightly slower than usual television viewing experience. I started out with a new episode of No Offence. Viv had quite the revelation at the end of the episode and I'm interested to see where things go from here.

Enjoyed another episode of Silent Witness. This one has some quirky undertones and I'm interested in the second part to see how everything plays out.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers and started a new one. Since my new washing machine arrived, I've been catching up on laundry and getting some quality time in on my Australian show.

Watched a full arc of Classic Who. For some reason, I thought they only needed to find four pieces of the key, but it's actually six. Should be interesting to see how the final three play out.

Enjoyed another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on UFO tech, which I find fascinating. The theories that come out of the woodwork regarding why and how the technology is used always makes me smile.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Guest stars were Madeline Kahn and George Burns. Both were shows I didn't remember.

Watched a great episode of The Hardy Boys. Things are starting to come together and I'm really interested in where things will end up. I'm ready for the tall guy to get served. Just saying.

Enjoyed a new episode of Peak Practice. I have a feeling the next one will have a tragedy but I rather liked the new doctor they introduced. Looking forward to more from him.

Caught another Master Class on graphic design. This one focused on life as a working designer. I didn't think I'd get much out of that lesson, but I actually did. Even if I don't want to pursue graphic design as a career, the concept of what's important in the career you choose provided some good information.

Finally, I'm watching another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This is set around Thanksgiving and there are some great character reveals. I like this show but I'm not champing at the bit to get to the next one … yet. This episode does have an awesome guest star in Michael Hogan and I'm happy to see him in the mix. Reminds me to send positive vibes out and hope his recovery is going well.

That's pretty much it for television and life updates. Tonight's post is from Pregnant Pause, a novella that puts my main characters in a tricky situation after they can't keep their hands off each other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nora Dunne and Logan Rider are wildly attracted to each other and doing a stint in a remote location for a research project. When sexual tension gets in the way of the work, their decision to act on the magnetic pull leads to unexpected consequences.

And a snippety peek…

Nora Dunne waited by the big snow cat ready to take her to a remote outpost. "Come on … it's cold out here." Would be even colder at the two-man base.

The crunch of snow under boots drew her attention and she peeked around the side of the big rig. Oh, shit. The person approaching shouldn't be coming this way. Logan Rider isn't scheduled for this stint.

Shouldn't matter, but Nora expected Brad Harsdale—a nice, safe middle-aged professor taking a sabbatical from teaching for a year. He wanted to write and publish about his experience. And he'd leave Nora alone to conduct her studies in peace.

Logan stopped in front of her, a backpack hoisted over one shoulder. "Hi, Nora. Professor Harsdale had a family emergency and I got shuffled into his spot." He let the pack slide down and gently dropped it to the snowy ground. "Hope you don't mind."

Mind? Oh, she totally did. Too bad she couldn't really voice her opinion. They'd be leaving in less than ten minutes.

She lifted a shoulder. "Not like we have an option." She sounded bitchy, but his arrival threw her off kilter.

He frowned but didn't reply. Just as well. Making small talk would only make her sound even crankier.

Because Logan checked all her boxes. Seriously hot, seriously smart, and seriously her type. She didn't need the complication of being wildly attracted to the person she'd be spending the next several months with.

Pasting a smile on her face, she stuck out her gloved hand. "Let's plan to make the best of our new circumstances." She'd at least try.

Logan grinned and clasped her palm. "Deal." He reached for his backpack. "We'll muddle along famously."

Nora had more than a little doubt. His charming smile kicked her heart against her ribs. He had distraction written all over him.

That's my problem, not his.

She gave a nod. "I'm sure we'll manage."

She really hoped so.

I love how much Nora hates the idea of being alone with Logan because she knows herself so well.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Photo Ops

You know, it's been a week. I don't which planet is in retrograde right now but it's effing everything up. LOL My washer died and the delivery of the new one has been moved three times. I might get it Tuesday but I'm not holding my breath. The husband had a deer smash into his vehicle and it's a probably a loss. My daughter's car is having issues. I'm kind of scared to even walk outside in case the sky falls or something else weird.

All that said … I'm not really complaining. It's just a lot of bizarre, inconvenient stuff hitting all at once and I'm kind of scratching my head and wondering how soon the universe will right itself. LOL

Had a great work week and got some solid television viewing in. I started out UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This episode focused on abductions and I always find those stories fascinating.

With the new season of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries premiering this week, I caught the behind the scenes special from season one. Lots of fun information and interviews.

Watched another episode of The Muppet Show. The guest was Steve Martin and he had fun with his appearance.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. The mystery is getting deeper and I'm thoroughly enjoying the way everything is coming together. I love the group of friends and how they're completely in on the whole deal now.

I enjoyed another segment of Master Class. David talked about developing logos and I got some good information from him. I have a few tweaks to make to a couple of logos I've put together for book series.

Caught another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm getting a little more invested in the characters and I'm interested in where everything goes. I love Hilda's new job!

Peak Practice had a good episode. It took me a while to get into the storyline but I liked how the show played out. It seemed like it was going to go in a tragic direction but ended up not going that route.

Started a new to me show with Street Legal, which is a spinoff of an eighties original. I loved the premiere episode and think I'll end up liking this one.

Caught another episode of the Ready Room, recapping episode four of Picard. Wil is a lot of fun when he's interviewing the actors and I loved the behind the scene special effects segment.

Started an episode of Chicago Med and, so far, I'm enjoying it. The surgeon character is such an ass he's fun to watch. Another aptly titled episode with choices as the theme.

Last but not least … Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries premiered!! I've been so excited for a second season and I'm so happy I had two episodes to watch. This show is so much fun and it took a direction I didn't expect but I'm totally there for. Peregrine isn't a carbon copy of Phryne and that thrills me. I have so much love for the sixties vibe, too. Not sure why that era fascinates me so much but I'm almost always down to watch things set during that decade. And I'm over the moon I'll have another episode to watch soon!

That's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from Photo Ops, a fun romp with the characters falling for each other during some charity shenanigans.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Mace McKenna decides not to participate in the annual Officers of the City charity calendar photoshoot, Nina Dean won't let up until he caves. But when Nina loses a bet and has to pose for the women's version, she soon discovers Mace is the orchestrator of the whole thing.

And a snippety peek…

Nina shot him a sideways glance. "Gee, Mace. If you wanted to see me naked, you only had to ask." She dropped the towel.

Mace nearly swallowed his tongue. Damn. He didn't think she could get much sexier than the towel draped over her shoulder, but standing in front of him without a stitch on? Okay, yeah, full-on sexy.

But the sexiest thing about Nina? Her sassy mouth. Even fully clothed she could make him hard with a few simple words and they didn't have to be about sex. The tone, the husky vibrancy, the raspy promise of something indefinable turned him on like nothing else. And left him speechless in the process.

Because … in full nude glory? Well, he wouldn't, couldn't, deny his reaction. His dick hurt, ached to be free from its confines. He'd definitely have a great visual reference for stroking one out later. His fingers all but itched to start now.

Nina shook her head. "Don't even think about wasting that hard slab between your legs on your fist."

His eyes widened. Does she read minds now?

She smirked. "I take full responsibility for the condition you're in, which means I should be the one to do something about it." Advancing toward him, she quirked an eyebrow. "Hope you don't have anywhere to be." She reached out and popped the button of his dungarees then worked the zipper down far enough to wrap her hand around his stiff shaft. "Mmmm. Hot and ready." Her gaze met his. "Tell me you don't want this."

Fuck, no. He wanted it—her—however the hell he could have her.

He shoved his pants down and kicked out of the legs. "Right now, I'm wondering why the fuck we haven't done this before." And whether they'd be doing it again.

She chuckled, a low throaty sound. "Remember the whole stodgy stick up your ass thing? That's why." Her fist slid along his dick. "But I think you're ready now." She looked up at him through her lashes. "Aren't you?"

He hauled his shirt over his head. "Damn straight. Do your worst." He had no doubt her worst would be his best ever experience.

Nina lowered to her knees. "This is to take the edge off." She glanced upward. "Hope you're not a one and done kind of guy." She didn't wait for a response before she closed her lips around the tip of his cock and sucked hard.

Geez. Her sassy mouth? Did wicked, wonderful things to his erection.

Mace reached down and cupped her face. "Hold up. Let's get a little more comfortable." He crouched down then lay flat on the plush carpet. "Move around here, Nina. I'm a mutual satisfaction kind of guy."

She made a low, raspy sound. "Ahh, Mace. You're full of surprises." She straddled his torso, bracing her knees on either side then leaned forward to engulf him again.

Mace grasped her thighs and his tongue delved between her folds. Fuuucckkk. She tastes great. He could feast on her for days.

The sages went a little hot on this one. Mace and Nina are so much fun.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Past All Limits

Well, hello, June. It's mind-boggling to think half the year is pretty much gone. I'm rather glad summer is just around the corner even though I'm not a huge fan of super-hot temperatures.

I've been in a weird place lately and pondering whether there's something else on my horizon. Lots of ideas are jostling in my brain. Stay tuned … I might have more to come on this topic.

Decent week of television this week. I started out with three episodes of The Muppet Show. Judy Collins, Nancy Walker, and Edger Bergen were the guest stars. Each episode ended up being pretty fun.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. I'm enjoying the mystery and I really like the sibling interaction. It'll be interesting to see how deeply the grandmother is involved.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice. The show took turn I didn't expect, which I always enjoy.

Enjoyed another Master Class with David Carson. The fifth lesson focused on putting yourself into your work. I came away with some great ideas.

Caught another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Once again, I ended up surprised by Zelda. Still not a huge fan, but I think I'll end up liking her character arc.

Watched the third installment of The Ready Room. Michelle Hurd is such a cool actor. I've enjoyed her in almost everything she's participated in.

Caught another Passionflix Quickie. Hooked ended up being a lot of fun. I loved having an older couple as the main characters.

Ended up watching a full two-parter of Silent Witness. Really liked the storylines and their outcomes even though both weren't optimal.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. This one features a biker club and, so far, it's pretty decent.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and liked the storylines. The reunion theme fit most of the scenes. The one confusing bit with the super-great surgeon maybe planted some seeds for future episodes. Not sure about that one.

Watched another episode of No Offence. I'm thoroughly enjoying the third series. Dinah and Viv are formidable and I love how Spike kind of slides in wherever he's needed. Good stuff.

Started a new arc of Classic Who. The second part of the key search isn't quite as interesting as the first, but I love K-9's interactions with everyone.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Past All Limits, a novella where my main characters have some issues to work out.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Scarlett Jayne and Dare Humphries have issues. Scarlett can't commit and Dare won't wait around. After a nasty breakup, the former couple is thrown together for a ribbon-cutting at a new training facility. Six months isn't quite enough time for them to be sharing space.

And a snippety peek…

Lance entered Dare's office in the gym. "Dare, look, about last night…"

Dare held up a hand. "Don't. I know Scarlett. It's a typical stunt she'd pull, but from now on, the locker room is off limits for hooking up." He didn't want the jealousy rolling in his gut, but it bubbled and churned anyway.

Lance shook his head. "Not a problem. We're not a thing and we won't be. For the record, I had no idea she's your ex and she had no clue you were backing the venue." He paced back and forth. "But, in the interest of full disclosure, there's another potential snag because she signed a contract and paid in full up front."

Dare closed his eyes. "Dammit, Bart." He exhaled a long, slow breath then met Lance's gaze. "Thanks for letting me know."

Lance nodded. "I'm sorry, Dare. I don't want to pry or get in the middle of any bad blood between you and Scarlett. We literally met when she left Bart's office. We had coffee. Met for dinner last night and, well, you know the rest." He paused and stopped before the desk. "I didn't go in thinking we'd be starting a relationship because she basically told me she's not looking for long-term right now—"

Dare cut him off with a snort. "Yeah, Scarlett doesn't do commitment."

Lance frowned. "She doesn't do anyone. I mean, she said I'm the first guy since … aw, fuck. Since you two broke up. Geez. I didn't put that together until right now." He raked a hand through his hair. "Shit, man. I'm sorry."

Dare's brain spun, trying to process everything. "Yeah, let's move on. Not trying to be a dick when I say that either. Scarlett and I are over. It's awkward and that can be the end of the discussion." He shrugged. "Not my business who she sleeps with—unless it happens here and I'd rather not have to deal with that scenario again." Except with Scarlett … that could happen.

Shit.

His gut churned again.

Lance held up both hands. "Understood." He motioned between them. "You and I okay? Because this is my dream job and if I've fucked it up, tell me now so I can go weep over my lost opportunity."

Dare's lips twitched. "We're good, man." He rose and waved Lance off. "Go on. I've got a meeting with Bart in five minutes. I'll catch you later for a sparring session if you're available."

Lance's head bobbed up and down. "I will be. Come find me." He turned and exited the office.

Dare heaved a sigh. "Signing a contract with fucking Scarlett. What the hell is Bart thinking?"

And why the hell does it bother me so much?

I love writing couples that clearly belong together but have to get out of their own way to make that happen.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin