Sunday Snippet: Vicarious Living

Whew. What a busy week leading up to my son's graduation tonight. Looking forward to watching him accept his diploma and start on the next phase of his journey.

I missed Gotham and hope to catch up after the craziness calms down.

The Flash's finale ended up being pretty good but I'm actually kind of hoping there won't be as much time travel shenanigans in the next season. Honestly, I like the ripple effect from Flashpoint but I'm hoping it's pretty much wrapped up.

Arrow. What a season-ender. I pretty much sat and blinked at the screen for a few seconds in stunned silence. Even seeing how the end would play out, I still ended up being shocked. LOL I really want the hiatus to fly by so I can find out who made it and who didn't.

I got through the first season of Iron Fist. I'm something of a completest and wanted to watch before The Defenders started. I don't know… I kind of like the setup for the next season with Joy and Davos possibly teaming up but I wouldn't mind seeing Madame Gao go down in flames.

I'm really struggling with Doctor Who. I'm looking forward to a new doctor and a new showrunner. I kind of long for the format Davies started and hope the new person goes back to something similar. I'm disappointed in the way everything is either overly convoluted or completely discombobulated. I shouldn't need a set of show notes to get all the nuances, right? Eh… here's hoping the next season is awesome.

And that's it for television. Orphan Black starts in two weeks and I'm excited!

Tonight's post is from Vicarious Living, a novella that started with a random conversation that popped into my head. I'm always happy when the sages drop little gems for me to polish and make shine.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Sometimes adversity can be overcome and living vicariously through fantasy proves to be a good thing. Lola Humes and Wright Wesslop discover a mutual way to cope when they meet at their group counseling sessions. They're not supposed to interact outside the anonymous therapy gatherings, but neither is very good at following the rules.

And a snippety peek…

She had him at "My name is Lola and I'm an alcoholic".

Wright Wesslop listened to the sultry scrape of her voice when she stood at the podium and gave a brief rundown of her progress.

"It's been five years since my last drink."

Wright hoped he'd attain the five year mark. So far, he'd been nine months without alcohol. He pushed the thought away and focused on the woman. Short blonde hair. Mesmerizing golden eyes. She dressed with care—casual but classic. The package she presented made him want to unwrap the layers and see what she hid beneath the surface.

Who would've thought the first woman to spark his interest in over two years would be at an AA meeting?

Did that rate him as a pervert?

No, just a red-blooded male.

One that had a drinking problem. No… used to. Determination to beat his addiction raged strong in his heart.

He kept his gaze on Lola when she moved away from the podium and returned to her seat. He finally looked away and shifted, restless and edgy but buzzing with adrenaline and surging with excitement.

"Okay, everyone, since no one else needs to share, we'll dismiss for the night." The sweet coordinator, Belinda, gave the room a wide smile. "It's been a great night. Thank you for coming. Plenty of coffee and cookies left; help yourselves on the way out." Moving away from the podium, she waved an arm toward the table containing the caffeine and sugar, staples for the Sixth Street Chapel meetings.

Wright normally made hasty tracks for the door when the group therapy sessions were over. Tonight, he made a beeline for the table and grabbed two cups of the strong, black brew and approached Lola.

He held a cup out. "Coffee?" A small shudder when through him when her fingers brushed his.

Lola's lips curved upward. "Thank you." She took a sip and closed her eyes. "Not bad. Tastes as good as it smelled when I walked in." With a sheepish twist to her mouth, she shrugged. "I couldn't drink anything when I got here. Too nervous."

Wright took the opening. "First meeting? I haven't seen you here before." He grabbed a cookie and nodded toward a secluded alcove. "It's quieter over here."

Lola followed but kept some distance between them. "I've been meeting free for almost a year." Her voice lowered. "A few trigger events brought me out because I want to stay sober. Meetings help with that."

Surprise and admiration warred for prominence in his mind. Surprise because she'd shared something intimate and admiration for the honest answer. Intrigued, Wright met her gaze and got lost in the shifting golden hues.

Yep. I'm a goner.

I'm quite happy with where my brainstorming session went with this one. Here's hoping the final product is as good as I hope.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: A Very Awkward Evening

Wow. Next week my second kidlet graduates from high school. I'm excited for him, yet I'm also wistful for the toddler with an overly large head—it's a family thing and he completely grew into the large noggin—that used to lob blocks and legos across the kiddie gate to get my attention. Next week's post might be an emotional one.

Anyway… on to the week's TV fare. Gotham kept things nice and interesting. I love the twisty-twist with Selena and Bruce. I'm also enjoying Ivy with Oswald. She's a nice foil to his manic craziness, maybe even better than Ngyma. I do have to wonder if Jim or someone else will ever find the knife Mario tried to kill Leigh with. Honestly, her anger with him is the only thing that kind of pulls me out of the show, even though it's justified and makes complete sense.

The Flash needs a rewatch. I didn't catch all of the episode and came in late. I'm looking forward to the resolution and hope things pay off in a big way.

Arrow delivered, as usual. Even with the over the top and almost unbelievable things Chase seems to manipulate, I have no doubt the showdown on Lian Yu will be worth it. Have to admit seeing Merlyn kind of surprised me, only a little because his name was mentioned. LOL I'm really not sure how I feel about Arrow's move to Thursdays next season. I'll hold off judgment for now. But it's one more day I have to wait for new episodes and that doesn't make me happy.

Not excited about waiting until fall for new episodes of The Last Ship. It's my summer must watch show and now it's not going to be on in the summer. Bleh.

Still looking forward to the Friday night block on Syfy at the end of June. If this gets changed, be prepared for an epic rant. With Orphan Black airing its final season in June also, the month looks to be terrific.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from A Very Awkward Evening, a novella that got started with a prompt of "let's eat". I got a specific picture in my mind when I read it and, so far, it's holding up as I continue filling in the blanks.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Vi Palona's rock star mom wants a sit down meeting with Garwin Noth's academic parents, which Vi keeps putting off because her mother, Mina, has no edit button. When Mina crashes a birthday dinner, Vi figures her mom can't do much damage… but five minutes into the meal she learns how wrong she is.

And a snippety peek…

Mina made a show of waggling her eyebrows. "I gotta say, Lance, I'd have never let a smokin' hot man like you get away." She side-eyed everyone at the table then leaned in close to Gar's dad. "In fact, I'm pretty sure I'd keep you tied to my bed so you couldn't possibly escape."

Lance choked back a response. Janis, well, she definitely had a reaction. She balled up her napkin and half rose from her seat. Vi wanted to crawl under the table but the look of murder in Janis's eyes had her picking up her eating utensils instead.

She cut a healthy piece of chicken off her baked breast. "Let's eat. I'm starved." She sent Janis an apologetic glance then popped the bite into her mouth.

Hiding an inappropriate smile, Gar silently followed suit, scooping up some noodles and twirling them onto his fork.

Janis opened her mouth, closed it, then nodded and sat back down. "Yes, let's." She raised her wine glass and drained it in one long gulp.

Not very academic, but Vi gave the woman props for not tossing the liquid in her mother's face. Mina cheerfully refilled Janis's goblet and topped off everyone else's.

She raised her glass. "To a wonderful evening…" Glancing in Lance's direction, she smiled when everyone took a sip of their drink. "And maybe a steamy night."

Lance sputtered and broke out in a coughing fit. Janis drained her glass again. Gar threw his head back and laughed.

Vi closed her eyes and prayed for lightning to strike. Or a fire might be nice. Anything to shut her mom up.

After a ten count, Vi blinked and discovered her mom's gaze resting on Gar. "You know, Garwin, it's easy to tell where you got your incredible looks from." She jerked her head toward Lance. "I'll assume you got your smarts from him, too."

Gar opened his mouth then promptly closed it again. Lance kept his eating, not making eye contact with anyone. Janis squared her jaw, no doubt biting her tongue to stay silent. What the hell could anyone possibly say to Mina's blatant shit-stirring? Vi stared daggers in her mother's direction.

Mina's eyes went wide. "What? I'm just—"

Vi interrupted. "Doing and saying whatever the fuck you want? Waving your rock star notoriety at full mast? Yeah, Mina, we all get it." Burning with humiliation, Vi shoved her chair back and stood. "For you, being a bitch trumps all. So, thanks, Mom, for staying true to form and trashing everything within an hour of blowing into town." She tossed her napkin on the table and stalked from the room.

Mina could stay or go but Vi didn't want to be within three feet of the woman.

Ever. Again.

Honestly? This one is actually a lot of fun. Working through family drama is sometimes a challenge, but I'm loving this.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Veritas

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. It's a beautiful day in Ohio and I hope to enjoy the weather for a while.

Another terrific week in television. Gotham keeps working the crazy and I'm loving it. The blending of three or more plot threads is terrific and I hope we continue seeing a nice mix of all.

I missed most of The Flash. See crazy month starting for me last post. But, I'll catch up before Tuesday's new episode.

Arrow delivered another great episode. I love having Thea back even if it might only be for a little while. I'm not sure what's going on with Rene, but it'll be interesting to see how that plays out. Something tells me Chase might have something to do with why he didn't show up. I'm truly hoping the final showdown ends up being between Oliver and Talia with a little Nyssa thrown in.

Riverdale's season finale rocked! The first arc is finished and the second one opened with a serious bang. I'm honestly excited to see what the hell happens next. It'll be a major wrench in the Arch / Ronnie duo if her dad had anything to do with Fred's shooting. And something tells me that's a big possibility. Then again, I won't be surprised if that's a red herring and Mayor McCoy is actually the one behind the violence. Or maybe even Hermione. I'll have to wait not-so-patiently to find out. LOL

Last Sunday's Talking with Chris Hardwick turned out to be an excellent show. I'm a Charlie Hunnam fan and having him on for the entire hour was terrific. I love Chris's laid back style a lot.

Finally got caught up on Murdoch Mysteries and, wow, what a season finale. Definitely hope the show is renewed for an eleventh season.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Veritas, a novella that got a start with a two-word prompt of "hello world". What a fun prompt for something of a serious premise.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tillie Cruz has a moment of veritas when she shoots Faxon Jarvis in a friendly fire incident. The realization she wants a life with him may be too late because Faxon has a new relationship and Tillie doesn't want to mess it up. But she may not have to—her bullet may have done the trick.

And a snippety peek…

I get the job done.

Tillie's parting words echoed in Faxon's head at least once a day. But he didn't waste time making up arguments to prove her wrong. Okay, he didn't do it often. Not anymore. The first month of their breakup, he'd come up with dozens of counterpoint comebacks.

He snorted. "For all the damned good it did." Which, yeah, meant none at all.

She transferred to a new unit, effectively sending the message she didn't need or want contact with him. Fine. Hint taken.

Moving forward, he spent the second Tillie-free month going out with a variety of women. Nothing big, mainly testing the waters again. A good experience but not his thing.

Craving his morning joe, he ducked into the coffee shop and waited his turn in line.

A new barista smiled. "Hi, welcome to Jumpin' Joe. What can I create for you today?" She gave him a flirty look from beneath her lashes.

He like the package. A saucy ponytail swished behind her head. Dark hair and eyes and she made the bright blue apron, worn over her white collared shirt and khaki pants, look terrific. He definitely couldn't say that about all the employees who worked there.

Faxon took the bait. "An Americano with your name would be great." He flashed a grin.

She laughed and held up a finger. "Give me one sec. I'll make the most amazing Americano you've ever had." She bounced up on her toes. "I always get the job done." Spinning around, she got busy putting his drink together.

I always get the job done.

Faxon huffed out a breath. "It's gotta be kismet." If she gave him her name, he'd ask her out.

She turned back and handed him his order. "I hope you enjoy your joe." Her gaze dropped to the cup in his hand.

He glanced down. Maisie. She'd given him her name.

And better yet… she'd written in her number directly below.

Faxon paid for his coffee and thanked Maisie with a wink.

Exiting the shop, he hummed a jaunty tune and strolled down the block. The day looked to be shaping up nicely and, for once, he couldn't wait to be off shift to see what the night would bring.

I rather like how quickly Faxon is getting back out there. We'll see if Tillie feels the same way.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Using Tongue

Well, a crazy month begins for me this week. For whatever reason, May is always insane. Awards ceremonies, musical concerts, and, this year, a graduation. I'm just now starting to feel the feels about my middle kidlet ending his high school journey and getting ready to embark on his trip through adulthood. I should be more in the camp of two down, one to go and I'll get there… probably the day after we get the party out of the way. LOL

Television this week ended up being terrific. Gotham had a great episode with a few twists I didn't foresee. I'm still on the fence with the whole owl society thing, but I'm leaning toward liking where things are going.

The Flash ended up surprising me with the reveal of Savitar. I thought maybe Ronnie or Jay would end up being behind the suit, or possibly Thawne in some roundabout way. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the episodes play out.

Arrow's episode reminded me again why I love this show so much. It's been a little uneven this season but the show always pulls everything together in ways I don't expect. I can't wait for Wednesday to get here for the next installment!

Riverdale's reveals paid off in a big way. At least for me. I have several items on my wish list for the finale and some saved back for the next season. I'm excited for the possibilities with Cheryl and where she'll go, seeing how the dynamic plays out in the Cooper household, and what happens with everyone caught in the potential crossfire. What I'm not overly excited about? Hiram Lodge. Seriously. I kind of don't care a fig about that dude, especially if he's all oily and smarmy and goes out of his way to be a dick. We'll see. I'm watching closely, CW. Don't muck this up.

My summer shows should be returning soon and I'm looking forward to watching my favorites. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up on some of the mainstream fare I missed also.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Using Tongue, a sexy short that got a prompted start with "personal space invasion". How could this one not be fun?

Here's the mini-blurb:

Joss Hellenburg hates licorice and Lisa Getz aims to show him why he should learn to love it—by using her tongue during a hot and steamy kiss—which sets up a series of sexy embraces while the two try to outdo each other.

And a snippety peek…

A few days later, Lisa remembered the plan. They'd been exhausted after serving a larger than usual crowd and both fell into bed when they got home.

But neither had anything planned for the evening and Joss wanted to cook a new recipe. Lisa gladly handed over chef duties for the day. She appreciated having a man who cooked better than she did.

The only problem? She had killer hunger pangs. A quick breakfast and skipping lunch made her almost lightheaded.

A smile curved her lips. A sweet treat wouldn't be remiss. Crossing to the side table, she rifled through her bag and withdrew her stash of licorice twists. Pulling off two, she quickly scarfed one down then went to find Joss in the kitchen.

She'd convince him to give the yummy black candy a try. Or figure out why he had such a hate on for the stuff. Joss had a pretty developed palette. The sweet anise and clove flavor should really ping for his taste buds.

Walking into the breakfast nook, she paused to admire the view. Joss's t-shirt stretched across his chest and his forearms flexed when he chopped the scallions. His handsome profile—strong jaw, planed cheekbones, and long, straight nose—made her stomach flip. Five years together and he still took her breath away.

He glanced up and narrowed his eyes. "You're up to no good." Focusing on the greens again, he finished slicing and scooped them into the sauté skillet.

Lisa placed her free hand over her heart. "I'm wounded you think I'm here to cause trouble." She angled in behind Joss, standing on tiptoe to nibble on his neck. "I'm just here to eat. I'm starving." Her stomach cooperated and growled.

Joss stepped away from the stovetop and planted his hands on her hips. "Then what's behind your back?" A sly smirk twisted his lips.

Lisa nudged her chin up. "Gimme a kiss and I'll tell you." She made a fish lip face.

Joss leaned in and kissed her hard on the mouth. "I'm not eating licorice. But nice try." He picked up his spatula and stirred the scallions around.

Lisa laughed. "Dammit. And I thought I was so sneaky." She bit off a piece and chewed slowly.

Joss cocked a brow. "Think again, I'm on to your stealthy ways." Dumping a bowl of cooked pasta into the pan, he nodded toward the table. "Dinner in five. If you wouldn't mind setting up?" He swirled the penne into the sauce and tossed the pan a few times.

Lisa finished off the candy and got the dishes and silverware. She set the items at their spots then grabbed a couple of glasses and a bottle of wine. Joss might have caught her this time, but she'd prevail.

Soon.

I love writing a play on words and this one is very fun. Between coming up with ideas and visualizing the outcomes, it's a joy to work on.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Up the Ante

So… last day of April is here and I'm finally starting to realize I have a kid graduating in a month. It's my second experience, my oldest graduated five years ago, but, wow, reality hits in weird ways. LOL I've got a party to plan and things to make happen.

Thank goodness for television when I need a reality break. Gotham came back with a vengeance and delivered a very fun hour of TV. While the whole owl society thing makes me roll my eyes, I have a feeling the payoff will end up being worth it.

The Flash returned with a great episode. I'm not feeling as much love for this season's overall arc, but I do enjoy this show so much. I have two working theories for who revealed themselves to Kaitlyn and either makes me very excited.

Arrow continues to be my favorite show. Having Felicity go dark side is an interesting twist, even if it feels a little forced sometimes. Throwing ARGUS in and creating tension and conflict with John makes me happy. Looking forward to seeing how the season ends.

Riverdale upped the stakes again. My twitter feed is half and half on the love / hate for the show. Personally, I love it. There are some terrific little twists that make me happy. And I thoroughly enjoy the grown-ups getting caught up in their own drama and how that plays out between the kids.

I haven't really mentioned Doctor Who. There's a reason for that. While I really like the new companion and the sidekick, I'm just not excited about this season. I'll be happy to get through and see who Thirteen will be. Hopefully we'll get a new Master, too.

Class isn't bad. It's not quite the same as Sarah Jane's adventures, but it's got a good vibe and I like the interactions with the characters.

I've been busy enough to not really have time to catch up on my binge watch shows. With nicer weather, my cleaning gene kicks in and I start mini-projects that tend to last the entire summer. LOL

That's it for TV this week. Tonight's post is from Up the Ante, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt of have the main characters "manipulate" each other under a poker table. How could I possibly resist that one?

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mutual satisfaction starts at the poker table when Vianca Berry and Fritz Hattenfield begin a flirtatious game that ups the ante of their new relationship.

And a snippety peek…

Vianca Berry finished up the work on a sweet, classic motorcycle. "How the hell did I land this job?" A dream gig, she couldn't have asked for anything better.

She split her time between tending bar and wrenching cars and bikes. Bartending came easy. She'd learned at her father's knee. It helped she had good genes and an easygoing personality. Wrenching proved harder. Not the actual mechanical aspect, getting anyone to take her seriously.

Then she met Fritz Hattenfield.

"Sex on two legs." Vi grimaced and glanced around, making sure no one overheard her description.

Geez, she needed to quit talking out loud, especially to herself.

But the description fit. The man oozed masculine appeal. Tall, built, and with just enough edge to make her crave being around him.

Danger, Vi, danger.

She snorted out a laugh. "Get a grip, girl." Rising, she turned and bumped into the object of her latest fantasies.

Fritz gripped her shoulders and quirked an eyebrow. "Chatting up the oil stains again?" His lips curved in a sexy twist.

Vi gave him a smirk. "You know me, Fritzie. Can't help myself." The wall of his chest against her arms seared her skin.

Tight t-shirts shouldn't look so good on a man.

He stepped away, his palms sliding down to her forearms. "As long as they don't start talking back." His lips twitched and he winked.

Vi laughed. "So far, so good." She turned back toward the bike. "She's all finished. Want me to call Bosco and let him know?"

Fritz shook his head. "Nah. He'll be over right after work." He nodded toward the clubhouse across the parking lot. "He can't ride her before he finishes his shift."

Bosco belonged to the Wayfarer's Motorcycle Club and worked as a rad tech at the local hospital. Fritz owned the club and held the charter position as president. Half her salary came from being the bartender and the other half came from Fritz's garage.

So the man should really be off-limits.

But her libido urged her to go for it.

Vi resisted—she enjoyed the early flirtation stage too much to bypass it completely.

Quirking a smile, she planted her hands on his chest, enjoying the twitch of his pecs, and pushed back and away. "Better get this moved out into the lot then." She grabbed the handlebars and shoved the hulking machine toward the bay door.

She definitely got a workout moving the heavy motorcycles around, which helped her legs and ass look outstanding. Or so she'd been told. The low rumble of appreciation coming from Fritz reinforced the notion.

Vi glanced over her shoulder. "When you're done staring at my ass, maybe you could give a hand?" She laughed when Fritz blinked and shook his head.

He stepped up. "Right, yeah. Let me." Maneuvering the cycle into the lot, he wrestled it into a space. "Not my fault you've got the best ass I've seen in years, Vi. Can't blame a guy for admiring the view." Placing the kickstand down, he met her gaze.

Vi cracked a grin. "Not blaming you, Fritzie. But you could return the favor and let me follow you into the clubhouse." She made a twirling motion with her finger, indicating he needed to precede her.

His mouth twisted in a wry smirk. "Always aim to please." He wiggled his butt back and forth before smacking a hand on the left, jean-clad cheek.

Vi threw her head back and laughed.

Then thoroughly enjoyed the view.

I'm having fun with this one. It's not huge on conflict but the tension is way fun to write.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Underfoot

Well, my youngest attended our local prom last night and she looked so beautiful. I'm always amazed I had a hand in creating my kids. They're good people. J

Gotham returns Monday! I'm pretty excited for the final half of this season. Also looking forward to having my CW shows back with new episodes. And the summer TV fare isn't looking too bad either.

My work schedule is jammed and I love it! I like to stay busy, even when it cuts into my writing time. I could live with about four more hours each day, but I'm getting a lot better at managing personal with professional.

Tonight's post is from Underfoot, a novella that got a writing community prompt beginning. One character is a reclusive writer struggling with their latest novel; the other is a beautiful / handsome stranger that shows up when their car breaks down. What a kick-ass scenario!

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nona Rack, a footloose artist and Jane of all trades, breaks down beside reclusive author West Wentworth's house at two am during a blinding snowstorm. The cranky writer lets her stay, even though she's underfoot, and before he knows it, he's discovered a new muse.

And a snippety peek…

West Wentworth snarled at the interruption. A quick glance at his watch showed the time to be two a.m. Who the hell would disturb him at such a late hour? Didn't matter. The last chapter sucked balls. He couldn't get a handle on his newest heroine and his frustration showed in the prose.

Another series of knocks sounded and he got up, stalking through the house to answer the door. Whoever waited outside, better have a damn good reason for being there.

Throwing the deadbolt, he yanked the heavy oak slab inward. Icy air swirled around him and he blinked. Jesus, when did the weather turn so crappy?

A huge coat stood in front of him. A parka with faux fur trim, hiding a face with an upturned nose. The nose caught his attention followed by the cupid-bow lips. Words swirled in his head and he committed them to memory.

Slender fingers pushed the hood back, revealing a little more of his visitor. Dark hair, clear green eyes. He blinked again, hoping like hell the vision in front of him didn't turn out to be a hallucination.

She launched into an explanation. "Sorry to bother you, especially at an ungodly hour, but I slid off the road and my car is stuck." She tilted her head up a little to meet his gaze. "I'm pretty sure I won't get anyone to come out until this blizzard lets up." The wind picked that moment to bluster, spraying both with icy pellets.

West quirked an eyebrow. "What do you want me to do?" No way would he be pushing a car anywhere in this weather.

She studied him a moment. "Allow me to impose and let me stay until morning?" She rushed on. "At least until I can get a look at the damage." Her lips twitched. "I swear I'm not hiding an ax under this huge coat." She patted the front down then wiggled back and forth.

She shoved her hood all the off. He resisted the urge to picture what she looked like without the hulking jacket.

And, hell, she looked harmless enough. He stepped back, inviting her in with a sweep of his arm and a frown. The timing couldn't be worse with his deadline looming and no finished manuscript.

He waited until she brushed past him before speaking. "Fine, you can stay. But don't expect me to entertain you." He closed the door and turned to find her removing her coat and toeing off her boots.

She flashed a grateful smile. "No problem. A place to plant my ass is all I need." Moving by him, she placed her footwear by the door and swung her parka on the coatrack. "Nona Rack, by the way. Thanks again." Her hand shot out in front of him.

West took her palm in his. "West Wentworth." He definitely noticed her ass when she nodded and turned to move further into his home.

He shook his head. Too long without a woman, buddy. He stepped up, grasping her elbow and directed her into the den—a leather-infused nightmare left over from his dad, but it had a murphy bed she could sleep on. He tugged the latch to lower the frame to the floor.

She took everything in without comment, helping to fluff up the pillows.

He grabbed an extra blanket from the back of the sofa. "Bathroom is down the hall to the left, third door on the right." Soaking up the pleasing picture she made, sitting on the edge of the mattress, he reined in his imagination. "There should be linens in the closet if you want a shower in the morning." He started toward the door.

She rose, following him. "Thank you. Seriously. I won't get in the way and I'll try to be out of here as soon as possible." She paused at the threshold. "Um… good night."

His lips curved upward. "'Night." He stared at the door longer than necessary after she closed it.

Oddly rejuvenated, he strolled to his office and sat down, his fingers hovering over the keyboard only a moment before words starting pouring out.

Maybe a late night visitor wouldn't prove to be a bad thing.

Honestly? I'm having a load of fun writing this. There's a chance it's not going to go in exactly the direction I originally planned and I love it when that happens.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Under the Influence (South of the Border)

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. I'm always down for baked ham, mashed potatoes, and noodles. Also, the weather couldn't be more beautiful today.

Thoroughly enjoyed Talking with Chris Hardwick last week. I truly enjoy his casual approach to interviewing. He's such a fan of everything and it shows.

Not much on television this week. I'm looking forward to the return of my lineup.

Riverdale had a great episode. Secrets and sins run deep in the small town and it's so cool to see the interesting ways both get exposed. It'll be fun to see how Archie's mom mixes it up with everyone.

Had a busy work week but had some time to look forward to some returning shows. It looks like Syfy on Fridays will be awesome this summer. Killjoys, Dark Matter, and Wynonna Earp all in one block? Doesn't get much better.

And that's it for television. Tonight's post is from Under the Influence, a South of the Border novella. I'm really hoping to dive back in to this world and finish up a couple of related books.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When her father dies, Lilith Jans inherits a piece of hotly sought after property in Mexico. She also unknowingly takes on an unpaid debt, which puts her life in danger. Hayden Knoxville makes her an offer she wants to refuse, but can't—sell to him and he'll deal with the men coming to collect payment.

And a sneaky peek…

Lars Rademacher blinked and shook his head. "Wait, Kier, back everything up a moment." He grabbed her hand and tugged her down beside him. "What does Maria need our help with?" He'd happily give the woman a kidney if necessary.

After all, she took Kiernan in when she had no one else. And she welcomed him with open arms—something he didn't take for granted.

Kier curled up on the lounge chair and got comfortable. "Her niece, Lilith, inherited her father's bar two towns over. Maria is beside herself. She's so happy Lilith is coming down, hopefully to stay, but…" She paused a moment, frowning.

Lars prodded for more. "But… what? Kier, what's going on?" Not like his Kier to keep things bottled up.

Not since they'd reunited and got their lives back.

Kier angled toward him, heaving a sigh. "Maria thinks a big problem will keep Lilith from sticking around." She snagged his beer and took a drink.

There's a story here. "Start at the beginning, Kier. How is Lilith related to Maria? Mom's side? Dad's side?" He retrieved the bottle and emptied the contents.

Kier reached into the cooler and grabbed another. "Her mom, Jauanita, is—was—Maria's sister." A smile twisted her lips. "According to Maria, they were different as night and day. Maria likes the slower pace of her cantina. You know, steady flow of customers, mostly locals who she's known her whole life. Jaunita preferred bigger crowds, a faster pace. She opened a beachside bar and gained quite a reputation for good food, great service, and primo events." She popped the top off the beer and handed it to Lars. "Juanita met Lilith's dad down here when he was on vacation. Two months later, he bought in to the bar and they got married."

Lars tilted the bottle and took a long swallow. "Okay, what happened to Juanita?"

It's so much fun to revisit Lars and Kiernan, the couple who started the South of the Border series.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin