Sunday Snippet: Anything Goes

We're entering week … eh, I'm not even sure … of the social distancing and I'm truly hoping we start to see the case numbers come down. We're doing what we can to stay inside and away from others. We do try to order from our local restaurants a night or two a week to help support the establishments.

Had a slower than normal week of television viewing. I started out by finishing up Strike Back's third episode. I'm very excited for the rest of the season. I also caught the declassified short for this episode.

I started a new episode of Blue Heelers and hope to finish it this upcoming week. So far, I'm truly enjoying this show.

Watched the end of a Gargoyles episode and got two more in. I don't remember Xanatos being such a cheesy villain when I watched this show with my oldest. Man, he is one though.

Started the first season of The Witcher. Gotta say I'm intrigued. Here's hoping the rest of the season measures up.

For fun, I watched the blooper reel for Dirty, Sexy Saint and laughed out loud a couple of times. I love how much behind the scenes Passionflix shares with its members.

Caught another episode of Arrow. I'm not sure if it's because I know it's ending or if the writing has just kicked it up a notch but I can honestly say I end up getting all choked up with tears in every episode so far. We're getting to the home stretch so I don't expect that to change.

Also watched another episode of Murdoch Mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed it. Having the ladies take center stage was much appreciated. I'm a little intrigued by Violet showing her sharpened teeth, which probably won't bode well for William and Julia in the next two episodes. That said, I'll be happy if Miss Violet Hart ends up going down in flames. I'm not a fan.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Anything Goes, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

On the eve of Olivia Barton and Luke Johnston's wedding, their friends and coworkers at the twelfth precinct throw a rehearsal 'roast' for the couple. Their unconventional courtship is chronicled for everyone to enjoy and none of the names are changed to protect anybody.

And a snippety peek…

Hiro's chuckle brought Olivia out of the memory. "I gotta say, that day goes down as one of the most interesting ever…" He launched into the results of the target shoot.

Olivia's lips quirked. Interesting might be an understatement. Especially with the outcome of their competition. And the reveal of whom her partner happened to be.

Her partner removed his headset and poked his head around the corner of the booth. "Shall we?" His gaze flicked to Teague, who controlled the retrieval system.

Olivia, confident and certain, nodded. "Absolutely. If I didn't beat that Luke guy's score, I came damned close." She placed her firearm on the counter and barely caught the frown marring her witness's face.

She shrugged off the sour look and chalked it up to his fear she'd done better than he had.

Hiro printed out the results and brought them down, handing the pages to the competitors.

Olivia fist-pumped the air. "Ha! I did it! I beat Johnston's score." Her hips wiggled in a victory dance.

Teague cocked his head and pinned her witness with a cagey stare. "She doesn't know, does she?" His lips twitched briefly.

Her partner shrugged. "Didn't see the need to put undue pressure on a cadet." He handed her his sheet … with a score that matched hers.

Olivia's shoulders slumped. "Crap." Her face brightened. "But, hey, we both beat the record holder." She'd love to see the look on Johnston's face when he found out he'd been dethroned.

Hiro laughed. "Ah, man. You're gonna be disappointed, Burton." He all but slapped his leg with glee.

Olivia frowned. "What are you talking about?" She kind of hated not being in on the joke.

Her witness held out a hand. "Cadet Burton, I'm—"

Teague cut in. "No, no. Let me." He sobered and got all serious. "Cadet Burton, it's my great pleasure to introduce you to Luke Johnston, the reigning range champion." He paused. "Correction, the reigning cochampion now, at least for the single target test."

Olivia's mouth dropped open. "Ah, hell." Her face burned and heated with embarrassment. "You could've told me." She'd just made a complete idiot of herself.

Luke flashed a megawatt smile. "And ruin your fun? No way. Besides, I didn't want to throw you off your game. Knowing who I was might've altered the outcome."

She couldn't deny the truth of his statement. "Okay, that's a valid point." She stuck her hand out this time. "It's nice to meet you." And share the new record with him.

Luke grasped her palm. "I look forward to seeing how many of my other records you smash through." His eyebrows rose with the challenge issued.

She grinned. "Me too."

A round of applause and Hiro's parting shot pulled her from the memory.

"To date, they're still competing and playing on-up with each other."

He left to take his seat and John hurried to the podium.

Olivia shot Luke a quick glance. "I'm pretty sure we made Teague's entire week back then." She leaned into him, happy to revisit that day.

Luke nuzzled her temple. "More like his entire decade. He tells that story to all the new recruits now."

John took over again, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Guys, I can safely say Luke went down in flames that day. He came into the bar that night, singing the praises of the new recruit." He sent Luke a knowing smirk. "I knew that moment my friend had it bad for Cadet Burton … but Olivia … well, she took quite a bit longer to fall under Luke's spell. Especially when the next time they met, she ended up in a holding cell for almost twelve hours."

Olivia groaned. "Oh, he would go there."

Luke grimaced. "Not my best moment, that's for sure."

I love writing the courtship of Olivia and Luke. This couple is unconventional and fun.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Along the Shore

Gotta say, the whole limiting of physical distance and having my youngest's senior year pretty much cancelled is both easier and harder than I thought it would be. I have three people in the house who are pretty much deemed essential workers. One is in food production and the other two are grocery workers. If the reins get tighter on limiting movement, I'm pretty sure they won't get a break.

For me, as someone who's worked from home for the past decade or so, it's business as usual for the most part. I have more interruptions than usual but otherwise, my routine hasn't changed overmuch. There's something comforting in that.

Had a semi-decent week of watching television. I finished up the Heart Guy from last week and I'll give it a go. I have a feeling this one is going to have messy relationships and I always like train-wreck shows.

Also caught another arc of Classic Who. It's always fun to see the effects from the late sixties and early seventies. Doctor Who isn't any better or worse for shows of its time.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I'm finally starting to get into the relationships and getting to know the villagers. I love the scenery in the show.

Caught the livestream of the Dropkick Murphys concert on St. Patrick's Day. Terrific show and highly entertaining. I hope to catch some of the Broadway shows that are available for streaming also.

Watched the rest of season one of Danger Man. I'll be starting season two in the upcoming week.

Started episode three of Strike Back. Nice to have a familiar face back in the fold. Also, Chetri is really growing on me. She's got quite a personality and interacting more as an equal with the rest of the team. I love that.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Along the Shore, a South of the Border novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Vail Ericsson, a freelance security expert and skilled tracker, can find anyone for a price. But when he trails Ellery Quantrell to Mexico, he discovers she's not an escapee but a target and his role changes from pursuer to protector, whether Ellery wants him as a shield or not.

And a snippety peek…

Vail kept Ellery close, dodging through the busiest streets he could find. Every couple of blocks a pop followed by a bullet striking near them started pissing Vail off. They had to have spotter somewhere. He needed to find a secure location and make a call. He had a contact close by, if scuttlebutt proved accurate. He and Ellery could take cover there and figure out what to do next.

Another shot narrowly missed his shoulder and Vail snarled. "Son of a bitch. That one was too close." He stuck his head around a corner and found the alley filled with delivery trucks.

Ellery snorted. "Not fun when you're a target, is it?" She stepped back, but another bullet landed several inches away.

Vail frowned. Either Puchenko hired incompetent idiots or they were missing on purpose. Even the shot that landed close to his shoulder wouldn't have killed him, only incapacitated him, leaving Ellery vulnerable.

He took a moment to assess the situation. Ellery had a biting tongue and bitchy attitude, but she'd either cooperate with him … or risk dying. Her options sucked worse than his and Vail didn't think she had a death wish, although stealing from Puchenko called her intelligence into question.

"Hello." Her fingers snapped in front of his face. "The gunfire stopped. Are you paying attention here?"

He growled. "Yes, dammit. We're going to make a run for the stone building across the alley and up two blocks. Do you see the one I mean?" He glanced down, meeting her bold stare.

She peered over his shoulder then nodded. "Yeah, I see it. And then what?" Her head swiveled and she checked behind them.

Vail didn't respond until they were in the alley. "Then I make a call to a friend of mine." God damn, he hoped he still had a friend.

Word had gone around his contact no longer did covert ops. But once an agent, always an agent. He'd still have calls forwarded to whatever number he happened to be using at the moment. And the guy owed Vail at least one ginormous favor for stitching up the deep and ugly wound he received in a wicked knife fight. Damn fool man.

A lot like Vail at the moment. He cursed his employers for wanting Ellery Quantrell found. He lamented the fact she'd taken money from Ivan Puchenko. Why the hell a woman who looked like her would cross Ivan had Vail stymied.

But the agency wanted her, and they'd get her … if Vail didn't kill her first. Or the team shooting bullets their way didn't take them out. A flash of guilt gnawed his gut. Ellery had walked away from Puchenko—no easy feat—and managed to stay hidden for two months. Okay, six weeks. He'd tracked her to Mexico and spent two weeks learning her habits and movements. But she'd pegged it earlier. Ivan's men showed up on the very day he finally made contact? Too much of a coincidence. Either they'd followed him or Ivan had someone at the agency feeding him information. Which sucked balls. Because Vail wouldn't reach out for backup and put their lives in even more danger. Instead he'd call in a favor and hope like hell it didn't bite him in the ass.

Vail found an unlocked door, pushed it open and shoved Ellery inside. She whirled around, shooting him a death glare.

He kicked the door shut, but not before she planted a hand on his chest. "If you drag, push, shove, or in any other way manhandle me, I swear you'll be heaving your guts up…" Her gaze dropped to his groin area. "Is that perfectly clear?"

Vail smirked. "Yes, ma'am. Crystal." He set about securing the exit, barring the heavy wood with some metal rebar then stacking several wooden crates in front to provide some cover.

Ellery folded her arms under her breasts. "A little overkill, isn't it?" She lifted a brow. "There wasn't any more gunfire once we crossed the alley."

Vail snarled. "They're regrouping and planning their next move." He dug his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his list. "Time to make that call." He pushed send and hoped like hell the old code he planned to use would let his friend know Vail needed some serious ass-kicking help.

The call went to voice mail and Vail uttered one word. "Apollo."

God of the hunt but also a healer. The code lingo might be old, but the meaning should be clear.

Ellery heaved a sigh. "Now what?" She wandered around the small storage room.

Vail found an old folding chair and set it in front of her. "Now, we wait."

I'm having a ton of fun writing the dialog between Vail and Ellery. She's not thrilled Vail found her and at this point neither is he.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: All Day Sucker (Bonus Read featuring Brian and Lucy)

March 15, 2020

Yeesh, it's practically winter again. We had a bit of sun, rain, and snow today. Crazy. But I got to meet up with my two high school best friends for our last excursion before we hang back and wait to see what the global pandemic ends up doing.

Had a lighter than normal work week and got some cleaning done. I had some decent viewing also. Started out with finishing up the second episode of Strike Back. It ended up being a darned terrific episode. I have a nasty feeling how the series will end. Anytime a blood feud is mentioned … just saying.

I caught several episodes of Danger Man, putting me about halfway through the first season. Really like this show.

Watched an episode of Arrow and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Russia. Also loved how John brought Roy back into the fold. I should be getting close to the big crossover event.

Got the Halloween episode of Riverdale in. Gotta say the whole Jason thing really creeps me out. Mr. Honey also creeps me out. I'm a Reggie fan even though he can be something of a douche canoe. I loved the Archie and Veronica storylines. But the best probably had to be the Betty and Jughead bits. Stonewall or whatever the hell the name of the prep school is has some dark twisty people. And, of course, Betty's ordeal with the prank phone calls ended up being well done. I'm not sure what the hell Charles is up to but here's hoping it's not something truly crappy. The little end caps with the flash forwards keep me intrigued.

Also watched an episode of Murdoch Mysteries. Loved the clip-show angle and revisiting the Meyer / Clegg rivalry. I had a true suspicion Clegg wasn't actually dead. That said, I'm not sure I like the fact he's not. Just saying.

Started a new series for me … The Heart Guy. I'm giving it a test run to see if it's what I want to dive into now that I've reached the end of Midsomer Murders for now.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from All Day Sucker, a sexy short featuring Lucy and Brian from the Black Unicorn Comics series. This will end up as a free read eventually.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Brian and Lucy Need have competing comic book series, a friendly rivalry, and a terrific, sexy relationship. When Brian is blocked on his next installment, Lucy provides some steamy inspiration to help him get through it.

And a snippety peek…

Oh no, he's blocked.

Lucy Sanderson pushed away from the wall. "How bad is it?" She entered the bullpen area and crossed over to Brian's desk.

He jerked to a sitting position. "Damn, Luce. You scared the shit out of me." He rolled a shoulder in answer to her question about his writer's block.

She propped her hip on his desk. "I woke up alone and figured, after last night's toss and turn session, you'd be here." Nudging him with her knee, she waited until he met her gaze. "Might help if you tell me what's going on." At least the words would be out there and possibly clear out the cobwebs.

Brian sighed. "If I knew what was going on, I wouldn't bloody well be here at ugly o'clock in the morning." He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "I'd be home with you, snugged up in bed." His head dropped and his shoulders slumped.

Lucy pursed her lips. Not like Brian to get all bent over their work. Then again, both were flying without a net and pushing past their comfort zones. Maybe a distraction would help…

She stooped down and nudged him upward. "Hey … talk to me. You've got a great idea with the spinoff. What's holding you back?" Her palms glided along his thighs, the silky fabric of his workout pants cool under her touch.

He exhaled with a long breath. "I can't visualize. Or … more like I can't stop at one place long enough for a scene to form. The ideas are there, but they're out of order or randomly popping up in my mind. I can't write that way." He snagged a pen and twisted it back and forth between his fingers.

Lucy nodded. "Yeah, that sucks. And you're feeling the pressure because Reg wants the issues nailed down before we go into production." She worked her hands under his T-shirt, lightly tracing the skin. "You know the broad strokes, right? The details are being elusive…" She trailed off, glancing up for confirmation.

Brian lifted his chin. "Sums it up, yeah." His head dropped back onto the chair. "The ideas are flowing but they're a blur. Kinda like fast-forward hyped up on caffeine. It's maddening." A frustrated growl escaped.

Lucy had the perfect plan to help Brian break out of his funk. The bulge under his pants suggested he'd definitely be up for her idea. Now to convince him…

Her fingers dipped under the waistband and grabbed the fabric. "You know … Zapf once told me there's no better way to manage a lack of focus than to work for a reward." She started inching the garment down and lifted her chin, indicating Brian should raise his hips so she could expose his groin.

He gave her a narrow-eyed look but complied. "Should I be pissed at Z-man?" He let the pants pool around his ankles.

Lucy grasped Brian's partially hardened shaft. "Nah. Zapf was referring to the two full drawers of food he keeps stashed at his desk. When he's staring at a blank page, he'll add empty panels to get started then snag a snack. You know … as his reward." Lucy gave Brian's dick a light squeeze. "Then he'll add color or maybe some quick outlines in each square, anything to show progress." Brian's cock responded, filling her palm.

Brian gave a nod. "So, the idea here is you provide stimulation as a reward if I finally get rolling on this?" He grunted. "It could work, but I'm still not sure where to start."

Lucy grinned. "Try bullet points first." Her fingers curled around his erection, tugging up and down. "Doesn't matter how sloppy they are. Just jot each idea on the page. You can organize them later." When Brian grabbed his pen, she leaned forward and flicked her tongue over the tip of his dick.

He started writing and had five lines dashed off before he paused and glanced down. "You're gonna either get bored or tired."

She shook her head. "Don't worry about me." Her thumb rubbed over the head of his shaft. "This is like having an all-day sucker at my disposal and for my enjoyment." She jerked her head toward the desk. "Get busy while I have a little fun." Easing forward again, she swirled her tongue around then licked his length. "When you fill a full page, we'll up the ante…" She let the words trail off suggestively.

Brian didn't argue. He started scratching out words again.

Brian and Lucy are so much fun to write. I love getting into some of their smaller moments.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: All Bets Off

What a weird weather week. Of course, it's March in Ohio so not exactly uncommon. We had beautiful spring-like temperatures at the beginning of the week and by Thursday it got chilly again. A little bit of snowy flakes and brrr! degrees outside.

Finished up a big project and another one on the smaller side and also started a new one. Needless to say, I didn't get a lot of television in this week.

I watched the last Midsomer Murders that's currently available. I rather hope they do another season. I love this show.

I also caught another series one episode of Peak Practice. I'm enjoying this series quite a lot.

I started the eleventh series of Classic Who and loved the introduction of Sarah Jane. I'm so sad Elisabeth isn't with us anymore. She made Sarah Jane such a great character.

I've watched about eight more episodes of Danger Man. John Drake is definitely a pre-Bond character study. The first season is a lot of fun so far.

Caught two more episodes of Gargoyles. The second season is quite a mish-mash. Not to say it's not good but a lot is going on.

Started the second episode of Strike Back's final season. This show. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.

Hmm. Maybe I watched more television than I thought. But that's it for this week. Tonight's post is from All Bets Off, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Kellen Bairds and Pierce Abbotson make friendly wagers on a regular basis until Kellen won't admit Pierce won their latest round. When he calls her on the lie, she gets angry because no amount of money on earth will make her reveal how kinky her dreams are. Or her feelings for him.

And a snippety peek…

Kellen shook her head after closing and locking the door. "And then there were four." Mark called it a day because he needed to get at least a little sleep before coming in for a delivery around eleven a.m.

Roma tilted her head to one side. "Why is there a delivery on a Monday?" She snagged some pretzels from the dish.

Pierce waved a hand. "Couldn't be helped. The regular route driver is off for family leave and the company is sharing his deliveries with the other employees." He poured the next round. "And I took the only slot he had available."

Kinley shuddered. "Glad Mark's got the task. I never met a Monday morning I wanted to be friends with."

Kellen sat back down and gave a nod. "Same. Then again, I'm not friendly with any morning as a rule." She propped her feet on the chair across from her … the one next to Pierce.

She'd almost dropped down beside him, but bowed out at the last moment. She liked being able to see his face when he answered questions. Hell, she liked seeing his face period.

Roma tapped the table. "Okay, we're done with first times, right? I wanna switch things up a little." Her smirk indicated she also wanted to raunch the place up a little too.

Kellen shot Pierce a glance unsure how down and dirty he wanted things to get.

He lifted a shoulder. "What's revealed at the table stays at the table."

Okay, then.

Roma clapped her hands. "Sweet. Let's talk secret desires." She pinned everyone with her gaze. "I'll even go first."

Kellen laughed. "This'll be good." She asked the question. "Roma, what's your secret desire?"

Roma batted her eyelashes. "Thought you'd never ask." She sat up straight. "My secret desire is…" Waiting for a dramatic pause, she spewed out the rest in rapid fire words. "To own and operate a paint-and-pour studio." Her eyes went wide and a big, cheesy grin spread across her face.

 Kinley blinked. "That so didn't go where I thought it would." She smiled. "But I love the idea." She lifted her glass. "And I'll drink a toast to that … because I don't think you're lying at all."

Neither did Kellen. "That's actually a terrific idea. I wouldn't have the patience for it, but you'd be a great ringleader."

Pierce narrowed his eyes. "Let's maybe talk about a trial run right here. We've got that alcove in the basement to the left of the coolers."

Kellen shot Roma a quick sideways glance. Her mouth dropped open and then closed. Clearly, Pierce's offer hadn't been expected.

Roma tipped her chin upward. "Thanks, boss. I'll hit you up next week with a proposal." She downed her shot in celebration.

Kinley took over. "Okay, my turn. I gotta go next or I won't go at all." She waited for Pierce to refill the glasses, took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "My secret desire is to sleep with, no, check that. I want to have sex with a woman."

Kellen barely kept her jaw from dropping but only because she hadn't suspected Kinley's interest. "That's not a bad thing … right?" None of her business, really, but Kinley had brought the subject up.

 Pierce joined in. "No way is it a bad thing. Exploring all sides of yourself is good. Healthy even." He downed his shot … without giving a reason why.

Roma held out a hand. "Well, damn, babe. I can make that happen. Let's go." She got up and jerked her head toward the door.

Kinley gaped. "Wait … are you bi?" The shock in her voice couldn't contain the underlying interest in the tone.

Roma shrugged. "Why stick a label on it? I'm whatever happens to strike my fancy." She grasped Kinley's palm. "And right now, the thought of being with you makes me hot." Her brows rose in question. "But only if you're into it."

Kinley rose, her gaze full of purpose. "I said it. I'm into it." She tugged Roma forward and put an arm around her waist.

The two women didn't look back when they headed toward the door.

Kellen picked up her glass. "Really didn't see that one coming." She downed the tequila then laughed.

Pierce followed behind the girls and locked up again. When he turned back around, Kellen couldn't quite read his demeanor. But she had a solid idea what a bug under a microscope felt like.

This after-hours event had taken a wild turn.

I'm having fun with this one. Kellen and Pierce are testing the waters and I enjoy writing that vibe between characters.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Academic Challenge

Well … the beginning of my birthday week is off to a chilly start. The good news is the temps are supposed to warm up this week, which is kind of nice. I could use a little mild weather to improve my mood. The other good news is our new roof did indeed fix the leak situation. We had several days of icy rain and no drips!

Busy week on the work front again. I like having multiple projects but a particularly brutal edit made for a long seven days. I'm looking forward to the new week.

Light viewing schedule for television. I needed to focus on work in a big way. I finished up the premiere episode of Strike Back and, okay, Coltrane's attitude improved. Hmm. Maybe not improved, but at least I get why he's kind of off the rails. A terrific episode overall.

Watched two more episodes of Gargoyles and I think I missed both in the original run. I enjoyed viewing the new-to-me ones.

Caught another episode of Arrow and thoroughly enjoyed the somewhat insane mix of past and present in the aptly titled "Present Tense" episode. I'm looking forward to a return to Russia in the next one.

Watched an episode of Murdoch Mysteries and quite liked revisiting an old nemesis of William's, especially since he's been somewhat converted into an ally. I also loved the intrigue of having Brackenreid's daughter meet his wife.

Started an episode of Riverdale and got sidetracked with work. I'm hoping to finish up soon and maybe see the end of the farmies once and for all. Fingers crossed.

Other than the above, I caught an airing of Grease 2, which is actually one of my all-time favorite movies. I even like it better than the original. I also did a marathon of mystery movies on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

That's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Academic Challenge, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Holly Patz, the newest TA for Professor Sam Ingali, wants to enjoy the experience. But when rumors start swirling about her relationship with the handsome instructor, she has to decide whether to stick around and become his latest conquest or turn the odds in her favor.

And a snippety peek…

Sam stood outside Holly's door. "Here goes nothing." Knocking on the hard wood, he stepped back.

He'd gone for grinder subs from a local place on campus and picked up a bottle of wine. He didn't have much of a clue about his new TA, an oddity to be certain, but he'd seen wrappers from the food shop in her office so he figured he'd be safe.

The sound of the knob turning drew his attention and Holly greeted him with a smile and a towel-covered head. She'd changed into a pair of sexy yoga pants and a T-shirt. Her bare toes sported an emerald green polish, the pop of color surprising him.

She stepped aside to let him in. "Sorry. I got done a little early and thought I'd get a shower to rinse off the paint smudges." Nodding toward a café table, she shut the door. "We can eat there or at the coffee table, whichever you prefer." She unwrapped the towel, shaking her hair out. "Let me throw this in the laundry bin and I'll be right back." She ducked into the bathroom and returned. "Do you want to eat while going over the lecture or…" Her voice trailed off and one of her eyebrows shot up.

He hadn't really thought that far ahead. "Great question. Do you have a preference?" He put the bags down on the café table and placed the bottle of wine beside them. "I'll mainly be running through the topics of my lecture and hoping you'll help me figure out the order to present them in." His general idea being getting through the information while they ate.

Holly noticed the food. "Oh! I love the subs from Chester's." She crossed over to the table and opened the bag. "Let's eat while you go over the details. Once we're through, you could maybe do a dry run?" She started taking out the wrapped sandwiches.

Sam nodded. "Sounds great. I went with the sampler combo, four of their most popular grinders with kettle chips, slaw, and two desserts." He picked up the wine. "Do you have a couple of glasses?"

She grabbed two and carried them to the coffee table. "Let's eat here. More comfortable." Placing the goblets on the surface, she met him halfway to help with the food. "So, what's the main point you need to make with this lecture?" She settled down and tucked her feet under her.

Sam chose the chair perpendicular to the sofa. "I have two. Let me outline both and then I'll get started on the main points." He unwrapped a sub and took a bite.

Man … he understood why she liked the place. After chewing through his first taste, he glanced up to find her grinning. He lifted the sandwich in a toast and she laughed.

He liked the sound. A lot.

This one is coming along. I have the general details nailed down but the characters keep throwing little twists my way. The sages sit back and laugh and laugh.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Zootropolis

WooHoo! I have a new roof on my garage and both porches. Our back porch actually includes our bathroom and laundry room and we’ve had leaks for the past five years. Here’s to not having those anymore! We went with a blue metal and it looks terrific with the slate roof of the house. I’m thrilled the job took, I’m not kidding, a day and a half. I figured it would take a week to get it all done. Glad I was wrong.

Busy week on the work front. Finished up a project and started two more. I did get some television viewing in but had a light week.

I caught an episode of Riverdale and enjoyed getting back to the regular timeline. I’m completely creeped out with Cheryl’s weird deal with her corpse brother but I love the battle of wills she’s having with the new principal. Loved having some story with Reggie. Also liked seeing Mad Dog join the group. I want Kevin and Betty to get back to their usual friendship and I’m happy to see him kind of wake up to the evils of the farmies. Here’s hoping Fangs comes back to the fold.

I watched The Will, a Passionflix original movie, and thoroughly enjoyed it! The casting ended up being spot-on and I had fun watching this one. I’ll be looking forward to the next release Passionflix puts out.

Caught another episode of Danger Man aka Secret Agent. I forever have The Prisoner in my mind when I watch these episodes even if they’re not technically related. Probably because I watched The Prisoner first.

Watched the third episode of Midsomer Murders. Enjoyed it a lot. It had some good twists and turns I didn’t expect.

Viewed another first season episode of Peak Practice. I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to think about Will. The character is, I think, the only one who remained for all twelve series. Right now, he’s kind of a petulant, whiny child most of the time and I don’t know if I’m supposed to like him or not. Since it’s only four episodes so far, I’ll reserve judgment.

Finished up Classic Who season ten with Three and the end of Jo’s tenure as a companion. The Green Death episodes were a pretty interesting arc and I like how Jo ended her time with the doctor. Looking forward to starting season eleven.

Strike Back is back, as noted in last week’s post. I’m currently watching the first episode of the season and, wow, Coltrane definitely has a big-ass chip on his shoulder. He kind of acts like he didn’t have his ass saved by his team not so long ago. That said, I’m not all the way through the first episode yet so I’ll reserve judgment.

And that’s pretty much it for television this week. Tonight’s post is from Zootropolis, a contemporary novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here’s the mini-blurb:

Mackenna Sycks is looking to raise money for a wildlife refuge in Africa. When Walton Conley offers to back her project, she balks, thinking the hot shot playboy has ulterior motives. He does, but he's also a whiz with fundraisers and surprises Mackenna with gala affair dubbed Zootropolis.

And a snippety peek…

Mackenna stopped by the zoo and completed her exit interview. Normally, she had a uniform to fall back on, but she'd turned hers in when she arrived. Which meant her street clothes were now covered in muck and dung after the director asked her to check on a gazelle trying to deliver a newborn.

Mackenna slid behind the wheel of her jeep. "Nothing like a little free labor for a laboring cow." At least the mama and fawn were doing fine.

By the time she'd helped the vet with the distressed animal, accepted her eternal gratitude, and put down new bedding for the pair, she had less than ten minutes to get to Walton's office for the initial fundraising meeting.

Starting the engine, she shook her head. "Of all the days to not have a spare outfit." Mess didn't begin to describe her current appearance, but she didn't want to miss the meeting.

A quick call to let the office know she'd be a little late went to voice mail. Mackenna made the cross-town drive in record time and took an extra five minutes to clean up as much as possible. She traded her rugged tennis shoes—covered with things not really fit for the general public not to mention an office—for a pair of flip-flops, but she couldn't do much to remove the fluid stains from her cotton blouse. She shucked it off, choosing to go with only her camisole. Her loose-fitting pants were worse for the wear and she couldn't escape the clinging aroma of, well, animal, but Walton would understand. After all, he'd witnessed firsthand what her job entailed.

Swallowing down discomfort, she squared her shoulders. "It's just the two of us. If he wants to reschedule, at least I made the effort to be here." Strolling up to the main doors, she exhaled slowly and put a wide smile on her face.

A wasted effort because Walton got one look at her when the receptionist showed her into the conference room—where at least twenty people sat around the huge table—and nearly blew a gasket.

Pissed off but trying to hide it, he dismissed the group. "Uh, ladies and gentlemen, I believe we've had a breakdown in communication. Let's break this up and I'll schedule a time we can regroup." He shot Mackenna a scathing glance.

She hunched her shoulders and blinked rapidly. Who the hell were all these people? Carrie said Mackenna and Walton would still be discussing how to organize and plan the benefit. When did two become almost two dozen?

When the door closed, Walton whirled around. "Are you trying to shoot yourself in the foot? Look at you? What the hell happened?" He stalked back and forth, anger rippling off him in waves.

Mackenna's ire rose. "I didn't know people would here. Carrie didn't mention it. She assured me this was supposed to be you and me only." She planted her hands on her hips. "As to what happened. I helped deliver a gazelle fawn as part of my exit interview. Something I didn't expect, clearly, and instead of being a raging asshole, you might consider I at least showed up instead of ditching what I thought was a simple information exchange." And she did call … but not his cell phone as he'd requested … she left a message on the company voice mail.

Because she didn't quite know what to do with Walton yet. The attraction for him threw her off and she didn't want to cross into his personal sphere. Only, right now, the urge to smash him into the wall ranked well above what his looks did to her.

Walton frowned. "Carrie was supposed to let you know I pulled together a group of donors—the largest one I've ever accomplished, I might add—who'd be willing to foot the entire bill for the gala so all the proceeds would go to the rescue foundation." His brows furrowed. "Did she not pass that along?"

A surge of guilt rose because Carrie had called several times and Mackenna ignored each one. Her best friend liked to pry and cajole Mackenna into leaving her comfort zone. Putting her firmly in Walton's orbit would be a very Carrie thing to do. And Mackenna didn't need the help. She couldn't get him out of her mind without Carrie's added assistance.

Mackenna met Walton's gaze. "She might have tried calling but I've, uh, been a little busy. I don't know why she didn't just text me the update." Okay, a total lie, but Walton didn't need to know Carrie liked to play matchmaker. "And I left a voice mail on your main office line." Weak, so weak.

Walton's eyebrows shot up. "Did you lose my personal number?"

She couldn't meet his gaze. "No. But I had a rough morning and dialed the first number listed for you, which is the office." She shrugged. "I didn't mean to wreck your plans or make a scene in front of a bunch of donors." Turning away from him, she started an apology. "I'm truly sor—" The words died in her throat when she got a look at a fully realized mock-up of his plan for the gala event. "Holy… Wow." She spun back around with her mouth hanging open.

Walton's shoulder twitched. "I spent the past few days between phone calls putting that together. Sometimes, when an idea hits, I can't stop the flow." He moved forward and picked up one of the pieces, a paper-mache elephant.

Mackenna blinked, guilt surging upward again. "You … made the whole display?" It took up most of the credenza, full of animals, habitats, people, tables, chairs, and she had zero problem picturing what it would look like in her head full to scale.

He'd definitely gone above and beyond. And, dammit, the man really had a knack, which she had to acknowledge.

She huffed out a breath. "Damn, you obviously know what you're doing when it comes to pulling off the impossible."

I like the vibe between Mackenna and Walton. They’re willing to admit the attraction but neither will jump into anything with the other. It’s so much fun to write.

That’s it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Zipline and Sinker (a South of the Border novella)

February 16, 2020

Ugh. What a rough week. I've been battling some wicked-bad insomnia lately and I hate walking around like a zombie and trying to catch some much needed rest whenever I can. Not a fun time.

I did have a wonderful revelation on Thursday, which was my youngest's eighteenth birthday. To date, the husband and I have successfully raised three offspring to adulthood. Now to get her through prom and graduation then off to college. LOL

Slow week for television, mainly due to the insomnia. I caught a full arc of Classic Who and had a thought… the Daleks have been around for a long, long time. Just saying.

Got back into Gargoyles and watched a couple of episodes. The second season is super long and it'll be a while before I get through all of the various stories.

Watched a few episodes of Danger Man. This is pretty much a rewatch of the series for me, but it's nice to have a thirty-minute show to sink into while I'm doing dishes or cooking dinner.

Caught an episode of Murdoch Mysteries and finally discovered what would happen with the neighbors. I'd forgotten about the hotel detective and his mad vendetta against Murdoch. All in all, a satisfying wrap-up to the storyline. Sadly, the widow might end up rearing her vengeful head at some point in the series. That should be interesting.

I watched another episode of Arrow and I can honestly say I'm impressed with Stephen's performance. He brings the emotional element to the screen every episode. That said, he mentioned in an interview that Emily's decision to not be involved in most of season eight made the show feel kind of wrong (absolutely paraphrasing here) because Felicity is the heart of the show and no Felicity means no heart. I totally get that. But… it's kind of cool to see the reunions Oliver is having with people from his past. Talia and Thea teaming up could be a show on its own, especially if Nyssa got involved at some point. Just saying. Also really interesting to see what's going on in the futurescape, especially with the twist at the end of the episode.

Getting ready to start an episode of Riverdale and watch the premiere episode of Strike Back's final season. I also plan to watch the Passionflix original, The Will sometime this week. Looking forward to some great screen time.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Zipline and Sinker, a South of the Border novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Vaughn Dyson is a relic hunter who goes out of her way to save old treasures and preserve their place in history. But when Faulkner Roush gets word she's trying to smuggle a priceless artifact out of South America, he has to track her down before a rival, out for profit, group gets to her.

And a snippety peek…

Faulkner Roush answered the phone after checking the screen. "Yo, Vail. How's the quiet life treating you?" His buddy had gone and found the woman of his dreams and finally settled down.

Something Faulk envied… even if he'd had his shot. Too bad the woman Faulk wanted didn't do the whole stay in one place thing.

Vail gave a short answer. "Good." Then he dropped a bomb. "Someone put a target on Vaughn's back and the payoff is in the six-digit range."

So, it finally happened. Vaughn Dyson, otherwise known as the woman who never stayed in one place, had pissed someone off enough for them to eliminate her. Faulk shouldn't give a damn. She'd pretty much told him to fuck off the last time he'd seen her.

But he did give a damn.

Putting Vail on speaker, Faulk headed for his bedroom. "Where is she?" He grabbed his go-bag and checked it over.

Vail sighed. "Intel's sketchy, but she's somewhere in…" He rattled off coordinates for an area. "I know. It's a lot of land mass to cover."

Faulk keyed in the digits and snorted. "Yeah, it is. Remote and hard to navigate." He knew the region well. "Who put the bounty on her?" He'd have to know who in order to know what to expect.

Vail didn't hesitate. "Bishop Cramer." He snarled the name, no doubt because he'd had a run in or two with the black market kingpin.

Faulk growled. "Fuck. It figures." Dammit, Vaughn.

Only Vaughn would get trapped in such a crappy place with a price on her head issued by the man who probably hated her more than most. If his goon squad got her, no one would ever find the body—

Vail broke into Faulk's musings. "Look, I can get free and meet you. I can also call Lars and Hayden, see if they can help—"

Faulk shook his head. "No need." While he'd welcome the assist—after all, Lars owed Faulk for saving his life after a nasty meet-up with a knife—he'd travel lighter and quieter alone.

Searching his memory, he scrolled a little further on the map, zooming in to get a better look and—bingo—he found what he needed.

Faulk tapped the screen. "I might need a place to regroup after I get her out. Is the offer to visit still open?"

Vail's confusion came through when he answered. "Uh, always. It sounds like you already know where you'll find her."

Faulk snorted. "Not the precise location… but I do know exactly where to look."

A little mission not far from an abandoned excavation site. Working with Vaughn gave him a slight advantage—he knew her thought processes—but Cramer's men wouldn't take long to track her down. Faulk had maybe twenty-four hours before she'd be in the red zone of their sites.

If she's not already.

Vail wished Faulk luck and ended the call.

Faulk hit the ground running, called in several favors, and planned to be parachuting back into Vaughn's life in just over six hours.

I love this little adventure romance series. Faulk will get to visit with at least one other couple from the other books and Vaughn will make some new friends.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin