Sunday Snippet: Glutton for Punishment

Terrific week on the great office cleanout! I got a ton of shredding done and cleared out from under my table and desk. I got a great hand-vac that did an awesome job of getting the carpet cleaned up. The cabinet I got to put under my desk fits really well and I'm closer to being sorted and organized! One more cabinet for under my table and three bookcases to go. Okay, not quite true. I still have a major amount of shredding to do and then I have the rest of the finding where to put everything phase. But … I can already notice a big difference in having a semi-clear area to work in. It's amazing!

Kind of a slow week for television. I'm working on a developmental edit that requires a lot of focus so I don't use anything as background noise.

I watched a lot of Silent Witness. I'm well into the third season and I like the cast changes.

I also caught several more rune videos. They're actually quite relaxing as well as informative.

Last but not least, I watched the first season finale of The Witcher. Gotta say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I rather liked getting a small bit of backstory about Geralt. Also quite impressed by the mages and Yennifer's role in the battle. I've been a little on the fence with her character but she's definitely growing on me.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Glutton for Punishment, a novella that puts coworkers at odds with each other even though they have a spark of a lot more.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Willa and Karl have issues. She acts out to keep him at bay and he finally calls her on the destructive behavior, stepping into the ring so she can work out her aggression. A glutton for punishment, Karl pushes Willa into making a choice between risking her heart or losing him for good.

And a sneaky peek…

 

Harv poured Willa into her bed. "Geez, Willa. This has gotta stop. One of these nights I'm not gonna be around and you'll end up in jail or dead. Do you always have to pick a fight with the biggest guy in the joint?" He shoved her feet up and unlaced her boots.

Willa fought the urge to throw up. "Take out the biggest, the rest back off. That's a Dane Radcliffe direct quote." She rolled to her side but Harv nudged her back.

He tugged her boots off. "Man, I get that. But you're way past your expiration date for being a pain in the ass. Damn good thing you're wheels up in twelve hours." Dropping her boots beside her rack, he shook his head. "Karl called this. I'm all for helping one of my best friends out, but I've got limits, Willa. You're pushing up next to the final one."

She propped up on her elbows. "Don't do me any favors, Harv. I didn't ask you for a single damned one." Then again, everyone else gave her wide berth, probably because of puppet-master Karl. "And tell Karl to fuck off. He can manipulate someone else's life and you can join him." God, she just wanted to make the pain go away.

Harv crouched down beside the bed. "Look, Willa, I'm sorry—"

She snorted. "Whatever, Harv. I'm outta here in twelve. You'll have at least a week of peace and quiet." She paused a moment. "Maybe longer. I won't come looking for you when I get back." She flopped back down and waved him off.

Harv stood up and shook his head. "Good hunting, Willa." He gave her one last look and backed out of her quarters.

Tears pricked behind her eyelids. Only a true friend would wish her well after she verbally bitchslapped him. Squeezing her eyes to stave the flow, she turned to her side. A ball of anger exploded in her gut. Why didn't they understand? She'd made a promise and they made her break it. Just once, she'd like to come out on top when she gave her word.

Heaving a sigh, she punched her pillow. "Anyone named Radcliffe can rot in hell."

Willa's on a downward spiral and, honestly, it's been fun to write. She'll eventually get herself back together but not before she almost goes completely scorched earth on her life.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ghost of a Chance

Kind of a crazy week. Honestly, 2020 can hurry up and be done. Thankfully, only a few more months.

Not a bad week for television. I finished up the first season of Silent Witness and got a running start on the second. I'll have it finished up this week.

I got to catch the behind the scenes video for Dirty, Sexy Saint. Really enjoyed the actors in that movie.

Also started a series of videos about casting runes. It's a topic I've long been interested in and I'm having fun learning about the practice.

Last but not least, I finally got to watch the series finale of Strike Back. There's so much I want to say about this episode! First and foremost, a heist. Seriously. That was actually a lot of fun. The double cross was also a nice little wrinkle. Breaking things down from the beginning. I loved how Coltrane got out of the gulag. Having Wyatt there and their banter was so awesome. I mean, who else but Coltrane would take a detour during a carefully planned escape? And horses! Excellent. Having Novin take on the entire casino security force also proved to be a wild ride. I'm going to miss her a lot. Loved the beats between the characters when she got back to the apartment and almost took out Wyatt.

The heist itself ended up being an awful lot of fun, with the exception of Gracie getting shot. The boat ride out ended up being beautifully filmed. Then, to find out the big reveal about the, well, I guess it's not really a double cross for the section twenty team, more a double cross of the Russians and Albanians and I love the double meaning behind the comment, "They'll never stop looking for us." Anyway … probably in my top five moments is when Coltrane blithely takes Arianna out then strolls nonchalantly past the pool boy. But my favorite moment is at the very end when the trio heads out to go their separate ways. I mean there can't be a heist episode without the going-off-in-different-directions pan out. Very reminiscent of shows like Leverage or Hustle. Good stuff. Seriously good stuff.

Some final thoughts … the only thing I would have loved as much as the actual ending would have been Coltrane finding Zarkova and / or Wyatt and Novin heading out for lots of adventures. The shipper in me will definitely let my imagination run wild on that front.

Also thoroughly enjoyed the Strike Back Declassified for the series end. I love shows that put behind the scenes or inside looks together for their fans. Having those extras is always a lot of fun, especially when the characters have become like second family.

And … that's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Ghost of a Chance, a novella that has a friends to lovers theme with a side of guilt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Valerie Queen and Jay Pennyworth meet through Chad Adsworth, Jay's best friend. When Chad is killed in a plane crash, Valerie reunites with Jay after five years. When the chance meeting leads to a long discussion, they end up spending the night together … but the specter of Chad hovering between them may be more than they can overcome.

And a snippety peek…

Valerie finished taping the box for an online order when the bell over the door rang. "Be right there!" She printed the address label and stuck it on the carton.

Straightening her blouse, she headed for the main floor but paused. "God, I hope it's not the last guy I went out with." Okay, more like hooked up with.

She'd been lucky only three people over a five-year period wouldn't accept she only wanted to scratch an itch. But the latest one? Didn't want to take their one-shot deal as the end.

Shaking her head, she continued onward. "Haven't heard from him for at least a week." Hopefully, that signaled the end of his courtship attempt.

She entered the main section of the store and stopped short, shocked to find Jay browsing titles by the window. Rooted to the spot, her hungry gaze drank him in. He hadn't changed much. His face had filled out a little more and he'd added some muscle to his already broad shoulders. A burst of lust quickly unfurled. She blinked and licked her lips. Then came the question … of why he stood in her store?

He turned and his lips curved in a sexy grin. Her heart stood at attention then did a happy dance.

Valerie finally reacted, moving forward. "Jay? Oh, my god, how are you?" She tried to remember what she'd worn today then thought fuck it, why should she care?

Jay greeted her. "Hi, Val. You look … incredible." His gaze swept over her.

She tingled from head to toe, kind of pissed about her reaction. Five years, dammit. But only one night. An incredible one she hadn't forgotten.

Val found her voice. "Are you on leave? How did you find me? And why stop by now?" Gah! Shut up, Val.

Jay flushed. "I'm at loose ends, actually. I'm done. Mustered out." He stopped and shook his head.

Val's eyes widened. "You left the military?" She really thought he'd end up going career. "What are your plans?" A million more questions crowded her brain. Why did you take off? How come you never contacted me? Where the hell were you for five years? She ruthlessly squashed those at the bottom of the pile.

Jay's lips quirked. "Right now? Dinner sounds good. Are you free?" He propped a shoulder on the bookshelf.

She blinked, surprised by the invitation.

He pressed on but held up a hand. "Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm in town for an interview and thought I'd look you up while I'm here." He glanced away. "The dinner thing kind of popped out. Please don't feel obligated."

She recovered, shaking her head. "No, actually, I'd love to meet you." She glanced at the time. "How does O'Shea's sound? Six o'clock?" Within walking distance, she could get there quickly after she closed.

His lips curved. "O'Shea's? I'm glad it's still around. Six o'clock is great." He turned to leave. "I'll see you there." He sent her another heart-melting grin.

She lifted a hand in farewell then made her way to the sales counter. Grabbing hold, she took a moment to let reaction set in. Holy hell. Jay Pennyworth dropped in out of the blue and he looked amazing. If she didn't get her heart rate under control she might have to skip dinner.

Dinner.

Val moaned. "Shit." She wanted more than one meal with Jay.

 

I love writing friends to lovers couples. Val and Jay are fun and seeing how they navigate trying to start a relationship is a treat.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

 

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Getting Schooled

So far, September is off to a decent start. I finished up a few projects this week and look forward to getting back to the great office reorganization.

Kind of a slow week for television. I watched two episodes of Silent Witness. I don't think I've ever seen the first few seasons with Amanda Burton as Sam Ryan. I started watching somewhere in the later seasons.

I also did the usual Ovation mystery marathons. Rather enjoyed Midsomer Murders because they went all the way back to the beginning. Also left wondering why anyone considers The Librarians a mystery show, but I guess it's because they always have to track down the treasures for the library. Not really mysterious in my book, but it doesn't have to be.

I'm hoping to get back on track with finishing up the previous seasons of Roswell, New Mexico and Riverdale. Also need to watch the season finale of The Witcher and the series finale of Strike Back. I've been putting off Strike Back because I really don't want the show to end.

I need to catch up on Wynonna Earp also. I'll probably end up binge watching the whole season.

That's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Getting Schooled, a novella that features one of my favorite secret-fantasy dreams … a summer camp.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tamsin and Ike are resident leaders at neighboring summer camps. Tamsin works with upper crust girls and Ike has underprivileged boys. When a grant program director suggests bridging the gap, neither is very excited by the prospect, but once they meet, both get schooled in by how well the kids get along.

And a snippety peek…

Tamsin barely got inside the counselor's cabin before Olivia Winterson rushed through the door.

"Oh, Tamsin. I'm so glad you're here! We've got a huge emergency." Her face crumpled and tears welled in her eyes.

Tamsin dropped her bag and grasped Olivia's arm, ushering her onto the café chair. "What's going on? Is Pete okay?" Olivia's husband had a mild heart attack three years ago.

Olivia waved her hand. "Oh, yes. Pete's fine. The camp? Not so much." Her lower lip quivered.

Tamsin blinked and sat in the seat across from her boss. "What is it? What can I do to help?" This place meant a lot to Tamsin

The Wintersons meant even more.

Olivia exhaled slowly and pulled herself together. "I just got off the phone with the grant committee. They're experiencing a financial shortfall and have decided to only support one camp this year." She frowned. "And, honestly, if we lose grant funding, we'll have to close. We won't be able to have this year's session or stay in business for future years."

No more Camp Seneca? Tamsin couldn't imagine not coming here anymore. This place had been her home, her true home, for more than a decade.

Tamsin shook her head, her brain already working. "When will they decide?" There had to be a way to secure the grant.

Olivia gave Tamsin a sad smile. "They want to meet tomorrow to decide if it'll be us or Camp Carlson."

Tamsin's lip curled. "Let me guess … they're in the same position." The Wintersons and Ron Carlson, along with his son and daughter, were friendly rivals.

Olivia nodded. "I haven't talked to Ron or Lanie yet, but I'd have to guess they are."

Summer camps in this area tended to run on razor-thin margins. Even though both were surrounded by the second-home set.

Tamsin grasped Olivia's hand. "What can I do to help? You can't cancel this year's program. The girls are due to arrive the day after tomorrow." They could scale back some of the activities and get creative with the menus, maybe ask for donations if the grant committee decided on Carlson instead of Seneca.

Olivia's face brightened. "I had hoped you'd ask. Can you come up with a presentation for tomorrow's meeting? Something to really wow the group?"

Tamsin cringed a little. She'd planned to get started on her research before the girls arrived. But she couldn't refuse Olivia's request.

Squeezing the woman's fingers, Tamsin smiled. "Of course. Let me get the rest of my stuff unloaded and I'll get started." She stood up and started for the door.

Olivia followed, pulling Tamsin into a big bear hug. "Thank you! This means so much to Pete and me." She started toward the big lodge-style house. "I'll let him know what's going on."

Tamsin fought back a wave of uncertainty. She couldn't fail the Wintersons. No matter what, she'd make sure the grant committee chose Camp Seneca for their remaining funds.

An inspired idea hit her. "And I think I know just how to do it."

Tamsin is a fun character to write. She cares deeply and wants to help everyone.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Fuel for the Fire

September 6, 2020

Hello, September. The great office reorganization is coming along. If all goes well, I might have the bulk of the work complete by the end of the year. I'm very happy with how everything is going so far.

Not a bad week for television. I finished up the Danger Man episodes that were available. Not sure what I'll start on to replace this one yet.

Caught an episode of Picard and enjoyed it. I'm not quite sure what to make of the guy who's captaining the ship yet. I rather liked getting a little more Ravi backstory.

Watched two more episodes of Peak Practice. I'm getting to the end of the second season and, so far, still enjoying the episodes.

Finished Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. I'd really love to have another season of this show. I feel like the final episode had everyone coming into their own as characters. Maybe we'll get lucky.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. I think I might be ready to start the next season or I'm getting close.

That's it for this week. Tonight's post is from Fuel for the Fire, a novella with characters in the fire service, which is near and dear to my heart since my dad is a retired fire chief.

Here's the mini-blurb:

An arsonist wants arson investigator Sadie Kyle's attention and burns the home and business Greg DeSoto to get it. When Sadie shows up to investigate, she hits it off with Greg, which only adds fuel to the fire for her pyromaniac. When Greg gets hit a second time, Sadie digs in and calls the burner out.

And a snippety peek…

Sadie Kyle answered her phone on the second ring. "Yeah, hello."

"We might have another one."

Sadie sat up and went from dead sleep to wide awake in half a second. "Where?" She put her phone on speaker and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "I'll be out the door in five." Rustling around, she snagged her thermal leggings and yanked them on.

Her boss, Wade Albright, gave her the rundown. "Close to you in Olde Towne. Another historic building conversion." He waited a beat. "Sprinkler system failed."

Damn.

Sadie dug through her work clothes and grabbed a heavy fleece pullover. "Which place?" Her old stomping grounds had buttloads of historic sites.

And her heart broke. She lived one neighborhood over now, but still frequented many of the places she'd grown up going to.

Wade rattled off the address. "It used to be a sewing factory."

Sadie nodded. "Now it's a bar … or it was." Stitch and Stone. Quaint charm with rugged industrial touches. A comfortable place for male and female clientele.

Wade confirmed. "Yeah, went up fast. Faster than it should even without the sprinkler failure."

Sadie shoved her feet into her clogs and snatched her jacket from her coat tree. "I'm headed out now. I'll have a prelim on your desk ASAP." She ended the call and exited her duplex, being careful to mind the icy steps.

Sliding behind the wheel, she drove the short distance to Olde Towne and slowed when she came up on the scene. Most of the fire had been knocked down by the three station houses on the job. She never failed to get a small thrill when she got within five feet of a ladder, engine, or aerial truck. Growing up around the fire service gave her opportunities to do so from a young age.

In fact, she'd moved home from a city several hours north to take the position in the arson unit. "Good to be close to family." After proving her worth in a place away from their influence.

Getting out of the vehicle, she didn't take her eyes off the building even when she made her way to the back to put her turnout gear on. Sitting on the edge of her car, she slipped her clogs off and stuck her feet into her boots then pulled up her bunker pants. She added the jacket, which blocked the icy wind kicking up swirls of snow.

Grabbing her helmet, she surveyed the firefighters doing cleanup and took in the damage. "Damn, what a loss." A weird vibe crawled up her spine. "Can't be a coincidence anymore. Not when a pattern is emerging." Saddened by the possibility of more buildings being hit, she tried not to jump to conclusions.

Even when her instincts all but shouted Fire!

I love writing this one. Sadie and Greg are fun characters even when everything is burning down around them.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Five Minutes

Final Sunday of August. I'm kind of looking forward to the fall season even if it's going to very different. With a global pandemic and an election coming up, I don't think it'll be the lovely season I always look forward to. That said, cooler temperatures will be welcome. Even though it hasn't been overly hot this summer, I really love the crisp air of fall.

Had a decent week of office reorganization and not a bad one for television viewing, considering I had no power for twenty-one hours thanks to a thunderstorm with wicked nasty lightning. A tree not far from our house got struck and it took out a couple of pole transformers. We were really lucky that we caught a break from the heat of the day before.

Not a bad week for television viewing but not great either. I caught an episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I'm halfway through the second season.

Watched the third episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and it's definitely my favorite of the four episodes. I love the sci-fi feel and the background with Bertie.

Caught the Classic Who run of Genesis of the Daleks arc. I've seen this group of episodes before and enjoyed them. It's especially fun because New Who brought in big tie-in to these episodes.

Also watched another episode of Danger Man. I'm on the last two available on Amazon, which makes me sad.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Five Minutes, a novella that works a teenage game into a point of conflict between the main characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Remy Deeds never welshes on a bet, until she loses to Eli Rogers, who can't understand why she backs out. But a five minute kiss, with tongue, isn't something she wants to risk, because giving up her last pack of coffee is so much easier than possibly losing her heart.

And a snippety peek…

"Remy, hold up!"

Remy paused outside the main cabin to wait on a friend.

Harry Whitmore jogged outside to catch up. "I didn't get a chance to congratulate you on the move up to team leader." His shoulder nudged hers. "Congrats, my friend."

Remy's lips curved. "Thanks. I'm excited." And nervous as hell.

Harry fell into step beside her. "You're gonna do fine. Everyone on your team knows you and they also know you're a first-time leader. They'll test your mettle but they'll also have your back." He stopped with her outside her designated team meeting place.

Remy ducked her head. "Yeah, I got a good group." She tilted her chin up. "You're playing referee. Any tips? I figure I've got the first responder stuff nailed. Not so sure about rappelling." She had at least one member with a fear of heights.

Harry rolled a shoulder. "Look, as long as you keep the mood light, your group will focus. They'll pull their weight when they need to." He stepped back when two members arrived. "See you up there." With a brief lift of his hand, he waved and walked away.

Remy appreciated the fact Harry didn't bring up Eli. Harry's inside knowledge of her past experience with Keith and her confession over beers one night about her piqued interest in Eli probably had Harry dying of curiosity. Thankfully, he'd at least wait until they were at the remote location before peppering her with questions.

Remy greeted her two teammates. "You two set?" They had the standard clothing of sturdy boots, lightweight layers, and rugged head-coverings on.

John Parsons nodded. "Yep. I'm good." He gave her a lopsided grin. "Looking forward to having you lead the team. We'll try not to let you down."

Remy smiled. "I know you guys won't. I've been blessed with the best mix of skillsets for a first-timer. We're going to have a great time." Well, she would have fun once the roller coaster settled down in her stomach.

Makenna Wilson laughed. "I'm already having fun. That briefing was crazypants. I mean Eli slid in two minutes late and his team will get docked for that." She wiggled her hips back and forth. "We're already at least two points ahead."

Remy shook her head. "Don't get cocky. Eli's a seasoned vet. He knows all the tricks and shortcuts." Her other two team members appeared, looking slightly disheveled.

Remy gave Sheila and Cody Sula a speculative once-over.

Sheila staked her claim. Good for her.

Cody tried to play things cool. "Sorry, we're late. We, uh …" His voice trailed off.

Sheila came to the rescue. "Took the scenic route. But we're good to go." She hastily tucked her shirt in and smoothed down her cargo pants.

Remy bit back a laugh. "All right, then. Let's decide which route we want to take up to the site." She laid the trail chart out and everyone bent over to get a good look.

A swell of excitement filled her. She couldn't wait to get started.

I'm enjoying this one. Remy is a quirky character that got burned and doesn't want a repeat experience, but she also has the biggest attraction for Eli and she doesn't want to blow her opportunity with the camp. She's definitely a ball of stress right now, even if she doesn't show it.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Fits and Starts

We're almost to the end of August and it's been a month. I'm glad we're closing in on the last quarter of the year. 2020 definitely provided a roller coaster ride. And we're not quite through yet.

Had a solid week of work and reorganizing. Made some terrific progress on the office clean out. Got two of my six bookcases put together and shredded a bunch of old stuff I don't need to keep anymore. I still have a buttload of shredding to do but progress is progress.

Got a little bit of viewing done this week, mostly Danger Man episodes. I wanted to finish season three then realized there are only two episodes of season four. I'm disappointed.

I also did a couple of marathon viewings on Ovation. The morning mysteries are a lot of fun and the Monday block of A Place to Call Home is pretty good also. I also caught Partners in Crime, which ended up being better than I thought.

That's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Fits and Starts, a novella that puts my heroine through the wringer.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After escaping from a madman's clutches, Pru Stark can't quite find her footing again. She pushes her man, Dane Callaway, away and refuses to see the little girl she saved. Dane can give her space, but he won't stay on the sidelines, not when Pru needs him the most, even if she can't quite admit it.

And a snippety peek…

Pru welcomed the prick of the needle in her arm. The headache went away within seconds and a hazy bliss enveloped her. The technician loosened the tourniquet and put her supplies away.

Pru glanced toward the door. "Minnie'll be here soon." She wanted to be ready to greet her little girl.

The tech, Marva, smiled. "She's a handful, isn't she?" Grabbing her case, she reminded Pru she'd return in two days for her next treatment.

Pru nodded. "I'll see you then." Her mind moved on to a more pleasant topic.

Cookies. She and Minnie planned to bake their favorite as soon as she got home. Chocolate chip. Or is it peanut butter? No, definitely chocolate chip.

Pru frowned. "Didn't we bake some yesterday?" The fuzzy tug at the memory of pulling peanut butter cookies out of the oven grabbed hold for a second before easing away on a cloud of doubt.

No, probably not. Minnie loved chocolate chip.

The door knob rattled and Minnie burst through, tossing her backpack on the floor. "I got the most spelled words correct on our test today." She danced around, flinging her arms wide.

Pru reached out and hauled her close. "You're really loving your new classes, aren't you?" The gifted program is exactly what you needed."

Minnie tilted her head back. "I love the new school, Mommy. I don't think you'll need to become an avenging angel anytime soon." She wriggled away, heading for the kitchen.

Pru followed and got the ingredients out to make their cookies. "You're right and I'm so proud of you, my girl, for making friends and wowing everyone in your new program." She'd been worried Minnie would struggle, hence the avenging angel deal.

No one would mess with Pru's kid.

The niggle of concern that something didn't seem right only lasted for a brief second before the medication kicked in again and Pru focused on helping Minnie mix the dry ingredients for their sweet treat.

This story is a challenge that I'm enjoying. Pru is going to be broken down but she'll come back a little stronger than before.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Feeling Alive

Well, we're off to move my daughter into her dorm for her very first semester of college. It's been a crazy whirlwind of a week, trying to get last-minute details nailed down and grabbing all the final items she needs to have with her. Thankfully, I've only got one project that has a deadline and my past self ended up being smart enough to work the move into the due date. Whew.

Not much viewing of television this week. Too many things going on. I did catch another episode of Danger Man, which happened to be another one I hadn't seen yet.

Also got through almost all of Gabriel's Inferno. Like I said, I'm kind of taking my time with this one and thoroughly enjoying it.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and a new character has been introduced. So far, he's a bit of dick. Not sure if I'll end up really liking him or hating him a bunch. Time will tell.

I'm really looking forward to having a little downtime once we get the college-bound kid settled in. The whole pandemic thing has completely thrown off my usual groove and I'm not quite sure if I'll get it back or if my new normal will take some getting used to.

That's my week in a nutshell. Tonight's post is from Feeling Alive, a novella that has a bit of a dark side before the light comes in.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Maddox loses her partner in a bomb explosion and shuts down emotionally. Wakefield arrives to interrogate Maddox about his brother's death, but she refuses to discuss the trauma. She ends up in another explosive situation and Wake finally breaks through Maddox's defenses, but he also opens the floodgates, which may get both killed.

And a snippety peek…

"Does Reed the robot care who claims the collar on this one?"

Maddox didn't have a clue which one of her coworkers dubbed her with the nickname. Hell, she couldn't muster up the will to give a shit what they called her. The word robot fit the bill. Maddox worked on autopilot, going through the motions, showing up for the job because she didn't know how to do anything else.

She slammed her locker shut. "Doesn't matter as much anymore." At least not the part about taking credit for busting lowlife drug dealers.

She got the job done, interacting as little as possible with her colleagues. The rift between her and them only grew wider without Avery to bridge the gap. He always used to coordinate a monthly meet-up for the squad room detectives, giving everyone a chance to blow off steam.

Grabbing her bag, Maddox headed down the stairs to exit the building. "Wonder if someone else will take on that little bit of team-building?" Definitely wouldn't be her.

She didn't have the stomach to play nice with anyone at the moment.

If fact, she needed to work out some serious aggression. Even with three solid busts, the week had been filled with one cluster fuck after another. If she wanted to at least appear sane and whatever passed for her new normal, she needed to have a good throw down with someone.

"I need a down and dirty fight followed by a nice, hard dick." She didn't really care how disappointed Avery would be in her right now.

Right. Keep telling yourself that, Maddox.

Okay, his opinion still mattered. Even if he'd never be able to voice it again. Part of the reason she hit her favorite dive bar almost every night had everything to do with punishing herself because she'd lost her voice of reason.

Crossing over to her vehicle, she slid behind the wheel. "At least this is one way to stop feeling numb for a while." Reversing out of her space, she left the lot and merged into traffic.

 Three blocks up and two over, a dimly lit place with decades of grime covering the walls called her name. Ironic that she went to a crappy tomb of a bar to feel a spark of life.

I'm honestly so pleased with how the scenes are coming together. Maddox is in a really low place and it's a challenge to write she speaks clearly with my sages and they know exactly how she wants things to go.

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin