Sunday Snippet: On a Snowy Mountain

Weird weather week with sun followed by a huge middle finger FU from Mother Nature with snow and rain. At least I got a lot of stuff done around the house and had time to get a good bit of writing in also.

Decent week for television. I caught another episode of Picard and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved getting some additional background on Chris. I'm honestly not completely sure how I feel about the Romulans but I love the intrigue of everything that's going on.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and also loved getting more background about Rhodes. I'm a fan of the actor and I'm a total sucker for characters who have dad issues.

Since it snowed this week, I watched a Passionflix holiday Quickie. A Holiday Lift ended up being pretty fun. I love the whole stuck in an elevator trope.

Ended up watching a complete episode of Blue Heelers and started another one. I love stumbling across actors who got their start on this show. A favorite from City Homicide guest starred in one of the episodes.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and it went in a direction I didn't expect. I love it when shows do that.

Caught another episode of No Offence. Again, the show went in a direction I completely didn't expect it to go in. Excellent stuff!

Watched a full arc of Classic Who. I ended up getting annoyed with Four again. Sometimes he's just a bit too full of himself.

Enjoyed another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on possible earth landings and linked several ancient cultures to the mythology. Very fun episode.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'm almost finished with the first season and really enjoyed Ethel Merman's stint as a guest star.

Last, but not least, I watched another episode of Peak Practice. I'm not quite finished with it yet but it's going to have a sad ending so I'm putting it off. LOL

That's it for life and television updates this week. Tonight's post is from On a Snowy Mountain, a sexy short that will hopefully launch later this year.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Jersey and Shaw make it through hell to be together. They get married and spend their honeymoon in a sunny paradise, where they discover their future plans to become parents is now a present situation. A couple of weeks before Jersey's due date, they're taking a well-earned break at a friend's cabin on a snowy mountain when the weather takes a turn and all hell breaks loose.

And a snippety peek…

They were adding a member to their family.

And the gods were pleased.

Jersey smoothed her hands over her rounded stomach. Almost midnight and the kid wouldn't settle down. Two more weeks and the kicks and jabs would be external instead of internal. Then Shaw could stay up and experience the fun she'd been having.

Not that he didn't already. He'd been great about getting or staying up with her. Called it practice.

Except he had to stay busy, probably so he wouldn't fall asleep. If she thought dragging logs into the cabin this late at night kind of strange, she'd keep it to herself.  

"Because I'm wide awake and it's nice to have the company."

Shaw had let her sleep in this morning while he chopped wood. The mountain cabin they'd borrowed had an excellent fireplace.

Jersey smiled. "One we've taken advantage of every night so far." Being pregnant hadn't cooled her down at all.

Truth told, her appetite seemed to increase along with her waistline. Thank the universe Shaw had no problem accommodating her whenever the mood struck.

She stretched. "Hmmm. Like right now."

He came in from the enclosed porch carrying an armload of wood, jeans slung low on his hips, flannel shirt unbuttoned. Jersey immediately wanted him. She crooked her finger and grinned.

Shaw's eyebrows shot up. "Again?"

She nodded. "Got a problem with that?"

He dumped the logs, crossing to her in a few long strides. "Uh, no." He held out his hand so she could grab it.

She reached out and pulled herself up. "In front of the fire." She waited until her center of gravity settled then put an arm around Shaw's waist. "Work for you?"

Shaw dropped a kiss on her nose. "Haven't had a problem for the past seven nights, have I?"

She smirked and shook her head back and forth. "No … you haven't." She'd never complain about his performance.

He led her to an oversized ottoman by the hearth. Perfect spot for easy access to the floor. Jersey sank down slowly then unzipped and peeled off her thermal hoodie.

Shaw knelt in front of her and took over, freeing her breasts from the confines of her bra—two sizes bigger than the norm. His hands cupped her gently, kneading the sensitive flesh. He leaned forward, lips grazing along the column of her throat. The day old scruff on his face made her shudder.

Her impatient hands shoved at his shirt and he eased back so she could push it off his shoulders. Her mouth met his and her fingers got busy with the buttons of his fly.

When Shaw nudged her hands away, she lifted her hips so he could smoothly remove her loose fitting pants and undies.

A bold smile curved her lips when his eyes darkened to a smoky blue.

His obvious appreciation only contributed to her perpetual state of constantly wanting him.

I love this story. It's part of a concept I'm hoping people will like … brief glimpses into the life of a couple. I'm a huge fan of short stories and I'm sure there are others out there who like them also.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Oceanfront Villa

Not a bad week overall. I had time to get some solid organizing completed and I'm happy to make progress on that project. Also got in a good bit of writing, which always makes me happy.

Pretty good week for television viewing. I caught another episode of Picard and, wow, I didn't see one of the deaths coming. Nice to catch up with old friends.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. It's good to fill in some blanks from previous seasons of the other Chicago shows.

Got another episode of No Offence viewed and, seriously, thoroughly enjoyed it. Viv, Dinah, and Joy are terrific characters.

Started another two-part Silent Witness. This ended being an interesting episode. I'm looking forward to watching the second part.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. I gotta be honest, this season Four is kind of annoying me. He's not quite as fun as the previous seasons.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on past and present possible visitations. Interesting stuff.

Got two more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'd completely forgotten they let one of the old guys backstage for a while. He's not nearly as fun when he's not with his partner.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice and it had a lot going on but ended up being really good. I'm thinking there will be a sad good-bye in the near future.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm hoping to get a little more about Rose. I'm still trying to make a connection with that character.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Oceanfront Villa, a novella that has my main characters realizing they need some downtime.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Danielle Finch is a hardworking doctor who rarely takes time off and her relationship with Vince Darkholme, an in demand attorney, suffers for the lack of face time. When Vince's client offers the use of his oceanfront villa, Danielle readily agrees to take two weeks to rekindle the passion she sorely misses with Vince.

And a snippety peek…

David Canneli's driver dropped Vince at the rear entrance to the loft he shared with Danielle.

Vince got home later than planned. "Canneli has no idea how close I came to ditching him after the first course." He entered the lower level of the loft he shared with Danielle. "But I'm glad I didn't."

Canneli had been so happy Vince found a mistake in a major contract, which saved him upward of two million dollars. David had offered Vince the use of his oceanfront home and Vince jumped at the chance, accepted with gratitude, and stayed for the full meal, round of dessert, and drinks afterward.

But now, with the time nearing midnight, he wanted to turn back the clock so he could spend the evening with his wife. Taking the stairs, he went over the varied list of pros and cons to taking a much-needed vacation. First and foremost, he wanted to reconnect with his woman. They had sex, but not as often. Typical relationship gripe after a decade of marriage. And maybe sex didn't seem like a chore, but it lacked passion, too. He missed the spark and static they used to have.

Pausing outside the door, he heaved a sigh. "She's probably asleep by now." And why not?

She'd put in full day. Even if she'd left earlier than normal, he'd seen her patient schedule before. And this had been a grueling week for her.

He entered the loft, surprised to find the lights still on. "Maybe she's still awake." Taking that as a good sign, he made his way through the mudroom area, the kitchen, and finally ended up in the living room. He found Danielle curled up on the couch, an open book and an empty wine glass on the ottoman.

His lips curved. How many times had he come home from his study group to find her in this same position after a thirty-six hour shift during her residency? Back then, he used to kiss her awake then join her on the sofa or haul her to the bedroom for a hot round of passionate sex.

He wanted those kinds of moments back.

Kneeling down, he cupped her face. "Hey, beautiful, I'm home." His thumb stroked over her cheek.

Dani's eyes blinked open and focused on him. "Hi…" She started to sit up and winced. "Ugh. Fell asleep, didn't I?" She straightened and twisted her head from side to side. "What time is it? Did the dinner go well?" She scooted over, making room for him to sit beside her.

He settled on the couch and drew her legs over his lap. "It did, but it ran late. It's just after midnight." His fingers squeezed her feet, massaging and kneading.

Danielle made a low hum of satisfaction. "Kind of figured it would when ten p.m. rolled around." Her lips curved and her tone lacked heat.

Vince arched an eyebrow. "Were you waiting up? I'm sorry if you were." He moved on to her arches, working his thumbs along her skin the way she liked.

Danielle waved off the apology. "It's okay. I got sucked into a book and didn't feel like moving." She paused a moment. "I do have something I'd like to talk about, but it can wait if you're too tired tonight."

Vince's heart dropped and he looked for a sign he'd missed something. But she didn't appear angry or upset. Still … he'd better share his news while he could.

Giving her a nod, he moved up to her calves. "I'm not too tired. I've got something to share also. Do you mind if I go first?"

I like this story. It's fun to write a couple that is deeply in love but comes close to losing sight of just how much they care.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Next Year Same Time

A lovely week with warmer temperatures and some rain. Excited to see some spring weather rolling in. It's supposed to be in the high fifties and sixties this week and I'm totally down with that, even if it gets chilly at night.

Not a bad week for writing either. I played catch-up on a few more manuscripts and fleshed out some plot bunnies. The sages are on a roll right now and I'm not sure what prompted their creativity. I won't complain though.

Good week of television also. I watched a couple of movies starting with Enola Holmes, which I ended up really enjoying. Glad to hear there will be another one at some point. I also watched a total favorite of mine, Grease 2. This is one of those cases where I loved the sequel more than the original. Seriously.

I restarted my watch of Picard, picking up with episode six. Wow, a lot to unpack in that episode. I'm excited to see what happens next.

I finally started Chicago Med. I've been waiting to see the first season and ended up getting access. Enjoyed the first episode.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice. I ended the second season and started the third. Both were good episodes.

Watched another episode of No Offence. I like the overarching storyline for the new season and the wrap-up of the previous season's fallout. I'll be honest and admit I'm not keen on the new supervisor but I'll reserve judgment for now.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and it was as twisty as I thought it would be. Enjoyed the two-parter.

Started season fifteen of Classic Who. Pretty decent opening arc the lighthouse setting. Interestingly, it ties into one of those unsolved mysteries of the unexplained and I love it when the show does that kind of thing.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on Area 52 and what might or might not be going on there.

Two more episodes of The Muppet Show are complete. I'd forgotten about Harry the mad bomber. He made an appearance and blew some stuff up.

That's about it for television and this week's wrap-up. Tonight's post is from Next Year Same Time, a novella where crazy circumstances spark a romantic interest.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lita Vonn is a store owner who gets caught up in a bank robbery and makes a connection with the negotiator, Saber Reyes. Saber questions her desire to get together and offers an alternative suggestion—next year, same time, they'll meet at the coffee shop across the street.

And a snippety peek…

Saber Reyes dialed the bank number and hoped someone responded. He'd worked hostage situations but never as the lead. He'd find out today if he had the stones to run a team on his own.

"Hello … I'm supposed to ask who I'm talking to and let you know I'll be speaking for the man in charge in here."

Saber blinked. "Okay. I'm Detective Reyes. You can call me Saber. Are you allowed to tell me your name?" A muffled conversation followed.

"Lita Vonn and I'm putting you on speaker but you're only to address me."

Saber frowned. Definitely not what he usually dealt with. Made things more challenging.

He agreed to the terms. "Fine, Lita. Is everyone okay? What does the man in charge want?"

One of the sheriff's deputies waved to get his attention. "Boss, I'm not sure what's going on, but can you hear this?"

A rapid staccato beat in steady increments could be heard in the background. Saber's eyes widened. Holy shit. Someone knew Morse code and decided to send a message.

He muted the phone. "Can you isolate that on this screen? It's Morse code." He glanced up. "Anyone familiar with Morse code? I need someone to translate while I'm on the call."

"Saber, the man in charge wants to know how much authority you have." Lita's voice came through the phone.

The series of beats stopped.

Saber shifted focus back to the current situation. "I'm fully authorized to negotiate and resolve this situation. What are his demands?"

Lita responded, "The man in charge wants a signed release from Judge Sharnell, stating the defendant in case number CR-1557895 is free to go and does not have to report to the holding center tomorrow." She paused and started again. "He also wants a plane ticket and safe passage to the airport. He'll have all the funds he needs from the bank."

Saber frowned again. "I'll get to work on the release, but the judge is in court. I might not be able to reach him right away." He definitely could, but he needed to buy some time.

Lita had a whispered conversation then replied. "You've got three hours. The ticket can be for anywhere that doesn't have an extradition agreement with the US."

Saber blew out a breath. "All right. I'll find the next available flight and arrange for transportation." He waited a moment. "Is there anything else?"

Lita responded quickly. "Stay on the line. And keep your snipers off the roofs if you don't want dead hostages."

Saber bit back an expletive. "All right. Done." He motioned the commander of the tactical team to pull his men back.

Then he waved the man over and gave him the order to put his sniper teams in the upper floors of the neighboring buildings. Not ideal, but workable. He shifted his gaze to the computer screen and Morse code translations.

MiC is Chuck Barnaby. Armed with semi-auto rifle. Strapped with explosives. Very jumpy and erratic.

Damn. Solid information. Combined with the docket number, Saber should be able to put a good profile together for their man in charge.

He gave the order to contact Judge Sharnell to apprise him of the situation and keep the man informed. He pulled up the case and reviewed the charges and the judge's orders. This wouldn't end well for Barnaby. Unless he gave himself up, which Saber's gut said wouldn't happen.

He went back to the call. "Lita, you've been very helpful so far. Keep up the good work." He hoped she understood his loosely coded message. "Let's do our best to keep everyone calm and comfortable for now. I'll be in touch soon about the plane ticket."

I love the adventure angle of this story. Saber will be halfway in love with Lita before he meets her face-to-face.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: New Year's Nip

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. We're having a low-key day without a lot of fanfare. That's exactly the way I like to celebrate holidays and my middle kiddo had his gallbladder removed earlier this week so being kind of quiet is a good thing.

Had a decent week of television viewing. My work schedule is still sporadic and I've been able to catch up on a few more writing projects. I'm also taking some time to organize my works in progress and then I hope to plan out a tentative schedule to finish up the ones that are close to being done.

I started a new episode of Blue Heelers and, so far, it's pretty good. I'm a little confused about the new character being in uniform but hopefully that will resolve itself by the end of the episode.

Watched the first episode of No Offence's second season. Really nice setup for the overarching storyline. I really love Viv and Dinah's dynamic. This show is so excellent.

Caught the opening episodes of the tenth season of Silent Witness. Really liked the first two-parter. I've started the third episode and I think it's going to be a twisty one.

Watched the final arc of Doctor Who's fourteenth season. Pretty solid storyline and I'm starting to like the dynamic between Four and Leela. I like her.

I ended up with a free six-month trial of Discovery+ so I started a show called UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I love diving into theories of visitors from outer space.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Both were very funny. I've discovered I really enjoy the ballroom dance segments. Considering I'm not a huge comedy fan, this is high praise.

And that's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from New Year's Nip, an Organic Nature sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Eppie Collins has a terrific guy, one who gave her a wonderful Christmas holiday. She's returning the favor on New Year's Eve, making surprise last-minute plans to watch the midnight fireworks in the city. Vin's not the only one who can pull out all the stops.

And a snippety peek…

Vin drove down the road leading to Eppie's place. His fuzzy brain needed a few more hours of sleep, but he wouldn't trade the last few days for anything. Since their return from Holly Hollow, Eppie whirled through her work day, humming happy tunes and smiling a lot more. When she ran her end of the year numbers, she danced around the kitchen. Her profits were even better than she expected. She'd fixed a terrific dinner then dragged him upstairs for celebratory sex that lasted just past midnight. Then started all over at five a.m.

He loved that woman something fierce.

Pulling to a stop in front of her house, he shut the engine off and rested his forehead on the steering wheel. His meeting went well, his work crews more than happy with the annual bonus. He straightened and grinned. When he announced scheduled inside work for the next two months, his three teams whooped for joy. The timing didn't always work out, but he strived to keep his guys—and three gals—busy through the winter months. Half days were better than zero days.

His hand reached to pop the door open but when he glanced up, Eppie stood outside with a steaming mug in her hands. He flashed a smile and she eased back, holding the cup in his direction.

Sliding from the vehicle, he nodded toward the offering. "For me?" He took the drink and the aroma of hot chocolate wafted to his nose. "Mmm. Cocoa." Moving forward, he wrapped an arm around her. "Perfect on a cold day."

She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I thought so. Doesn't take long to get chilled to the bone out here." Putting her arms around him, she walked up onto the porch and out of the wind.

He took a bracing gulp, the smooth, creamy liquid flowing down his throat. "Ahhh. Just right. Not too hot, not too cold."

Eppie broke away to open the front door and Vin followed her inside after kicking his boots off. More yummy scents drifted out from the kitchen. Chicken and dumplings, one of his favorites. Shrugging his coat off, he let Eppie grab it to hang on the hook beside the door.

He made his way to the living room, settling down on the sofa. A fire roared in the hearth, a perfect complement to the cocoa. Eppie brought a mug in and curled up beside him.

Taking another sip, he shot her a sideways glance. "A tasty treat, my favorite for dinner. Is this a special occasion?"

She chuckled. "No, not really. Call it making amends for keeping you up and making you late this morning."

This series is so much fun to write. I love the challenge of sticking with one couple and showing the progression of their relationship with its ups and downs.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Muse It Up

It's been a weird week but also a productive one. I can't quite believe March is almost over. My middle kid has gallbladder surgery on Tuesday and my youngest kid has a long weekend coming up and I'm kind of excited to have everyone home.

Very slow work week so I got to focus on writing again. Made a lot of progress on the back end with a good bit or organizing and updating files. I got some new projects launched and made a big dent in some older ones that have been on the back burner. It's always nice to feel productive.

Also got some cleaning done, which is terrific and long overdue. I've been setting a timer and sticking with one area for that timeframe. Seems to be working well so far. I pick a room, set the limit, and get busy. Makes the job seem less daunting.

On the television front, I got three arcs of Classic Who watched this week. I'm almost finished with season fourteen and I miss Sarah Jane but Leela is pretty fun. I don't think I've seen any Leela episodes so it's kind of fun to see new fare.

I also watched several more episodes of The Muppet Show. I'm about halfway through the first season and other than remembering how annoying Miss Piggy's karate chops are I'm having great memories.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and finished out the ninth season. I'll be starting ten this week.

Got another episode of Peak Practice in and should have one more for the second season then ready to start the third. I'm not sure how long Jack and Beth will be sticking around but I'm really enjoying this show.

I also got to catch an episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I'm behind on the new season, but I like to binge this show so I'll get caught up soon.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Muse It Up, a novella where the hero finds his muse in an odd place.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nate Shaunessey can't get in the groove to write his new supernatural series. When he meets the new bartender, Hunter Gant, at his local pub, a muse is born. The only problem? Nate's afraid to tell her she's his latest inspiration.

And a snippety peek…

Hunter scrambled to answer her phone. "Hello." Sunlight poured through the window in the small apartment above the bar.

"Hey, sis. You doing okay?"

Her mouth curved. "I'd be doing better if you didn't call at an ungodly hour." Her brother, Keegan, never had good timing.

He chuckled. "It's after noon. Thought you might like to get some lunch now that you've settled in."

Yawning, she cracked an eye open. "Make it breakfast and you're on." She sat up, putting her phone on speaker. "I didn't get to bed until after five."

Keegan sputtered. "What? Are you having trouble or something?"

Hunter rolled her eyes. "Geez, bro. Put the badge away." She rifled through her drawer. "No, I'm not having trouble. Seriously? With a bookish type of clientele?" Might be different if Paul and Louanne had the type of patrons their brother Declan had—he ran a roadside bar that catered to motorcycle enthusiasts.

Keegan kicked a snarky reply back to her. "Right. Because people who write about serial killers and the dregs of humanity can't possibly be dangerous."

Hunter yanked a shirt over her head. "Keeg, you've been a cop too long." The lone wolf in the family, Keegan had chosen law enforcement over entrepreneurship.

He snorted. "Which means I've seen a lot of what some of those authors write about."

Tugging a pair of leggings on, Hunter paused midway. "Speaking of authors. Guess who parked his ass on one of my barstools last night." She finished dressing, grabbing a pair of socks then heading for the bathroom.

Keegan huffed out a breath. "No idea. Who?"

She turned the water on and snagged her toothbrush. "Nate Shaunessey." Muting the phone, she started brushing her teeth, grinning when Keegan finally found his voice.

"No shit? I love his books." He went off on a tangent about the current series ending. "Wait, you're not messing with me are you?"

She quickly rinsed and unmuted the phone. "No, of course not. I'm not Declan." She laughed when Keegan muttered about Declan's bad habit of telling tall tales.

Keegan finally asked, "So … what's he like in person?"

Hunter chuckled. "I'll fill you in at breakfast. Where do you want to meet?"

Keegan didn't hesitate. "Come out the back way. I'm sitting in the alley behind the bar. We can decide on the way."

Hunter opened the door and, sure enough, her brother's personal vehicle idled at the bottom of the stairs. "Dammit, Keegan." She cut the call to the sound of his laughter.

I really like this story and I love the sibling dynamic Hunter has going on. I'm excited to see where things go.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Monumental Headache

I did get my vaccine this past Tuesday and only had mild side effects, for which I'm very grateful. I'm glad it's out of the way and look forward to everyone else getting theirs and finding a new normal.

Had another slower work week and caught up on more writing. It's nice to focus for longer periods when I'm able to. Had a few distractions involving family member health issues but both of those were expected.

Television ended up being fairly decent this week. I finished a new arc of Classic Who and it might be the last one with Sarah Jane Smith. I'm not sure but should find out this week.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice. Jack and Amanda finally got married and had some drama prior to the wedding.

Caught the last two episodes of No Offence's first season and, wow, what a great ending. A little twisty and turny but very satisfying. Also caught the deleted scenes and a behind the scenes meeting of the cast and creator. Worth the watch.

Watched a couple episodes of The Muppet Show. Again, I had some great memories of watching as a kid. I'm enjoying diving back into the show.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers but haven't made it very far yet. Looks like a good episode so far.

Caught another episode of Silent Witness. Almost at the end of season nine. This looks like another good two-parter.

Did a binge marathon of Hawaii Five-0 and watched a good portion of season nine. I'll have to revisit because I missed some key points, but it's a decent season so far.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Monumental Headache, a novella that has my characters dealing with a situation with another coworker that isn't fun for them.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Cadee Walsh has a high stress job and needs to blow off steam. She spends the night with Worth Pettigrew, recharging from the incredible sex. Imagine her mortification when she finds out he's her new boss.

And a snippety peek…

Breathing a little easier, he pulled into the back alley of the address he provided to Cadee. The little hole in the wall diner had good food and the owners were friends of his. Parking under an awning-covered carport, he got out of the car and entered the restaurant through the rear entrance. Making his way to the dining room via the kitchen, he spotted Cadee, sitting at the bar, chatting with Ethel. She glanced up when he came through the café doors and quirked an eyebrow.

Ethel waved them to a booth in a secluded corner. "I'll bring your order in a few. The usual?" She didn't wait for a reply, because Worth never deviated from his favorite meal.

Cadee scooted into the booth and placed her purse and jacket on the seat. "What's the usual? Am I going to like it?" Her knee bobbed under the table, betraying her antsy agitation.

Worth's lips curved. "I think you'll enjoy it. I call it John's blue plate special, but it's a steak salad with house dressing, two crusty rolls, and a side of grilled pineapple." He settled across from Cadee.

She closed her eyes. "You're right. I'll love it." Her eyes popped open. "They only make this blue plate special for you, don't they?"

He laughed. "You got it in one. Remember when I told you I had ties to the community?" He glanced behind the counter. "Ethel and John are it. They lived beside my grandparents when I was growing up and I spent a lot of time with them during the summers and on holiday visits." As much as he'd love to talk about old friends, he steered the conversation where it needed to go. "But we didn't come here to talk about my childhood."

Cadee sighed. "No, you're going to fill me in about Matt." Her gaze collided with Worth's. "I'm a little wigged out he knows you spent the night with me." She opened her mouth to say more, but Ethel interrupted.

She carried a big tray with two of everything on it. "Here we go. Steak salad, rolls, and grilled pineapple." Shuffling the dishes to the table, she also placed two cups of water along with two taller glasses of iced tea between them.

Worth rubbed his hands together. "Ethel, you're the best." When she cleared her throat and glanced toward Cadee, Worth made the introductions. "Ethel, this is Cadee, a colleague from work. Cadee, meet Ethel Merryman."

Cadee extended her hand. "Happy to meet you, Ethel. I can't wait to dig into this salad." Picking up her fork, she tucked into the leafy greens and popped a bite into her mouth.

Her eyes closed in bliss when she chewed than swallowed.

Worth grinned. She'd just made his night.

Ethel chuckled. "Great dressing, isn't it?"

Cadee nodded, stuffing another mouthful between her lips.

Ethel leaned down and whispered, "It's Worth's recipe. Super-secret ingredients, but he might share it with you." Turning around, she stuck the tray under her arm and greeted a new customer coming in through the main door.

Cadee's eyes widened then narrowed. "You're a man of many talents, aren't you?" She took a drink of her water. "We'll revisit this later." Picking up her knife, she sliced through one of the rolls. "But you were going to fill me in about Matt."

Worth picked his utensils up and nodded. "He's got it bad for you." He speared some lettuce onto the fork. "How long has this thing been going on?"

Cadee shot him an angry look. "That's the problem. There is no thing." She took a bite of her roll, chewing thoughtfully. "Okay, there is, but it's one-sided and all on Matt. I have no interest in him."

Worth breathed a little easier. He hoped he hadn't walked into a lover's spat, as Matt tried to imply. But after the shit week with Cadee, he needed to be certain.

Worth dug into his food but continued the conversation. "Basically, Matt threatened to come after me if I didn't back off. He told me you two were working through some issues and I'd be smart to not get involved in a workplace romance, especially since you're prone to them." He stuffed a bite of roll into his mouth and waited for her response.

She didn't disappoint. "Are you serious?" Her fork dropped to the table with a clatter.

This story started out one way and turned into something else and I'm happy about it. I love it when the characters show me something different.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Mixed Signals

Well, I think I get my vaccine this week. I'm actually rather excited they made it to my age range. I'll look forward to being able to be out and about more than I currently am.

Had a slower work week, which ended up being nice to get caught up on some writing and start some new projects that have been waiting in the wings. Also caught some television.

Ended up watching two arcs of Classic Who. I am in season fourteen and but I'm not halfway as I originally thought.

Caught two episodes of No Offence. I'm almost finished with the first season and it's getting really good. I'm thoroughly enjoying this show.

Watched the first part of Silent Witness and started the second. It's actually kind of a creepy episode.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice, which ended up being really good. I'm near the end of the second season and almost ready to start the third.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and it continues a bit from the previous episode. It's getting a little more into the personal lives of the characters.

Also watched several episodes of The Muppet Show. I'm having some seriously fun childhood flashbacks.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Mixed Signals, a novella that has a friendly fire incident that spurs a reunion between the characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Avery and Trigg, both undercover cops, can't keep their relationship going. Their work makes it hard to stay connected. When mixed signals results in Avery shooting Trigg in a friendly fire incident, she wants to set the record straight and maybe test the waters to pick up where they left off.

And a snippety peek…

Avery woke up with a start. Trigg stood next to her chair, dressed in fresh clothes with his arm in a sling to keep his shoulder still. "What's going on?" Sunlight streamed through the window. "I slept here all night?" Well, yeah, her neck and back were screaming.

Trigg flashed a smile. "You did, yes. When the nurse came in to say visiting hours were over, I told her you needed rest."

She raised her eyebrows. "And she didn't make a fuss?"

The corner of Trigg's mouth kicked up in a half-grin. "I also told her you were the one who shot me and wanted to atone by sleeping in a horribly uncomfortable chair all night."

Avery laughed. "You're awful." She stretched and winced. "But accurate about the chair. Damn, I hurt." She sobered. "I'm assuming you get to leave?" Why else would he be dressed?

He nodded. "Waiting on a prescription for pain meds and the discharge papers." He planted his butt on the edge of the bed. "I'm restricted to desk duty after forty-eight hours at home." His mouth twisted in a grimace.

Avery leaned back in the chair. "Can I give you a ride? We could go to my place, get you settled." She could at least make sure he had meals and help out until he got used to the whole one-armed thing.

Trigg's eyebrow rose. "You think that's a good idea? Might be a little weird, all things considered." No doubt meaning their would-they-or-wouldn't-they conversation.

Avery shrugged. "Doesn't have to be strange. You're gonna need help with meals and navigating until you're used to the sling. I've got time off saved up I can use." She wanted to be there for him.

Trigg shook his head. "I can't ask you to use vacation time." He started to rise.

She stood first and nudged him back. "Trigg, you're not asking me. I'm telling you." Placing her hand on his, she laced their fingers together. "If my place doesn't work for you, I'll come stay at yours. No strings, expectations, or declarations needed. Consider this a favor from a friend who's been there and knows what a pain in the ass getting wounded can be." He really had no idea how difficult simple things would be until he adjusted.

Trigg cocked his head to one side. "You're sure you want to do this?" He squeezed her fingers.

She nodded. "I'm sure. No pressure to pick up where we left off or revisit our past. This is strictly an offer from someone who cares." She'd do her best to stay true to that promise.

Because she really wanted another shot, especially after realizing he could have died.

Trigg held her gaze for several long moments. "In that case, if we can stop by my place to get some stuff, I'd be happy to stay with you for a couple of days."

She grinned. "Perfect. I'll head down and get the seat adjusted and pull around to the valet area." Gathering her bag, she almost bumped into the nurse on her way back into the room.

With a quick wave to Trigg, she exited and headed for the elevator.

"Don't blow this, Ave." Exhaling slowly, she pushed the button to head for her car.

I'm excited to see what happens when Trigg and Avery spend some quality time together, which doesn't mean they'll be at the rainbows and unicorns stage yet.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin