Sunday Snippet: King's Ransom

Can't believe June is almost over. This year is flying by so quickly. Or maybe it's just so much is out of control it seems that way.

Great week of work. I'm finishing up two big projects and hopefully setting up the groundwork for more. I'd love to find some balance between big jobs and smaller ones.

Had a decent week for viewing. We had some weather roll through, and I took the precaution of not starting anything when we might lose power.

I started a new two-parter of Silent Witness. Kind of an interesting premise and I'm not completely sure where this one is going. I like that.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise, and it's one I hadn't seen yet. I do love watching the series in chronological order.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Final Cut," which is one of my very favorite episodes. There's a lot going on in this one and it's all amazing.

Finished the second season of Only Murders in the Building and, holy hell, I loved how it ended! Can't wait for season three!

Also managed to catch another episode of Classic Rugrats. It brought back some memories because my kiddos wanted to try flan because of this one.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from King's Ransom, a novella that dips back into the Blatant Affair universe.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Scientist Livvie King needs protection—she possesses a rare book that people will kill for. Nab Ransom is assigned to transport her safely to a secure destination and he's got a big problem—he shouldn't be falling for the woman he's supposed to guard with his life.

And a snippety peek…

Livvie King curled her fingers into her palms. "It's too weird. Having three near misses. I'm not accident prone at all." She couldn't ignore the bizarre, life-threatening events around her anymore. "And that's why I came to you, Mr. Cruz." If a private security company couldn't keep her safe, no one could.

Victor Cruz lifted his chin. "My company specializes in protection, prevention, and often apprehension. We'll be able to keep you safe." He arched his eyebrows. "You said you're a scientist? Are you sure you're not being targeted for something work-related?" His tone skeptical, he tilted his head to one side.

Livvie sighed. "I can't be one hundred percent sure, but I don't do top-secret work and the, uh, accidents started happening after I inherited my grandmother's book of recipes." She patted her messenger bag. "It's going to sound strange, but her distillery caters to a lucrative clientele. Several attempts have already been made to purchase her formulas, but I don't want to sell them. It's her legacy to me." She met Victor's gaze. "And I can't leave my job yet, so pulling up stakes and moving won't be happening for at least a year or two. That's why I have the book with me." In hindsight, probably a big mistake.

Victor did a slow nod. "Okay, we'll assume the book is the target and they'll go through you to get it." He picked up his phone. "I'm texting one of my operatives. We'll do an introduction then talk specifics for getting you home." Placing the device back on the desk, he focused on his computer. "I'm printing a standard contract and we'll add addendums as needed until you're happy with the package."

A rapid series of knocks sounded on the door behind her, and Victor called for the person to enter.

Livvie turned and bit back a gasp. The man entering took her breath away. Tall, but not towering, he had broad shoulders, defined biceps, and a tapered waist. Wearing a pair of dark blue fatigues and a grey Henley with the Cruz logo, he lifted his chin in greeting and flashed a brief smile.

Then he focused on his boss. "You have a client you wanted me to meet?"

Victor rose and came around his desk. "Yeah. Nab, this is Livvie King." He swept his hand toward her. "Livvie, this is Nab Ransom, one of my top operatives. He'll make sure you get home in one piece." He indicated Nab should take a seat.

Livvie shook her head. Nope. This wouldn't work at all. Her goal of not drawing any undue attention to herself could only fail on epic proportions if she had to travel with a mega-hot man in tow.

She made a sound of protest. "Don't you have someone less, well, attractive? I mean I'm trying to be incognito and this one will…" She made an all-encompassing motion with her hand. "Draw a lot of attention." Geez, did she really just say that?

Nab blinked. "You want someone else because you think I'm too good-looking?" He slid his gaze toward Victor. "That's a first."

Victor grunted. "That it is. But you heard the client. I'll find someone else for this detail." A frown marred his face, but he grabbed his phone again.

Nab lifted his chin. "No problem, boss. I don't mind the downtime. Lets me dive back into my X-Files rewatch." He met Livvie's gaze. "Nice to meet you, Ms. King." He started for the door.

Livvie's mouth dropped open. This hot-ass man is an X-Files fan? She would've never believed it if she hadn't heard it from his lips.

Livvie jumped to her feet. "Wait!" She glanced toward Victor. "I've changed my mind. I'd be grateful for Mr. Ransom's protection." She couldn't go wrong with a guy who loved Mulder and Scully.

I'm not quite sure where this story is going yet but I love these characters. There might be some shenanigans with my couple from Blatant Affair.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Killing Time

Happy Father's Day to the dads out there, including fur dads and mentors. We've got beautiful weather after a very soggy week.

My work projects are bringing me so much joy right now. The books are so amazing! Also heard from one of my authors on two new stories he's got percolating right now. And I got a text message from one of my current authors that completely made my weekend. So … work is awesome right now.

Had a very good viewing week. I ended up doubling up on a couple of shows because the mood struck.

Ended up catching two episodes of the Brokenwood Mysteries. Both were pretty great. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting another one of Mike's ex-wives. And my heart kind of broke for him by the end of that episode. I'll probably finish out season nine this week.

Finished the complete run of available Classic Who episodes. Have to say in retrospect, it's weird how there have been seven doctors and only one master. That said, I'm actually kind of happy with how Seven's tenure ended. Not sure if I'll watch the movie with Eight or just skip over to New Who. It might be a few weeks before I start that.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness. This two-parter ended up being very twisty and I liked it. Looking forward to starting a new one this week.

Watched two episodes of Death in Paradise. I'm enjoying watching from the beginning in chronological order. It's nice to see how the original group came together.

Enjoyed the penultimate episode of Only Murders in the Building. What a cool twist or three. Can't wait to watch the finale this week.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. This is my nostalgia show. I have so many great memories of watching this when my kiddos were little.

Watched an episode of Peak Practice. Joanna breaks my heart sometimes. And we're nearing the end of season nine when things don't go so well for her.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with a double-header of "Home Part I and II." These are two of my favorite episodes of season two. The fleet is brought back together, and the acting is stellar.

Enjoyed another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries. Very interesting development at the end. I have a feeling I'll either love or hate the twist.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Killing Time, a fun sexy short with the characters having a sexy fun time during a stakeout.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Landry comes up with a great idea to kill time while on a stakeout with her hot coworker. Her biggest challenge? Getting Thryn to participate in a lively game of truth or strip.

And a snippety peek…

"We have movement out back." Thryn adjusted the angle of the tiny camera mounted on the garage.

Landry's head bobbed while she typed out the dialog. "Sounds like they're locking up for the night." Her fingers flew over the small keyboard she'd brought.

Between seven thirty and eight fifteen their targets had significant movement. Work-mode Landry had gone all business versus the bantery personal-mode Landry. She proved to be efficient, detail-oriented with her descriptions, and fast with transcribing conversations. She also shifted smoothly between one and the other. When they had five minutes of downtime, she quizzed him on his favorite noodle entrée.

Her chin lifted. "Back gate is locked tight and T1 is checking the garage while talking to himself." Her lips quirked.

Thryn followed the movement, recording the sequence of stops made by T1, aka the man of the house. Once he returned back inside, Thryn switched over to the interior feed, which required less work on his end. The small recording devices were motion-detectors and filmed anything that moved.

He took a moment to observe Landry while she typed. She made the standard black on black look sexy. Probably not appropriate to be thinking about her that way, but I'd be dead not to notice.

She relaxed her posture. "Both T1 and T2 are in the shower, separately." A wry grin lifted her lips.

His brows arched. "As opposed to together, right?" He swiveled toward her. "Seems wasteful." Their intelligence suggested the duo were intimately involved.

Landry smirked. "Speaking from experience?" Her head angled toward him.

He laughed. "Not recently, no." Movement in the drive caught his attention. "A car is pulling up. Looks like two occupants leaving the vehicle and heading for the front door."

Landry focused on the small monitor beside her. "They're discussing whether or not our couple is home." She typed their dialog into the document on her tablet screen.

A flurry of activity drew their attention for a couple of hours with the visiting couple sitting out on the patio until after midnight. Once they left, the targets finally appeared to be settled in for the night. The lights went out and the security system kicked on.

After another ten minutes, Landry removed her headset and set it aside. Their recording unit would kick on if the duo started talking again.

Thryn quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna order something to eat?" He pulled up the number of the noodle house.

Landry gave a nod and pointed to her favorite dish. Thryn ordered and said he'd pick it up. They had a fifteen-minute wait.

Landry chuckled. "Nothing like grabbing dinner after midnight." She leaned back in her chair.

Thryn shrugged. "Stakeouts are hell on the digestive system, especially if you're not careful." He'd worked with other operatives that made terrible food choices.

While they waited, they talked about other operations they'd been involved in. Both had some close calls and neither got too probing with their questions. Sometimes the less said the better.

Thryn stepped out to pick up their order and turned his experience with her over in his mind. "She's chatty without revealing a lot. And she doesn't overshare—unlike a few others I've pulled surveillance detail with."

When he returned, they ate in companionable silence then he grabbed his book. Landry pulled out a tablet and scrolled through her emails. He'd read the same page twice and finally gave in to the urge to observe her. She kind of fascinated him. She fit most of the impressions he'd had about her before arriving for their shared detail. Being somewhat up close and personal in the confined space, he'd been able to form new thoughts. She kept her straight hair pulled back in a serviceable ponytail, which showcased her angular cheekbones. Her nose is a little crooked from taking a flying elbow during an extraction. He rather liked what she probably considered an imperfection. The jagged line added character to otherwise flawless—in his eyes—features.

She glanced up and caught him staring. He held her gaze—feeling like she'd want him to own his perusal of her. A small, wry smile twisted her lips when she looked back down to her tablet.

Somehow … he'd passed some sort of test. Not sure why, the idea pleased him.

I'm having so much fun writing this one. Landry and Thryn make it very easy.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Ker and Moros

Getting a later than usual start on my blog post today. We lost power for about four hours. Finally got some rain after about ten days and the power blips. It's not even storming. Go figure.

Still moving along on my work projects. I'm so excited about the two manuscripts I'm editing. Both are part of a series with two different authors. Can't wait for the rest of the world to see them!

Had a pretty good week of viewing television. I'm still in the midst of the great clean out so not a huge amount, but a few extra hours.

Started the premiere episode of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. So far, I'm loving it. I paused mid-episode mainly because I want to be able to watch uninterrupted.

Caught another episode of Brokenwood Mysteries. Quite a good mystery for this one. Thoroughly enjoyed the episode.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. This one had some action, which doesn't happen often.

Enjoyed the penultimate episode of Classic Who's season twenty-six and I'm looking forward to the finale. Then I have to decide if I'm jumping into New Who or taking a break.

Caught the first half of a Silent Witness two-parter. Intriguing episode with some odd little twists. Looking forward to seeing how it ends.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "The Farm". I have mixed feelings about this episode. Loved the creeptastic look into what the cylons are up to on Caprica. Hated the deeper dive into my most disliked character in the entire series. So, enjoyed watching with my co-watcher but tempered that with knowing what will come later with the most disliked character. Should be doing a double-header next week!

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm very happy to be starting this series from the beginning and working my way through in the established order. This is such a fun watch.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. Such a great episode! Things are moving into place, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Caught the first episode of Madam Blanc Mysteries' second season. It's a holiday themed episode and actually quite terrific. I'm kind of wondering if Dom and Caron will be vying for Jean's affections, which I hope won't be the case.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Ker and Moros, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt about putting a modern spin on characters from a pantheon.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When they meet on the hiking trail, Leticia Sutton and Dustin Pierce carry guilt for past transgressions that weighs them down. The new acquaintances are at their lowest point and agree to meet each week for friendly therapy, which developments into an attraction between the two. By the end of their journey they have to decide if they have a solid foundation to build a relationship or if they should remain friends.

And a snippety peek…

Leticia Sutton veered off the marked trail. "There's no challenge if you stick to the tried and true." And she needed to do something punishing right now.

Pushing through some underbrush, she edged her way into a dense copse of scrubby trees. The gnarled trunks twisted and wound together, leaving no doubt they sprang up from sprouts of older growth. The mass provided an odd reflection of her life. Conflict surrounded her—at least it had for going on five years now.

Lettie squeezed through a trio of cottonwoods and winced when a limb scratched her arm. "I wanted difficult and definitely got it." She started an upward climb, carefully picking her way along the inclined land.

The hike would be good. Great if she ended up exhausted enough to sleep. Bad news always amped her anxiety up to a twelve. And the news about her ex-boyfriend Mark couldn't be worse. He'd posted about his terminal test results on social media three days ago.

Lettie closed her eyes a moment. "That's number three. The third person I've been close to who's had an awful medical diagnosis." She exhaled slowly and started walking again. "I swear I'm cursed." Or she had the ability to curse others.

First her mom with heart attack that led to her death five years ago. Then her cousin had pancreatic cancer that took him a year ago. Now Mark had a grim diagnosis.

Lettie angled upward again, using the trees to aid her ascent. "We didn't work together as a couple, but we had some good moments." Unfortunately, the not so great outweighed the fewer and far between good times.

Still, she wished him well when they ended their relationship nine months ago.

Pausing to catch her breath, she shook her head. "Probably should've just said good-bye and left it there." But she wanted to go out on a pleasant note.

Because Mark got snarly and snappy when things didn't go his way and that became the sticking point that drove a wedge between them. And even though they didn't work, she couldn't stop from feeling the weight of guilt. Which made zero sense but rational didn't always work in her brain.

Reaching out for the closest tree, Lettie's fingers missed the trunk and she stumbled, her feet slipping on the loose dirt. She tried to correct her balance, but overcompensated and twisted her ankle in a jumble of exposed roots. Sliding sideways, she lost a battle with gravity and ended up tumbling down the hillside in a heap of flying arms and flailing legs, her fingers scrabbling for anything to stop the fall.

She finally came to a stop when she crashed into a pair of sturdy boots attached to solid legs in khaki dungarees.

Blinking to clear her vision, she glanced upward and met the green gaze of a guy dressed in a red flannel over a T-shirt that matched the color of his eyes.

He stooped down, peering closely at her. "You okay? That was one hell of a drop." He held a hand out, seeking permission to check her over.

Lettie gave a nod, trying to find her voice. "Uh, yeah. Not exactly what I had planned." She straightened her leg and grimaced when her ankle screamed in agony at the movement.

His palm ghosted over her head, shaking twigs and leaves loose. "Ack. Looks like you might've done some damage. Hold still and I'll check it out." He moved down and gently picked her leg up.

The motion had her fingers curling into the ground and she hissed out a breath. "Yeah. That hurts." Tears sprang up behind her eyelids.

The guy gave a nod. "Probably sprained." He dragged his phone out. "And we're out of range here, but there's a signal on the main trail. Can I help you get there?"

She met his gaze for a brief moment and gave a shaky nod. He didn't need to get tangled up with her, but she did his assistance … at least long enough to get a call out.

He thrust his palm forward. "In that case … name's Dustin Pierce. Happy to be of service." He tucked his shoulder under her arm and got her to her feet.

She wrapped an arm around his waist. "Uh, Leticia Sutton. Glad I'm not the only one who went off the trail today."

I'm not sure where this story is going yet, but I love the possibilities. The couple meets under odd circumstances and it's fun to play with that angle.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Keeping Secrets

The first week of June is in the books and I got a big chunk of my garage cleaned out, which makes me very happy.

Work projects are moving along and I'm hoping to line up another project or two in the near future. I love a full calendar!

I had a decent week of television even with the great garage cleanout. I'm not up to my regular schedule yet and I'm actually okay with that.

I finished up the second half of Silent Witness and actually liked the kind of twisty ending it had. Lots of red herrings in this episode.

Started a watch of Death in Paradise. I've never seen this series from the actual beginning and I'm excited to dive in.

Caught another episode of Only Murders in the Building and I loved having some Mabel backstory. The fact she loved The X-Files as a kid makes me so happy.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. "Resistance" is such a great episode … with the exception of introducing a character I absolutely disliked with intense passion.

Watched an episode of Classic Rugrats. The two segments were ones I had forgotten and I'm always happy to watch those.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Keeping Secrets, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Priscilla Porter and Barry McDaniel are a happy couple—but they're keeping secrets from each other, which leads to suspicions and brings them close to breaking up.

And a snippety peek…

Priscilla Porter poured two mugs of coffee. "Nothing like starting the day after noon." Then again, nothing beat late night wake-up calls when her significant other, Barry McDaniel, caught a late flight home.

She startled a little when arms circled her waist, and a stubbled jaw nuzzled her neck. Turning slightly, she met Barry's lips for a lingering kiss. They were coming up on the fifth anniversary of their move-in-together date and she wanted to do something special and fun for him.

She eased away, her gaze drinking in the sight of him. "You're only wearing a towel." Barry grinned. "And you're only in a robe." His fingers trailed along the edges of her lapels.

Priscilla slid her palm down Barry's chest. "Guess that makes it easy to pick to pick up where we left off in the wee hours of the morning." She tugged the towel loose and let it fall to the floor, revealing his expanding hard-on.

Barry's eyebrows arched. "In the kitchen?" He nudged the robe over her shoulders.

The garment glided down, pooling at her feet.

Priscilla leaned into him. "Mmm … maybe not right here." Her lips ghosted over his jawline. "But if you can't run naked in your own place what's the point?" Giving his butt a quick tap, she made a dash for the bedroom.

Barry laughed and gave chase. "You'd better be in my favorite position." His bare feet made slapping sounds on the hard wood.

Priscilla crawled up on the bed on all fours and angled her head around when Barry followed her in. "You mean like this?" She gave her ass a shake.

Barry made a low growl. "Ahh, yeah. Perfect." His knees hit the mattress and he scooted in behind her, his hands skimming along her sides to reach around and cup her breasts.

Priscilla moaned. "The only thing better than wake-up sex is before breakfast sex." Her nipples pebbled under Barry's touch.

Barry nudged his hard length along her folds. "Yeah, but both are distant seconds to coming home sex." He thrust forward, sliding in deep.

Priscilla made a low hum. "Ah, yes. Good point." Her head dropped and she pushed back against him. "Anytime is the best with you."  

I like the premise of this story and can't wait to really explore how things go almost completely wrong when this couple decides to surprise each other.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Keeping Him Real

I can't believe we're at the end of May already. The year is flying by a lot faster than I want it to. Then again, it's been busier than usual for me, so time is kind of relative right now.

Had a great week with work projects. I'm making steady progress on both and still enjoying them. It's so much fun when you love the work.

Had a somewhat limited viewing week. I'm trying to figure out the whole HBOMax is Max now and, oh, yeah, it includes Discovery+. I have both so I have to figure it all out. I won't be paying twice for the same thing.

I watched a double-header of Battlestar Galactica with the second and third episodes of season two. I can't say enough about how strong the first ten episodes are. This show rarely missed in the first two seasons.

Also caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I have so much love for this show. It also makes me happy when people pop back up. I kind of miss a few of the original recurring characters but it's nice to have the continuity this show tries for.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Who. I think I might have one or two left to finish out the classic run of episodes. Not sure if I'll start a new rewatch of the New Who or not, but I'm excited for the new doctor and the anniversary specials.

I'll be starting the second part of Silent Witness this week. I'm also going to change up how I do my viewing. I normally scroll through my streaming services and watch one show from each, but that hasn't been cutting it lately. I think I'll start watching whatever strikes my interest and go from there.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Keeping Him Real, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hugo Mitchell is the glue that holds his family's business together and they rely on him for more than they should. Gayle Dawson is a long-time friend who works with Hugo. She becomes the match that sparks a transformation within Hugo where he finally stops taking up all the slack and starts to enjoy life … as long as she's in it.

And a snippety peek…

"Delivery truck's here!" Hugo Mitchell called out from the doorway.

Gayle Dawson poked her head around the door jamb just in time to see Wayne and Vince Mitchell casually get up from one of the tables and walk upstairs to the apartment they shared on the second floor. She had no doubt the guys heard their brother call out from the alley behind the bar. She also had no qualms ratting the idiots out if she could.

Ducking back inside the kitchen area, she made her way to the small loading section. "Hey, Hugo, what can I do?" She wiped her hands on her apron and gave him a smile.

Hugo arched his brows. "Where're Vince and Wayne? Weren't they just in the bar?" He glanced up, expecting to see his siblings.

Gayle gave her best bland look. "They were … until two milliseconds after you shouted about the truck being here." They should be helping, unlike their fourth and fifth siblings that had day jobs.

Hugo frowned. "Dammit. I asked them to stick around to help get this order unloaded. With the Memorial Day holiday this weekend, it's all hands on deck. We always get more stock in to manage the uptick in business." He sighed and waved to the delivery driver. "Hey, Jonah. Thanks for dropping this off. We'll see you Friday night, yeah?"

Gayle managed to keep the sour look off her face, but barely. Where's the anger? Where's the demand for his brothers to get their asses down here to help store the inventory? Why is Hugo the only one who actually works in the family bar? Gayle didn't quite trust herself to stay silent much longer. Six months of watching how the Mitchell family treated the oldest sibling—the one who kept the bar running and filled to capacity—made her blood boil on a regular basis. How had she missed this in the ten years she'd known the Mitchells? Maybe because she'd only been employed for eight months while she tried to figure out if she wanted to apply to grad school or pursue a job in her field … which would mean a move to a bigger urban area.

The family loved crowing about owning a bar and reaping the benefits of the business, but not one of them, including the parents Ryan and Fran, stuck around for the hard work that went along with keeping the doors open, the lights on, and the alcohol and food flowing and prepped for their clientele. Dante, the third brother, had a landscaping business and Aimee, the lone sister, worked at the local hospital. Both pitched in when their schedules allowed.

But Wayne and Vince? They claimed to be content creators, which usually involved dares and challenges they filmed and put up on social media sites. They also did video gaming tutorials and had live streams three times a week.

Gayle tsked. "None of which should prevent the slacker bros from helping out right now."

Hugo popped back inside. "Did you say something?" He had a pushcart stacked with cases of alcohol.

Gayle winced. "Not really. Just wondering if you want to me run up and ask your brothers to come down and help." She didn't have to guess what the response would be.

Hugo snorted. "Nah. I've got this." He draped his forearm over the handles. "Do you mind sorting the food? Ramona will be in to start the lunch service then you can head out until your shift tonight." He gave Gayle a lopsided grin.

The one that never failed to melt her insides.

She narrowed her gaze. "You're sure you don't want help with that?" Boxes of wine, cases of beer, and more than a dozen kegs littered the alleyway.

Hugo rolled his eyes. "Do I want help? Absolutely. Will I get any?" He rolled a shoulder. "Doubtful." Pushing the cart toward the steps, he propped it against the wall.

Gayle bit her cheek then asked a burning question. "Why do you let them get away with not helping?" Especially when they were so blatant about being utter slack-offs.

Hugo grabbed three cases from the top of the pile. "Eh, if they come down, they'll bitch and complain about helping." He started down the steps to the cooler.

Gayle made a garbled choking sound. "They're grown-ass men. Tell them to shut up and deal." She slapped her mouth shut.

None of your business, Gayle. Stop talking.

Hugo trotted back up the steps. "I could do that. Then look over my shoulder for at least two weeks to make sure I don't end up as one of their challenges." He picked up the remaining three cases, his forearms and biceps flexing under the weight.

Gayle lifted her chin. "Yeah, I'm sorry. This isn't any of my business." She paused a moment then met Hugo's gaze. "Can I at least phone your mom and dad? See if they have time to help out?" Hugo shouldn't have to do everything.

Hugo's lips curved. "You could. But they're in Arizona visiting my aunt. They'll be back late Monday night." He headed back down the steps.

Late Monday. After the holiday rush. Very convenient.

Not that they probably hadn't earned the downtime. Hugo took over the day-to-day running of the bar about two years ago.

Gayle's shoulders slumped for a moment then she squared them again. "Okay, it's time to come up with an alternate plan here. My new mission is to get Hugo to find some work-life balance." She ducked out into the alley and gathered up some of the food items. "Even if I have to get a little creative to do it."

I'm not entirely sure where this story is going yet but Gayle knows exactly what she plans to do.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin 

Sunday Snippet: Justice is Served

Greetings! It's been another busy week and I'm still excited about my ongoing projects. They're completely different genres and it's fun to have that variety while working.

Somewhat limited viewing week again. I've been in a place where background noise is more distracting than helpful, which occasionally happens. I notice it more on days when I didn't get solid sleep the night before.

I did catch most of Pennyworth. I have the last act of the episode to watch. This show is dark in all the ways I like shows to be. And I love getting to see Alfred actually grieve. And having Ripper be the catalyst that pulls him out is kind of a masterstroke. Such a great show!

Also continued my Battlestar Galactica rewatch. We started season two and the first ten episodes are so terrific. The second half of the season is also excellent, but I remember so much about those first ten.

That's pretty much it for the life update. I am hoping to get some gardening in this week so stay tuned.

Tonight's post is from Justice Is Served, a novella that brings the characters together under tenuous circumstances and explores how they build trust in each other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Derby Stack is a cold-blooded killer, but not by choice. She's convicted for her crime, but Nate Mobius's specialized legal firm takes an interest in her case. Nate gradually wins Derby over and together they uncover a sinister trail leading back to her childhood therapist.

And a snippety peek…

At a loss, Nate didn't know how to approach the prickly woman in front of him.

No, dumbass, she's a prisoner. Someone conditioned to follow directions or wait for permission to do basic things.

He came around the table. Derby went completely still but didn't flinch. Instead, her gaze narrowed, and she inhaled sharply.

He slowed his gait and relaxed his stance. "Ms. Stack, I'm an attorney looking into your case." He stuck out in hand. "Nate Mobius. Please, call me Nate." He'd have to tread carefully from this point forward.

Derby glanced at his outstretched palm then up to meet his gaze. The look in her eye clearly indicated she wouldn't be calling him anything if she could help it. With an inward sigh, Nate dropped his palm. Tough sell, this one.

He nodded toward the chair across from the table. "Please, take a seat." He hung back, giving her plenty of space.

She shuffled forward and sat.

Nate returned to his side of the table, and he settled down. "May I call you, Derby?" He picked up his pen and withdrew a legal pad.

She lifted a shoulder, and he took the gesture as permission.

"Derby, my firm might seek to overturn your conviction. I'd like to ask a few questions to determine the best way to go about getting started."

She gave him a stony stare.

Nate pushed forward. "Have you ever lived or worked under an alias?"

A small frown marred her features, but no verbal response.

He'd take that as a no. "Do you have periods of blank time or blackouts?"

The look she sent him would singe the hair on a normal person. Good thing he'd never been normal. Nate kept prodding her for information, pushing for answers. Derby remained silent and sullen, refusing to respond.

Nate had to break the ice somehow. "Are you incapable of speech or just naturally a pain in the ass?" Maybe pissing her off would work.

Her gaze finally snapped to his. "Have you read my file?"

Progress, finally.

Nate nodded. "Yes, I have."

Derby snarled. "Then you should have everything you need to do your job."

Nate wearied of the fight to find a connection and the lack of headway. She didn't have to trust him, not yet, but her reluctance didn't make sense. Why would she not cooperate if it meant she could leave this place?

He leaned back, tossing his pen on the table. "Derby … why am I here?"

I seriously love this story. Derby is so prickly and unreachable in this scene and I'm pleased with how it all came together.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin

Sunday Snippet: Just Take a Moment

Happy Mother's Day to all who celebrate. For me, this includes those who mentor others because being a mom isn't always about giving birth to a person or have fur babies.

Had another busy work week and I'm thrilled to have multiple projects to dig into. I love what I do and being freelance means being happy when the work is rolling in.

Had a limited viewing week with so many other things going on. I sadly lost one of my aunts I've been particularly close to and needed some quiet reflection time.

I did get the double-header of the last two episodes for the first season of Battlestar Galactica in, and they held up as being one of the most perfect season finales of all time.

I also finished up the episode of Only Murders in the Building. Gotta say I had a feeling the artist would do something creepy and she totally did.

Other than that, I watched my classic standby of Perry Mason and also caught some early seasons of Midsomer Murders.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just Take a Moment, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Sheila Hogan has spent eight years in the military and returns home to bury her mother. Troy Collins is the guy she left behind and, after a bumpy reunion, she realizes he's still a source of strength and calm. Sheila has thirty days to decide if she's going to sign on for another four years or muster out and explore the future with Troy.

And a snippety peek…

Sheila Hogan thanked the head of the hometown gossip brigade. "So nice of you to come, Marjorie. Mom enjoyed her Tuesday morning walks with your group." And Lydia Hogan loved the ribald breakfasts after.

Marjorie clasped Sheila's hand. "Work's not going to be the same without her. We're gonna miss her. She's gone too soon."

Sheila nodded. Car crashes would do that to a person. Especially when driving home in the wee hours of the morning after a shift at the jelly factory.

Marjorie shook her head. "I'm sorry for your loss, sweetie. You gonna be okay? When do you have to go back?"

Sheila didn't know how to answer. She had a month's leave from the navy, but she also had a decision to make. Did she reup for another stint or muster out?

Sheila gave a little shrug. "I have a month. Should be time to get mom's estate settled." And figure out what to do about the navy.

Marjorie leaned in close. "You call if you need anything. Me and the girls are here for you." After a quick hug, Marjorie moved to join the other women Sheila's mom used to work with.

Sheila inhaled slowly and readied to greet the next person in line.

Her heart stopped a moment when her gaze clashed with a familiar blue one. Troy Collins … her high school boyfriend until two days after graduation. She didn't expect to see him. Hadn't prepared for it. Eight years of carefully avoiding him, of planning quick trips in and out of town so she didn't have to face him … and now, at the worst possible time, his eyes cooly assessed her before a note of sympathy entered the clear, dark depths.

He lifted his chin. "Sheila. My condolences." He glanced toward the closed casket. "Losing a parent sucks."

Guilt filled her … because he would know. His dad, Frank, died from a massive cardiac infarction three years ago, leaving Troy and his mom to pick up the pieces and carry on. Marjorie, always with the inside scoop, mentioned Frank had left a business teetering on the brink of debt when he passed, and rumor had it the stress caused the heart attack in the first place.

Sheila sucked in a breath but couldn't speak. Memories rolled up and knocked her back. Frank and Myra had been like parents, treating Sheila like a daughter because she'd dated their son for four years.

And she'd left, never looking back. Not once during her entire enlistment. And now Troy stood before her telling her it sucked to lose a parent. The room went hot and spun wildly, and Sheila put one hand to her mouth.

She held the other out, unable to meet Troy's gaze. "Sorry. Sorry. I can't…" Turning, she fled the room, brushing past one of the funeral directors, and made a hasty exit out into the cool evening dusk, making her way along the well-manicured planters lining the edge of the building. A wave of grief hit her, and she stopped, sinking down onto the concrete ledge of the landscaping. The lush greenery blurred when tears flowed down her cheeks and her heart shattered, not only from the loss of her mom, but for everything she'd trashed and left behind.

This one is in the very beginning stages but I'm excited to see where things go.

 

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin