Sunday Snippet: Lockdown

I got slammed with a nasty cold and definitely feel it this week. Completely derailed my daily relaxation stress reducer posts. I'll hopefully catch back up next week or start over again for the new year.

Finished up several work-related projects and added a few to my calendar. Hoping to start the new year off with a full slate to stay busy.

Not a bad week of television, even with the icky cold making me super tired and exhausted.

Watched another episode of My Life Is Murder and enjoyed it. I'm still trying to get used to the New Zealand locale with the second season. Still a fun show.

Caught the second half of Agatha Raisin. Feel very badly for James, who kind of seems like the odd man out of the group. Loved how this one played out.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and not sure on the new pathologist. He's not bad, I guess. Clearly, it's time to shake things up for Jack, which probably means things won't go well when his brother gets out of prison.

Enjoyed another Death in Paradise, which is one I didn't remember. I'm getting into the Humphrey episodes I missed on the first watch.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite liked the dynamic. I'm very interested in getting into more of what happened with Joan's medical career. Sherlock is definitely true to form and I'm getting into this version.

Caught another episode of The Batman. I think I have one or two more episodes of the first season then a bit of a shift to the second one.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. For some reason, I think I might have missed a season or at least some episodes. I'll do a run through after I finish up the sixth season.

Continued with The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued by how the season is unfolding and I'm kind of interested in where things are going to go.

Finished out the week with an episode of VIP. Some familiar early aughts faces in this one. Also a fun episode.

That's pretty much it on the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Lockdown, a novella that brings a couple together in a unique situation.

Here's the miniblurb:

Tod Langkowski and Mitzi Stahl are trapped when a power outage aboard their ship locks them in the training area. The commander and his CAG have a unique opportunity to examine their relationship—and where it should go—with zero interruptions.

And a sneaky peek…

Mitzi loved the lower deck gym that doubled as a training area. "Especially when I'm pissed off due to a run-in with Major Pain in the Ass Moore." She continued punching the heavy bag while listing her issues with the XO. "She's nosy." Jab-jab. "Annoying." Jab-punch. "And she has the whole control freak thing down cold." Punch-jab. "And stupid Tod thinks she's all that. And I'll never get why." She jabbed the bag with a double right-handed punch.

A voice called out from behind her. "Maybe stupid Tod picked the best candidate out of a limited pool of people."

Fuck.

She gave the bag another hard punch. "It figures you'd overhear me letting off steam." She paused and glanced his way.

He moved into the gym then stopped, his arms folded over his chest. She liked the way his shoulders pulled at his uniform T-shirt. The man stayed in shape. She'd give him full credit.

A lot of officers that made the leap from being in the trenches—so to speak—to working behind the line let their fitness suffer. Granted, Tod only had a year commanding a carrier under his belt, but Mitzi doubted he'd be one of the flabby flexers. He'd never throw his weight around, literally or figuratively. Not his style.

She quirked a brow. "Why are you here? Is this a torment Mitzi thing or a commanding officer to CAG thing?" She'd bet her next pay grade Belinda the brave gave Tod an earful.

Tod's lips twitched. "Can't it be both?" Not a confirmation or a denial.

Mitzi shrugged. "Why not?" Except it hadn't been both lately.

The fact they hadn't found their footing yet bothered her. They rarely took more than a few days for their usual patterns to emerge. Belinda played a role this time around.

Tod snapped his fingers. "Mitzi. Where did you go?" A tinge of concern entered his gaze.

She shook her head. "Sorry. Zoned out for a minute." She'd never admit where her head went because he didn't need the added pressure. "What did you need?" After doing battle with Belinda, Mitzi didn't want to throw down with Tod, too.

He frowned at her change of subject. "Had a briefing with Belinda about engineering and—" He stopped speaking when the lights flickered, flashed bright … then went out. "Ugh. That." Tod growled. "Shit." His eyes slid closed. "Wait for it."

The autolock engaged on the hatch leading into the training area.

Well, hell. She really should've expected the safety measure, especially on a newer ship. Perfect. Just what she needed.

Mitzi rolled her eyes. "Guess we're stuck." Won't this be fun?

Having a bit of fun with this story. Mitzi and Tod are getting an outside hand from the person Mitzi least suspects of help.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye