Sunday Snippet: Stealing Hannah

The end of October is nigh and, man, it's been a month. Between work projects and personal life stuff, time flew by fast. Helped my oldest kidlet move some things from their old place to their new one and also took him for a job interview. Happy to say he got an offer and should start sometime soon. Also looking forward to trick or treat night and then gearing up for the holidays.

Happy to say the areas where I had my extractions are finally healed up enough that I can eat most types of food. I'm still careful with anything hard and crunchy but otherwise normal intake isn't a challenge anymore.

Stayed busy with work. Have a tricky manuscript that's kind of giving me fits with continuity and consistency concerns, which makes the edit slow way down. Sent off a couple of quotes for upcoming projects and look forward to getting started on those.

Had a decent week of viewing. I made it through a full round of my shows but kind of in backward order. Will probably have the same thing this week.

Started off with an episode of Elementary and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice to see Lastrade get back on track. Interesting twisty case also.

Caught an episode of The Batman and enjoyed it. Always like seeing the Flash in action. I remembered most of this episode also.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats and only remembered one of the vignettes. The other two were either new to me or memory holed.

Watched another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I do remember bits of this one and I’m glad I got to see the whole thing from start to finish.

Caught another episode of London Kills and I like how the new cases play into the overall case of the disappearance of David's wife. Looking forward to seeing how this season ends.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. Loved the case because it's fun to see a bit of Ruby's past mixed in with the present. I enjoy her interactions with Commission Patterson. Gotta say, I'm not sure I enjoy Neville Parker. I appreciate the fact he's very different from the previous three DIs but … the constant afflictions are, well, annoying.

On a side note, I discovered there's a second spinoff of this show that's set in Australia. I'm looking forward to seeing it when it's available in the US.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and it's terrific to see Jack's niece take a role in the Lylle. Looking forward to the second half of this episode.

Another side note … most of the cast from Battlestar Galactica is in Chicago for the twentieth anniversary of the show. I've been poking around all weekend to stay up to date on what's happening at the convention. My mind is completely blown that it's been twenty years since the premiere of the series. It's still probably my all-time favorite show.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Stealing Hannah, a novella that has one of my favorite tropes to write … meeting the wrong brother first.

Here's the miniblurb:

Hannah Keane gets caught between Kane and Trent Canterman when their sibling rivalry heats up. Kane loves to push his brother's buttons by telling everyone Trent likes to steal girlfriends. When Kane introduces Trent to Hannah, Trent decides stealing Kane's girl is a good idea to settle the score once and for all.

And a sneaky peek…

Hannah looked up from her desk, a look of pleasant surprise on her face. "What are you doing here, Trent?"

"That's Lieutenant to you, Junior Grade."

Hannah raised a brow. "Okay … Lieutenant." She sat up straighter. "Doesn't make the question less valid. What are you doing here?"

Trent leaned in close, purposefully invading her personal space. "I have to have a reason?"

Hannah sat back, putting some open distance between them. "We just met last night, and you show up here this morning? Yeah, you've got a reason."

Trent pasted a sardonic smile on his face. "In that case, you can tell me how my little brother is doing." He lifted a brow.

Hannah snorted. "Don't you really want to ask if I'm letting him skate through class because he fucks me whenever I want?"

Crude and right to the point. He had to give her points for that.

He flicked his gaze downward. "Are you?"

Hannah rose and this time she leaned in close to him. "I don't base my grade on how well my students perform in bed."

Trent quirked a brow. "So, Kane's not the first, then?"

Hannah's eyes went flat. "Not your business." She couldn't quite keep the sneer off her face when she added, "Sir."

Trent didn't back off. "Kane's my brother." As if that explained everything.

Hannah narrowed her gaze. "He's old enough to whip it out, Lieutenant. That means he's old enough to know the score."

Trent didn't like the answer. "And what exactly is the score with you, Hannah?"

"That's Lieutenant, j.g. Keane, Sir."

Trent smirked. "Touché. Junior Grade." He quite enjoyed the verbal sparring.

Hannah's lips twitched. "The score is, I like your brother. And until I don't, you've got nothing to worry about."

Trent considered Hannah. Her words, her demeanor. And decided she spoke the truth. Maybe his brother wouldn't get a free pass.

Relieved, Trent relaxed. "And his class work? What's the score there?"

Hannah sat back down. "He does okay. Struggles a little but works hard." She raised her gaze. "He pushes himself to match you."

Trent snorted. "That's the old man's doing. He thought sibling rivalry was a good thing." Trent shrugged. "It's not that big a deal." Except Kane made it one…

Hannah abruptly changed gears on him. "Have I answered each question to your satisfaction, Sir?" She stood up. "Class starts in five."

Trent backed up and gave her room to come around the desk. His goal hadn't been to piss her off, so he played his safe card. "I don't have a score sheet, Lieutenant. You're his instructor and he's my brother. I had to check it out."

Hannah shrugged. "Whatever. I get it. But he'll do what he wants. You should know that."

Trent rolled his eyes. "Believe me, I do." He stuck out his hand. "No offense intended."

She juggled her course books and shook. "None taken." She gripped his hand hard when he went to pull away. "Not much anyway."

Point made.

He offered an olive branch. "Have you been in the new Mach VII yet?" When she shook her head back and forth, he dangled the bait. "Wanna give it a go?" His lips lifted in a smile.

Hannah tilted her head sideways. "Are you serious?"

Trent lost his grin. "I don't joke about flying new prototypes."

She considered a moment. "Then hell, yes. I'd love to get my hands on it." Her face lit up at the prospect.

Trent walked with her to the door. "I'll let you know as soon as I arrange it."

She nodded and headed for class. Trent watched her stride down the corridor, cocky and confident.

He found himself relishing the challenge she presented.

I have fun writing verbal sparring and Trent and Hannah are very good at shooting barbs.

 

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

ML Skye