Sunday Snippet: Boxing Day

Happy Solstice season! I did start to get in the spirit last week and I'm kind of feeling better about things in general. We're very low-key for holiday celebrations anyway. The good news is because I finally got some shopping done, I had to do a cleanout of my space, which is a very good thing. Got those urges started again and I also did more clearing and decluttering in other areas. Yay!

Ohio is still trying to figure out what it wants to do with the weather. We got a little more snow and a bunch of rain then plummeting temps. Thankfully, we also had a ton of wind before the drop, so we didn't have icy conditions. Whew!

Had a decent work week. I finished up some last-minute changes on a proofread, completed a copy edit, and had a client meeting over Zoom. I'm getting into some deep edits on the memoir and getting ready to start a new proofread and developmental edit over the holiday break.

I had an okay viewing week. I didn't make it through the bulk of my shows, but I'm kind of needing a brief break. I'm changing things up a little for the holiday season.

I did start over with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and enjoyed the rewatch. There aren't many episodes left before I'll be moving on to a new show.

I also got a partial episode of Foyle's War in. Since this season's episodes run a little longer, I might break them up into two parts. The Americans have finally arrived in England and it's going about as good as can be expected … which isn't great.

I started a new season of Silent Witness and part one ended up being very interesting. I really wish we got a little more info on where the other characters ended up going. Jack's niece in particular. The new head of the Lylle is kind of different and I like that. And it's always good to see Sean Pertwee show up in any show.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed the intrigue. Also fun to see super young actors that have gone on to starring roles in their own series. In a weird twist of fate, the actor playing Japp had a guest starring role in the episode of Foyle's War.

Also did a minimarathon of the holiday episodes of Death in Paradise. Both featured Neville. I might dive back into the new inspector's episode this week.

I also plan to watch Madame Blanc's holiday special this week. Stay tuned for more on that one.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Boxing Day, a sexy short about big changes.

Here's the miniblurb:

Aeryn Gray packs up the personal belongings of Nash Nitali and spies a pair of boxing gloves. The sight takes her back through their weird brand of courtship, and she takes some time to reminisce about the end of their long, tangled affair.

And a sneaky peek…

Nash paced the corridor in sickbay. "I can't believe we were eating dinner together two hours ago and now Joe's fighting for his life." He met the ship doctor's gaze. "I mean, he got knocked down when we were sparring, but Joe got up and seemed just fine. What happened?" And how did it take three hours?

The doc explained about the aneurysm. "Look, Captain. They can occur at any time, and I have to stress this … the boxing match didn't cause it." He typed in orders for the next shift.

But Nash blamed himself. "You can't know for sure." He raked a hand through his hair, angry at everything.

Doctor Barnes gave Nash a hard glance. "Actually, I can. Joe doesn't have a brain bleed. The aneurysm didn't rupture because he took an uppercut to his chin." He pulled the curtain and motioned for Nash to walk with him. "This isn't your fault … there's no one to blame here. He's lucky it happened when someone was there. That's not always the case and the outcome is rarely good when it happens that way." He paused and held up a hand when a nurse flagged him down.

Nash shook his head. Lucky? Lying in a coma with less than stellar odds of recovering? Yeah, no. Not lucky.

Barnes picked up where he left off. "Joe's situation, having you and Lieutenant Gray there to seek immediate medical attention, gives him better odds." He frowned. "But I'm not gonna lie. He's in bad shape but stable for now. If that changes, I'll let you know." His tone had dismissal threaded through it.

Nash got it. The man had other patients that needed attention.

He lifted his chin. "Right. I'll be on the reserve hangar deck. If that changes, I'll leave word." Exiting the infirmary, he started toward the reserve deck.

With no recollection of getting there, he hopped up on one of the low walls surrounding a maintenance pit. He didn't care what Barnes said. Too much of a coincidence that Joe landed in the medical unit after a hard round of sparring.

At least they had a fun dinner. Mainly because of Aeryn. She listened to their old stories with fresh ears … and made the old man laugh with a few of hers. Joe had tears streaming from his eyes over her getting stuck in the cockpit during flight school due to a deck hand using spray adhesive instead of cleanser.

What if he died?

Nash didn't want to accept that possibility. "What will I do without him?" He'd been the closest thing to a dad Nash had.

A quiet voice asked, "Where, exactly, do you think he's going?"

The structure of this story is mainly flashbacks, which not everyone is a fan of … but it really works well for Aeryn and Nash's story.

 

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

ML Skye

 

Sunday Snippet: The Baracas File

Yeesh. We're already halfway through the month and I have barely scratched the surface on holiday stuff. In all fairness, I'm not really feeling it this year. There's just too much terrible going on from mass shootings to the kidnapping of people off the streets. Good will toward man doesn't seem to be a thing anymore … unless it's a specific type of man.

Ohio is super cold and snowy right now. We got about six inches last night and the temperature plummeted down to single digits. It's in the teens at the moment. Won't last long. We're supposed to be in the mid-fifties by Thursday. Seriously.

Work projects are moving along. I'm finishing up a proofread and working on a copy edit. I have another new project getting ready to start soon and another copy edit coming next week. I also have the memoir that I'm reviewing as the author makes changes.

I got a few of my regular shows watched this week. I'm still in a blah place and haven't been able to dedicate the time to viewing. I did get a good bit of my mountain of laundry completed, which is a huge accomplishment. I have a new hanging rack I want to get set up but can't until I get the backlog of clothes cleared.

I did finish up Foyle's War and will be starting a new season this week. The next one only has two episodes, which means they might be a little longer. If that's the case, I might be breaking the episodes into two chunks.

I also got the season finale of Beyond Paradise in. I wanted to get it watched before the holiday special and I got it done. Really hope there's some good stuff around the corner for Esther and Archie. My fingers are crossed. Also … Martha and Humphrey are really great foster parents. It hurts my heart every time they send one of their fosters back.

In an odd twist, I caught a holiday episode of Poirot. Thoroughly enjoyed the mystery even without Hastings and Miss Lemon or Inspector Japp. Gotta say the Egyptian prince being a complete prat ended up being fun to watch. I would not have blamed Poirot if he lost his calm and thwacked that guy on the head.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from The Baracas File, a novella that takes the main characters on a twisty journey to find justice. This is a tie-in to the Furlough 99 universe.

Here's the miniblurb:

Briggs Felderzon, an investigative reporter, will stop at nothing to discover what's in the Baracas File, the contents of which results in his brother's death. Myrrh Golz, his brother's partner in the Inter-Stellar Police, decides to help him … but Briggs isn't sure he trusts her.

And a sneaky peek…

Briggs let the ISP handle the arrangements for his brother's death. No … not death. Murder. The ceremony and wake would take place later today.

And Briggs had research to do, if he wanted to get answers.

But putting his current workload on the back burner pissed his boss off.

Briggs cut into his editor's tirade. "Fuck off, Andy. You do remember I just lost my brother, right?" Asshole behavior wouldn't get the guy a story … not when a bigger one took up every inch of Briggs's brain.

Andy's breath hissed out. "Shit. Yeah. Yeah, you're right." He paused and heaved a sigh. "Take whatever time you need. I'll move the trafficking story over to Carson."

Briggs shook his head. "Andy? Do me a favor. Leave it with me…" A huge ask but…

Andy all but salivated over the phone line. "You've got a feeling, don't you?"

Briggs couldn't explain his reticence—gut instinct, a weird vibe, or just sheer ego—but, yeah, something made him reluctant to let the thread go. "I don't know what the fuck I have. Yet. Give me some leeway and if nothing pans out, I'll send my notes to Carson." The other reporter would do an adequate job … if necessary.

Andy grunted. "Yeah, okay. And listen, my apologies for being a dick. I'm sorry about your brother." He signed off after extending his condolences again.

Briggs leaned back and let a little of the grief slide in. He'd been out of touch with Zell for weeks, but they'd been close. Briggs chased down stories about corruption and greed; Zell chased criminals that committed major crimes. Sometimes their professional paths crossed, but often they didn't have time to make personal connections.

The weight of that fact settled over Briggs. "Who did this to you, Zell?" And you need to keep watch for Myrrh…

Sitting up, Briggs grabbed his laptop and started digging for information on his brother's partner.

Two hours later, he had the basic details any cursory search would come up with … and quite a bit more the general public wouldn't be able to get their hands on.

Closing his computer, he exhaled on a long, slow breath. "Looks like I need to have a chat with Myrrh Golz. And she better have some good answers for my questions."

Starting with whether she killed my brother…

This one might end up going in a direction I didn't expect, but I love it when that happens.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Banter and Brawling and Sex, Oh My (Top Dog Pilots bonus short)

Well, the first week of December is in the books, and it ended up being super busy for me. I had a follow-up appointment with my primary care doctor, and we went over the results from the colonoscopy. While everything looks okay, I have to go back for another scan in six months. Um … yay? Bleh. I also have several moles we're going to remove in January and my blood pressure is still a little high so I'm starting meds for that. All in all, a productive appointment.

I'm not juggling as many work projects, but I have a tricky copyedit that I need to do some research on and a proofread that's due next week. I also have reading to do for the developmental edit of the memoir. I also have two more projects waiting in the wings. I like the idea of having a strong end to the year.

I did not get much viewed this week. I've been in a bit of a slump and just needed a break. I did do some binge watching of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, My Life Is Murder, and I got a bit more the of Foyle's War episode watched.

Other than that, I had adulting to do like check insurance coverage for the procedures I need to have and paying bills. I hate how much time that stuff eats up.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Banter and Brawling and Sex, Oh My!, a sexy little short bonus scene in the Top Dog Pilots 'verse.

Here's the miniblurb:

Max Cutter always goes along for the ride with Maggie Harper. He pretty much has to … she always gets into the most interesting situations and someone has to cover her ass.

And a sneaky peek…

Maggie never failed to catch him off guard. His hands sought her ass, cupping the rounded globes. She pulled away for a brief moment. "I want you." Her mouth latched back onto his skin.

"Again? Here?" He mumbled the words against her mouth.

Maggie eased away. "You're complaining?" Her teeth grazed the column of his neck.

Cutter snorted. "Hell, no. You just pick the craziest locations for sex, Mags." He worked his fingers under her shirt.

The guy they'd saved came into the space. "Um, wanted to say thanks for having my back in there." He glanced over his shoulder. "Security should be out of the way in the next ten minutes. Er … if you were trying to stay out of their way." His feet shuffled and he sent them an embarrassed smile.

Maggie paused in her assault on Cutter's neck. "No problem." She waved him off. "We didn't like your odds." She went back to nuzzling Max.

Cutter sent the guy a raised eyebrow.

He ducked his head and scurried back. "Uh, yeah. Leaving now." He turned toward the door. "Thanks again."

Maggie waited for the steel slab to close before she chuckled. "Good thing he didn't get here five minutes later." Her hand palmed the hard ridge behind his fatigues.

Cutter nudged Maggie further into the corridor behind some crates. He edged her shirt upward again and trailed kisses along the exposed skin. No time to get naked. They only had fifteen minutes to report to their transport—thirty if they wanted to cut it really close.

He popped the button of her fatigues. "Gonna have to be down and dirty, Mags. We don't have a lot of time."

She shoved the pants past her hips and sent him a steamy look. "Not like we don't have experience." She braced hands on the metal surface of the wall and pushed her butt out.

Cutter moaned, unfastened his pants, and dropped them past his ass. He moved forward and grasped her hip with one hand and guided his dick with the other. He slid deep in one thrust.

He couldn't believe they were doing this here … but he'd never say no to her.

This series and its bonus scenes are so much fun. I love Max and Maggie to bits. Hopefully, I'll have the full array ready to launch on my new side project soon.

 

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

ML Skye