Sunday Snippet: Game of One

A very long week with wild weather and lots of things going on, including back-to-school shenanigans, roadwork, and tons of laundry.

Kind of a repeat from last week with thunderstorms rolling through the state and a day or two of plain old rain, which is actually kind of nice … except for flooding, which we didn't have but other areas in the state did.

Work stayed busy. Still removing images from a manuscript to get it ready for a copy edit. But the good news is I should finish up today or tomorrow. I put the project aside when we had storms because I won't change losing all the work put in so far.

Pretty decent viewing week even with the wild weather. Made it through my full slate of shows and had a couple of binge watches of Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise.

Started with an episode of Marple and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very different from another version and a great cast.

Finished up Coastal Ireland and loved it. Especially enjoy watching someone who loves the country show their favorite locations.

Caught another episode of Beyond Paradise and I'm truly wondering how things will end up working out with Anne being on the committee overseeing the police. Here's hoping she finds a way to keep the team together.

Watched another episode of Poirot and, whew, what a very twisty mystery. And a great cast made it all work.

Elementary had another great offering. I enjoy seeing Sherlock not at his best but also watching Joan kind of rally behind him. And he's still got a leg up on everyone else even with the post-concussion stuff he's going through.

Caught another episode of Young Justice and quite enjoyed watching the team work together while defying orders.

Enjoyed another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and I'm so happy the lower deckers are back together. Also loved seeing T'Lyn going the extra mile to fill the gap Tendi left and then join in the celebration when she returned.

No backburner shows this week. We'll see if there's time week, but probably not as I have a long day on Saturday to meet my cousins for our annual get together.

That's the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Game of One, a sexy short that brings a couple together over a game of darts.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lacie Brooks's annual Valentine's Day tradition of getting laid and letting off steam is cut short when she shoots her mouth off to the wrong superior officer. Stuck on base, she finds a way to pass her restricted time with Ren Blankenship by playing a Game of One. Too bad for Lacie, Ren decides to turn the tables on her and win for a change.

And a sneaky peek…

Ren thought he might be in trouble when he found himself alone in the rec room with Lacie. She turned toward him with a sly grin and produced a bottle of Andromedian whiskey. Oh yeah, she had something planned. The question he should ask? What would it cost him this time … credits or a strip of dignity?

Raising an eyebrow, he figured he'd probably better find out.

Smiling wide, Lacie pulled two tumblers off the shelf, placing them on the table. "You play darts?" Nodding toward the set on the next table, she looked up, slowly unscrewing the cap off the bottle. "The name of the game is—one bull's eye or one shot—you miss, you drink." Lacie topped off two glasses. "You up for it?"

Oh … definitely.

He didn't know why, especially when she seemed to know more about him than comfort allowed, but Lacie didn't seem to be aware he held the record at the Io Academy for most bull's eyes in a row.

This could be fun.

The trick would be not letting her know that.

Keeping his face impassive, Ren took a moment before answering. "So … I don't hit the target, I down a shot, right?" He considered the board for a full minute as if contemplating his decision, then glanced down at the full shot glasses before lifting his gaze to hers. "I don't know, Lacie … this could be all kinds of trouble." For her.

Lacie's voice dropped low, daring him. "C'mon, Ren. It's called the game of one … and it's just for fun…" Her head tilted sideways, eyes full of challenge. "Don't go soft on me now." The smirk she sent his way decided it for him.

He had no doubt she made the name of the game up on the spot. And … he'd bet she planned to get him drunk, make him do something bug-ass stupid, then crow about it for all eternity. Lacie had worked that way for as long as he could remember.

He might just have to turn the tables on her just this once. Possibly in more ways than one. She thought she had the upper hand, but he'd walk away the winner this time out. And maybe his prize would be sitting her down for a heart-to-heart.

But first, Lacie Brooks would go down in flames.

Feigning reluctance, Ren heaved a sigh. "Still think this is a bad idea…" He scooped up the darts, weighing them in his hands, getting a feel for them. "But okay … I'm in." Separating the missiles by color, he held up both sets to let Lacie choose. "Why don't you go first … show me how it's done?"

Stepping back, he caught her wink at him then watched while she settled into a relaxed stance as she concentrated on the target.

Breathing in, she fired off the three darts in rapid succession, exhaling when the last one landed.

The first two hit close but missed. The third found its mark … hugging the outer most edge of the center circle … but still a bull's eye.

Turning toward him, Lacie wore a huge smirk, but she didn't say anything. Ren shrugged as if admitting potential defeat.

Picking up his darts, he nodded congratulations. "Nice shot." He took his place behind the line and quickly fired off his three … purposefully missing this time around … and it gained him Lacie's cackle of laughter.

Lacie slid one of the shot glasses his way, the look on her face saying it all. She thought she'd have him drunk on his ass in under ten rounds. Good thing he wanted her to think she had the advantage. He tossed back the liquid.

Lacie attempted commiseration. "Don't worry … first shot's always the hardest." She grinned at his answering snort … the double meaning not lost on him.

She'd get hers.

All in due time.

He flashed a smile. "Just throw your darts, Lacie." She laughed and turned around, focusing her attention on the board again.

Maybe the quiet in the rec room unnerved her, with only the two of them present … or maybe the way he leaned casually against the wall watching her with unabashed interest threw Lacie off, but she missed the bull's eye this round.

With a good-natured shrug, she picked up the glass. "I was thirsty anyway." After downing the shot, she refilled it then waved her hand indicating Ren should take his next turn.

Ren stared at the target, drew in a breath and let his darts sail … again missing the center circle, but not by much.

Lacie shoved the glass toward him. "Oh. So close." Strutting past him, she took her place behind the line then looked back over her shoulder. "And yet so far away." She squared her shoulders to take her shot and completely missed the raised eyebrow and quick shake of Ren's head.

Failing to hit the bull's eye again, she drank … but only after she sent a mock toast in his direction. Ren decided to enjoy turning the tables on her. The shots he'd downed were making him very mellow, and he was having more fun than he'd had in a very long time.

Of course, most of that had to do with Lacie. It never mattered what frightfully stupid payoff she came up with; he usually ended up carrying out her instructions to the letter … just to watch her face. Her insane need to put him in awkward situations gave her so much glee it always lit up when she presented her latest method of torturing him.

He could almost be disappointed she wouldn't have the chance this time. Almost.

Ren landed his second dart in the center ring … the other two hit the wide area between the inner and outer circles. Cocking his head sideways, he looked at the target, playing it off as a lucky shot.

They were drink for drink and even up for now, but the next three rounds had Lacie belting back two shots to his one.

This story is so much fun and Ren having the upper hand is a rarity to the savored.

 

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

ML Skye