Sunday Snippet: Hedging Bets

Yeesh. October has been a month. Honestly, not quite as fraught as September, but the nasty cold definitely didn't help things. That said, I'm feeling so much better and I'm grateful for that.

Still need to do the brakes on my car and it should be sometime soon. I can already hear the grinding sound, which means I need to get the parts ordered ASAP. My middle kid also needs a new tire very soon. He'll be using our inflator this week because he starts a new job on Wednesday.

The weather continued to be rather cool and chilly. It warmed up in the afternoon, but the early mornings were frosty and frigid. Had to break out the window scraper already.

Work projects went smoother this week. I finished up a copy edit and started a new one. I also completed the evaluation I needed to finish up. Still waiting on word about the possible new project. Also need to schedule a call about another new project in the wings. Very excited to see where everything goes.

Had a seriously limited viewing week. Trying to catch up on the work projects took a lot of my focus. I only made it through three of my regularly watched shows. I did do more Death in Paradise binge watching so there's that.

Stared with Marple and enjoyed the mystery. I'm warming up to the new actress and loved the interactions with everyone on the screen. The mystery was kind of over the top and I appreciated the way the cast played off each other.

Also finished up Britain's Most Scenic Counties and truly enjoyed the stops in Cheshire. Not sure what I'll go with next, but it will definitely be something cultural.

Completed season two of Return to Paradise and, wow, what a finale. I can honestly say every single character knocked it out of the park. Anna Samson is remarkable as Mackenzie, and I very much loved the progress she's made with Colin. Loved the final moments with Glenn. So much to enjoy with episode and this show. I'm so excited for season three.

I started an episode of Poirot but didn't make it through the whole thing. I'll try to finish up this week. We'll see if I end up getting more than three full episodes watched.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Hedging Bets, a novella that brings a battling duo together.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lettie and Thane have issues that are getting in the way of their work and are thrown into separate cells for being insubordinate to a superior officer. Their commander decides they can stay locked up—in the same cell—until they work their crap out or one of them calls for a body bag.

And a sneaky peek…

Thane entered the cell and waited for Corporal Gaff to close the door. "When's chow?" He'd missed getting lunch because of the rec room argument.

The corporal smirked. "Gotta wait until dinner. About three hours." He cocked his head toward the far end of the brig. "That one will be asking for snacks soon. If she does, I'll bring enough for two." He ambled around and headed back for the guard station.

Thane frowned. "Figures she's got a system all worked out." Then again, why wouldn't she?

Still … being here pissed him off. He really couldn't take Lettie's shit anymore. The crazy woman always took the opposite side in any conversation, arguing point everyone else agreed on.

He snorted. "Just the other day she took counterpoint to a topic she'd been gung-ho on the day prior." He flopped down on the bunk.

Lettie flipped back and forth so often his head spun whenever he got within ten feet of her. Could she, just once, attempt to have a normal conversation? Did she have to always be contrary?

He propped his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. If she didn't constantly push his buttons, he'd completely go for her. Exactly his type … she had curves and muscle. Brains for days. And she had a sassy mouth that made him laugh … when she directed her words at anyone but him.

Which … yeah. Her scathing attitude kept him from even making an attempt to pursue anything nonprofessional. Not that she'd want anything more.

He huffed out a breath. "I'll be giving her wide berth when we get out." Because being in the brig cooling his heels sucked big time.

And all because she made him so damned mad, he disobeyed a direct order from the XO. Gah!

But he could be the bigger person and avoid tangling with her.

Maybe.

This one has been a lot of fun to write, and it's coming together nicely. Thane and Lettie are in for some big surprises.

 

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

ML Skye