Sunday Snippet: Follow Me (Scorched Galaxy book one)

Another week in the books and it ended up not being terrible. Had several errands that needed to be handled and got through those without issue for the most part. I always appreciate being able to check things off the list.

We had very mild weather for July. Our high was in the low seventies a couple of days and that's unusual. But it makes doing my great clear out easier and more comfortable.

Work is staying steady and I'm getting through several projects, which makes me happy. I have one that keeps popping back and that can be frustrating. The good news is the reason it keeps coming back isn't due to anything I've done. It's all author related requests.

Had a fairly decent viewing week. I made it through my usual list of shows and had another Death in Paradise binge watch of previous seasons.

Started the week with the new to me series Marple. I've seen a previous version of Miss Marple and it's kind of fun to see how the episodes change with new incarnations.

Also started the docuseries Ireland Coast and Country. I'm on an emerald isle kick at the moment because I truly enjoyed the series about Ireland's castles. The first episode makes me want to visit the country at some point.

Watched another episode of the current season of Death in Paradise. I'm enjoying the dynamic between Mervin and Naomi. Also really happy the fallout of Mervin's kidnapping is being explored. Really not sure what to make of the niece showing up. We'll see if that ends up being a good thing.

Caught another episode of Poirot and finished off season ten. Have to admit this one had more than one mystery twisting through it and I enjoyed that. Looking forward to seeing what season eleven has in store.

Elementary entertained again. The case ended up being very twisty. And the appearance of Shinwell made me kind of happy … even though it might not have ended well.

Enjoyed an episode of Young Justice. I'm kind of interested in where things are going to go with the whole the Light thing. Exciting developments between Connor and Magan though.

Also watched another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. Very cool to see the original four on an away mission. Also loved how they addressed the different dynamic since they've all been bumped up in rank.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Follow Me, the opening book in the Scorched Galaxy trilogy.

Here's the miniblurb:

A will they or won't they wager spurs Molly and Sloan to see how long they can without getting caught.

And a sneaky peek…

Never would have thought that possible.

Sloan didn't know if he should laugh or be insulted. They were both attractive people. It shouldn't be that hard for Molly to conjure it up in her head.

He sure as hell didn't find it difficult to imagine her naked.

And isn't that the sticking point I keep tripping over? If Molly hadn't been engaged to his best friend, a play would have been made a long time ago. But she'd said yes to Lachlan and that put her firmly in the don't-even-think-about-it category.

Sloan considered himself an honorable man. But the guilt he thought he should feel didn't surface. And he'd just broken the primo rule of the brotherhood of men. A guy does not make out with, put his hands on, or have mind-blowing sex with his best friend's girl.

They just didn't do it.

Sloan took a moment and tried to think about Lachlan, but Molly had taken up residence. She consumed all the space in his head that he didn't want dedicated to the upcoming confrontation with the commander. He should be focused on working out a plan for that, instead he relived the feel of her in his arms.

Is she doing the same?

Sloan leveled his gaze on hers. "You really never thought it possible?"

She'd be lying. And they both knew it.

Molly sobered. "Uh … no, actually." She shifted her position in the chair, tucking her feet up under her legs.   

Almost as if the question made her uncomfortable. Or she settled in for a serious conversation.

Both worked for him.

Molly gave a slight shrug of one shoulder. "The thing is … you're not one to take stupid risks." She leaned forward and lowered her voice. "And the CAG screwing one of his pilots is a huge risk … one that could land us both in hack."

Sloan couldn’t argue her point, but he shot her a skeptical look. She'd never been obtuse and had to know what he'd meant.

Blowing out sigh, she answered honestly. "Okay, maybe it's more like I've never let myself imagine what could happen between us … given the right circumstances."

She glanced his way and Sloan had the impression she'd thought about it a lot. But like him, she couldn't let herself believe it would happen.

Because of Lachlan.

Sloan tilted his head, looking at Molly closely. "Well, it did happen." And lightning hadn't struck and nothing had blown up, so maybe they didn't have to be haunted by the ghost in the past.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Regrets?" As soon as the word came out, he wanted to kick himself.

He'd gotten a little too comfortable, sitting with her, as they were, with no distractions for the moment. Asking a question when he couldn't be sure of the answer might prove disastrous.

Because if Molly got weirded out in any way, she'd run for the hills. He knew this about her. She didn't make friends easily. For all her bold and brash behavior, she rarely let people in.

The constant shuffle from scattered military bases with her mom to being out on the road with her jack-of-all-trades dad didn't leave a lot of time to form lasting friendships. Sloan would be forever grateful to his mom, who refused to travel on the base-to-base merry-go-round with his dad. Their marriage sometimes suffered for it, but being the wife of a pilot meant she could be made an instant widow, and she wanted her son to have a stable environment while growing up.

And his dad always knew where he could find home and that she would be waiting for him. Losing her to cancer almost broke each of them, but they managed to get through the loss. Together.

Sloan realized he'd been navel gazing and avoiding eye contact with Molly. She still hadn't answered him, so he focused his gaze on hers, hoping she didn't have plans to bolt out the door.

I've been working on this series for a really, really long time and I have so much love for this couple and the other characters in this saga.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: First Time Laid Eyes on You

Whew. What a week. Ohio got a lot of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, and it was kind of eerie seeing the hazy gray skies for most of the week. Good time to stay inside due to the high danger air quality alerts.

The weather at least stayed just under sweltering. My garage cleanout went much smoother since the temperatures weren't as high as they have been. Going out very late at night and only staying there for under an hour also helped.

Work projects moved along. I finished up a few odds and ends and started a new copy edit. I also touched base on a few back burner projects. I got to review some back cover copy and book blurbs, which is always a fun change of pace.

Had an okay viewing week. Didn't quite make it through all of my usual shows but made a decent stab at them. Between the cleanup and a lengthy run with my own writing, my watching took a back seat.

Started with another bonus episode of Foyle's War behind the scenes. An interview about the details of the final episode with the writer and the show historian. Very much enjoyed it.

Also finished up Tales of Irish Castles. Really liked this series and its deep dive into the seriously large number of castles in Ireland.

Caught an episode of Silent Witness and made it about halfway through. I'm going to take a break, I think. This season is kind of dark, which I enjoy most of the time but, in all honesty, I kind of need something lighter right now.

Watched another episode of Poirot and really enjoyed it. It's always fun when familiar people pop up in these movies. And this one was very twisty, which I enjoy.

Elementary ended up being really good. I really like getting backstory and even though Marcus's is full of strife and pain, it tied into the current happenings really well. Also loved Sherlock being there for Marcus at the end.

That's all for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from First Time Laid Eyes on You, a novella about opposites attracting each other.

Here's the miniblurb:

Nadia Blunt takes one look at Bart Uppermark and decides they'll make a great team in the air and on the ground. But when Bart shows zero interest in working together—she takes too many risks for his comfort zone—Nadia pulls out all the stops and proves him wrong.

And a sneaky peek…

Stunned, Nadia relaxed and tried to keep her mouth from falling open. "Um, yes, sir." She followed his suggestion and settled across from him. "You're really choosing me as your wingman?" She had to be dreaming.

He nodded. "I am." He flipped her file open and got down to business. "But I'll be perfectly honest. You scare the hell out of me." He thumbed through her fit reps. "You've been cited for reckless maneuvers over a dozen times." He glanced up. "That's about ten times more than I'm comfortable with."

She considered his statement. "May I speak freely?" Did she really want to mount a defense?

He inclined his chin and rested his forearms on the desk.

She exhaled slowly, then went with the first thing that popped into her head. "If you feel I'm too reckless, why did you even pick me as a choice?" He had to have a reason.

He snapped off a response. "Delta roll double dive." No hesitation, no time needed to think.

Her lips twitched, but she didn't speak.

He shrugged. "Aside from myself, I only knew of two other pilots who can pull off the maneuver." His voice held a note of amazement.

She flashed a brief smile. "And now me." Pride filled her.

He agreed. "And now you."

She relaxed even more, sliding down in the chair a little. "I managed the delta roll double dive on my fifth attempt." She lifted her gaze to his. "If rumor is true, you got it in seven." His reaction here would make or break her decision to trust him.

He quirked an eyebrow. "The information is accurate." His lips curved in a wry smile.

She straightened and leaned forward. "I'll admit I push harder and farther than I should sometimes. But I firmly believe we, as pilots, have to test not only our limits, but the limits of the crafts we fly." Her tone edged on passionate, and she cleared her throat. "If you'll note, I have one citation involving another pilot and that occurred one month after I graduated. The other occurrences only put myself at risk." She learned a valuable lesson about never pulling others into her hijinks.

Bart countered. "Yourself and a multimillion-dollar space craft." He leaned back again, waiting on her response.

She mimicked his stance. "Touche. I promise to keep that in mind." A finger shot up. "But … I can't always fly by the book. It goes against my nature and my instincts." And would absolutely be a deal breaker. 

Bart placed his forearms on the desk again. "I'll give you some leeway, but if you endanger my life or any other pilot, I'll have your wings." He held her gaze.

Nadia weighed his stipulation. "I wouldn't expect anything less." And she would do her best not to let him down or give him an opportunity to find fault with her.

He reached across the desk, his palm extended. "Welcome to active flight status as my wingman, Lieutenant."

Nadia cracked a wide grin and shook his hand with a firm grip, holding on longer than necessary. "Thank you, Captain." She'd done the impossible and landed her dream position.

Bart walked her to the hatch. "Expect your transfer papers by the end of the day." He flashed a quick smile.

Nadia exited the office with her mind filled with one specific thought. One hurdle down. Another one to overcome. Her attraction for the man raged hard.

But his by-the-book stance would be a challenge to sway.

Except … he kind of gave her something of a free pass. Or maybe it's a trap. He'd give her some room in the cockpit but if she mis-stepped elsewhere, he'd start a new search.

Gah! Too many thoughts crowded her head. She'd get settled, find her footing, then worry about the attraction and how to manage the hot pull she didn't want to resist.

Having a lot of fun with this one. Nadia and Bart are going to do a delicate balancing act and really enjoy it.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Finding Calm

Well, July is off to a banging start. Heat wave, the holiday weekend, and a lot of things converging at once. I've been a little off also. Not sure if it's menopause hormones or just general fatigue, but it's been a long week.

We should get a bit of relief from the extreme temperatures when some rain moves through over the next few days. I'll welcome the lower heat indexes.

Work is staying busy. I had a couple of great calls with potential author clients, and I'm excited to see where those go. I have project that shifted to the back burner that needs attention this week, hopefully tomorrow. I also had a project that might be coming back … again. It's the one that won't die, but thankfully, the revisions are all author requests and nothing concerning the edits. Whew. Moved a few smaller things in and out, which is always fun to break up the week. Almost finished with a manuscript proofread of a thriller that has a lot of twists and turns. I need to finish a written assessment on a read through of the opening book to a five-book series sometime this week also.

Had an okay viewing week. Didn't quite make it all the way through my usual shows but didn't do terrible either. I think the heat makes it hard to focus on more than one thing so the entertainment took a back seat to my work projects.

Started the week with another behind-the-scenes bonus episode of Foyle's War. This one focused on the historical recreations for the final episode and I thoroughly enjoyed the interviews.

Caught another episode of Tales of Irish Castles. We're into the seventeenth century, which apparently saw a lot of upheaval.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness. Again, very interesting how closely related to reality this season has been. I also think I'm liking how there seems to be an overarching thread that's following through all the episodes. That's not really standard or hasn't been for this series.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed the twists and turns. I love it when Poirot questions what he sees with his own eyes to solve the mystery.

Elementary had a great episode. Seeing the fallout from Shinwell's actions is interesting and I kind of hope there's some redemption there. The case itself ended up being really twisty and wildly bizarre as well.

That's all I had time for this week and that's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Finding Calm, a novella that explores a character's journey to discover their happy place.

Here's the miniblurb:

Hank and Sunny have danced around finding happiness together so many times. Sunny botches it and learns a hard lesson at the hands of a crazed kidnapper. She finally wants to meet Hank on equal footing, but the timing never seems right. Surely her cosmic bad luck has to take an upswing sooner or later.

And a sneaky peek…

Hank patiently awaited the transpo's landing. Okay, not patiently, but he attempted to display something close. At least the gnawing pit in his gut couldn't be seen.

"Thank the universe for small favors."

He'd go straight to the gym and work out all the deeply coiled tension—as soon as Sunny landed. He welcomed the kick of anger thinking of her brought. It took the edge off the horror of finding her on the planet and wanting to forget everything she'd done, to rush forward, gather her close, and never let her go.

The kid had stopped him.

Hank had no idea who the little girl belonged to, but Sunny could be her mother. The similarities in facial structure made him look twice. The only problem? Sunny didn't have a daughter. Hank had known Sunny too long and had too much history with her for a child to have been hidden away.

"Whoever that kid is, she's got her hooks into Sunny."

The transpo entered the landing bay and slowly lowered to the hangar deck. The knots in his shoulders grew taut and Hank braced for impact. The bird would sit for less than five minutes before deboarding would start.

Whether he liked it or not, Sunny Gage would soon be back in his orbit.

Had there ever been a time when she didn't affect him? He scrolled through his memories and decided there hadn't been. At times he'd hated her.

His head jerked back. "No, not her. I hated what life did to her." And what life did to them.

Because underneath everything … each step forward, every slide back, and all the moments in between … he loved her more than anything.

Even if he couldn't have her.

His heart rate increased when the transpo grew closer with its slow-motion descent. The whirr and hiss of the hydraulics drowned out the thumping pulse in his ears. And his gut churned with trepidation and yeah, the dark anticipation of setting eyes on her again.

His mouth twisted in a grimace. "When am I gonna stop doing this to myself?" Soon … very soon.

For his peace of mind, he planned to see her make it off the ship. After that, he'd walk away and let her figure out where she fit with her return. He'd done his bit when they found and freed her from her high-end prison.

Anything else would have to come from her.

This story is a journey that I love writing. Sunny is such a challenge but also a joy.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fail Me Now

The end of June came a lot quicker than I expected. This month flew by, and I'm not sure I got as much accomplished as I hoped to.

The weather is still fairly mild for June but the heat index for the upcoming week makes me want to weep. It's going to be so, so hot.

Continued to have a busy work week. Several new potential projects are waiting in the wings and I'm excited about them. One is a fiction project with a really intriguing concept. Two others are memoir life-story projects. I've been working on quite a few of those and they're a nice change of pace. I continued working on the developmental edit, pulling a few more files into the master document. Also finished up a copy edit and started a new one.

Had a less than stellar viewing week. I felt a little bit off all week and couldn't focus on viewing new stuff. I did several binge marathons of early seasons of Death in Paradise for background noise. I also got a considerable amount of writing done because the sages were banging on the door in my brain.

I did watch another behind the scenes bonus episode of Foyle's War. This one showed a day in the life of an episode. Some great interviews with the cast and crew.

Also caught another episode of Tales from Irish Castles. This one explored tower houses and it seems like there are a bunch of them dotting the landscape. Really love getting an inside look at some of these castles.

Started an episode of Silent Witness and made it about halfway through. The subject matter is really tough to view and, honestly, hits a little hard. I don't know who is writing the show at the moment but, man, they're dead-on with the stuff that makes people flinch.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fail Me Now, a novella that explores how a couple finds their way into a relationship that balances work and life.

Here's the miniblurb:

Tate Emerson has no desire to fly fighters—he's worked too hard to get out from under his father's thumb. But when enemy forces attack, Indi Best comes calling with a special invitation from the elder Emerson—join the fight or get left behind. Tate hatches a plan to do his part but not have to take orders from his father.

And a sneaky peek…

Indi pushed away from the bulkhead to pace and forth a little. Waiting on Tate to finish up with the quartermaster to get his billet assignment for permanent quarters gave her too much time to think about the past couple of days. She hadn't considered how being in close proximity to him on the regular would affect her.

She fanned her face. "Whew. Dangerous man." She still thought about their first meeting when sparks zapped around.

I'm attracted to him. Which, duh. And, yeah, probably a bad thing.

But she might risk her heart to see if he proved as good as her gut thought he would.

Changing direction, she walked to the end of the corridor and bumped into Teague coming around the corner.

His lips briefly curved upward, and he grasped her elbow to steady her.

Indi winced on the inside. "Uh, hello. What're you doing here?" As if she didn't already know.

Teague glanced down the hallway. "I'm on my way to see Tate." Determination filled his gaze. "Forty-eight hours is long enough."

Indi attempted to keep her voice neutral. "Sir, I don't think it's a good idea." What could she do to dissuade him?

Tate arrived and let her off the hook. "What's not a good idea?" He lifted his chin. "Hello, Commander." Closed off—eyes hooded and not open to much or giving anything away.

Teague had a visible reaction. His face softened and his shoulders relaxed. He swallowed and schooled his features.

His head tilted forward slightly. "Hello, son."

Indi noted Tate's use of rank and Teague's nonuse, putting things on a personal level. She wished the elder Emerson had waited a little longer to force a confrontation. But he opened the door between them, maybe to test the waters to see how things would go between them.

Tate set the tone. "I'm here, old man. That's all you get." He hoisted his pristine rucksack over his shoulder. "I'm leaving a good life behind and want to make the best of this situation. For once, back off and let me do it."

The elder Emerson grunted. "I already agreed to your terms. Just wanted to see you and welcome you aboard."

Tate snorted. "Do you do that with all new recruits?" His eyes held a challenge in them.

Indi stepped in. "Actually, he does. Usually within the first twenty-four hours." She gave him a pointed look, a silent warning to stop being a dick.

After all, his dad waited two full days before seeking Tate out.

Tate, reluctantly impressed, lifted his chin. "Consider me welcomed." He glanced toward Indi. "I've got my assignment and requisite new-guy supplies. We good to head for quarters now?"

Indi nodded. "Sure. Let's get you settled." She looked toward Teague. "By your leave, Sir." When he gave a nod, she started down the corridor.

Tate inclined his head. "Commander." He fell into step beside Indi.

All in all, not a bad scene. Could have gone worse. She hoped the civility between the two men would last.  

I've very excited about how this is coming together. Indi and Tate are a fun couple to write.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Explosive Situation

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, father figures, mentors, and fur dads out there. And if this is a hard day, please find peace where you can.

It's so mild in Ohio right now and I'll take the comfortable temperatures. We're supposed to have a soggy week, but the rain is welcome. Hopefully without flooding.

Busy work week with multiple projects crossing my desk. I have a potential new project with a new author starting possibly soon. Finished up a proofread and got that one invoiced. Continued work on a memoir developmental edit, pulling several files together into a single document. Also finished a copy edit and returned it for review. Started a new one that's on the long side, close to one hundred thousand words. A jammed week ahead.

Had a pretty good viewing week. I made it through my regular stable of shows and started one of my back-burner ones. I didn't end up making it all the way through but I'll finish it up this week. I hope.

Started with a Foyle's War behind the scenes interview with one of the guest stars. Very interesting.

Watched another episode of Tales from Irish Castles. Truly a fun series to watch. So many castles in Ireland.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise and kind of loved the bit of a cliffhanger. I also kind of like how Mervin is settling in with the other officers. Very cool to see the new sarge completely supported by the commissioner also.

Also enjoyed another episode of Poirot. Very interesting case with an unexpected ending. So many colorful characters.

Elementary ended up being a little mind-blowing. I'm really interested in how the whole Shinwell situation will be resolved.

Caught another episode of Young Justice and I'm rather enjoying seeing how the team is coming together.

Also watched another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and I'm really amazed by how much I love this show. Started out being pretty iffy on whether I'd like it or not and I'm totally in if I haven't mentioned it before.

Started an episode of Peak Practice and made it about halfway through. There's a lot going on in this one and I didn't want to miss anything. I'll finish up this week. Maybe.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Explosive Situation, a novella that plays on the title and brings a couple together.

Here's the miniblurb:

Hadley and Tab are the go-to people for explosive situations. They work in tandem and haven't lost anyone, or each other, yet. When Tab gets caught in the crossfire on their latest mission, Hadley digs deep to save him and finally faces her feelings for the man she calls partner.

And a sneaky peek…

Hadley helped get Tab loaded and followed along to the med bay. "You better make sure he's okay." The realization she could've lost him hit hard.

While she got checked over, everything settled on her, and the weight felt … heavy. Searching for him in the smoke and debris … finding him … dragging him to safety … nothing else mattered at that moment. Not the loss of four other team members or the hostage taker. The after-action debrief would be a shitshow.

"Open." The med tech held a nebulizer in front of Hadley's face. "Breathe this in until the vial is empty. This will treat your lungs." He placed the small unit in her hands.

Hadley nodded and stuck the end between her lips.

The other med tech rolled up the sleeve on Hadley's free arm. "Gonna treat these burns. You got lucky and don't have any second or third degree. But they're gonna be a little painful for a day or two." A cool wash dispersed over the skin of her forearm.

Once the breathing treatment ended, they got the rest of her uniform off and directed the cool burn relief to spots on her neck, her back, the other arm, and her hands. Then they made her get settled on a gurney and hooked up an IV.

The first med tech slipped the needle in. "We're gonna replenish your fluids and use a broad-spectrum antibiotic to ward off any possible infection from contaminated debris." He injected a large syringe of fluid into the IV bag. "This will take about thirty minutes."

The half hour gave her time to think about what she wanted.

When she finally got the all clear, she went to find Tab.

The med tech gave her an update. "He's conscious but sedated. His burns have been treated. The bump on his head is concerning, so we're keeping a day or two for observation."

Hadley grabbed a chair. "I'm not leaving him." She sat and grasped his hand. "At least not until I talk to him."

The tech shrugged. "Might be a while, but you can stay."

Damn right.

Having a good time with this one. Hadley and Tab are a cool couple to write and giving them a big conflict is fun.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Excelling Anger

Kind of a long week and I'm glad it's over. There's something nice about starting a new week with a clean slate. Even if projects linger from one week to the next or challenges still need to be met.

We've got wild weather in Ohio again. Muggy and hot until a storm rolls through then it's lovely for a day until it gets muggy and hot again. The humidity is not fun.

Had a solid work week. One of the projects I thought was finished ended up having more revisions. At this point, the author is wordsmithing and really should leave things alone. That said, it's her last book and giving some grace can't hurt. I'm hoping to finish up a proofread on a science book this week and start a new project about a family history. I also have a developmental edit to get back to and copy edit to finish up. The copy edit is a holiday book and I'm so happy to have one of those to edit.

Had a pretty decent viewing week. I made it through my regular slate of shows, which actually made me happy. It was a busy week, and I ended up being kind of drained.

Started the week by finishing up an episode of Foyle's War. I do believe I have only the bonus episodes left.

Started a new series about Irish castles and thoroughly enjoyed the first episode. So much history I don't know, and I love learning new things.

Caught another episode of Silent Witness. The move to Birmingham seems to be resetting the series with a lot of darker content. I'm actually interested to see how this plays out.

Watched another episode of Poirot and enjoyed one of the better known classics with "Death on the Nile."

Elementary kind of blew my mind. Not sure how I feel about the whole Shinwell thing. It's going to prove interesting to discover Joan's reaction.

Enjoyed an episode of Young Justice. So far, I like the unfolding of the first season. The pacing is pretty good and the reveals are well-earned.

Also caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and really loved the interactions. I honestly didn't know if I'd find my groove with this show, but I did!

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Excelling Anger, a novella that explores how a couple work through their issues.

Here's the miniblurb:

Fallon and Rook are pilots who excel at many things, but they've turned being angry with each other into a fine art. When they have to confront their issues, they rediscover how working together can have excellent results.

And a sneaky peek…

"Thank whatever rules the universe Gamner's marine guard doesn't have to be out there when he's not in quarters."

Rook didn't turn when Fallon's statement broke the quiet he'd let surround him. "You shouldn't be here. You're not executive level. These quarters are off limits without the commander being present." Not that she'd ever let that stop her.

Fallon gave a rude snort. "Based on Dreamboat's recap, you're skating close to being an ex-executive officer, so I'm in good company." She came further into the quarters, moving to stand not far behind him.

He didn't want or need an audience when he tried one last time to make Gamner see reason. Especially when Fallon would only spike Gamner's ire.

Rook sighed. "I don't want you here, Fallon. Get out before Gamner returns." He shoved his hands in his pockets.

Fallon folded her arms. "I'm not leaving." Her voice had the stubborn tone she used when gearing up for a fight.

Rook didn't have the patience to fight two battles today.

Rook whirled to face her. "Why are you here, Fallon?" Why could she never leave well enough alone?

She went still for a moment then flung her arms out. "Because I love you, dumbass. You're my very best friend in the whole universe." She jabbed a finger in his chest. "And if you're going down, I'm going with you. This is wrong. As in career ruining wrong. You know better than most when this turns into an epic shitshow, Gamner's going to get the heat. As his XO—for however long that lasts—it's your duty to protect his command and not let anything get in the way. No matter what you have to do."

Rook's eyes widened. "Tell me you're not talking mutiny." The no-matter-what part had red flags rising in his brain.

Fallon made a grimace. "Fuck no. I'm crazy not insane." She turned and paced back and forth. "You're on the right track here. Trying to get Gamner to listen without Troyer throwing wrenches and backstabbing knives into the mix." She paused. "And there's a strength in numbers, that's all I'm saying."

Gamner stepped through the open hatch. "She's right. If what I just watched unfold is the standard for you two, I'm willing to listen. You faced your issues and confronted the big problem." He moved to his desk and grabbed the comm set. "I'm beginning to realize how working together can have excellent results." He punched in a series of numbers. "Stuartson, you're ordered to plan and lead the mission." He put the handset to his ear.

Rook blinked, shocked to his toes. "Yes, sir. What about—"

Gamner cut him off with a hand-wave. "I'll deal with Troyer. Go plan the op."

Fallon grabbed his forearm. "You heard the man. Let's go." She led him out of Gamner's quarters.

Rook shook his head. "I guess we'd better hit the briefing room."

I'm very happy with how this one is coming together. Fallon and Rook are fun to write.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Event Horizon

Wow. June is kicking my ass and it's only seven days old. I'm choosing to look at the beginning of the month as the bottom of the well and it can only get better, because I won't be able to handle another appliance going down. Thankfully, delivery services are available on Sunday and I have shiny new fridge to replace the one that died on Friday. And my coffeemaker decided to be wonky this morning so, yeah, I'm still trying to troubleshoot that one. Glad I can pour over in an emergency.

Other than the appliance fiasco, the weather is all over the map, which isn't unusual in Ohio. More chilly days and a few really humid ones. Rain, wind, and little bit of sun. We're supposed to have a drippy week, which is okay because I don't think it's supposed to be severe weather.

Pretty decent work week. I finished up a few projects and should be close to finishing up the one that won't seem to end. Started a new proofread and I'm making good progress on it, even with the appliance distractions.

Had an okay viewing week also. Made it through my usual list of shows but didn't get to the back-burner ones.

Started the week with half an episode of Foyle's War. Should finish it up this week and move on to the bonus episodes.

Also caught the season twelve finale of Brokenwood Mysteries. Really enjoyed this season and hope to have another one because this is definitely a comfort show.

Watched an episode of Death in Paradise. Loved getting some good character building for Seb. I'm also looking forward to getting some for the new sergeant.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. This one took a bit of a twist and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next episode.

Elementary finished up a two-parter and the resolution ended up being fun. Also loved Sherlock's excitement about becoming a godparent.

Caught another episode of Young Justice and quite enjoyed it. Very fun to see Wally face his disbelief in magic.

Loved watching an episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. The callbacks to other series are such a delight in this show.

That's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Event Horizon, a novella that brings a couple together when one has a big secret.

Here's the miniblurb:

Casey meets Oliver on a transport flight to celebrate his dad's retirement. They hit it off, but Casey has a big secret … she's the reason Oliver's brother didn't pass the flight test, and the way she did it could get her court martialed, especially if the old man finds out.

And sneaky peek…

A weird sense of calm settled over Casey. She'd thought she might be hauled in front of a review board or have formal charges slapped on her. But this … definitely unexpected but oddly okay.

Casey finished buttoning her uniform shirt. "If you're going to file formal charges, I'd prefer to have them in writing and served through proper channels." She met the elder Stephas's gaze. "And if you're going the review board route, I'll turn my credentials in to the acting commander and assume I'm on administrative leave until a hearing can be scheduled." Her matter-of-fact tone surprised everyone … including her.

Oliver shook his head. "Casey, no. This isn't going to come to that."

Orin gave a rude snort. "So, you're taking her side?" He went for the jugular and became obnoxious. "She must be one hell of a good fuck."

Orwen sputtered. "Dad, what the hell?"

Casey didn't resist this time. She punched Orin in the face. His head snapped back, but he recovered quickly, grabbing a handkerchief from his pocket.

She flicked her gaze to Oliver then back to the old man. "Whether I'm a good fuck or not doesn't come into play here." She wouldn't let him try to shame her for making a personal choice to be with his son.

Orin narrowed his gaze but not before a gleam of respect lit in the depths. "It does if I file charges."

Both brothers blinked at the insinuation.

Casey's heart sank now … because, shit, she didn't want her intimate details strewn about for any and all to observe, mull over, and use as fodder for the gossip mill. And they would be because all the Stephas men were witness to her action.

Orwen made a garbled choking sound. "You're not gonna do that, Dad. She saved my life." He raked a hand over his head.

Orin snarled. "No, she almost got you killed. She gave you a passing grade, when you failed the written tests."

Orwen shook his head. "If she bumped my grades, she had a good reason."

Orin's eyes bugged out. "I can't imagine what that could be."

Orwen's voice dropped to a low tone. "Then try this one on, Dad. She did it to prove to the one person in the universe—namely you—that I don't have what it takes to fly." His voice hissed to a whisper on the last three words before he met and held his dad's gaze. "And I never will, because I don't want to." He didn't look away when Orin flinched as if struck.

Casey's heart broke for the youngest Stephas, but pride filled her at his show of conviction. That probably needed to be said a long time ago. And she now wondered if Orwen had an inkling of what she'd done because he didn't seem surprised at all.

This story took a couple of turns I didn't expect, and I'm having a lot of fun writing Oliver and Casey.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Escape on Equinox

I'm looking forward to seeing the end of May. It hasn't been a bad month or anything. It's nice to feel like I'm starting with a clean slate.

We've had some rainy weather but it's keeping the temperatures mild, which I love. Really hoping the cooler weather sticks around for another week or two. I have some yard and garden work I want to do.

Work ended up being pretty okay. I still have the wordsmithing author making changes, but I think the project manager is putting a stop to that. Hopefully, we'll be able to get the proofread over the finish line. I'll be finishing up the science book proofread this week. And I have a copy edit that should finish sometime tonight or tomorrow. It's the twisty mystery thriller and it's definitely been a wild ride.

Not a bad week for viewing. I got through my usual list of shows but didn't end up adding any of my reserve ones.

Started out by finishing up the episode of Foyle's War. I have one episode left then some bonus material to watch.

Caught another episode of Brokenwood Mysteries and quite enjoyed it. Very interesting to see Mike move house and how the transition worked into the case.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness. Super happy to see Jack accepted as a professor. Also rather liked the resolution of the case.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. Always fun when he's kind of on his own. The case was very interesting also. I like it when he's solving old ones.

Elementary ended on an interesting note. I'm wondering if the mention of Sherlock's dad is going to come into play for the second half. Also fun to see Kitty again.

Watched an episode of Young Justice and I'm intrigued. The addition of Artemis could prove interesting. I'm leaning toward double agent.

Caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. Fun to see Boimler handle his first away mission. Also really fun to watch the other three try to outsmart their superior officers.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Escape on Equinox, a novella in the Capital City Seasons series.

Here's the miniblurb:

Jim Hodges, an elite officer in a specialized tactical unit, finally meets a woman with a sweet disposition and a naughty sense of humor. But when she's taken hostage and his team is called in, he's determined to make sure a quick resolution takes place, which won't be easy because he's ordered to step aside and let his fellow members handle everything.

And a sneaky peek…

Roz gave a cautious answer. "Uh, yeah. I'd like to do something." She hesitated on being specific. "Can I call when I finish up? Maybe see what we have time for?" Hedging gave her a little wiggle room.

Jim nodded. "Sure. And no pressure. If you have a shit day and want to postpone, we can." He took a large gulp of his coffee. "Gonna hit the shower. I left a go cup on the counter. Help yourself before you leave." Setting his mug on the nightstand, he headed for the bathroom.

Roz stopped him by clasping his forearm. "You're seriously too good to me." She leaned up and brushed her lips over his. "Thanks for not pushing."

Jim wrapped his arms around her. "Not my thing. You know that." His mouth briefly melded over hers. "Let me know what you decide." He started back toward the bath.

Roz ducked out of the bedroom, hit the kitchen, and poured more coffee into the disposable cup. Placing the cap on, she grabbed her bag and headed out to her car … waiting for the fear to settle in.

Except it didn't.

Her gut didn't churn the way it used to after her ugly split from Walter Heinz aka Walter the wacko.

Sliding inside her vehicle, she started the engine. "Not sure split can be considered the right word." They hadn't really dated.

They spent one weekend together, and Roz didn't like the vibe. She turned Walter down when he asked her out again, thinking that would be the last she'd see him. I was so wrong. For six months, he'd stalked her. To the point, she'd finally moved to another province.

She figured that would be the end of things. Nope. For three more years, he found her no matter where she went. He finally got arrested when he tried to kidnap her. He now served a mandatory fifteen years because he had a weapon.

Merging into Capital City traffic, her lips quirked. "Now, Jim. I liked the sparks from the word go." And considering she'd more or less jumped him at their second meeting … probably a good thing.

Her mind spun back to the moment she'd run out of the hospital after a harrowing experience in the emergency department. She spied Jim coming out of the administrative hub and a burst of adrenaline collided with the array of emotions rolling through her and she didn't think. She reacted and knew exactly what she wanted.

Jim caught sight of her and headed in her direction. "Roz, hi. Are you okay?"

No. Not at all.

She grabbed Jim and shoved him into a supply closet in the parking garage. "Not really. Just lost a patient." And the death hit her hard.

The cold weight of loss settled over her like a shroud.

She had his pants undone and cock out before he could think straight. Didn't take him long to catch up. He yanked his shirttail free and undid the buttons.

He asked one question. "You sure this is gonna help?"

Her head bobbed up and down. "I need to feel warm again. I can't stand the cold I'm feeling right now."

He didn't waste time. He covered her mouth with his and used his tongue to tease and tantalize. They didn't have a lot of room, but he lifted her up on the small counter and cupped her ass.

Hard and ready, he asked one more time. "You're sure?"

She gave him a jerky nod. "Please, Jim. Now." She couldn't say or do anything else.

Jim lifted his chin and slid her scrub bottoms down and flung them over his shoulder. He slid her panties to one side and thrust forward, going deep. She came alive, her nerve endings humming and her blood pumping through her veins. With every push of his hips, she rose higher from the frozen depths of despair to the heated ceiling of the passionate encounter.

Reaching out, she grabbed the sides of his shirt and hauled him closer, her mouth crashing against his. His lips blazed a path along her jawline up to her ear. She shivered when he bit down lightly on the lobe.

His breath fanned against her skin. "This is intense and I'm not gonna last long." His voice rasped. "You gonna come for me, Roz?"

Her core tightened and he groaned, his pace kicking up a notch.

Roz gasped. "So close. Just a little … more." Her heels dug into his ass.

His head dropped to her shoulder. His hips surged forward and he ground against her. The extra bit of friction sent her over the edge and she shuddered through an orgasm.

His breath hissed between his teeth and he followed her over, his arms going taut to stay upright.

Roz blinked to clear the pinpoints behind her eyelids and looked into his hooded gaze.

She unwrapped wobbly legs from around him and pulled her scrubs from his shoulder.

Holding them to her chest, she whispered, "Thank you." When he eased back and away from her, she slid down to her feet.

Instead of feeling as awkward as she should, she had a buzzing energy flowing through her. Stepping into her pants, she smiled. Bizarre place aside, having sex with Jim might have been the best she'd ever experienced.

I love this series so much and I really need to finish up the three books to finish out the quad series.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Domino Effect

May is shaping up to be a weird month. I'm feeling kind of rushed but at the same time like I'm bogged down in mud. I think that's a sign that big change is coming and I'm not always as go with the flow as I'd like to be. We'll see what the summer brings.

Work projects are in a good place. I finished up a proofread and only have a few random changes to check. Also moved a copy edit off my plate. I'm continuing work on a design proofread and started a manuscript proofread over the weekend. I have a client call this week on a memoir and a developmental edit I'm returning to after a bit of a break. All in all, shaping up to be a busy week.

Hoping to put in some work on my sorely neglected website to get things moving on one of the side hustles I've been working on for a long time. I'm putting this in writing as a motivator!

Had a really good viewing week. I got through my full slate of shows and got one of my back-burner ones in also.

Started out with finishing up Foyle's War and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. I'm not sure I actually got to see this one during my original run through.

Also caught another episode of Brokenwood Mysteries. Ended up really enjoying this one also. Very fun to see some previous characters return.

Watched an episode of Silent Witness and I love that Jack is considering teaching. That could end up being fun to watch. Also love his interactions with Kat.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. Poor Hastings has had a run of bad luck with his investments. Very fun to see Poirot not enjoy his health retreat until the mystery starts.

Elementary had another great episode. Season five has been very enjoyable with the cast gelling in a great way. Loved the guy getting his comeuppance because he couldn't resist leaving the country for a hockey match.

Watched another episode of Young Justice and I ended up really enjoying how the team worked together even while completely blowing their original mission.

Caught the season four premier of Star Trek: Lower Decks and enjoyed every moment. Fun to see the growth of the characters and also fun to see so many callbacks to other Trek shows.

Hit an episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. Really felt for Alex and Carrie. And I also really loved Will changing his mind about the case with the sisters. Then again, if he'd listened to Alex in the first place he wouldn't have had to.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Domino Effect, a novella that pulls a couple together after splitting them apart by circumstances.

Here's the miniblurb:

Every action Frank and Katya take pushes a reaction out of the other. And like dominos, one barrier crashes into the next until nothing is left but a tangle of emotions they have to deal with.

And a sneaky peek…

"Geez, what the hell possessed me to leave everything I knew behind?"

Following her head, instead of her heart. Katya hoped she didn't live to regret it.

Hell, she hoped she survived, period.

Less than ten hours back on the stupid planet she used to call home and she'd started to wonder if she'd taken on a fool's mission.

Less angry and more rational, Katya now had the gift of hindsight. "The president completely manipulated things to get me on board." Right … not that it took much.

Katya's issues with impulse control weren't exactly a secret. Nor were her problems with her father, the admiral. The president certainly used both to her advantage.

And currently, Katya had time to ponder the fallout when she returned. "Might be better off sticking around and not going back." Then again, her former home didn't exactly offer welcoming conditions.

At least she had the cover of a murky darkness. "If only I knew where to go." She hadn't been around this area for over two decades and only had fuzzy memories of a single school field trip to act as a guide.

Creeping close to one of the walkways, she crouched down and scoped out the location. She could stay here under the outcropping of concrete and wait for first light. She didn't want to draw too much attention trying to figure out which relic site she needed access to.

Settling against a large, round pillar, she heaved a sigh. "Why did I agree to do this insane op again?" Aside from the smoothly put request from the president?

Frank. Right.

Friend. Foe. Adversary.

Love of my life.

But she'd never be the love of his. Royally screwed up any chance of that. Which had kinda been the goal … until she realized just how much she truly wanted him.

She could've had him. Reached right out and grabbed hold, but she let him slip through her fingers.

Why, why, why did she always push him beyond the limit? And why, oh good stars above, why had she fallen into bed with Banacek?

She snorted. "Too much booze and fantasizing about Frank."

The man terrified her. Not in a physical kind of way. But in the she could get so wrapped up in him she'd lose herself kind of deal.

She'd already started to get lost, caught up in the wait and wonder, when she took the wrong turn. Not seeing or talking to Frank for two full days had her completely on edge and convinced he regretted the incredible night they spent together. He'd had time to think it through and decided they made a mistake. Why else would he disappear on her?

She'd talked herself into believing the worst, something she excelled at, and chose to drown her disappointment with some very good scotch. A buttload of shots later, Rich Banecek made a move and she let him. Didn't matter that she woke up completely skeeved out, the deed done and over with.

And Banecek wasted zero time sharing the information.

Took Frank less than a day to hear about it and track her down. And holy hell, pissed off didn't describe his state of mind. He'd grabbed her arm, dragged her to a storage locker and let loose.

Gave her a verbal tongue lashing to put his physical one to shame. She listened, let him vent, each punctuated word slicing deep. He always wielded words with surgical precision.

When he finally finished spewing venom, she turned and faced him. "We had one night together. You didn't say anything about making it more. You said we'd talk about it later." She lifted a brow. "Later came and went, Frank. Where the hell were you?"

His jaw dropped. "Wait. Let me get this straight. I don't make an immediate declaration, so you screw the next available guy?" He shook his head.

Katya shrugged. "Believe what you want. That's not how it happened." Although it sure looked that way.

Frank crossed his arms across his chest. "How did it happen, Katya? Exactly."

She turned away again. "Look. I haven't seen you for four days. I assumed you convinced yourself we'd made a mistake." Or remembered his stupid rule about not screwing the admiral's daughter.

Frank nearly choked on his words. "I've been a little busy."

And yean, she knew that. If he didn't get pulled into a meeting with command, he got tapped to sit in with government.

He made a frustrated sound and whirled away from her. "You can't wait longer than ninety-six hours to see where things go?" His voice rose and he paced around, trying to keep his anger in check.

She said nothing. What could she say? No way in hell would she admit she'd been drunk off her ass because she hadn't seen or heard from him. Or that she'd screwed the first hot guy she'd found to drive him from her mind.

Frank's already low opinion would be worse.

He spun around and faced her. "I can't win with you. You did say you don't want some man to stake a claim, right?" He didn't wait for an answer. "What you really mean is you don't want anything more than a quick fuck." He leveled his gaze on her. "Guess I ruined that one for you, too." He shot her a disgusted look and walked out.

Katya flinched when the hatch slammed closed. Ouch. That last comment hurt. Because they'd done the wham-bam-this-sex-had-to-happen-now thing the first time. They couldn't help it; they were so hot for each other. But that coupling only took the edge off. The rest of the night etched itself so far inside Katya's brain, she'd never forget it, in fact, she'd put it on autoplay to relive every moment. She wanted to remember the incredible sex. Didn't want to ever forget the connection, regardless of what Frank thought.

She shook her head. Half a galaxy away and he still took up space in her brain. She couldn’t stop thinking about him and the too brief interlude before she'd left. She continued to replay every conversation. But the one on constant rewind would have to be when Frank nailed her to the wall and cut her open. He tore through her bravado and laid to waste her carefully constructed façade.

But he didn't know it. She had too much pride to tell him, to admit her mistake or own the truth of his words.

Because Frank threw everything she'd ever said back in her face. And he'd had every right. She'd fucked up any chance they might have had … because she hadn't believed he could really, truly want her.

But she'd been wrong. So, so wrong. Now she had to survive and make her way back to him. Even if he hated her.

Hunching down, she draped her flight jacket over her chest. "I'm a glutton for punishment, but maybe there's a chance we figure this shit out." Hopefully, he'd understand why she left.

If not, well, she'd find the patience she needed to change his mind. She would do whatever it took to make him see the reasons. And … she would get them back on track or die trying.

Kind of a long snippet this week. I love Katya's internal monologue here.

 

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

ML Skye