Sunday Snippet: Win's Maneuver

It's a long weekend in the US for the Memorial Day holiday and also graduation weekend for our local high school. Seems like a great time to have lovely weather, right? It's Ohio so the answer would be probably not. It's cloudy with a chance of rain. But at least the temperature is in the high sixties instead of the low fifties, which is more like March instead of May.

I'm making headway on the multiple work projects. Two have shifted off my plate for the next step in the publishing process and the other six are coming along. I should have at least two more finished up this week. YAY!

Had a pretty solid week of viewing. I did make it through my regular slate of shows and got started on my two new ones. Or, one new one and one that always seems to simmer on the back burner.

Enjoyed another episode in my rewatch of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The first couple of episodes do such a great job of setting up the dynamic between the characters and I thoroughly enjoy the actors so much.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and like how awkward things are between Selwyn and his daughter. I also kind of enjoy Katherine being in his face but I also think she kind of oversteps sometimes.

Caught another episode of Poirot and enjoyed it. I often feel like the relationship between Poirot and Japp is shortchanged because we don't really see how that started, but the interactions are fun.

Enjoyed another Brokenwood Mysteries. Kind of weird but awesome the victim is someone we met in an earlier episode. And the mystery took some wild turns, which is always fun.

Watched another episode of Elementary and loved the interactions with Joan and Sherlock. The ice cream touch at the end is perfection.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and it's one I don't really remember much of but also one that I quite enjoyed. There's nothing like a storyline where a character is trapped in a computer and wants to escape to the real world. It's a weird trope that I love.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. The two vignettes are ones that were new to me, and I liked both. Weird bit with some out of order information as the Finsters were still calling their dog puppy instead of Pepper.

Watched another episode of Return to Paradise and I'm still enjoying this one. I'm very interested in seeing what happens with Mackenzie and her ex-fiancé. There's a lot of good potential to be very messy with this situation.

I got started on a new episode of Peak Practice but didn't make it all the way through. I'll try to finish it up this week.

Also started a new episode of Reacher, but paused because I need to pay attention and couldn't focus like I wanted to. I'll definitely finish this one up this week.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Win's Maneuver, a Star Chasers novella that I'm just getting started.

Here's the miniblurb:

Winston Ashcraft, president of the Star Chasers—a maze running club—doesn't like complications … especially when his best friend drops one at Win's feet. Darcy Abbott has a price on her head and Win has no choice but to help her … because she saved his best friend's life.

And a sneaky peek…

Luce strolled into Win's office. "Got a minute?" He arched his brows.

The question—loaded with lead—didn't suggest he'd wait.

Win grunted. "Sure. What's up?" They still had some tricky shit to work through and might as well start now.

Luce dropped a bomb. "I want you to claim Darcy." He dropped his large frame onto the stool across from the desk and rolled it up to the edge. "She needs help, and I want you to take point, if only as payback for the whole Marnie debacle." He didn't quite snarl the words, but he came damn close.

Fuck. He couldn't really say no. If Marnie made the guys froth at the mouth, Darcy would likely cause a riot. She didn't have the grief status Marnie had when they all thought Luce dead. Nope. Darcy pretty much came free of any kind of baggage. Which meant she should be fair game.

The way his gut clenched at the thought did sit well with him. He didn't want a significant other. Not when he'd just lost the previous one … fake as it had been.

Then again, he owed Luce.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Win reluctantly agreed. "Fine. But I really don't need this shit right now." Even knowing what the price would be, he couldn't quite accept defeat.

Luce snorted. "What's the problem, man?"

Win made a rude sound. "It's like cockblocking part two. First Marnie staked a claim so the rest of the club would leave her alone. Now this Darcy Abbott is going to be parading around as my woman, so she's got the mantle of protection that entails."

Luce gave him a pointed stare. "And?"

Win flung a hand out. "And that means I can't just grab whoever's free for a romp in bed." Which Luce, the fucker, already knew.

Luce's lips twitched. "You could try to muster up your nonexistent charm and see if Darcy's game for the full Winston Ashcraft treatment."

Win rolled his eyes. "Something tells me she wouldn't be able to handle it … or me." She had fragile … handle with care … written all over her.

Luce leaned forward, placing his palms on Win's desk. "It would be a mistake to sell her short. She survived on that ship for months before she ran into me. The woman's got grit."

Win lifted a shoulder. "She'll need it around here." Time would tell if Darcy had the wherewithal to survive in the Chaser's club.

I think this story is going to be a lot of fun. Win is very grumpy, with good reason, but Darcy is going to surprise him.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Star Chasers

Had a less than productive week after having two teeth extracted. It's strange because they really weren't difficult to remove—well, one of them ended up being a little harder than the other—but it still threw me off. I think because they were on opposite sides with one on top and the other on the bottom, which made eating a tad challenging.

I also took time away on Friday to meet my daughter so we could do early voting. Very happy to have that done! I voted to raise my taxes for the school and emergency services levies.

Work stayed busy with some cleanup on two drafts and two copy edits. I also checked changes on two proofreads. Those were kind of dropped in on the fly.

Didn't quite make a full round of my usual shows this week, but I did get through about half.

Watched another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder and it was one I'd seen at least part of. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Caught another London Kills and I'm liking this show. The overarching mystery of what happened to the DCI's wife folded into the two cases is interesting to me. I'm a little worried about the trainee DC. Things could go really sideways for her if she's not careful.

Enjoyed another Death in Paradise episode. I kind of feel like this is the season where Commissioner Patterson gets a lot more screen time. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I enjoy him.

Finished the second half of Silent Witness and, whoo boy, what a ride this two-parter was. I'm going to be very interested in seeing if there's any fallout from everything that went down.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Star Chasers, which will probably end up being the series or duology's name … but I haven't quite decided yet.

Here's the miniblurb:

Marnie Ritoli, a kick-ass mechanic for the premier team in the galaxy, is presented with a dilemma: choose a new mate or leave the Chasers. But Marnie knows Luce Carrington isn't dead, and she won't play second fiddle to anyone, so she does what she's best at and finds a loophole in the league rules, picking Luce's best friend … the person who backs her into a corner in the first place.

And a sneaky peek…

Marnie breezed into Win's lounge and made her announcement. "I choose you."

Win looked up from his accounting books. "What?" Confusion marred his handsome face.

Marnie reached behind her and pushed the door shut. She had a feeling things might get a wee bit loud in the next few moments.

Walking closer to the desk, she repeated. "I pick you. As my mate." She crossed her arms and waited for the explosion.

Win tossed his pen on the desk and rose slowly. He leaned forward, getting a good look at her very serious face. Opened his mouth, closed it and shook his head.

"Are you insane?"

Pretty much the reaction she expected. "Nope. You're all mine, big man." She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying more.

Win rounded the desk and grabbed her arms. "You can't pick me, Marnie. It's not allowed."

She raised a brow. "Yeah, I can. League rules state I can choose whomever I want, as long as they're not attached to anyone else." She looked around behind him. "You hiding a woman under the desk, Win?" She knew the moment she had him, his eyes went flat and cagey.

He let go and stepped back. "You know I'm not. And you know why." He perched his ass on the edge of the desk. "As president, I'm free to do whomever I want, whenever I want." He gave her a determined stare. "It's gonna stay that way."

Marnie snorted. "No. It's not." She crossed her arms in front of her again. "I checked the charter. That's not a stipulation for this crew."

He shot up. "Son of a bitch, Marnie. It's accepted as one."

She shrugged. "Not anymore. I'm taking you out of play." She almost hated being evil about it.

Win snarled and raked his hand over his head. "You bitch." He spun around and paced back and forth.

Marnie winced but stood her ground. He couldn't deny her request. Not when he'd put her on the spot to make it.

Win turned and faced her, a calculating edge to his voice. "Fine. I'm out of play." He prowled toward her. "And you'll be ready and willing when I decide to collect on my rights to your tasty and tempting treats, yeah?" He trailed a finger down her arm.

She'd known he'd try to brazen it out and threaten her with that one.

She smiled sweetly. "You can give it your best shot." Her hands smoothed down his chest. "But if you do … you can expect my size eight boot up your ass…" She cupped her hand between his legs. "And this big dick of yours in a vice." She lifted her gaze to his. "Don't think it won't happen."

Win swallowed and stepped away. "Why?"

She prepared an answer for that one, too. "Because you put me in a corner. I'm returning the favor." Emotion clogged her throat when she choked the words out.

Win sighed, beaten. "Damn you." He sank down on the edge of the desk.

She'd won the battle, which didn't make her feel better. Only Luce could do that. But … with her point made and status safe, Marnie headed for the door.

Before she opened it, she turned back. "You should already know that without Luce, damned is exactly what I am." Her hand twisted the knob, and she exited the lounge, dejected and depressed … probably only a little bit less than Win at the moment.

I'm so excited about this two-book story. It's going to get a little messy, but I'm having a lot of fun planning this one out.

 

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

 

ML Skye