Sunday Snippet: Specter's Masquerade (a Specter Station novella)

A weird week of chilly weather and lots of cleaning projects. I'm at that place where the clutter is driving me bonkers, but I don't have enough hours in the day to really focus on a good cleanout. So … I'm tackling small areas to at least make a little progress.

Lots of work projects landing in my inbox. A few have been quick turnarounds, which I enjoy. I love having a project that I can finish up in a few hours. That type of work helps when I also have three difficult manuscripts that challenge my brain and one that requires a lot of focus.

Had a solid week of viewing. I'm still trying to finish up an episode of Peak Practice, but I made it through a full round of shows.

Started with Mr. and Mrs. Murder, an Australian mystery series. I've seen several episodes but not in order and I'm looking forward to watching this one from beginning to end. Thoroughly enjoyed the first episode, which I had not seen.

Also started a new-to-me British crime drama called London Kills. Loved the first episode and look forward to watching this series.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise introducing the new DI. Enjoyed the interaction between the commissioner and his new lead detective. Interesting to have someone Patterson doesn't particularly like as part of the team.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. I'm intrigued by the premise of this one. I thought the episode felt a little disjointed and I'm hoping the initial murder somehow ties into the other two. Kind of happy to be guessing on this one.

Watched a fun episode of Elementary with the return of Lestrade. I love the actor, so I love the character. Plus, he's much less annoying than Mycroft.

Enjoyed an episode of The Batman. Finally got a return of Batgirl. I'd forgotten Firefly powered up in a big way and almost blew up Gotham. Great episode.

Caught another new-to-me episode of Classic Rugrats. I'm not a great fan of the three-vignette format but I do have a lot of love for this series.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Specter's Masquerade, a novella that brings a couple together on a space station days before a huge gala.

Here's the miniblurb:

Juna Newberry starts her new position as head of security on the Specter Spacestation under fire. She walks into the job two days before the biggest gala event of the solar year, a threat is made on the personnel, including the principal owner of the station, Maddox Specter, all while fighting her attraction for the sexy entrepreneur.

And a sneaky peek…

Maddox still wanted to do bodily harm to every member on his board, but he couldn't fault their choice. After spending half the day with Juna, his confidence in her ability to seamlessly step into the position soared. He loved her sharp mind. Hell, he loved everything about her.

Sitting back while she read through her final notes, he envisioned the type of costume he'd provide. She wore a no-nonsense ponytail, with her hair pulled sleekly back from her face. His fingers itched to pull the holder off so he could see the burnished brunette tresses settled over her shoulders, hopefully bare. She had great bone structure with nicely proportioned curves her uniform couldn't hide. Not that the standard issue garment did spectacular things for her, but his active imagination had no trouble filling in the details.

She glanced up and caught him gazing in her direction.

She quirked a brow. "Do I have something on my face?" Her gaze traveled down. "Or on my uniform?"

His lips twitched. Juna focused primarily on work, but provided flashes of humor, too. He'd love working with her professionally and hoped like hell to wrangle something on a personal level, too.

Even if the timing sucked and probably couldn't be worse. Juna Newberry drew his interest like no woman had in a long time.

She cleared her throat. "Mr. Specter?"

He shook his head. "Maddox, please. Save the Mr. Specter for official use only." Why not test the waters?

Juna set the notepad aside. "Okay, I'm sensing something more than employer-employee in your tone. Am I mistaken?" She paused a moment. "Because, if not, I'd prefer if you were direct and even blunt." Folding her hands in her lap, she held his gaze.

Maddox cut to the chase. "You're not wrong. I'm a driven man and know what I want." He waited a beat. "I want a piece of you." Stopping for a moment, he went on. "I realize I'm out of line here, but I don't believe in mincing words either." He rather hoped he wouldn't get a punch to the jaw for his brutal honesty.

Juna exhaled on a long breath. "Okay, I respect having things out in the open but, yeah, out of line and crappy timing." She glanced away, inhaled deeply, then turned back and pinned him with her gaze. "Can we talk about our mutual attraction after the masquerade so I can stay on task and up to speed without big distractions?"

The words tumbled out of her mouth at a rapid pace all on the one drag of air she'd taken in.

Maddox cocked his head to one side. "Of course. But to be clear, you did say mutual attraction, right?" He should leave well enough alone, but the impulse to push for clarity wouldn't let him.

Juna gave a terse nod. "I did. But I won't—can't—think about it right now. I need to get back to my team and start doing my job." She ended any additional chance for banter by rising from her seat. "Which I'll do right now." Smoothing the creases from her uniform, she shot him a grin. "It's been an extraordinarily interesting start to my tenure with Specter Station." With a wink, she turned and exited his office.

Maddox leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. His board might be the bane of his existence, but they'd done him a good turn by bringing Juna Newberry into his orbit.

A wide smile crossed his face. Paul Edwards would shoot stardust out of his ass when Maddox thanked him for the wonderful treat.

I love this series! There are three more books featuring Maddox's friends and I really hope I can get their stories launched within the next year.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Holly's Masquerade

Our fall-like weather remained with us … to the point we had record lows. I have to laugh a little because it's like a yoyo swinging up and down with record temperatures in both directions. It's nuts.

Had a very solid work week. Possible new projects that I'm excited about and finishing up a big one, which feels really good.

Not a bad week for viewing television. I didn't make it through two times like last week but had almost a full rotation of the shows I normally watch.

Enjoyed another Agatha Raisin episode. I'm settling in with this cast of characters and I love the village vibe. Looking forward to more episodes.

Started a new Silent Witness two-parter and I'm really interested in where this one goes and what's going on at the Lyle. The second half should be terrific.

Caught the finale for season two of Death in Paradise. I'm a little sad because the season three opener is obviously the loss of one of the main characters. But I'm excited to start in with a new character.

Watched another Fantasy Island episode and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm also happy to report Roark and Javier seem to be on better footing and the angst factor did not get amped to ten or above. A pleasant surprise. The whole deal with Ruby should be interesting to watch unfold. Not sure how I want things to go there.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman. This one featured Firefly and I kind of loved the Bruce and Alfred banter in this episode.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats and loved it. One part had the babies journeying to the basement ala Indiana Jones style. The second one had the full set of McNultys for a birthday party. So much fun.

Started another episode of VIP but didn't make it all the way through. Too many interruptions to finish, but I hope to get the rest watched today.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Holly's Masquerade, a Specter Station novella.

Here's the miniblurb:

Roman Holly can't believe how smoothly the transition to his new base of operations on Specter Station is going, but he has Isis Tango, his uber-efficient admin, to thank. She moves halfway across the galaxy to stay by his side and he's not quite sure why. But Isis will reveal her reason at the holiday masquerade, and it will blow Roman's mind.

And a sneaky peek…

Isis closed one file and opened the next. "Nothing liked being mired in last-minute fixes before Roman gets here." She scanned through the checklist for the masquerade, ticked several boxes, added notes, and forwarded copies to Juna Newberry, Maddox Specter, and Roman.

Leaning back, Isis took a breath then exhaled slowly. Finally, a minute to breathe. "And reflect a little." What am I doing? "Moving to a station half a galaxy away because I'm stupid in love with my boss … not the best use of decision-making skills, Ise."

Then again, she loved an adventure, especially when it came with a challenge. Holly Galactic Group provided a wide range of activities and trials for her to dive into. Problem-solving came easily to her … for other people.

She frowned. "Solving my Roman problem? Yeah, I suck at that." Why can't I use my extensive skill set to not be in love with him?

The universe would never know.

She straightened. "And neither will Roman." Geez, wouldn't he love to have that conversation?

Geez, Ise, why now? You've been with him almost seven years. And her brain picked now to figure out she loved him.

She shook her head. "Okay, the three-week window of alone time had a lot to do with that."

Coming ahead to get things set up and ready gave her ample opportunity to examine the reason she agreed to the move. Which also gave her time to take stock and look at what she wanted for the future. She wanted Roman Holly.

Wait … three weeks. That meant…

"Fuck! Roman's arriving today." Glancing at the time, she cursed again. "Check that. Roman's already here." She scrambled out of her chair, smoothed her hair and clothes and took off at close to a dead run toward the lobby.

She arrived at the bank of tubes just in time for the doors to ping open, revealing Roman and Mattox.

She caught her breath, quickly composing herself before flashing a wide smile. "Hello, I was coming down to greet you. Sorry to have missed your arrival." She stepped to the side, her gaze drinking in the sight of Roman—tall, blond, and made to wear a suit to perfection.

The men exited the conveyance and Roman did a full-circle turn in the lobby area. His head nodded in approval at his first sight of the new headquarters.

Nervous and not sure why, Isis got down to business. "Maddox, I forwarded the final details for the masquerade, you'll let me know if there are any changes?" After Maddox lifted his chin, Isis waved her arm toward the office suite. "Welcome to Holly Galactic Group's new base of operations. Everything is ready, including the link-up to our former office. The file transfers are scheduled to begin at any time." She stopped talking when the men exchanged a quick look.

Damn, I'm babbling. Mortification warred with embarrassment and she kind of wished the floor would open up and swallow her.

She blew out a breath. "I'll let you two head in. You've probably got some catching up to do." She started to reach for the tube button, thinking to make a quick escape to regroup and calm down.

Roman shook his head. "Please, come inside with me. I took the liberty of ordering some food and it's on the way up now. Maddox is heading to wherever Juna is." A sly smirk crossed his face.

Maddox returned the gesture with one of his own.

Isis smiled when Maddox made a hasty retreat back inside the tube after lifting a hand in farewell. Roman huffed out a breath and shook his head, then laughed before heading inside the office space. Isis enjoyed the exchange. It's going to be good for Roman to be around his friend on a regular basis. She followed Roman into the suite of offices, still a bit unsettled over missing his arrival. She might need to start seriously thinking about what she wanted for her future.

And whether Roman would be part of her plans or not.

I have a lot of love for this one. Roman and Isis are a joy to write. The whole Specter Station group is fun to be with.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hart's Masquerade

Had a very busy week with work projects and family stuff. I'm kind of exhausted but not in a bad way. My sleep schedule is somewhat all over the map and that doesn't help. Insomnia is a definite pain in the butt.

I had a pretty solid week of viewing television. I got another full round of shows in and might be adding one or two in the next week.

I picked back up with Suspects and enjoyed the episode. This show is a little chaotic and I like that. I also rather like the characters.

Caught another episode of Cannes Confidential and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have one episode left and I'm not ready for the season to end. I truly hope there's more to come from this show. It's so good!

Watched the penultimate episode of Peak Practice season nine. I'm bracing for impact for the finale. Then it's on to season ten!

Started a new two-parter of Silent Witness. Very interesting episode and I'm not sure where part two is going to go. This isn't a bad thing.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. This is such a fun show even if there's always a murder to solve.

Caught another episode of Fantasy Island and, yep, my biggest pet peeve happened. Take a couple and tear them apart for stupid reasons. I'll finish out the season and see what happens, but I'm cranky now and that probably means I won't watch anything else if it has another season.

Started a rewatch of The Batman. I rather liked this series. I might also be able to finish my rewatch of Batman: The Animated Series. For whatever reason, it seems to be available again.

Watched another Classic Rugrats episode with two eps I'd forgotten about. Season five seems to have quite a few of those.

Missed watching Battlestar Galactica this week. My viewing partner had a family commitment and we're picking up again this week.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Hart's Masquerade, a Specter Station novella that features a precious gem dealer and an accomplished jewel thief.

Here's the miniblurb:

Wicek Hart deals in precious gemstones throughout the galaxy and he's the premier wholesale supplier for jewelry boutiques. Nettie Strand is an accomplished jewel thief, but only because she's trying to reclaim her family's stolen property. Wicek smells a setup when Nettie applies for the job as spokesperson for the gala event to be held on Specter Station, his new base of operations, during the Lover's Holiday. Nettie knows the business inside and out and Wicek takes a chance by hiring Nettie, if only to keep a very close eye on her actions.

And a sneaky peek…

Nettie Strand arrived for her interview five minutes early.

Entering the reception area of Wicek Hart's office, she gave a nod. "Nice setup." Airy and intimate—not an easy combination to pull off, especially on a space station.

She clocked the video feed and security sensors hidden from view close to the display areas. She moved through the space mentally casing the area. Wicek Hart wouldn't make it easy for anyone to remove merchandise from his office.

Her lips curved. "I hope his stores are equally impressive." Based on what she'd seen so far, they would be.

The soft snick of a panel opening drew her attention. She turned and bit her tongue to hold back a gasp. Holy shit. Blown away by his striking features, Nettie didn't think the holo images did Wicek Hart justice. No way. Dark hair, an impressively tailored suit that enhanced instead of hid an impeccable physique, and a rugged countenance that didn't keep her from imagining him being comfortable in high-end salons or on a planetary excursion to find rough-cut gems.

He quirked a brow. "Nettie Strand." He thrust his palm forward.

Recovering, she grasped his hand and smiled. "Yes. It's good to meet you, Mr. Hart." Definitely not a lie.

Wicek flashed an amiable smile. "Please, it's Wicek." He inclined his head toward another recessed area. "Shall we?" He held her gaze.

She nodded and followed him into his office. This room had weight and depth. A workspace for cutting gems, a design area with a drafting table, and a large U-shaped desk filled the rectangular room but didn't crowd the location.

Wicek led her to an open nook holding a comfortable arrangement of luxurious loveseats facing each other with an angular ottoman placed between them. He motioned for her to be seated and began the interview right away. The next thirty minutes flew by and she responded to his questions with well-prepared answers. Amazed at how well everything seemed to be going, she let down her guard, confident she'd have the job.

Until Wicek brought out a thick folder and placed it on the ottoman.

Wicek leaned back against the cushions and propped his ankle of one leg on the opposite knee. "Why do you really want to work for me?" The affable host disappeared, and a cutthroat businessman emerged.

Nettie got stuck and struggled to keep up. "I don't understand." She frowned. "You're the premier supplier of wholesale gems in the galaxy. Why wouldn't I want to work for you?" Maybe he wanted to test her?

Or … maybe she needed to sell herself more.

She leaned forward a little. "I have extensive knowledge of gems and minerals. My skills could become a valuable asset to your work and help grow your business." If all went well, she'd love to pursue a partnership.

Wicek studied her and the impression she'd failed settled between her shoulder blades. I need this job. I must have the access and status the position will give me. I can't let Grandmother down. Again. Wicek folded his arms over his chest, stretching the suit across his broad shoulders, his gaze unreadable. Nettie couldn't shake the feeling she'd made a huge misstep.

He nodded toward the large file. "Would part of using your skills and being an asset include theft?" His tone turned hard and questioning.

Her breath caught in her throat. "Excuse me?" He can't know.

He leaned forward and flipped the folder open then handed her a list. Her heart sank, especially when he spread out the reports about stolen jewels. Dammit, he did know. How should she play this?

Wicek pinned her with his gaze. "Care to comment?" His eyebrow quirked upward.

Is he giving me a chance to explain here?

She held his bold stare for a long moment before taking a leap into the unknown. "Very thorough, Mr. Hart…" She set the list aside. "But not quite complete." Time for her to roll the dice on a man that took speculative risks.

Wicek raised both eyebrows, clearly curious.

Nettie went for broke and filled in the rest." You're missing two." There, let's see what he does with that.

Wicek's mouth thinned to a flat line, and he stared at her with a narrowed gaze for several heartbeats.

Then he shocked her to her toes when he threw his head back and laughed.

This scene came together very quickly and I'm so happy with how it turned out.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fyre's Masquerade (a Specter Station novella)

Had a busy week with a new work project landing in my inbox. It's a holiday novel and I'm so excited because I love editing holiday stories! I'm also working on a proofread, which is a nice complement to a copy edit.

Had a slow week of viewing due to another loss of a relative. 2023 has been a rough year for the older generation in my family. I hope the final months are loss free.

I did watch the premiere episode of Cannes Confidential and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's got intrigue and charm and the cast is stellar. Looking forward to the next episode.

Also caught another episode of the Madame Blanc Mysteries. I'm slightly disappointed in the angst factor between the main characters but I'll roll through and see what happens. Very excited Gloria has a new guy even if he's competition for Dom.

Watched an episode of Peak Practice and found it kind of interesting. I liked getting some additional screen time for the deaf characters introduced earlier. Also kind of liked Andrew figuring out what he doesn't want.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and, wow, this one had some twists and a heartbreaking scene that I almost couldn't watch. Kind of looking forward to seeing where it goes.

Caught another Death in Paradise. Enjoyed the guys trying to avoid bringing Richard in on the case while he was down with a tropical fever but loved that they ended up doing it anyway.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fyre's Masquerade, a Specter Station novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Balek Fyre made his fortune mining asteroids and just became a principal owner of Specter Station. He's ready to enjoy a new stage in his life—until the Yuli family descends on his base of operations for the galactic midyear celebration with only one thing on their minds … getting him to marry their oldest daughter, Serena. The only problem? Balek would rather spend time with her sister, Scout.

And a sneaky peek…

"Mother, couldn't you get Scout to wear something other than those horrid black pants?" Serena Yuli shuddered.

Scout tore her gaze from the porthole and made a rude gesture. "Considering I've been dressing myself since the age of three, I'd have liked to see her try." She went back watching the stars go by.

Serena made a nasty comment under her breath about Scout's inability to look like more than an urchin. Scout didn't care what covered her body. Unlike Serena who always consulted their mother Zara before putting on clothes—even her underwear. How her sister made it to twenty-seven, Scout would never know.

Serena snarled. "You could have tried to look decent. We're hoping to make a good impression." She folded her hands in her lap and raised her nose in the air.

Scout snorted. "We've been on this ship for five days. None of us look our best. At least I'm comfortable." Her black canvas pants were soft with wear and her shirt and jacket were made of breathable fabric in the highest quality they could afford.

She could've swapped her rugged boots—broken in to a perfect fit—for her favorite pair of leather moccasins, but the heavier footwear drove her sister crazy and Scout needed something fun to do if she had to be part of this insane plot to trap a perfectly nice man into hellish matrimony with Serena.

Serena snapped. "No one cares about your comfort." She huffed out an angry breath.

Scout smirked. "Exactly. I'm not the one who needs to be impressive. You are." After five days with only two clothing changes, her sister definitely fell short. "What I'm wearing doesn't matter."

Niam Yuli snapped his fingers. "Enough, both of you. We're docking soon and everyone can freshen up." He shot Scout a hard look. "You're to be on your best behavior."

Scout rolled her eyes. "Yes, Dad." She'd play nice when she had to and not a moment before.

This stupid scheme to hold Balek Fyre to a promise his parents made decades ago reeked of desperation—and if he didn't see right through it, he deserved wedded hell with her sister. Scout had no doubt Balek didn't have a clue who they were. Why would he? His parents died not long after their ill-fated agreement with the Yulis. And the horrible thing? Her parents didn't care. They needed an influx of cash to save their asses. A series of bad investments had her parents teetering on the brink of financial ruin.

Scout rolled her eyes. "Maybe if they told Serena no every time she wanted a new outfit, they'd have some savings." Not that her parents ever would—they only said no to Scout.

The captain's voice came over the intercom. "We've started the docking sequence. Prepare to disembark in fifteen minutes." A garbled crackle ended the communication.

A tiny jolt of excitement coursed through Scout. While she hated the reason they'd come to Spector Station, she loved an adventure. And the idea of Serena falling flat on her face gave Scout something to look forward to also.

She smoothed down her hands down her thighs, straightening some of the wrinkles from her pants. "Let the games begin…"

I'm having a lot of fun writing this series and Balek's book is a treat. It's the last in the four-book series and all the previous couples make an appearance.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Specter's Masquerade (a Specter Space Station novella)

Hello, December. I'm stuck between being excited for the holiday season and freaking out because I have a lot of things I'd like to get accomplished and not enough time to slide them all in. The story of my life.

Not a bad week of television but a little lighter than usual. I started out with Peak Practice and ended up getting two episodes watched. Both were pretty decent.

Finished up the MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. I had two lessons left and got some great information from both. Not sure what I'll start next but I'm excited.

Caught another episode of Glitch. Some interesting developments and good information. I like the pacing of this series and find I need to focus so I don't miss an important piece of the puzzle.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. I finished up season one and started season two. Looking forward to diving back in.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med. Season three is beginning with a good run. I'm a little on the fence about Dr. Reese. I love her passion but I also get annoyed when she goes off the deep end about something.

Started season six of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Interesting to see another one of Mike's ex wives. I liked having Jared back. Also a good mystery to keep things fun.

Caught an episode of Silent Witness. I don't remember this one so I'm interested to see how the second half ends.

Finished the second part of Classic Who and said goodbye to Tegan. I think the Master is going to make another appearance soon, which I'm kind of meh about.

Enjoyed another episode of Mysteries of Apollo. This one focused on Apollo 8 and had some great information. I love watching old footage of the space program's beginning.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. James Coburn and Glenda Jackson were the guest stars. The pirate-themed episode ended up being a lot of fun.

Caught another episode of Fantasy Island. Really fun episode even if the theme ended up being a little dark.

Finally caught the finale of Star Trek: Discovery. Really great ending to the first season. I'm excited to start the breakdowns of The Ready Room then move on to season two.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Specter's Masquerade, one of four novellas set at Specter Space Station.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Juna Newberry starts her new position as head of security on the Specter Spacestation under fire. She walks into the job two days before the biggest gala event of the solar year, a threat is made on the personnel, including the principal owner of the station, Maddox Specter, all while fighting her attraction for the sexy entrepreneur.

And a sneaky peek…

Juna paced the antechamber of the chief station operator's suite of offices. Pissed off, she banked the fires of her anger, letting it smolder and stay hot. The doors whisked open and she whirled around, ready to let loose.

Instead, she stopped and sucked in a harsh breath. Geez. The man is gorgeous.

Maddox Specter had a commanding presence. Tall and broad-shouldered, he filled out the tailored suit and cut a handsome figure. His dark hair had waves, giving him a roguish appearance. The sharp angles and planes of his face made her fingers itch to trace the peaks and valleys.

Crap, she didn't have time for her libido to kick into gear. She blinked and shook her head, focusing on the steaming pile of shit she'd stepped into. Opening her mouth, she made ready to voice her grievances.

The extremely attractive owner beat her to the punch. "Hell's bells. Not only did they fuck up the hire date, they picked a bloody gorgeous woman, too." A hand raked through his hair.

Juna bristled. Beyond tired of having her physical beauty judged over her ability, she made a quick move. Striding two steps forward, she shoved hard at Specter's chest then jerked him forward by grabbing his tie. A small sidestep put her behind him with his tie wrapped around his neck, cutting off his air supply. She snagged his arm and drew it back, twisting it upward in the most uncomfortable position she could manage.

Leaning in, she snarled. "I'm damned good at my job." She bent his wrist at an odd angle. "Gorgeous or not." Why did the hot men always need a demonstration to understand?

Maddox held up his free arm in surrender. "I have no doubt, Ms. Newberry. You wouldn't have made the top five candidates if I did." His words were raspy due to lack of air flow.

Juna released him, her face flaming hot. No one told her she'd been on a list, or that she'd been a top choice.

Maddox straightened his tie then loosened and removed it. "I should turn you loose on my board of directors." He tossed the crumpled and ruined fabric on his desk.

Juna would replace the accessory. She owed him that much. And she quickly surmised a few key details; he'd been in the dark about the decision.

Juna quirked an eyebrow. "The idiots who brought a critical staff member on board two days before a huge event?" Her earlier anger dwindled to a thrum of irritation.

Maddox snorted. "Yes. Exactly. They pulled a sleight of hand while I was off station visiting a friend of mine."

Juna squared her shoulders. "Point me in their direction." She'd love to give each member a very verbal piece of her mind.

Maddox flashed a grin. "As much as I'd enjoy that show, I really should get you up to speed instead." He indicated the chair opposite his desk.

Juna took a seat and the irritation melted into a healthy respect for the way he'd diffused the potential cluster fuck and turned the experience into something positive. Over the next several hours her admiration grew when he took her through the employee files, the temporary list of event staffers, and the guest list. After a quick break for refreshments he'd ordered from Wanda, he covered the various locations for dancing, dining, and the main draw—the masquerade contest.

She frowned. "Wait. Contest? Does that mean I have to be in costume?" Gads, she had zero desire to play dress-up, especially for work.

Maddox nodded. "It's expected, yes."

Her shoulders slumped. "There's no way I can just wear my security uniform with a mask?" That would suit her so much better than anything else.

Maddox chuckled. "Uh, no, I don't think so." He leaned back in his seat, his head tilted to one side. "Leave your costume to me. I'm certain I can find something appropriate."

Juna narrowed her eyes, but inclined her head. She truly hoped they defined the word appropriate in the same way. But she'd leave the choice in his hands because she wouldn't have time to mess about with finding a costume.

I'm having a lot of fun writing this series of novellas. Maddox and Juna start the whole show and they play a role in each of the other books. They're a fun couple to write.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Holly's Masquerade

Well, we're almost to the end of another month and I'm trying to contemplate what the final two months of 2020 is going to be like. Frankly, I can't do it. LOL And we still have a full moon to get through in October.

Had a slower than normal week for television. I'm honestly not in the mood to watch much and have been catching marathons on regular cable for the most part. Hallmark started their holiday fare and one of the books I copy edited is featured as a new movie this year. Last year, another book I copy edited had a premiere. That's always so exciting!

I did catch an episode or two of Silent Witness, but other than that, I mainly watch Ovation. I'm crossing my fingers they don't have a major programming change anytime soon. That happens so frequently for me. I fall in love with the line-up and all of a sudden, some new honcho comes in and effs it all up. I'm looking at you HGTV, SyFy, and BBC America. Or, I lose access to a channel that usually has classic stuff I really enjoy. Sigh.

Tonight's post is from Holly's Masquerade, a Specter Station novella. It's also a loosely themed holiday story.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Roman Holly can't believe how smoothly the transition to his new base of operations on Specter Station is going, but he has Isis Tango, his uber-efficient admin, to thank. She moves halfway across the galaxy to stay by his side and he's not quite sure why. But Isis will reveal her reason at the holiday masquerade and it will blow Roman's mind.

And a sneaky peek…

Roman Holly surveyed the exterior of the place he'd be making his new base of operations—Specter Station. "Soon to be home sweet home." His private transport made a banking sweep and smoothly docked inside the landing bay in one of the spots reserved for Holly Galactic Group.

His new partner, but one of his oldest friends, Maddox Specter assigned seven bays for Roman's fleet of spacecraft.

"Maddox always goes overboard." Roman would maybe use two, three at most. "Unless I figure out a way to be in different places at the same time, I can only be on one ship in any given moment." He snagged his bag and disembarked to zero fanfare. "Huh, not what I expected." Pausing at the end of the ramp, he looked around for his ever-efficient admin, Isis.

Maddox skidded around the corner and stumbled to a halt. "Roman, you're a little early." His breath rasped out and he made an effort to straighten his tie.

Roman laughed. "And you were obviously otherwise occupied." He looked past Maddox's shoulder to see Juna Newberry—the station's head of security and Maddox's newly minted significant other—breezing down the causeway in the opposite direction.

Maddox smirked. "I can neither confirm nor deny that accusation." He chuckled and thrust out his palm. "Welcome to your new home, Ro. I'm so glad you're here."

Roman clasped Maddox's palm and pulled him into a side-arm hug. "Me, too. We should've done this years ago." His gaze went to the corridor that led to the main hub of the station.

Still no admin. Why isn't she here? Isis Tango made punctuality a fine art. Not like her to miss his arrival. Maddox led the way toward the main hub and kept up a running commentary. Roman listened with half an ear, concern over Isis making him distracted.

Maybe the move got to her and she hates it here. A stab of guilt hit him. He'd basically assumed she'd be okay moving across the galaxy to keep working for him.

"Maybe I should've asked her first?"

Maddox paused outside the lift leading to the office suites. "Ask who what first?" His eyebrow arched.

Roman shook his head. "Eh, nothing. A little worried Isis isn't with you." Then again, considering what Maddox had been up to, might be better—

Maddox smacked a hand on his forehead. "Aw, damn, totally my fault. I was supposed to stop by and let her know before I came down." A sheepish look crossed his face.

Roman lifted his chin. "Don't blame you for getting off track. If I had someone like Juna nearby, I'd probably never get any work done."

Maddox snorted. "Are you kidding? Isis puts Wanda to shame and Wanda isn't human."

Maddox used an advanced AI computer to keep him on target, his schedule organized, and pretty much run his life on the station.

The doors opened and they entered the lift.

Roman grinned. "Isis does have superb skill. And she's much nicer to look at than Wanda." Not that the life-like droid could be called unattractive.

Maddox nodded. "True. And, no doubt, Isis is buried in all the details for the Holly Masquerade you're throwing to launch the holiday season and celebrate your new venture with yours truly." Maddox keyed in the code for Roman's new office suite.

Roman inclined his chin. "You're probably right. She does get lost in making certain everything is crossed, dotted, and signed for." His stomach rumbled and he crossed to the panel beside the door. "Think I'll order in some dinner and surprise Isis." He glanced up. "Want to join us?"

Maddox smirked. "Thanks, but no. I'll be otherwise occupied with my head of security." A wide grin spread across his face.

Roman snorted and entered in an order to be delivered to his office. At the same time, he tamped down a niggle of concern over the move and how it affected his admin.

If all goes well, I'll be able to release this series next year. Yay!

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hart's Masquerade

Terrific week on the great office cleanout! I got a ton of shredding done and cleared out from under my table and desk. I got a great hand-vac that did an awesome job of getting the carpet cleaned up. The cabinet I got to put under my desk fits really well and I'm closer to being sorted and organized! One more cabinet for under my table and three bookcases to go. Okay, not quite true. I still have a major amount of shredding to do and then I have the rest of the finding where to put everything phase. But … I can already notice a big difference in having a semi-clear area to work in. It's amazing!

Kind of a slow week for television. I'm working on a developmental edit that requires a lot of focus so I don't use anything as background noise.

I watched a lot of Silent Witness. I'm well into the third season and I like the cast changes.

I also caught several more rune videos. They're actually quite relaxing as well as informative.

Last but not least, I watched the first season finale of The Witcher. Gotta say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I rather liked getting a small bit of backstory about Geralt. Also quite impressed by the mages and Yennifer's role in the battle. I've been a little on the fence with her character but she's definitely growing on me.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Hart's Masquerade, a Specter Station novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Wicek Hart deals in precious gemstones throughout the galaxy and he's the premier wholesale supplier for jewelry boutiques. Nettie Strand is an accomplished jewel thief, but only because she's trying to reclaim her family's stolen property. Wicek smells a setup when Nettie applies for the job as spokesperson for the gala event to be held on Specter Station, his new base of operations, during the Lover's Holiday. Nettie knows the business inside and out and Wicek takes a chance by hiring Nettie, if only to keep a very close eye on her actions.

And a sneaky peek…

Wicek Hart exited his transport ship and grinned when he spotted Juna Newberry, the head of security for Specter Station. "Hello, Juna. Where's your lesser half?"

Mattox Specter called out from behind the ship. "I heard that, you ass." He came around, his hand gliding over the docking cables. "You were right, she's a beauty."

The she he referred to would be the Hart's Desire, Wicek's brand new armored cruiser designed for him to travel in comfort but still maintain and secure his precious cargo … namely lots and lots of gemstones.

But Wicek never resisted the opportunity to twist his friend's words. "And yet none of us can figure out how she ended up with you." The she he referred to being Juna, Mattox's most definite better half.

Mattox quirked an eyebrow. "She's a woman of very discerning taste." He waited a beat. "Plus I met her first and worked hard to make sure she wouldn't waste her time on my new business partners."

Juna laughed. "She is standing right here and ready to do the secure transfer." Glancing up, she motioned for her second in command to come forward. "Ned, we'll be storing Wicek's collection in the central hub, away from the other collectors' display pieces." She used a scanner to log the case codes and handed the crate off to Ned.

He took the scanner and nodded. "I'll take these to the location and log the time the vault closes. These are the pieces for the live display? The ones for the masquerade?"

Wicek tapped the top of the crate. "That they are. All I need now is to find the perfect spokesperson to make the gems come alive." He met Mattox's gaze. "Did you make any headway on the candidates?"

Ned wheeled the crate out of the landing bay and two armed security personnel fell into step beside him.

Mattox jerked his head toward the transport tube. "We did. Let's talk about it in my office."

Wicek narrowed his gaze but followed the couple into the lift. When they exited and entered the office, Mattox's freakishly efficient AI administrative assistant greeted them.

"Hello, Mattox, Juna. Welcome to your new base of operations, Wicek."

Wicek's lips kicked up in a grin. "Thank you, Wanda." He jumped right into business. "What's kind of challenge am I facing with the spokesperson?" Something about the way Mattox and June changed the subject earlier had his hackles up.

Juna stepped forward. "Wanda, would you show the three candidates?" The holoscreen flashed three images with vital statistics. "I have hard copies for your review, Wicek, but the three applicants meet the criteria you gave—darker looks to complement the jewel tones, experience with gems and the terminologies, and availability for an exclusive contract." She paused and met Mattox's gaze. "Wanna take over?"

Mattox nodded and widened the view of the first woman. "Harley Fein is probably the best candidate but she can only go exclusive for two quarters." The screen shifted and the middle applicant grew larger. "Benita Capman can go exclusive long-term but can't get her until the evening before the gala." He paused and exchanged a look with Juna.

Wicek shook his head. "Challenges to be sure, but what's going on? There's something about the third applicant? What are holding back?"

Juna switched the focus to the third potential spokesperson. "As you know, between Wanda and I, we've got a fairly extensive reach for background information." She brought up a detailed list. "Nettie Strand, at least on the surface, is perfect. She can go exclusive on a long-term basis and she's got degrees in gemology and mineralogy…"

Wicek arched a brow. "But…" Obviously something set off the alerts.

Mattox zoomed in on the list. "She's never been arrested, but Wanda's reports pulled this in." He pointed to a block of information. "Over the last five years, Nettie has been in seven different areas where a major jewel theft has been reported." He stopped, letting the reveal sink in.

Wicek studied the screens. All the women had the look he wanted. The first two, he could probably make concessions for, but he'd rather not if he didn't have to. Nettie Strand … the name pinged for him but he couldn't place why. The idea she might be an accomplished jewel thief gave him pause, but without proof, he couldn't strike her from the list.

Meeting Mattox's gaze, he shrugged. "Let's set up interviews. First thing tomorrow, if possible."

Mattox quirked an eyebrow. "For all three?"

Wicek did a quick gut-check. "Yeah. All three." He'd made a career and a considerable fortune on speculative risks.

Mattox cocked his head. "Okay. Wanda, can you schedule Harley and Bonita for interviews at the earlier time they're available tomorrow?"

Wanda confirmed, "Yes, Mattox."

Wicek held up a hand. "What about Nettie?"

Juna's lips curved. "In her case, you're in luck. Nettie happens to be on station and will be available at your convenience."

I love where this story is going. I'm in the process of brainstorming the scenes and story beats and it's coming together nicely. Can't wait to get this series out into the black.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fyre's Masquerade (a Specter Station novella)

Is it really August? Man, I'm actually kind of thankful. I'm ready for 2020 to be over and done with. It's been a very crazy year.

Had a fairly busy week of calls with potential new clients and a new project starting. It's been kind of slow since May and I'm excited to see if things pick up a little now.

I also got quite a few of my long-form brainstorming sessions converted into text. I'm seriously thrilled with this!! I can't wait to see how many I get translated and transferred over this week.

Didn't get a lot of shows watched this week, but I did catch another couple of episodes of Danger Man.

Also watched episode seven of The Witcher and I'm so happy there's going to be another season of this show.

I'll be catching the second Gabriel's Inferno movie this week, even if I have to stay up super late to watch. I'm looking forward to this one.

I'll hopefully be catching up with a few other shows also. It's been hit or miss with both time and lack of focus to get into a show.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Fyre's Masquerade, a Specter Station novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Balek Fyre made his fortune mining asteroids and just became a principal owner is Specter Station. He's ready to enjoy a new stage in his life—until the Yuli family descends on his base of operations for the galactic midyear celebration with only one thing on their minds … getting him to marry their oldest daughter, Serena. The only problem? Balek would rather spend time with her sister, Scout.

And a sneaky peek…

"What the hell do you mean I'm supposed to meet with my betrothed?" Balek Fyre paced the length of his small office aboard the mining vessel, Fyre's Strife. "Since when do I have one?" Unless he'd missed a major event, he didn't have a female—or male—waiting in the wings for some sparkly wedding.

Maddox Specter shifted in his seat on the holo call. "That's what I said when they contacted the station and tried to make accommodations for their arrival." He picked through a pile of papers in front of him. "The call got shuffled up to Juna because you're a principal owner now and the Yuli family isn't on your list of VIPs." He read the communiqué from Juna. "The Yulis are arriving for the midyear masquerade and are requesting a block of rooms in close vicinity to your suite so you can get to know your betrothed…" He checked the paper again. "One Serena Yuli before the announcement of your engagement at the gala event." Maddox put the page down and leaned in closer to the monitor. "You're sure you didn't know anything about this?"

Balek stopped his back and forth. "Do I look like I do? Geez, Maddox, I've never heard of these people." Then again, he'd traveled extensively through three galaxies with his mining operations. "I have no idea who this family is." And he'd be damned if they'd get away with trying to use his name and position to score a free stay on Specter Station.

Maddox leaned back in his chair. "What do you want me to have Juna do? She can put them on the banned list and when they arrive, they'll be taken into custody—"

Balek cut his friend off. "No. Not that. Have Juna direct the staff to give them reservations but put them in the lower quadrant." Plain, basic, and nothing fancy, the rooms were small and not intended for lengthy visits.

Maddox arched a brow. "You sure you want to do that?" A small smile briefly twisted his lips.

Which convinced Balek he'd hit on the perfect tactic to get to the root of whatever grift the Yulis were trying to pull.

He nodded. "I'm sure." Turning toward his desk, he moved behind it and brought up the data screen. "I've got three-fourths of a load in my hold. I'll finish up on this asteroid and get the shipment info to the broker." He keyed in an order to his belowdecks miners to increase the speed of intake.

Maddox leaned forward again. "And after that? What's your plan?"

Balek glanced up and met his friend's gaze. "To haul ass and arrive on Specter Station before they do." Almost a week before he'd originally intended, but he could move in at any time.

Maddox grinned. "I'll have Wanda make certain your new suite is ready and waiting." He got up and left the viewable area for a moment then returned. "And once you're here…"

Balek's lips twisted in a cold smile. "Once I'm there … let the game begin…"

I'm going to have a lot of fun with this story. I love all four of the men who are making up Specter Station's executive board. Balek is very rough and tumble and he'll have a good time playing cat and mouse with the Yulis.

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

ML Skye