Sunday Snippet: Sibling Rivalry

What an end to the month. Our weather has been wet and drippy for most of the week. Not complaining because we needed the rain. Of course, the dreary stuff hits the week of our county fair, which is my husband's favorite time of year. Then again, a little water falling from the sky won't deter him from going or enjoying himself.

Work finally slowed down a little and I had some time to catch my breath. I have a new copy edit and proofread combo I'm working on and should have a new project starting this week. I'm also expecting more on the developmental edit I've been working on. And … a project I had a hand in is finally uploaded for proof … after almost four and half years of rewrites and revisions. I'm so excited!!

Had several really great conversations with my daughter this week. I love hearing her ideas of what she wants from the future. This young woman has a good head on her shoulders and I'm so proud of her. Graduate school is opening her mind and eyes and I'm excited to see what she does.

Not a bad week of viewing. The time to catch my breath also gave me a bit of freedom to catch up on my slate of shows. I made almost a full round this week!

Caught two behind-the-scenes vignettes for Signora Volpe. I always enjoy seeing and hearing how things work and what the actors think about their show.

Watched an episode of Death in Paradise and enjoyed it. This is one I hadn't seen before, and I loved the way the mystery played out.

Started a new season of Silent Witness. Very interesting premise and I'm looking forward to the conclusion next week. I'll be starting Beyond Paradise after I finish the new season.

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. It's interesting to watch Sherlock serve as an AA sponsor. And I really like Watson kind of stepping out on her own to solve a cold case.

Finished up the second part of the season four premier of The Batman. Kind of forgot Batgirl didn't really feature in these opening episodes. I think she makes a return later in the season.

Also caught an episode of Classic Rugrats. I only remembered one of the vignettes, so I enjoyed seeing the other two.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Sibling Rivalry, a novella that brings a couple together after they have a less than stellar beginning.

Here's the miniblurb:

When Fayne Cartier falls for his brother's flight instructor, Rumor Child, he has no idea how difficult dating will end up being when his brother shows signs of not having the chops to qualify. Rumor won't cut him from her class thinking the sibling rivalry may be just what the younger Cartier needs.

And a sneaky peek…

Fayne blinked at the vision walking toward him. "I knew she'd rock civilian clothes." Frankly, even in uniform, she blew him away.

But tonight, she'd gone for some kind of casual glamour. She'd paired a form-fitting T-shirt with a flowing cardigan that fell to her knees. Her pants were made from something soft and hugged her curves. A pair of suede booties with a slight heel and some understated jewelry completed the outfit.

She gave him a tentative smile when he stood to pull her chair out. "You clean up nice." Her gaze showed keen appreciation.

His crisp button-down and dark-twilled pants had been a last-minute decision, but he'd wanted to make it clear he wanted to spend time with her as more than his brother's instructor.

Glad he'd put some effort into his attire, he leaned down. "And you look amazing." He settled back in his seat and smiled when the server immediately brought menus to the table.

Neither needed time to decide. Rumor ordered the baked steak dinner and Fayne went with his favorite chicken dumplings. Once they had their drink order, he opened the conversation with questions about time in flight school and they compared notes about their instructors. She mentioned using his stats, along with his dad's, as a goal to achieve. He regaled her with stories of trying not to live in his old man's shadow.

He carefully avoided mentioning his brother. He didn't want anything to ruin the evening.

Halfway through the meal, Rumor finally said something. "Are we really going to ignore the big specter in the room?" Her head tilted to one side in question.

Fayne lifted a shoulder. "I don't want to risk screwing this up." But she had a point.

Rumor smiled. "Gonna be hard to pursue something if we can't talk shop. If you're super uncomfortable with the idea, we'll have to skirt the issue."

Fayne hedged a little. "I'm not uncomfortable. I'd love to know how Renner is doing." Or possibly not doing.

Rumor quirked a brow. "Even if he proves you wrong?"

Fayne chuckled. "Definitely. But my gut is screaming Renner isn't cut out for flying." He waited a beat. "So … how's he doing so far?" He didn't know if he really wanted the answer.

Rumor's lips twitched. "Holding his own." She sobered. "But like you said, he won't face a true test until we get past the basics. He's absorbed everything he knows to date practically by osmosis. That will only take him so far."

Fayne couldn't fault the logic she used. "And if I'm right?" Would she accept defeat with as much grace as she'd handled everything else?

Rumor patted his hand. "You're getting a little ahead of things here. Let's cross that bridge when we get to it. Until then, my mind stays open." She brushed her thumb over his skin "The question is … can you leave it alone and let him pass or fail on his own?" She'd very nicely turned his question back on to him.

Fayne took a moment to consider his answer. "I'm willing to try." And he would stick to that promise.

Rumor flashed a grin. "Then you and I are off to a solid start."

Having some fun with this one. Rumor loves a good verbal sparring session and Fayne likes a woman who gives as good as she gets.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Crash and Burn

Had a weird week. The weather is still doing the yucky back and forth stuff, which makes me unhappy. My sinuses go insane when the temperature rises and falls and won't make up its mind.

Still super busy with work projects. I think I'm slowing down productivity-wise and that's disappointing, but I also tend to not work on three projects at the same time.

Not a bad week for television but I didn't get a lot watched. I did finish up the Silent Witness episode I started last week. Nikki ends up in trouble on a frequent basis and I like that she's always willing to put herself out there to solve a mystery.

I started a new season of Strangest Things and should have it finished up later this week. I kind of love digging into weird things from history and watching the group of commenters explain what they think things are.

I also caught another episode of Battlestar Galactica. "Water" is a terrific episode that lays the groundwork for a lot of what follows in the rest of the season. Frankly, the first season of Battlestar is as close to perfect as anything I've seen. There's not a wasted episode in the batch of thirteen. There are stronger episodes, obviously, but every installment has important information and terrific character moments. I'm so excited to watch another episode this week!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Crash and Burn, a novella that puts a sibling rivalry as a conflict and hurdle for a happy ending.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Pepper Strand met the wrong brother first and when her personal feelings get in the way, she takes the easy way out. When it leads to the death of Bax's sibling, she drowns her guilt with alcohol and Bax decides to make her crawl out of the bottle and into his arms.

And a sneaky peek…

Pepper didn't want to talk. She wanted Bax in her bed, preferably naked.

She blinked and swayed a little. "I want you." Her mouth ghosted kisses along his jawline.

A rumbled huff escaped his lips. "I can tell." He gently guided her backward until her legs hit the edge of the bed. "And I'd love to be with you…" His mouth finally caught hers in a lingering kiss. "But let's slow this down a little."

He started undressing her, but in a clinical way. Jerky movements, barely any touching, and zero eye contact. At least it seemed that way to her inebriated brain. And, dammit, she wanted the steamy movie playing in her head.

Pepper grumbled. "Don't wanna slow down." She made a bold move and cupped his groin when he stood up from helping her get her legs out of her pants. "You don't wanna either." His dick, hard and ready, couldn't lie.

Bax grasped her hand and brought it up to his chest. "You're right. I'd love to continue." He pressed a kiss against her fingers. "But I want you to be fully present and participating completely when we're together." He eased away from her and reached out to turn the bed cover down.

When. He said when we're together.

He drew her forward. "Let's get you to bed, okay?" He patted the mattress.

Pepper didn't argue, she put a knee on the surface but paused. She didn't want to be alone. Not when her emotions were raw and jumbled.

Angling her head around, she met his gaze. "Join me?" She tried to make it clear it wouldn't be for sex.

He studied her for a long moment, tilting his head to one side, then glanced at the door.

She added a quiet plea. "Please." Tears prickled behind her eyelids, but she wouldn't cry.

She wouldn't.

He gave a nod. "Yeah, okay. I'll stick around." He shucked his pants.

She crawled onto the bed and slid between the sheets. Bax settled in beside her, staying on top of the cover. She didn't care. She curled up to him, putting her head on his chest, content to listen to his heartbeat until she drifted off.

I could get used to this…

I'm excited to finish this one. Pepper and Bax don't take a traditional route to become a couple and that's so much fun to write.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Sibling Rivalry

Hope everyone had a terrific US holiday and a terrific week if not in the US. I got to spend time with my oldest and youngest kiddos and enjoyed being able to do so. I think I have two more gifts and maybe some odds and ends to pick up and I'm done with holiday shopping. Fairly pleased to be a little ahead of my usual last-minute rush.

Had a good week of television viewing. I watched another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. This show continues to make me so happy.

Got a two-part Silent Witness watched. This is one I didn't remember and I'm glad I got to watch it.

Got a full arc of Classic Who in and started a new one. I've discovered a couple of episodes were almost an hour in this season, which is actually kind of cool.

Started a new series with Mysteries of Apollo and the first episode focused on the Apollo 13 mission and some of the in-depth history of that experience.

Began season five of The Muppet Show and watched four episodes. Gene Kelly, Loretta Swit, Joan Baez, and Shirley Bassey were the guest hosts. Final season of the original.

Caught two episodes of Fantasy Island and I'm still thoroughly enjoying the show. I think I have one left in this first season and I'll look forward to the holiday episode.

Started season six of Peak Practice. Great episode that moved the timeline ahead a little. Being at the halfway mark of the entire run is a nice accomplishment.

Enjoyed another lesson of MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. Some great tips on housebreaking that I hope to put into effect after I get my downstairs area organized.

Season two of Glitch started out with an interesting twist. This show is very twisty and turny and I like that. Looking forward to getting more information on how everything works and finding out if Sarah is another one of the risen. If so, poor James. Two women in his life? That's a lot.

Remember when I thought I finished the first season of Star Trek: Discovery? Yeah, not the case. I had two more episodes. Watched the penultimate this week and, wow, what a mix of highs and lows. This show. Just saying.

Started season three of Chicago Med. I like how they moved the timeline ahead and seeing where everyone ended up. Conor breaks my heart. April breaks my heart. Wil and Nat make me happy. The horrible new surgical resident irritates the life out of me. So far, so good. LOL

Watched another episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries. I really love the dynamic of this show and the mystery this week ended up being terrific. Also love the overarching mystery of who killed Jean's husband. Interesting show.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Sibling Rivalry, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Fayne Cartier falls for his brother's flight instructor, Rumor Child, he has no idea how difficult dating will end up being when his brother shows signs of not having the chops to qualify. Rumor won't cut him from her class thinking the sibling rivalry may be just what the younger Cartier needs.

And a sneaky peek…

Rumor stretched and rubbed at the kinks in her neck. She finalized the notes and separated her student files. She'd have a full class starting in two weeks. She couldn't wait … the beginning of a new class always excited her.

The aroma of spicy beef hit her nostrils and she glanced up at the same moment her stomach growled. Fayne Cartier stood by the door, dangling a bag of takeout between his fingers. The heavenly smell had her mouth watering.

As did the man.

He looked good enough to eat, clad in fatigues with a tight black T-shirt that hugged his muscles. Fayne definitely hit her hot buttons. Along with the hunger pang, she ended up with an entirely different kind of twinge in her nether regions.

She arched a brow, but said nothing. She'd leave the opening salvo to Fayne. And she didn't doubt they'd be having parry and thrust conversation … either about his brother or Fayne's reason for dropping by.

He took a step into the room. "I figured you wouldn't mind if I brought dinner. You have to eat sometime." He sent her a lopsided grin.

She didn't mind. "That's true." She waved him in.

He set the bag on her desk and pulled a chair around. "Of course, I'm part of the package. Hope you don't mind."

She chuckled. "I doubt it would matter if I did." She paused a brief moment. "But I don't." Sitting down, she opened one of the containers. "Ahhh. Smells heavenly." The spicy blend wafted out into the room.

Fayne had a very pleased-with-himself look on his face. He grabbed another box and flipped the top up to reveal buttery noodles cooked to perfection.

They didn't talk much while they split up the food between them or while they polished off half of it. The atmosphere companionable, Rumor wondered how long it would last. She might find Fayne incredibly attractive but…

Fayne swallowed a bite of food. "So … think my brother will pass the written?"

And there it is.

Rumor sat back and folded her arms over her chest. "Is this why you brought me dinner?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. I do have an ulterior motive, but it doesn't involve Renner." He leaned in. "I find you attractive and fascinating, especially since you pretty much handed me my ass earlier today. I have to get to know you better."

She laughed. "You might not like what you discover." Reaching over, she tapped on Renner's file. "Your brother passed the written exam. Not that I'm surprised at all."

Fayne quirked an eyebrow. "Really? Why?"

She shrugged. "He's grown up around ships and pilots. He'd have to have at least a basic aptitude. The written test isn't going to faze him." And that wouldn't be what concerned Fayne.

He proved her right. "Doesn't change the fact he shouldn't be in a cockpit."

Rumor didn't discount his sentiment. "Maybe, maybe not. But I can't grade him on your gut feeling. You're too close to the situation." But she respected him for caring.

 Fayne sighed. "I get that. And I am too close. Renner's always had this thing about pleasing Dad, even if it costs him more than he can give."

Rumor winced. "Speaking from experience?"

Fayne rolled a shoulder. "Not recently. I learned to walk my own path. Becoming a pilot had nothing to do with Dad." He paused. "Check that. I've been interested in flying since I was little and that did come from my father, but I took the time to make sure it's what I wanted. Does that make sense?"

She nodded. "It does. If you didn't love it you would've walked away." She could see him doing exactly that.

He agreed. "Yeah. But I don't think Renner will."

Rumor tilted her head. "Then let me make a suggestion. Give your brother a chance to figure it out on his own. You never know … he could have the chops." Only time would tell if he did.

Fayne made a noncommittal sound.

Rumor pushed a little more. "Look, there's nothing like a little sibling rivalry to drive mediocrity to extraordinary. And you two have rivalry in spades." Almost like an art form, no doubt spurred on by their dad.

Fayne nudged back. "And what if that doesn't work?"

A good question that deserved an answer. "All I can promise is not to pass if him if he doesn't earn it." She wouldn't be swayed by anything but the merits.

So far, this story is coming together nicely. I like the interaction between Rumor and Fayne and how each has a good point about the situation and they kind of agree to disagree and let the chips fall.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Table of Lies

October 14, 2018

Wow, what a difference a week makes. The crisp feeling of fall has definitely arrived and I'm actually a little chilly at the moment. We'll probably have at least one more warm up before we settle into the true briskness of autumn in Ohio. Or… we could have one more nice week and then have a blizzard by Halloween. It's always hard to say. LOL

Got quite a bit of television watched this week. Some shows premiered their new seasons and I'm excited to settle in for the ride.

The Last Ship is crazy good and crazy wild. I'm always stunned when the credits roll because it doesn't seem like an hour should have gone by.

For premieres, I caught the new episodes of The Flash and Riverdale. Gotta say I ended up really enjoying both. Having Nora around could prove pretty interesting. And the whole situation with Archie is way over the top but, honestly, a ton of fun. Can't wait for Arrow this Monday. Also watched Chicago Fire and have mixed feelings on the episode. Maybe more on this next week.

And, of course, the Doctor Who premiere with Thirteen! What a great launch of the new doctor. Can't wait for more. After the disappointment with the last two seasons of Twelve, I'm excited to see where the show goes now.

I continued my rewatch of Babylon 5. The first season is so hit and miss but it also plants a lot of seeds for the following seasons. I'm always finding something new that ties into a future episode.

In other science fiction fare, I watched The Sarah Conner Chronicles, Birds of Prey, Lexx, Wynonna Earp—a Christmas episode, and The Dresden Files. Also caught Luke Cage and Penny Dreadful.

In military fare, I caught another episode of Pensacola Wings of Gold and Strike Back. I'm starting to gel with the new cast of Strike Back and I also need to go back to season two and do some sleuthing. I have a feeling there's a connection that's deeper than I realized. More later on this too.

Caught some mystery shows with The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Murdoch Mysteries, and a couple of episodes of Peter Gunn. I started an episode of Midsomer Murders but didn't get to finish it yet.

I also watched episode five of Driven. I'm actually thrilled with this series and I'm so excited for more from Passionflix.

On a final note, I finished up Canal Road and what a satisfying ending. I'll be starting a new Australian series in the very near future. Looking forward to it!

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Table of Lies, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of writing a scene or story involving a lie and set it in one of the character's apartments.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nichelle Stohl finally has her life on course—she's an instructor at the coveted academy of military science and she's testing the relationship waters for the first time since a truly horrible break up. Then she meets Garth Fillion—her boyfriend's brother—and her world tilts sideways.

And a sneaky peek…

Nichelle Stohl opened the final file she needed to grade. "Saved the best for last." She'd chosen to grade Quint Fillion's after she completed the rest of the class's essays.

Dating one of her students might not be the wisest decision she'd ever made, especially since she'd landed a coveted position teaching for the academy of military science, a prestigious branch of the ministry of defense. Being an instructor at her age rarely happened.

Her lips curved. "And most of my students don't know what to do with a twenty-seven-year-old professor." The dean insisted she use the academic title since her rank as lieutenant only listed two grades above the ensigns in her class.

She wouldn't qualify for military promotion until she reached thirty. A stupid rule.

Quint's filled his paper with silly notes in the sidebars, which brought a smile to her face. But the additional commentary didn't distract her from catching the errors on the paper. Quint tended to be sloppy with his answers and left out key details, probably assuming she'd know what he meant.

The problem? As his instructor, she couldn't assume facts not on the page. Fully aware she wouldn't, Quint continued to push the boundaries anyway.

Nichelle marked his errors and filed the test. He wouldn't be pleased with his score, but she couldn't allow him to cut corners. In the field, the chemical compounds they used required precise measurements and focused steps. Leaving one out could potentially wipe out an entire regiment… of their own men.

Quint's lackadaisical approach to his classwork fit directly in to why she so enjoyed being with him. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. Not even the less than stellar score on his essay would keep him out of sorts for long.

She grinned. "And he makes me laugh." So much and very often.

Nichelle needed the humor. She'd decided to test the relationship waters after being cheated on by not one, but two men. Quint affably stated if he ever looked at another woman with lust in his gaze, she should shoot him where he stood—because death by stupidity would take too long.

Her personal and professional life intersecting didn't always sit well with her. Quint sometimes lacked in maturity, but he always treated her with respect. And when she grew frustrated with his antics, he dialed back the joviality and put in the effort needed.

And the man had charm by the truckload. Starting something with him while he took her class… probably a bad idea. But she really liked him. And she tried hard to keep some balance between her head and her heart.

Just in case everything blew up in her face.

She hoped her concerns with his sometimes unfocused answers would be unfounded. But if they proved not to be, she'd deal with the fallout.

This one is coming along. The story is brainstormed and outlined and hopefully the sages won't decide to throw random plot bombs my way when I dig back in to writing.

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

ML Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Sibling Rivalry

Wow… it's August. Almost time for school to get started again and the fall sports season to get underway. For me, this means feed the team for one of my daughter's golf matches and getting ready for football games and band competitions. Oh… and homecoming. We got the dress picked out and ready to order today. Yeesh.

Had a low-key week in television. Got kind of busy doing other things and ended up watching a lot of binge scheduling of Murder, She Wrote.

On DVD, I finished up Batman: The Brave and the Bold and got the second half of The Batman's season five episodes. Really enjoyed both.

Finished up the second to last episode of Strike Back's fourth season. Caught a Chicago Fire episode and also watched the season one finale of Sense8. Man… I'm completely sucked in to this show. I was going to watch the second season of Luke Cage then watch season two of Sense8, but I need to know what happens next. LOL Sorry, Luke… I'll be there soon.

Started Patrick Melrose but it didn't grab me. I'll watch it sometime later. Had a binge watch of The Saint on regular television. I'll be hunting down the entire series in the near future. Really love the show.

I'll be watching Wynonna Earp and Killjoys later this week. Had too much stuff going on Friday night to watch live.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Sibling Rivalry, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of writing something similar to boot camp. I picked flight school.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Fayne Cartier falls for his brother's flight instructor, Rumor Child, he has no idea how difficult dating will end up being when his brother shows signs of not having the chops to qualify. Rumor won't cut him from her class thinking the sibling rivalry may be just what the younger Cartier needs.

And a sneaky peek…

Fayne waited outside the instructor's office. "Rumor Child. Sure has a sassy mouth on her." And he'd definitely noticed her lips, which he'd love to see used for something other than kissing him off.

Fayne did a quick personnel search with his handheld. Okay, she had the chops to back her attitude up, as much as he hated to admit it. Maybe he could talk some sense into her since his brother wouldn't listen.

Fayne sighed. "Dammit, Renner." Thinking he had to follow in their father's footsteps.

Not that the old man disabused his youngest of doing so. Fenrick thought being a pilot should top both of his sons lists. So… of course Renner fell right in if only to please the elder Cartier.

The door opened and Fayne waited until his brother exited and turned the corner before he ducked back inside Rumor Child's room.

Lieutenant Child glanced up and heaved a sigh. "I don't have time for—"

Fayne cut her off, holding up a hand. "I came to apologize for butting in to the interview." He dropped his arm and finished up. "I overstepped and deserved getting thrown out." There, hopefully, that would smooth the way for what he really wanted.

Rumor narrowed her gaze, tilting her head to one side. "And?" She drew the word out, leaving no doubt he wouldn't get anything past her.

He liked her and the fact she saw right through his apology.

He flashed a smile. "Let me take you to dinner to make up for being an ass." He waited, full of anticipation for her response.

Again, she didn't disappoint.

She snorted. "And to talk me out of adding your brother, right?" She rolled her eyes.

Fayne shrugged. "More like letting me share my concern in a calm and rational manner." Hopefully, he could manage that feat.

Rumor shook her head. "As much as I appreciate the gesture, I don't have time." She walked around her desk and gave a pointed look at the files spread across the surface. "I'll be here until at least nine after I finish conducting interviews." She met his gaze.

Disappointed, but completely understanding, Fayne nodded. "Another time then?" He held out hope.

Rumor gave him a long, considering look. "I think I'd like that." Pulling her chair out, she sat down, opening the top folder on the pile.

Backing toward the exit, he grinned. "Sounds great." He turned and left her office, heading for the parking lot.

The beginning of a kick-ass idea formed in his mind. If she couldn't have dinner out, he'd bring it in to her. His brother's potential mistake notwithstanding, Fayne wanted to spend more time with the intriguing flight instructor.

Fayne is definitely going to meet his match in Rumor. They also won't have an easy time staying on the same page.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Automatic Failure

Whew. Even though the television pickings are fairly slim for the next week or so, still some great stuff to watch.

Orphan Black, once again, didn't disappoint. One of the things I love about this season is how nuanced the layers are. Every time something is resolved, a new snag reveals itself. The enemy of yesterday is the ally of today. Terrific writing and stellar acting make the entire show shine.

Wynonna Earp still makes me happy. I'm intrigued by the little seeds dropped here and there and look forward to more of the origin backstory.

The Last Ship starts next week and I can't wait to see where things go. I'm kind of holding out hope some underhanded tactics are being used regarding Rachel, but I won't hold my breath. This show loves to kill off my favorite characters. LOL

I'm sadly not overly excited about some of the other newer shows. Preacher didn't really grab me with the trailers and I never got into Fear the Walking Dead. I do look forward to the return of Killjoys and Dark Matter, which should provide some good fodder for my blog posts.

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Automatic Failure, a novella with one of my favorite tropes—sibling rivalry. Throw in additional family drama and I can't wait to sit and type up a storm.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Piper Kemp, a flight instructor, moves aside to avoid letting her personal feelings influence a decision about whether to pass one of her students. But when he crashes and almost loses his life, Knox Petruci steps up to defend Piper and opens a can of worms because her student happens to be his brother.

And a sneaky peek…

Squaring her shoulders, Piper pushed the door open and breezed into his hospital room. The stony look on Abel's face said everything. He'd received word already. Damn. She'd hoped to break the news to him. She walked to his bedside and laid a hand on his arm.

Abel jerked away. "I don't want to see you." He glared in her direction. "You knew. That's why you stepped aside. You wanted to see me crash and burn."

Piper sucked in a harsh breath. "No, Abel, I didn't know for sure." Instinct didn't always win and she'd been proven wrong before.

Abel snorted. "You had a feeling then. And you fucked up my chances when you refused to participate." He crossed his arms over his chest and winced when the movement jarred his torso.

Piper back away, but defended her action. "I made the right call, Abel. I couldn't be impartial and you know it. Not when I'm dating you." He'd asked her out the very first day of class and she'd resisted until the final three weeks.

Still… she'd own the conflict of interest.

Abel stared ahead. "Yeah, well, your timing sucked. I tensed up because you made me doubt my skills." He swung a nasty look at her. "So I choked. Thanks for that."

Piper's temper flared. "Abel, you don't have the chops. I didn't know for sure, but I do now." She moved closer to his bed. "You busted the last three moves out of six. Ones you cleared in the simulator." Her tone lowered. "Being in the air is what trips you up." And almost got him killed.

Abel rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Piper. You don't have to worry about my failure or me anymore. Whatever we started is over now." His voice took on a mean tone. "I don't need you anymore."

Piper's mouth dropped open. After weeks of pestering her to go out with him and relentlessly pursuing something on a personal level, he whipped out the oldest reason in the books for why. She wanted to believe his cruel remark amounted to his way of lashing out due to the circumstances. But the truth easily wormed its way into her heart and mind.

Abel used her… or tried to. And she'd blown his plan to hell by not adhering to his playbook. How frustrating for him. And very enlightening for her.

Piper pasted on a smile. "In that case, I'll take my leave. Take care, Abel. I hope you're not laid up too long with the broken legs." Turning, she made her way to the door, tears of anger and humiliation burning her eyes.

She reached for the handle, but the door burst open and she collided with the flat surface.

The person on the other side righted her. "Sorry, Lieutenant." He introduced himself. "Knox Petruci. Abel's brother." He stuck his hand out.

Piper got a hold of her churning emotions and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you." Her gaze clashed with his knowing one.

He'd heard the conversation between her and his brother. Well, damn. The day couldn't get worse.

Piper pulled her hand away. "I'll get out of your way so you can visit with your brother." Darting around him, she quickly exited the room and dashed down the corridor. Embarrassment and shame washed over her and her eyes welled up again.

Wow, nothing like the utter humiliation of a public breakup, especially when it happens in front of family. Piper's a tough gal, she'll get over it. J

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Sibling Rivalry

July 12, 2015

Well… not a bad week, with the exception of a nasty case of poison ivy. Bleh. I'm not fond of being itchy in any way, shape, or form. *scratch, scratch*

SDCC happened this week and I'm so excited for a couple of new shows and movies. I also love seeing the actors from my favorite shows do their panels. Looking forward to taking some time to dive into everything.

Teen Wolf is getting really creepy, which I love. I'm sort of long on theories and not much else, but something tells me Peter Hale is behind everything. LOL He's so easy to blame.

The Last Ship is so good at drawing out and ramping up tension. Another show where I have theories about who's behind the scenes trying to manipulate everything. I can't wait for tonight's episode.

My Friday night lineup of Defiance, Killjoys, and Dark Matter keeps getting better and better. One of the things I love about Defiance is how quickly they move the plot along. And a major brawl between Amanda and Stahma never hurts anything. Pushing the envelope where family relationships are concerned is also an interesting choice. And speaking of family relationships, the Jaqobi brothers are quickly turning into one of my favorite sibling duos. I'm holding back on forming strong opinions with Dark Matter at the moment. I can't quite figure why Two is going for Three yet. I have a few ideas, but none have formed into anything solid yet.

Tonight's post is from Sibling Rivalry, a novella where, you guessed it, a strong rivalry between brothers comes into play.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Fayne Cartier falls for his brother's flight instructor, Rumor Child, he has no idea how difficult dating will end up being when his brother shows signs of not having the chops to qualify. Rumor won't cut him from her class thinking the sibling rivalry may be just what the younger Cartier needs.

And a sneaky peek…

Rumor Child called in her next candidate for flight school. "Renner Cartier. You're up." She opened his file and scanned the information.

Mediocre grades, but a sharp mind. Followed orders and made it through basic training without incident. The last name intrigued her. A full bird colonel shared the moniker, Fenrick Cartier, and the man defined flight legend. Commendations out the ass and credited with inventing two combat maneuvers the admiralty immediately put into the training program and still used to date. If memory served, the colonel had a hot shot son already on the fast track to squadron command, one who'd broken quite a few of his father's records. She couldn't say for certain—he'd gone through before her—but she'd bet her credentials the two men had been the pilots she picked to compete against. She'd needed someone's record for motivation and the Cartiers had the numbers to beat.

The shuffle of feet drew her attention. A handsome, wet-behind-the-ears cadet entered the room.

He saluted. "Lieutenant Child, Cadet Cartier reporting as ordered." He dropped his arm and stood at parade rest.

Rumor cracked a smile. "No need for the formality, cadet. Come on in and let's get started." She picked up her pen and put the potential familial relationship out of her mind.

No one got accepted into her class if she didn't think they had the stones to cut the work.

Renner crossed the room and took the seat opposite of her. "Thanks, Lieutenant. I don't mind admitting I'm a little daunted by this whole process." He kept his back straight and placed his palms on his thighs.

Rumor bit back a chuckle. "Relax, cadet. I won't bite, I swear—"

Her promise ended abruptly when a man, still in a flight suit, burst through her doorway.

He ripped the cover from his head. "Dammit, Renner, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Stomping across the floor, he stopped beside the cadet's chair.

Renner heaved a sigh. "Sir, my apologies. My brother…" He rose and faced his sibling. "Has no business barging in on my interview. Get out, Fayne."

The light bulb went off. Rumor quirked an eyebrow. The brothers stood toe-to-toe, staring each other down. The familial resemblance came through in spades. Both had rigid backs, muscles bunching and flexing under their clothes. Each had strong jaws and flashing eyes. Neither would ever be able to hide the fact they were related. And both had the kind of looks Rumor went for, with the exception of Renner looking at least six years younger than his older brother.

Fayne leaned closer and jabbed a finger in his sibling's shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere until you explain what you think you're doing." His mouth thinned to a flat line. "You're not ready for this."

Renner held his ground. "Says you. And I stopped listening to anything you have to say last year when you tried to talk me out of enlisting." He folded his arms across his chest, lifted his chin, and refused to meet his brother's gaze.

Rumor observed the standoff, her interest piqued. After the stunt the elder Cartier just pulled, she'd pretty much decided Renner would get in on principal alone. She didn't care who his old man happened to be, but the dickhead move his brother just pulled pretty much sealed the deal for her.

Fayne opened his mouth to speak, but Rumor held up a hand. "Uh uh. You can stop right there, Lieutenant." She rose and made her way around the desk. "This is my interview and I decide who makes the grade." She picked up the file. "I don't see any reason Cadet Cartier should be blocked." She met Fayne's gaze. "Unless you have something to show me that says otherwise."

Fayne snorted. "My brother isn't cut out for flying." He folded his arms over his chest.

Rumor fought the urge to roll her eyes. If the brothers could see themselves…

But their similarities wouldn't resolve their standoff. And the elder brother had her seriously pissed off at the moment.

Rumor straightened, boldly perusing Fayne. "Did you add an instructor credit to your jacket, then?"

He shot her a nasty look in response.

She nodded. "No? Okay, then. Until you do, or until you have something more specific than an opinion as to why your brother shouldn't be admitted to basic flight, I suggest you do as he asked and get out." She pointed toward the door. "Now." She flicked a glance toward the clock on the wall. "I have a very tight schedule to keep and you're family drama isn't on my agenda."

Fayne took a step toward his brother but Rumor cut in and blocked his path. "Let me be clear, Lieutenant, I'm a highly qualified instructor and I decide who enters the flight program. You just fly the birds." She jerked her head toward the door. "Which I can stop you from doing if you don't move your ass out of this room in the next thirty seconds."

Fayne narrowed his eyes and for a moment she thought he might push back—hard.

But after a brief locking of gazes, he took a step away and retreated. Turning on his heel, he stalked toward the door.

Before exiting, he called out over his shoulder. "We're not done, Renner. Not by a long shot."

He left the room and all the air seemed to suck into a large vortex.

Dragging in oxygen, Rumor then exhaled slowly. "Wow." The guy definitely had presence.

Renner let out a grunt behind her. "Yeah, he has that effect on people. You never get used to it."

Honestly? I had the best time writing the standoff between the brothers. I'm going to enjoy finishing this one.

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

ML Skye

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Boyfriend's Brother #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm featuring a current release, Boyfriend's Brother, a novella where my hero and heroine are facing big decisions. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Chloe and Jason.

This week, we see Jason help Chloe out of a tough spot.

Book Tagline: Chloe mixes a potential marriage proposal, a close call, and her boyfriend's hot brother—a heady combination or dangerous concoction.

~*~

Chloe ducked and looked up in Jason's direction. "Little help here?" She stood back up, and Max's fist connected with her jaw, her head smacking back against the wall.

Stars burst behind her eyelids, but she shook it off. Jason sucked in a breath and winced.

He kept his tone light. "Thought you'd never ask."

He stepped into the fray, grabbing one of the guys and spinning him around to meet his fist. The guy went down, but Jason got grabbed by the arm and Max got a solid punch in, splitting Jason's lip in the process. Jason landed his own jab and knocked Max backward to land on a pool table. Max didn't get back up, and Jason's face showed more than a little satisfaction with laying the guy out.

He made his way over to Chloe, and with their backs together, they slowly made their way out of the bar. Only two of Max's friends made an attempt to follow, but the crowd more or less swallowed them up when Jason and Chloe stumbled out the door.

Once outside, Chloe leaned up against the exterior, slowly sliding down until she crouched close to the sidewalk. Still seeing stars, she figured she hit her head harder than she thought. Looking over toward Jason, two of him hovered in her line of sight, but she attributed that to the alcohol. She let out a chuckle that ended on a groan.

Jason sucked in the cool night air, then turned to check on her. Her cheek burned, and she'd lay odds she'd have a big purple bruise along her cheekbone. Bet that would look really lovely tomorrow.

He used his thumb to wipe the blood off his lip. "Well, that was fun."

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Chloe Timmons and Jason McIvey are each at a crossroads.

On what may be her last weekend as 'just a girlfriend', Chloe quells her restlessness by hitting the town and runs into her boyfriend's brother, Jason, a fellow pilot in the area for an air show. A barroom brawl brings them together.

Chloe thinks her boyfriend Marc may propose, and she's not sure she's ready for marriage. Jason McIvey has to decide if he's staying in the military or going civilian. When Chloe and Jason spend the night together, it doesn't make either decision easier.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Boyfriend's Brother #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm featuring a current release, Boyfriend's Brother, a novella where my hero and heroine are facing big decisions. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Chloe and Jason.

This week, we meet Jason.

Book Tagline: Chloe mixes a potential marriage proposal, a close call, and her boyfriend's hot brother—a heady combination or dangerous concoction.

~*~

Jason McIvey stretched and buried his head under the pillow on the bed. Five more minutes, then he'd get up, grab a shower, and meet the guys in his squadron for breakfast before boarding their transport.

Until then, he could pretend he didn't have a huge decision to make and that he enjoyed the sometimes stupid and lame tripe that went along with flying—because he'd always love being in a cockpit.

A cool hand settled on his hip, and his eyes blinked open. Shit. Last night's 'hangar' hadn't left yet. He winced at the crude name his fellow test pilots gave the bevy of females that always came cleared for action—ready, willing, and able to accommodate any of the guys—especially if the men looked hard and hot. The names and faces might change, but the women never failed to appear whenever a civilian air show rolled through their towns.

Bitta… Bitsy… hell, he couldn't remember the woman's name, probably wanted a repeat performance from the previous night. Her fingers trailed up and down Jason's thigh, and he scrambled for an excuse to make a quick exit. Would she believe he'd choose grabbing something to eat over sex? Did he care if she didn't?

Not really, no. A harsh reality he'd been avoiding for the past couple of months.

The fact Jason never lacked for a companion didn't mean he couldn't be lonely. Not one of the women he'd met recently ever stayed around long after the sun came up—unless they wanted another round. And none of them were interested in more than getting down to business as soon as possible. He almost craved making a connection on a deeper level with someone.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Chloe Timmons and Jason McIvey are each at a crossroads.

On what may be her last weekend as 'just a girlfriend', Chloe quells her restlessness by hitting the town and runs into her boyfriend's brother, Jason, a fellow pilot in the area for an air show. A barroom brawl brings them together.

Chloe thinks her boyfriend Marc may propose, and she's not sure she's ready for marriage. Jason McIvey has to decide if he's staying in the military or going civilian. When Chloe and Jason spend the night together, it doesn't make either decision easier.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Boyfriend's Brother #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm featuring a current release, Boyfriend's Brother, a novella where my hero and heroine are facing big decisions. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Chloe and Jason.

~*~

This week, we meet Chloe (and Jason's brother Marc).

Book Tagline: Chloe mixes a potential marriage proposal, a close call, and her boyfriend's hot brother—a heady combination or dangerous concoction.

~*~

Chloe Timmons stretched, then snuggled back down under the covers. She had one whole week of freedom during the semester break and didn't have to get up at half past ugly o'clock.

One of seven flight instructors who taught wet behind the ears cadets the ins and outs of flying—basic aeronautics, combat maneuvers, advanced weaponry assaults—she'd just finished putting twenty-five newbs through the wringer.

And most of them had passed muster.

She smiled when her boyfriend, Marcus McIvey, spooned up behind her. A marine first sergeant, he usually took leave when she had downtime, and they went off somewhere that had sand, sun, and cool, frothy drinks. At least, they had over the last two years.

Marc brushed his lips over her shoulder. "Morning, Chlo. Gonna sleep in today?"

She made a noncommittal sound, not quite ready to have coherent conversation yet.

Marc dropped a kiss on her temple, then eased out of bed. "Go ahead if you want, but I need to get up."

Chloe blinked and yawned. She flopped over on her back and observed Marc pulling open drawers and throwing clothes in his rucksack.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Chloe Timmons and Jason McIvey are each at a crossroads.

On what may be her last weekend as 'just a girlfriend', Chloe quells her restlessness by hitting the town and runs into her boyfriend's brother, Jason, a fellow pilot in the area for an air show. A barroom brawl brings them together.

Chloe thinks her boyfriend Marc may propose, and she's not sure she's ready for marriage. Jason McIvey has to decide if he's staying in the military or going civilian. When Chloe and Jason spend the night together, it doesn't make either decision easier.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.