Sunday Snippet: Cupid's Folly

February 16, 2020

Ugh. What a rough week. I've been battling some wicked-bad insomnia lately and I hate walking around like a zombie and trying to catch some much-needed rest whenever I can. Not a fun time.

I did have a wonderful revelation on Thursday, which was my youngest's eighteenth birthday. To date, the husband and I have successfully raised three offspring to adulthood. Now to get her through prom and graduation then off to college. LOL

Slow week for television, mainly due to the insomnia. I caught a full arc of Classic Who and had a thought… the Daleks have been around for a long, long time. Just saying.

Got back into Gargoyles and watched a couple of episodes. The second season is super long and it'll be a while before I get through all of the various stories.

Watched a few episodes of Danger Man. This is pretty much a rewatch of the series for me, but it's nice to have a thirty-minute show to sink into while I'm doing dishes or cooking dinner.

Caught an episode of Murdoch Mysteries and finally discovered what would happen with the neighbors. I'd forgotten about the hotel detective and his mad vendetta against Murdoch. All in all, a satisfying wrap-up to the storyline. Sadly, the widow might end up rearing her vengeful head at some point in the series. That should be interesting.

I watched another episode of Arrow and I can honestly say I'm impressed with Stephen's performance. He brings the emotional element to the screen every episode. That said, he mentioned in an interview that Emily's decision to not be involved in most of season eight made the show feel kind of wrong (absolutely paraphrasing here) because Felicity is the heart of the show and no Felicity means no heart. I totally get that. But… it's kind of cool to see the reunions Oliver is having with people from his past. Talia and Thea teaming up could be a show on its own, especially if Nyssa got involved at some point. Just saying. Also really interesting to see what's going on in the futurescape, especially with the twist at the end of the episode.

Getting ready to start an episode of Riverdale and watch the premiere episode of Strike Back's final season. I also plan to watch the Passionflix original, The Will sometime this week. Looking forward to some great screentime.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Cupid's Folly, a novella that got a start with a brainstorming session with a fellow author.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Jinx Jersey just signed on as the XO of the Cupid's Folly, captained by Alrick Cates and he's given her fair warning she picked the worst time to start her new post and develop an attraction for him. The pleasure ship is booked solid for the Valentine holiday and they don't have time for romance.

And a sneaky peek…

Captain Alrick Cates read through the pre-flight memos concerning the Cupid's Folly.

He lamented this run. "Gah, I hate the couples' cruises." Actually, he disliked pleasure cruises in general.

He longed to be back on a military ship. Missed the rank and structure, the precise need for people to be in a specific location doing important work. Civilian passengers could be fun sometimes but often they were nothing more than a huge pain in the ass.

He picked up the last document and growled. "What the hell?" The civilian board assigned him a new member of staff for a couples' cruise. "And not just any new member… but an acting XO. Oh, no way." His XO picked now to have surgery?

Okay, an operation the man had been putting off for several months, but the damned timing had been on purpose. Paton Barrick abhorred couples' cruises worse than Alrick. Setting the notation aside, he dug down and pulled out the personnel file.

Quickly reading the information on his new second in command, Alrick slammed the folder shut. "Brand fucking new. They're sending me a barely graduated newb to act as my XO." Is the civilian board trying to send me over the brink?

Alrick got up and paced back and forth. He could call and demand someone with experience. Someone who could weather a shitstorm of on-the-prowl men and women with a sole purpose of finding true love in five ports or less.

Sitting back down, he grabbed the handset. "No way am I dealing with a green officer who has zero experience." He grabbed the file again and propped it open.

The name caught his attention first. Jinx Jersey. The rating hit him next. She'd graduated at the top of her class with off the chart marks. Frowning, he hung the receiver back in the cradle. He needed to dig into her credentials—

A rapid series of knocks sounded on the hatch.

Alrick closed the folder again. "Enter." Meeting with this Jinx Jersey couldn't hurt, right?

I'm enjoying this story. I might end up shifting this away from a Valentine romance, but the main thrust of the plot won't change much if I do. Alrick is still going to be cranky about having a new XO on one of the toughest cruises to get through.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Crash and Burn

So, we finally have snow in Ohio. Not a lot but enough to remind people it's actually winter. This isn't a bad thing. I'm hoping that means we won't have blizzards in April or May. Just saying.

After a very slow January workwise, February is going like gangbusters. I'd rather be busy than not so no complaints here. I did have a slow week of television though.

I started with an episode of Murdoch Mysteries and enjoyed it. Fun to see a familiar face with Ruth's brother showing up. Should be interesting to see what happens with Henry now that Ruth has access to loads of money again. Also interesting happenings with William and Julia's neighbors. I'm still not quite sure what to expect with them.

Caught the Frankie Drake Mysteries finale for season three. Always fun when a character returns to stir up trouble for Frankie and the girls. I'm hoping season four continues to have a big focus on the friendships.

Arrow's second episode ended up being better than I anticipated. Interested to see what happens with Lyla. I truly love the mix of present and future in these episodes.

Caught another episode of Midsomer Murders and quite enjoyed it. It's fun when the case doesn't quite go where I think it will.

Also watched another series one episode of Peak Practice. I gotta say Will's wife is quite the piece of work. I have no idea how long she lasts but I'm thinking it's not through the end of the series. That's not a bad thing.

I saved the best for last. I finally watched the season four premiere for Riverdale. I'd be lying if I said there was no ugly sobbing involved. Because there was. A lot of it. I honestly didn't expect less, I mean I'd been warned by at least three people to have a box of tissues. Needless to say I did and used an undetermined amount of said box.

I can honestly say I can't imagine a better tribute to Fred Andrews. I loved how pretty much everyone put aside their grievances—Reggie and Cheryl in particular—and paid homage to a stalwart member of the community. Reggie's gesture with providing a hearse moved him up a notch on my like-the-guy meter. And Cheryl's conversation with Mary and her about face regarding the parade had a nice symmetry. I have no clue what the hell her deal is with CorpseJason but I don't need to know for this episode to work so well. Relenting on having a parade to celebrate Fred's life and put the focus on someone not a Blossom is big badass energy and I'm here for it.

FP taking on a role of filling big shoes also worked well for me. Figuring out where Archie was and what he planned to do when he found out who ended up being responsible for Fred's death and his subsequent response of calling in Archie's friends showed a good bit of foresight for the former Serpent leader. I also loved the way he handled asking Archie if he'd mind an escort home. I knew what was coming. I figured out what Cheryl wanted to do. And, man, I literally grabbed the box of tissues and pretty much sobbed through the whole thing. Throw in Jughead's obituary and the reaction shots of people reading—the focus being on the grown-ups, friends and enemies—and, yep, the tears flowed again.

Shannen Doherty's guest appearance was a nice touch. For those of us who are a certain age, the poignancy of having her involved in memorializing Fred and, in turn, Luke Perry packs a punch and creates a nice thread that goes from beginning to end.

The other part I found poignant is Betty at the cemetery by her dad's grave. Season three ended with Hal being murdered by Penelope and it's easy to forget that happened and have it eclipsed by Fred's demise. The trashing of his plot, while sad for Betty, serves as a solid visual reminder of where things left off.

Finally… the last scene of Archie in the garage sifting through memories of his dad, the only scenes that actually showed Fred in action, was extremely well done. Kudos to KJ, the writing team, and the film crew for what, I'm sure, had to be a difficult time.

All in all, a terrific sendoff for Fred and Luke. Next week, I'll dive back into the normal batshit crazy world of Riverdale and enjoy the hell out of it.

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

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…

Baxter Loman loosened up, tilting his head from side to side. He loved going round for round in the ring.

A knock sounded on the door and Preble poked his head inside the changing area. "Yo, Bax. I've got another eager brawler ready to work off some stress." He took in Bax's sweaty countenance. "She might just give you a run for your money." Preb gave an exaggerated wink.

Bax quirked an eyebrow. "She? I love having female sparring partners." He reached for the tape. "Give me a few… I'll be right out."

Preble lifted his chin and smirked. "Good luck, buddy." His tone indicated Bax might need it.

Bax didn't waste time, getting his hands taped up in record time. He jogged down the corridor leading to the sparring area and got his first glimpse of his opponent facing away from him. Hot damn. If she didn't race on the circuit, she could. Toned and cut muscle in her shoulders and back showed her physical prowess shouldn't be underestimated.

When she turned to face him, lightly hopping up and down on the balls of her feet, he barely bit back a hiss of appreciation. Immediately attracted, he swung up into the ring and made a slow circle around her.

Once he completed the task, he thrust his palm forward. "Who are you and where the hell have you been?" A wide grin split his face.

Her lips curved. "Pepper Strand." She gave his hand a firm shake. "Been right here in town for the past six months." She let her whereabouts before that hang in the air.

Shit. He didn't need the details. Her racing record spoke for itself.

She taught an advanced racing course and put new and requalifying members through their paces. And his brother loved to throw her name around. About her teaching skill and other talents she had.

His grin fell. "Brad's latest and greatest." How did Brad always manage to worm his way into convenient relationships?

Pepper frowned and shrugged. "Not so great right now." She clapped her hands together. "Are we gonna do this or what?" Her head cocked from side to side.

Bax fed off her angry tension. "We're definitely doing this." He waved toward Preble.

The bartender gave him a thumbs-up and pressed the starting buzzer.

Pepper crouched into a low stance and barely hesitated before she launched forward with a sweeping kick to Bax's hip.

He countered with a hard shove to her shoulder and liked how she barely moved. They'd have a great round.

But he'd be hard-pressed to spar at his best when his hard dick might get in the way.

I'm having a lot of fun writing this one. Normally, I go for military in my sci-fi romances, but I enjoy leaving my comfort zone and getting into something a little different. Pepper and Bax are a challenge and I love a good one.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Covert Heart

Hello, February. An extra day in the month probably won't make much difference, right? Eh, January already felt like an entire year, so here's hoping February doesn't.

Another slow week for television viewing, but not a bad one. I finished up season three of Riverdale and, whew, what an ending. Talk about jamming a crap-ton of stuff into forty-three minutes. That said, wow. I'm still processing all the crazypants. I'm very glad I can start season four this week. I'll be dreading the first episode but can't wait to see what happens from here. Hopefully something utterly horrible for Hiram is on the horizon but I doubt it. Sigh.

Midsomer Murders had a good opener for series twenty-one. One down and three to go. Then I have to find another show to start. I have a few on my list to check out.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice. I went back to the first season again. I'll watch another of the final season this week.

Watched another full arc of Classic Who and have one more set before starting the last season with Three. Looking forward to Sarah Jane episodes.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

An impossible task. A couple sworn to carry it out or die trying. One big test of the depth of their courage and love.

And a sneaky peek…

"I'll have more coffee." The Saskitet delegate nodded toward the mug on the desk and resumed her heated vid conversation.

Rick McBride lifted the carafe and filled the cup to just below the brim. Six weeks undercover taught him the exact preferred spot. Going too low or high resulted in a verbal tongue lashing that could be heard in the adjoining suites. Minister Marlena Hix didn't fear a "difficult" label.

In fact, she welcomed it. No one went against her wishes. The more who knew that fact the easier things went.

Ruffling feathers had become her trademark. It also made Rick's presence necessary. He assumed the role of her domestic aide to keep a close watch on her activities.

Minister Hix had declared war on secrets and stealth. Her goal to expose the nasty stuff agencies did to help maintain democracy and make it available for public scrutiny had the planetary governments in an uproar. She liked to shine a spotlight on any and all who tried to fly under the radar and work behind the lines and those participating didn't appreciate it.

The Condorian regime kept peace along their borders by supplying the Ramarians with minerals they refined to make fuel. The problem? The Condorian public voted against it.

Hix exposed the deal. And the Condorian senate scrambled to provide answers to their populace.

She didn't stop there. Other back room alliances had been outed. Under-the-table handshakes that kept several treaties intact, made public. Covert operations cracked and crumbled in each sector of the solar system.

If left unchecked, Hix would unravel the entire political system.

Rick silently backed away after refilling the minister's cup. He took his place by the entrance of the suite, standing vigil until Hix's assistant minister returned from his morning rounds.

She had the man skulk around the central hub every morning to catch any and all pertinent information regarding new alliances, agreements, or favor swapping. Rick had to admit the brilliance of the strategy. He actually admired her willingness to stand for the truth. But he also realized her underhanded tactics put her right on the level of any other delegate. Maybe lower, because Minister Hix masterfully turned facts to her own end and didn't care who got hurt in the process.

Bringing down the current democracy and putting an autocratic ruler in place served her ambitions. Especially since she'd deemed herself worthy of the job.

Hix waved him over to her side when she finished her vid conference. "Has Martin checked in yet?" She lifted the mug to her lips and took a large gulp.

Rick answered quickly. "No, Minister." The door slid open and Rick stepped back. "Ah, here he is, ma'am." He waited for Martin Helms to seat himself across from Hix. "Will there be anything else, ma'am?"

Hix nodded toward the assistant minister. "Get Martin some coffee then leave." She shot a venom-filled look at Helms. "Return back with lunch at 1300." She leveled her sharp gaze on Rick. "That's one PM. I keep forgetting you staff people don't speak military." She swung her eyes back to the assistant minister. "And make sure you're not one moment late. Or I'll have your position filled with someone more capable." Her words, meant for Helms, made the man twitch a bit.

Rick ignored the interplay, poured the coffee, and laid out two sugars, Martin's preferred choice. "Lunch. One PM." He tucked the carafe under his arm. "Yes, ma'am." He moved away from the desk and busied himself with clean-up, quietly stacking breakfast dishes on the cart. He excelled at this part of his job, using efficient movements to maintain his cover and gather intel. Minister Hix already forgot about him and demanded a report from Helms.

Helms briefly slid his gaze in Rick's direction, but didn't keep Hix waiting. "The Calderans have opened negotiations with the Velamites to do a guns-for-grain deal."

Hix hissed out a satisfied breath. "That's wonderful news. I needed something on the Velamites." She lowered her voice. "The populace voted against exporting. They want their crops to stay local." Marlena scribbled something on her notepad and handed it to Martin. "Contact this list and plant the seeds."

Martin tore the page from the tablet and tucked it inside his pocket.

Hix pushed him for more. "What else can you report?"

Rick couldn't stick around to hear the rest. He'd finished the clean-up and needed to leave. Pushing the cart toward the door, neither Helms nor Hix spared him a glance. He exited the suite and waited until he got on the elevator to activate his comm link.

"McBride for the chancellor. Message follows. Priority debrief in thirty. Location E." He switched off just in time for the doors to swish open and admit two low-level aides.

Rick smiled a greeting, but didn't engage either in conversation. Staff didn't speak unless spoken to, and his fellow passengers had a running dialog already in play. Interestingly enough, their topic happened to be Hix and the firestorm that always seemed to follow in her wake.

A tall, slim blond with chiseled cheekbones and a neatly trimmed goatee spoke in low tones. "Rumor has it Minister Hix has something big planned for the summit." He keyed in his destination.

The other aide, a voluptuous redhead with striking green eyes, nodded. "I've heard the same. Rumblings are rolling through the administrative branch. The holy terror plans to bring more truthful mayhem to the proceedings."

The two rolled their eyes and fell silent. A moment later, the elevator chimed and each exited, after ignoring Rick for the entire ride.

With more intel to share, his debrief couldn't come soon enough. And his bonus would be seeing Emma, after a long, dry spell.

I've had a lot of fun writing this one. All the pieces are in place but I need to get them all in order. The sages decided to feed me the story in little chunks and didn't stick to a linear timeline.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Command Authority

Wow, I can't believe January is almost over. Actually… yeah, I can. It's been a strange month. The weather is definitely not winter-like, which I'm not really complaining about. It might be nice to have snow… but maybe after we get our roof repaired.

Slow week for television as I had a few projects to get caught up on. I caught a new arc of Classic Who episodes. I'm in the tenth season and have one more to go with Three.

Also watched two more episodes of Gargoyles and finished out the first season. The second is super long with something like fifty-plus episodes. I'll gradually make my way through those.

I watched the first episode season eight's Arrow. Man… I'm going to miss this show so much. I'm excited there might be carry-on with Mia and the Dinah's and I actually hope some of the others in the 2040 version of Starling City find their way to the new show.

Caught an episode of Murdoch Mysteries and loved it. I always find it fun when they have historical figures mixed in with the regular cast. And I love the soft jabs the show takes at current events.

Watched another episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries and I have one left for the third season. I really love how they work Flo and Mary into the storylines and I'll be interested to see what season four has on the horizon. If there is a season four.

Started the Riverdale finale for season three. I'm so hoping Edgar is gone for season four and I know Hiram isn't but I at least I might get one wish to come true. Seriously, I hate Hiram with the passion of a thousand burning suns. Ugh.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Command Authority, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Addie Varns and Neal Columbo are thisclose to having everything they want, namely each other, when Neal gets promoted to commander. Used to being on equal footing, Addie needs some time to adjust to the new chain of leadership. Neal gives her some space, but if need be, he'll invoke his command authority.

And a sneaky peek…

"Hey, Addie. Did you see the new flight roster yet?" Lucia Xing called out from the shower two stalls down.

Addie frowned. She had, but didn't notice any changes.

She angled her head toward the other pilot. "Yeah, is there a problem?"

Lucia laughed. "Hell, no. Which is exactly the point. Two full months with almost zero changes, barring that last minute switch last week when Rumbleseat whacked his head on the canopy and knocked himself out."

Addie finally got it. "You want me to punch you so you know it's real?"

Showoff threw her hands up, mock terrified. "No, no. Not necessary." She ducked her head under the spray, making sure all the shampoo rinsed away.

Addie shut her water supply off and snagged a towel. Xing did the same and moved to stand beside Addie at the line of mirrors.

Addie went for humor. "You sure get excited about the most bizarre things around here."

Using her fingers to comb through her short mop of hair, Lucia shot back. "Look, when standard operating procedure is a sharp stab to the back, something like a consistent schedule takes some getting used to." She met Addie's gaze in the mirror. "But it doesn't go unnoticed. Commander's doing a damned good job." Finished with her primping, she turned and left the area to head for her locker.

Addie pondered Lucia's words. James Trask, the first replacement for Ames, had been a wheeler dealer who never thought to have a command. The bastard ran the ship the way he ran his acquisition duties. More than a few of the crew felt the bite of a double deal.

Addie had her own run in with Trask's system when she'd dropped a delivery of supplies at an outpost and discovered she'd been promised in the deal. Several gunshots and a wicked spiral fly out from the landing bay later, she'd contacted Neal on a secured private comm and filled him in. Acting as the Amalthea's liaison and Ganymead's CAG at the time, Neal kept a closer watch on the commander, observing his underhanded practices and wondered aloud how long Trask could keep it up.

The quartermaster feared for his life. Forced to be a go between, he took most of the heat when Trask kept using off log suppliers and short changed them on trades and payment. The quartermaster finally landed in the infirmary with several broken bones, after a severe beating from one of Trask's sources. Trask didn't fare as well. He ended up on the wrong side of the airlock. They'd found his body, floating in space, outside the base station.

James Trask might have been friendlier than his predecessor. He'd had to be. To further his own agenda, he mixed business with pleasure. But his double dealing hadn't been limited to the ships in the fleet. More than a few of the Ganymead crew had bite marks on their ass from his tenure as commander. And they had the scars to prove it. Considering they still double checked the duty rosters to make sure they wouldn't be caught out by a last minute change—courtesy of a trademark command payoff—the wounds hadn't completely healed.

Yet, Addie had noticed the solid, positive changes made and Neal's hand in getting it done. She should. When Neal had been assigned to be the Ganymead's liaison, he'd often sought her opinion about former command initiatives, asking her what she'd change. They'd grown very close during the time they spent deep in discussion. Okay, closer. Addie never suspected he'd be commanding the ship a short time afterward.

 But seeing the relaxed countenance of the crew made her weird uncomfortable vibe worth it. Neal had recently brokered an arrangement for supplies in trade and it went super smooth. The crew finally trusted the flight roster and had started singing Neal's praises.

Addie got a zing. She and Neal had always worked in tandem, tag-teaming to get things done for the pilots on the Amalthea. She missed it, working closely with him. But holy hell, it felt good to see the confirmation that their work had paid off. The Ganymead staff and crew had followed Trask because they had to… they followed Neal because they wanted to.

And okay, she'd become part of his command staff—temporarily—but it didn't feel the same. She didn't quite have her bearings yet. Completely on her. Neal treated her the same… but she saw him differently. Addie needed an adjustment period—something new and foreign for her go with the flow attitude. Threw her off-kilter and she didn't like it.

She and Neal… they had a push-pull thing. Attracted to each other, they played it fairly safe, acknowledging the heat, but not acting on it. They'd come so close a few times, but she pulled away. Neal told her to be sure, absolutely certain. Once they crossed the line, they couldn't go back.

Okay, he wouldn't go back. He'd made it very clear. Then stepped back and gave her some room to figure shit out.

Too bad hell landed on the hangar deck in the form of the Ganymead and it's whacked out crew. Who the hell had time to think when life went sideways and everything changed? Except maybe late at night, when sleep wouldn't come no matter how tired she got.

Addie had plenty of time to think then. And she knew what she wanted with Neal. But with the game-changing stuff going on, she didn't know how they'd ever pull off making a relationship work. Throw in the possible reaction from Neal's old man and Colonel Shitface and Addie wondered which ship would implode in on itself first.

I'm excited about this story. The narrative is a little different than the usual for me and I enjoy playing with the structure.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Come Here Often

I'm so excited! We're getting our leaky roof replaced in the very near future. I've been waiting to do a small renovation in our bathroom because I need to make sure we won't have any more water damage in there. Can't wait!!

Not a bad week for television. Caught an episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries and, once again, enjoyed the four main characters and their bonding. Terrific female representation in this show.

Watched the penultimate episode of Riverdale's third season. So many revelations in this one and nothing I'm terribly surprised by. Edgar is just as creeptastic as I suspected. I do want to know if Polly is aware of Jason being… whatever the hell Jason is. My gut says Alice is not. Can't wait to find out. Veronica pulled a savage move on Hiram and I'm totally there for more of that. I literally hate that guy and actually wouldn't mind if he died in a fire. No such luck, I'm sure.

I caved and watched a season twelve episode of Peak Practice. I'll probably go back and forth on this show, catching the entire run while also sneaking in episodes with my favorite actor.

Caught the behind-the-scenes episode of Midsomer Murders and I'm ready to start season twenty-one. Looking forward to diving in next week.

I'm excited to watch the final season of Arrow in the very near future, along with the crossover event. I'm also thrilled to have some new super-hero shows on the horizon. Should be an interesting year for watching.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Come Here Often, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt. I can't explain how much I love taking a scene or word prompt and finding the beat of what I want to do then sitting down to create a story.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Neely survives a war but not without considerable emotional damage. When Ace offers her everything she's ever wanted, she turns him down, believing they can't pick up where they left off. Ace aims to prove they don't have to.

And a sneaky peek…

The whirlwind debriefing dredged up more questions than answers, and almost earned her a stint in quarantine.

But Ace had been the lone person who argued against isolating her, suggesting a normal routine would be more likely to show any signs of post-hypnotic triggers, if any were planted, and helped her reintegrate into the crew. He even volunteered to stand duty with her when no one else would. But the biggest thing he'd done? He'd given her space, accepting her wish to move forward and not look back. And he hadn't doubted her—even when proof of her "death" came to light.

And she kept blowing him off and not letting him in. Because she feared going back to what they used to be. She wanted a new page but had no idea what might happen.

Did it really matter? Probably not, but cutting him completely loose seemed like her only option.

Turning slowly, she started back down the hill. She made it several yards when a hand tapped her on the shoulder. She stopped, almost afraid to engage in any kind of conversation. It could only end badly. But she owed Ace a chance to say his piece. Lifting her head, she turned toward him.

He smiled. "Um, hi. I noticed you from up the hill a ways and I just had to make your acquaintance." He thrust his hand forward. "Name's Ace Buchanan. It's nice to meet you."

Neely narrowed her eyes, not sure what the hell to do.

Ace lifted a brow, waiting. The meaning behind his gesture dawned on her. The end of Jaybird and Buckman could be a new beginning for Ace Buchanan and Neely Jay. Her lips twisted and a laugh escaped. A very blank page lay open before her.

She grabbed his hand, squeezing it warmly. "Neely Jay. Nice to meet you, too." She fell into step beside him and began the descent down the hill. "So… you come here often?" Ace's bark of laughter made her heart warm. A new beginning with loads of possibilities. Neely could get behind the concept.

Honestly? This story is all over the place but I love all of it. I'm slowly—very slowly—piecing the scenes together into something cohesive.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Come Back to Me

We're having unseasonably warm weather for January. The temperature hit seventy degrees today. I'm pretty much planning on having a blizzard during prom season and possibly during my daughter's graduation in May. Just saying.

I've had the unique experience of being project-free for a whole week. I can honestly say it's actually been kind of nice to have the downtime. It's good to catch up on mundane things like clearing my inbox and deleted items files.

Had a semi-decent week of television viewing. I finished up the episode of Frankie Drake and watched a new one. I really love this show.

Caught an episode of Midsomer Murders and finished out the twentieth series. I have a behind the scenes thing to watch then off to series twenty-one. Looking forward to starting it.

Finished the Sapphire and Steel series. I can honestly say the way ended surprised me but not in a bad way. The unique spin on how time functioned ended up being fun to watch.

Also caught the Three Doctors arc of Classic Who. Very interesting to go watch this one because I didn't get to watch during its original run.

Watched two more episodes of Gargoyles. Started the second season, which is a lot longer than I originally thought it was. I've also discovered I'm pretty sure I missed the entire third season of this show. New stuff!!

Started a new episode of Murdoch Mysteries and I'm enjoying it so far. I feel like fans are on borrowed time because sooner or later the shoe is going to drop on William and Miss Hart will be the one to wield it. Not sure how I feel about that, to be honest.

Finished up a Blue Heelers episode and started a new one. Still enjoy this show so much. I love getting a look at how law enforcement works in another country, even if it's fictionalized.

Finally, I've been waiting and waiting for a very long time for an old British show to make its way to the streaming services. It's finally here! I watched the first episode of Peak Practice and I can't wait to watch the episodes with one of my favorite actors. Of course, he doesn't show up until the final season and it's a solid bet I won't be able to wait to watch his episodes, but I'm trying to view in chronological order. We'll see what happens.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Come Back to Me, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tania and James love each other deeply, but have a complicated relationship. When Tania has a chance to right a wrong, James has to trust she'll keep her promise to come back to him.

And a sneaky peek…

Tania Greene stood at the memorial wall on the Gretna when she caught the reflection of James Lagersall. "Incoming. Brace for impact." She didn't have the heart to do battle with him right now.

Not after losing the man she more or less called husband even when her heart belonged to someone else. The same someone standing behind her now. The one moving in her direction.

Tania traced her husband's name with her fingertips before turning to face James.

He paused less than two feet away and studied her for several long moments. Tania refused to squirm under the scrutiny… not that James wanted her to. But their complicated history usually made her uncomfortable when things got personal.

His gaze went to the wall. "I'm sorry about Denny." Sincerity tinged his voice.

And Tania couldn't deal with it. Anger she could handle. Contempt, definitely doable. But compassion? From James? Not so much.

Because once upon a time, she'd had so much more with him.

She met his gaze. "Are you really? Because his loss clears the path for you. Wanna pick up where we left off?" As if… he'd made it clear when she moved in with Denny they were over and done.

James shook his head, the flash of hurt in his eyes quickly masked. "You know what? Think what you want. You always do." He turned on his heel and started down the corridor.

Tania winced. Dammit. Why did she trash everything?

Because she didn't deserve the peace offering. Yet she needed to mend fences.

She grabbed his arm. "James, wait." Her eyes slid closed. "I'm sorry." She drew in a ragged breath. "You don't deserve my scorn and Denny certainly didn't deserve to get tangled up with me." Her face crumpled and the tears she hadn't been able to shed finally started falling. "And now I can't do anything to make up for what I put him through." Her voice broke on a jagged whisper.

James wrapped her in his arms and held her close. Tania leaned into the comfortable embrace she knew so well. She didn't deserve this either, but she'd damned well take the momentary safe haven.

This one is tricky. The goal is to show how characters often end up with someone they should be with but also keep them sympathetic. Relationships can be messy and writing the ways people grow and learn is something I thoroughly enjoy.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Cockpit

Hello 2020! I'm quite thrilled to have a clean new year to take out for a spin. We have a new puppy named Maggie Mae and she's a sweetie. Her big sister Annabelle needed a companion and so far they're settling in together very well. I'd totally forgotten how much energy puppies have. Yeesh.

Had a limited week of television viewing but got a few shows watched. I caught a full arc of Classic Who and also watched quite a bit of the Doctor Who marathon on BBC America. Sadly, I missed almost all of the episodes from last season.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I had a long hiatus mainly because I've been catching up on laundry and had so much to fold I couldn't do it in my laundry room.

Watched two more episodes of Gargoyles. Also had another great conversation with my oldest about watching this show when he was a little one.

Caught the prom night episode of Riverdale and, again, enjoyed the hell out of it. This show is so incredibly batshit I can't not have fun while watching.

Also watched an episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I'm so on the fence about where they're going with William and Julia. To date, this show has never let me down so I'm hoping that won't be the case here.

Finally, I started an episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries. This is another show that rarely lets me down and I'm having a good time watching this episode.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from The Cockpit, a novella that started with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lark Fisher pulls R&R and hits the most happening bar on Virgonon, The Cockpit. Imagine her utter stupefaction when she finds out its owner is not only an old friend, but the one who got away.

And a sneaky peek…

Fox Wallington replaced the handset behind the bar. "Better get ready, Charlie. Got a star cruiser in orbit." Sometimes it paid to have a high-ranking parent in the military.

Charlie Stax, bartender extraordinaire, quirked an eyebrow. "Should I break out the good stuff?" A running joke… Fox didn't serve anything but high-grade drinks.

Fox snorted. "Might wanna call in an extra order this week." They'd need the additional stock. "A contingent of thirty-five hundred crew means at least three hundred fifty R and R passes." Possibly more, depending on why the ship pulled in for orbit.

Charlie shook his head. "How do you do that?"

Fox shrugged. "I knew every military ship's complement before I could read or write." His chin went up a notch. "When my dad was climbing the ranks, bedtime tended to be more about rote and structure than happy stories." Not that Fox would complain… he made bank off his firsthand knowledge.

Charlie cocked his head to one side. "How'd you avoid getting sucked into the fold?"

Fox chuckled. "I didn't. Served eight years before I bought this place." A career change he didn't regret.

Charlie's eyes widened. "I've been working here for how long… why didn't I know you served?" He laughed. "I assumed the encyclopedic knowledge was from your dad."

Fox rolled a shoulder. "Most of it is. But I—"

"Yo, can I get a little service here?" An obnoxious asshat slapped his palm on the bar. "I'm tired of spending my hard-earned credits for shitty booze and crappy conversation."

Fox gave the guy a long once-over. "This is your third day here. Why complain now?" He held up a hand. "Wait… let me guess… you've been kicked out of every other establishment, right?"

The man straightened. "I don't have to take your shitty insults." Which pretty much confirmed the accusation.

Fox agreed. "No, you don't. You and your shitty attitude can leave… as soon as you settle your tab."

Tough guy shifted his gaze to the side. "Yeah, about that… I'm a little short at the moment."

Charlie started around the counter but Fox stopped him. "Hold up. I've got this." He directed his gaze to the loud-mouthed moron. "All right, let's see if I've got everything straight here. You've been run out of all the other venues and aren't welcome anymore." He held up one finger. "You've been here, drinking and being otherwise obnoxious for the past two days and have a good start on today." He added a second digit. "Now, you're telling me you're a little short, meaning you can't pay off the debt you've racked up." A third finger shot up. "Am I right so far?"

The guy shrugged. "I guess so. Not really in a position to argue, now, am I?"

Fox snorted. "No, man, you're not. And, if my guess is correct, this whole being a dick and running your mouth is a big front so the big guy here" he pointed toward Charlie—"will throw you out on your ass, yeah?"

The not-so-tough-anymore guy gave a reluctant nod but remained silent.

Fox shot Charlie a look. "Do you believe this moron, Charlie? What's the solution here?" Fox had a specific way of dealing with tab-jumpers.

Charlie's lips spread in a wide grin. "Well, boss, I believe it's the three-strike policy, isn't it?" He clapped his hands together and rubbed them up and down. "Which means the tab for… hold on, lemme find the name here…" He made a show of rifling through the open panels. "Ah, here it is… Banta Johnson will be settled in the ring with the boss man here at seven sharp." He slid his gaze toward Fox. "I can take bets on who'll win, yeah? You know, to cover the open balance…"

Fox tapped the bar. "Absolutely, Charlie." He directed his attention to Banta. "Should be a good match. Johnson here looks to be in decent shape."

Charlie laughed. "Yeah, until he goes a few rounds with you." He took some chalk and wrote the odds on the board.

Banta held up his hands. "Now, hold on a minute. I didn't agree to this." He started backing away from the bar.

Charlie barreled around and blocked Johnson's path. "Doesn't matter. It's in the ring or in front of a magistrate… and something tells me you don't want Virgonon's local law enforcement to get involved." Notorious for making the laws up as they went along, not many people wanted to tangle with what passed as the police force on a rim planet.

Johnson squared his shoulders. "Fine. But change the odds. I'm better than ten to one."

Charlie flashed a toothy grin. "That's the spirit, man." He met Fox's gaze. "What do you think? Seven to one?"

Fox shrugged. "Make it five. The longer Mr. Brawler here stays in the ring, the better the chance to cover what he owes." The odds didn't matter. Johnson would go down whatever they were.

Fox is a fun guy to write. He's going to have his hands full between taking down Banta and having a star cruiser in orbit.

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

ML Skye