Sunday Snippet: Muddy Up the Waters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Muddy Up the Waters, a novella that reunites a couple after three years to see if they can work out their issues.

Here's the miniblurb:

Fiona and Warrick can't quite get their timing together long enough to be on the same page when it comes to making a commitment. Instead they expend their energy on playing a game of who can hurt who the most … until one decides enough is enough.

And a preview snippet…

Fiona attempted a smooth landing but failed on an epic level. Instead of gliding into Warrick's place, she crash-landed in a heap in the middle of his first floor living space.

And found him hot and heavy with a blonde, her legs wrapped around Warrick's waist, up against a wall with him driving into her. That'll teach me to show up unannounced. She ignored the rising bile in her throat and ruthlessly tamped down the hot burn of jealousy thrumming through her veins. She had zero claim on the council head.

Warrick's head snapped around at the disturbance. "What the hell are you doing here?" He used his shoulders to block her view of his … bedmate?

Or maybe life partner?

Again, she swallowed down the nasty taste in her mouth. "Excuse me? You demanded my immediate presence." Gathering her broom, she tucked it under her arm and got to her feet. "So … here I am." With a snort, she added, "Next time, consider giving a specific time when issuing orders … if only to avoid anything like this happening again." She sent her best innocent look his way.

Warrick's nostrils flared. "Whatever. Since you're here, go wait upstairs in the solarium." He tilted his head toward the woman. "I'm a little busy at the moment."

Fiona rolled her eyes. "Ten minutes. Then I leave the way I came." She stomped over to the stairs and clomped each step until she reached the top.

The solarium beckoned her at the end of the hall. She'd loved this room … before Warrick accepted the position as head of council. Before he lived here and called this space his own.

She wondered how many changes he'd made. Her hand stilled over the knob and trembled a little. Facing the past she'd wrecked and walked away from didn't give her any kind of right to be disappointed.

Sucking in a deep breath, she twisted the handle and pushed the door open.

Soft light from several sconces greeted her when she entered. The three walls and partial ceiling of windows opened the space up to nightfall outside. The slipping sun of burnished orange dipped below the tree line. Her feet moved across the polished wood floor, through the mix of plants and tables and shelves lined with books, bottles, and baubles steeped with the history of the glade.

She came to a stop beside the wingback chair Upton Morse used to occupy. The previous head of council left a huge empty spot when he succumbed to his injuries from a battle with a long illness. She still missed him … even if she no longer called the glade home.

Continuing forward, she gazed through the expanse of glass with memories shifting in her mind not unlike the sway of the shadowy treetops dancing in the twilight. Warmth cascaded over her … the familiar surroundings creating a warm glow that sparked to life in her heart and soul. She had no illusions about Warrick leaving the space untouched for her. But she appreciated the lack of change anyway.

Exhaling on a sigh, she closed her eyes. "I've missed this place so much…"

"It's not like it went anywhere. You would be the one who did that."

Squaring her shoulders, Fiona braced for a battle and turned to face Warrick—fresh from a shower if the damp hair and unbuttoned shirt were indicators. "Why am I here, Warrick?"

I'm not completely sure where things are going with this one, but Fiona and Warrick are going to crash into something that will make them work together and I can't wait to write that for them.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye