At least, that’s what the calendar says. Mother Nature is still trying to make up her mind. But at least the storms have stopped for this week, even if the temperatures are a bit chilly again.
If this is your first visit, let me introduce myself and my worlds.
I write paranormal fantasy romance.
What is that?
My worlds are fantasy worlds, on other planets, or alternate timelines of this one. Some contain elements of psychic abilities, like mental telepathy, telekinesis, and other Talents. This is the main theme in the Esperance Series.
Some are stories about shifters. The Gambler’s Folly Serieshas shifters of all sorts–leopards, panthers, wolves, bears. And more to come!
Some have characters with magical abilities. In Master of the Fleet, our MC, Richard, has command over the elements wind and water. Others can control earth, fire, wind or spirit. Most of these are published under my pen name, Sultonna Nadine.
The next magical book to come out will be Whisky Jug Genie. One of our characters dabbles in white magic. And of course, there is the genie, wielding his own form of magic.
And there is always an element of romance. Some spicier than others, granted, but romance of some sort. The shifter series is a little spicier than the Esperance series is, though it does have its moments.
Yes, here it is the last Friday of February. Wasn’t it just the first of February a few days ago?
Of course, I’m sure the crazy weather around here hasn’t helped much. Just last week we had one night where the temperatures dipped down into the 20’s. Last night? Mid-60’s. My body can’t adjust to this.
But enough of the weather. Let’s talk books!
Here’s something to put on your calendar!
Read an eBook Week is coming to Smashwords March 6! And that means a whole lot of books will be on sale!
What’s not to like about that?
But it only lasts for a week, so make sure to head over there early.
Yes, all my books will be in the sale, from Gambler’s Folly, Esperance, and Master of the Fleet! If you haven’t tried my books yet, or if you need to add to one of the series, now would be a good time.
I’ll remind you and post a link to the sale as soon as it is available, so keep an eye out for it. I don’t know about you, but I love book sales.
This book began as a dream which kept repeating, night after night. Not the beginning, but partway through what became the second chapter. Just the one scene. And every time I would wake up and go back to sleep, it would come back.
Finally, to get it out of my head, I sat down and wrote out the scene that was on repeat in my brain, only to have it pick another scene with the same cast of characters, at some other point in the book.
In order to get a little sleep, I sat down and tried to piece together how these characters came to be where they were in the first scene. Why would they find themselves in this situation? And where would they go from there?
And Jareth, First Lord was born, followed by the continuation of the story in Viviane, First Lady.
The third book in the series is inset into the story flow. Morgan is a character introduced in the first book. I loved her character and wanted to explore who she was and why she had come to Clan Brannach.
The story will continue in the fourth book of the series, which will be out later this year–Too Many Talents.
But what started the whole thing? Let me give you an excerpt!
In the gray light of dawn one week after the postings, the women for The Choosing gathered on the parade grounds of the Belfort estate, nervous and frightened. Striding up to the podium, First Lord Jareth addressed the crowd. “Custom dictates older daughters marry first. With this in mind, I will accept volunteers. Some of you who are younger, with long waits ahead, may wish to try your chances in Clan Brannach. Once the volunteers are accepted, we will choose from those left to make up the tithe.”
While his men recorded the names of the girls who came forward, Jareth once again felt the strange spider on his brain which he’d sensed in the village. Searching the group before him, he was drawn to cascades of black curls shimmering in the soft morning light. About twenty feet away, she was comforting others with a touch or quick hug. Her concern impressed him. As she turned to face him, her dazzling blue eyes captivated his heart.
Regaining his senses, he threaded his way through the crowd. As he drew closer her eyes sparkled like the blue waters of a mountain stream in the sun. Lush dark lashes framed them in perfect contrast to her smooth, creamy skin. Her mouth was a small rosebud begging to be kissed. She appeared to him as a fairy princess come to life. Expecting fear or anger as he approached, all he saw was inner strength shining through sadness. He cultivated his imposing presence, but she rose tall and met his gaze.
As you know, if you’ve read any of the series, there are currently three books available. But, with any luck at all, the next book will be out later this year–Old Flame.
They met at university, graduated and haven’t seen each other since, until they meet by chance on their way to Gambler’s Folly. While they’d never been more than friends, hadn’t even seriously dated, there was an attraction now they couldn’t ignore. But can she fit into his very public world?
Here’s a little teaser–
“How particular can you be if you’re keeping company with me?” she teased.
“As I recall, a long time ago I threatened to spank your bottom,” he teased back.
“Your memory is correct. And I believe I dared you to try it.”
“If you keep it up, I’ll do more than try,” he said and felt his face light up.
“Yeah, right,” she answered. “Think you’re up to all that effort? Rich living hasn’t slowed you down?”
“Not so you’d notice,” he said.
“I guess I’d better stay on my toes.”
“You’d be easier to kiss that way,” he said before he could keep the words from coming out of his mouth.
“Who says we’re going to kiss?”
At least, this is what she said, but her face developed a glow that hadn’t been there before, and her scent grew a little stronger as the tip of her tongue moistened her lips.
“I do,” he told her. “At least once in this life, I’m going to taste that pretty mouth of yours. I missed my opportunity thirty years ago, and I’m not going to wait another thirty years.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“No, sweetheart, that’s a promise.”
After Old Flame we have Scotch and Soulmates. Paul is from the British nobility working for Interpol as a profler. Since he’s also an expert on expensive Scotch, he’s helping out on Gambler’s Folly with counterfeit liquors. Sophia is from the Bronx and a radical feminist, who takes ain instant dislike to Paul, even if she is attracted to him. Mother Nature is going to have fun with these two.
Teaser:
“How do you feel about Paul?” Kari asked.
“He’s arrogant, annoying, smug, and too confident for his own good. He makes me want to crack that composure and see the man underneath the mask. Nobody is that calm all the time.”
“Dangerous territory, Sophia. Once you let the wolf out of the cage, it can be difficult to put him back into it.”
“Oh, I don’t want to let him out, just see him snarl a little, and show he’s actually human.”
“And how does he feel about you?”
“No idea, but I don’t think we’re destined to be best friends.”
“No. But I wouldn’t be surprised to find out you’re soul mates.”
“Be serious! I can’t be around the man for five minutes before my inner bitch comes out,” Sophia answered.
“Then why is your scent changing?” Kari asked. “How does his scent affect you?”
Sophia thought back to the conference room and the scent which slowly filled the space. Visions of heather in bloom, with hints of rich loam, and the sea, overlaid lightly with musk had called to her, building her tensions higher.
“That’s what I thought,” Kari said with a laugh. “His scent attracts you.”
“No, I refuse to take a mate, especially an arrogant Englishman.”
And after this is Unwilling Soulmates. Trevor is originally from Scotland and has worked on Gambler’s Folly for three years up in the Crystal Mountains region. Recently transferred to Speranza, Theresa takes one look at him and immediately dislikes him, but won’t tell anyone why. The tension becomes so difficult around the office, Trevor stops coming into the office and teleconferences with the team when needed.
So when Theresa shows up on the beach during one of his weekend camping trips, he is confused, angry, and completely blindsided when she thows down her mating challenge.
Teaser
“All right, you two. Enough,” Dima barked. “Can we see if there is a way to get past this?”
“Whatever,” the crazy woman answered.
“Now that you’ve worked with Trevor, read his reports, and talked to the guys he works with in the field, don’t you think you could give him a chance to prove himself, rather than instantly relegating him to some ridiculous category?”
“I just don’t like him,” she stated. “Am I not allowed to have a personal dislike for someone?”
“As long as you keep it under wraps at work. But that’s not what you’ve been doing,” Dima told her. “I now have one of my team working from home, with minimal contact with the rest of us, because you can’t control your attitude.”
“Like I said, I can’t seem to control my mouth or emotions around him.”
“What, exactly, have I done to you?” Trevor asked. “I’ve been polite, stayed out of your way, and rearranged my workout to accommodate your schedule. Hell, I even sent you flowers.”
“And we all know you meant them as some sort of insult, you bastard,” she shouted at him. “Was that some crack about my social life? How exactly did you mean those weeds?”
“They weren’t meant as an insult, though at the moment, I doubt I like you any better than you like me. As for being a bastard, I am well acquainted with my father. As a matter of fact, we currently have a good relationship. I’m sure he wouldn’t approve of you or your attitude any more than I do.”
“Is that a fact?” she asked. “And why wouldn’t he approve of me? Too low in the income bracket for his tastes?”
“No. He prefers it if I see women who know how to be ladies instead of screeching harpy fishwives,” Trevor answered, keeping his tone conversational.
“Screeching? Harp… Fishwives?” she sputtered.
“I could have called you an SOB,” he returned.
“Why would you call me a son of a bitch? I am nobody’s son,” she demanded.
“Sorry. In this instance it stands for selfish obnoxious bitch.”
So there’s the lineup from Gambler’s Folly. Sorry you’ll have to wait a bit, but editing takes time. But don’t worry. There is another series and some stand alones coming your way as well.
I’m headed to Gambler’s Follyfor a while. It’s been a while since I visited with Dam and Kari.
What? You aren’t acquainted with the Leone family? We need to fix that right away!
Come with me to Gambler’s Folly. Meet Damiano and Karianna in Book 1 and follow their romance. You’ll also meet Dante, Marco, Paulo, and Nagi, who will pop in every now and again in other stories along the way.
After that, in Book 2, Dante’s Angel, we can go to Italy with the whole bunch for Dam and Kari’s church wedding. And you can share in the joy, frustration, and chaos when Dante finds his soulmate, who happens to be one of Damiano’s cousins.
Book 3, The Russian, introduces a new character–Dmitri Ivanovich Volkov, known as The Russian. He is an anomaly, even for a shifter. Over 500 years old, he found his soulmate over 200 years ago, and held her in his arms as she died. He doesn’t want another mate. The heartache is too great. But Mother Nature has other plans for The Russian.
Where can you meet all these characters?
Go over to the Gambler’s Folly page on Smashwords. For this weekend each book is priced at only $0.99 in the series! And once you have, you can vacation with me!
There is a lot of discussion between those who prefer “real” books and those who like ebooks. And then there are some who prefer an actual physical book, but buy eBooks for the sake of economy or space limitations.
I like a nice hardcover book I can actually hold in my hands. There is something about the smell of a new book the first time you open it, the feel of the cover and the pages as you turn them. I’m not sure what it is, but it isn’t just reading. It’s a sensory experience.
So why do I buy ebooks so often?
Economy. I can buy several ebooks for the price of one hardcover or paperback book. If I’m reading a new author, I might not want to keep it around, so why spend so much on something I’ll never read again.
When I travel, I find it difficult to take along enough books to read in physical form, but I can pack a whole library of eBooks.
I also have eyesight issues which make it difficult to see the printed page. My tablet or Kindle allow me the option of changing the brightness and contrast making it easier to see the words.
Whcih do you prefer? Are you in the e book camp or the physical book crowd? And why?
Whichever format you choose, you can find one of my books to suit your mood. All my books on Amazon are available for Kindle, in paperback, and in hardcover versions. So choose the format you like, pour yourself a cuppa, and enter a fantasy world for a little while.
Check out my book under the name Sultonna Nadine–Master of the Fleet, in a world where elemental magic is real, but won’t necessarily help Richard with his love life.
Yes,January 1 is the last day of the year end book sale over atSmashwords. So if you haven’t checked it out, now is definitely the time.
Is everyone ready for the New Year? What do you have planned for the weekend? We’re just going to hang out with the cats and enjoy the quiet of the countryside.
But if you’re looking for something to read, head on over to the sale. And for tonight and tomorrow only, you’ll find aspecial discount on all my books for the last hurrah of the season.
Hope your Christmas holiday was great and wishing you a wonderful, magical new year.
From all the folks on Gambler’s Folly, Esperance, and the Cote d’Or
That is definitely the question these days. So I thought I would give you a little insight on my decision.
When I first published Gambler’s Folly, I did so through a traditional publisher of romance/erotica. For quite a while after the book came out, it was in the top 10-25 for it’s category, which was Mainstream Sensual.
When I wrote Dante’s Angel, they decided not to pick it up, because sales had been too low for Gambler’s. Most likely, I could have done better with another publisher. This company’s sales were mostly from their erotica–menage and fairly graphic stories. Since then, they have discontinued their Mainstream line altogether.
I published Jareth and Viviane through a hybrid publisher. But again, even though they liked the book and seemed eager to pick it up, it didn’t do as well as I’d hoped. And again, part of that was due to the nature of their other books. Mine was quite different from the rest of their line.
My books are paranormal romance. They also contain elements of fantasy and magic at times, and some intrigue. One series deals with a team of shifters who form a department for Interpol on another world.
The other series is set on a world ruled by multi-gifted First Lords who have several psychic powers. Running through the series is the main story line begun in Book 1, so there is a bit of an intrigue running through it, along with the romance and paranormal.
Under Sultonna Nadine, we get into magic. The book which is out now deals with elemental magic. Our MC controls wind and water as Master of the Fleet for his company. The next book out will deal with trying to remove a curse put on a genie by a witch several hundred years ago.
I understand cross-genre books can be tricky to market, and publishers and agents are a bit skeptical. So what could I do?
I went to Amazon’s KDP and self published all of my books, including the ones I got the rights back for. The process can take a little time, since the different versions, ie. Kindle, paperback, or hardcover, have to be differently formatted. And you have to design your own cover and do your own editing.
Is it worth it?
For me, I feel it is. I have control over the whole process and I don’t take months or years trying to find someone willing to take a chance on me.
Is it right for you?
Only you can answer that.
In the meantime, if you’re a writer, KEEP WRITING.
And I do apologize. Summer has kind of gotten away from me this year, what with my husband in and out of town quite a bit, trying to garden in a thunderstorm, and find a way to walk without drowning.
But other than that, things are moving pretty smoothly here in the Southeast
So what has been happening in my writing?
Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale is still on through July 31 and all of my books are included. Most of them are a name-your-own-price book, a few are a very low price. All the books in the two series and the one published as Sultonna Nadine are there for you to snap up.
I love their Summer Winter sales for trying out new authors, adding more books to a series I’ve started, or just picking something at random. And with the sale prices, I can afford it.
Now, works in progress…
Gregor Thayne has been growing, and I believe I see a path toward the ending. One of the Esperance series stories, it will come after Ben of Blacstone’s Forge, which will come after Too Many Talents, so I have time to finish it and tinker. But I think you’ll like Gregor and his wife Caela. We were introduced to the family Rowan in Viviane, First Lady, at Viviane’s brother’ s trial. First Lord Kinsey was one of the judges on the bench during the proceedings.
Gregor is quite different from his father. More of a rogue than one would expect from the heir to the house, at one time in his life, he ran away from home, fled to the other side of the clan, took his mother’s maiden name, and joined the city guard. Eventually reconciled with his father, he agreed to take up his duties once again, but retained the name change.
On Gambler’s Folly, we have Unwilling Soulmates. Trevor is a leopard shifter from a wealthy family in Scotland, recently transfereed to Speranza from Crystal Mountain. Theresa is from Chicago and has an extreme prejudice against rich kids “playing cop.” Mother Nature is trying to push them toward a mating challenge, but she can’t stand the mention of his name, and her attitude has put him quite off. Every time they meet, she hurls more barbs and insults to the point of the chief threatening her with a three day suspension.
In the meantime, they have a drug issue going on, which this department of shifters is trying to track down. But the suppliers are an elusive bunch. Working with Dmitri, Nagi, and Shoda, Trevor would love to settle in to this new post. But that woman is making things particularly difficult.
Where will this end up? I’m working on that bit. But it will come in after Old Flame and Scotch and Soulmates in the Gambler’s Folly lineup.
Do you follow me on Twitter or Facebook? I’m thinking of starting a weekly snippet on Friday. What do you think? It would be little peeks at my WIP’s as things progress. Leave a comment if you have an opinion.
But do go check out the Book Sale at Smashwords. And check out my profiles on social media. For now, it’s time to sign off and get some writing done. Esperance? Or Gambler’s Folly? Where shall I visit today?
We’ve talked about Esperance and Lady Calloway, but what’s up next for Gambler’s Folly?
Old Flame
They were friends in university thirty years ago, though they never dated. They were simply friends with no strings, no desires beyond that. His family had money to burn while she struggled to make ends meet.
Who would guess that thirty years down the road, with him single and her a widow, they would meet on their way to Gambler’s Folly?
And who would have guessed an attraction, which had been absent in their university days, would suddenly blossom?
Meet Kort Behrens, multi-millionaire tycoon. His family made it big in electronics with the development of a new drive for interstellar shuttles, along with other inventions and developments along the way. After two failed marriages, he’s decided not to risk any more entanglements. Women only wanted to be with him for the money and prestige.
Elizabeth’s husband died four years ago and she has secluded herself in her little mountain home seeing only her Reiki clients and any neighbors who stop by. She has her cat, Puzzle, for company and hasn’t even considered dating, let alone remarrying.
During an altercation in the hotel the night before her flight to Houston to catch the shuttle, a voice from her past intercedes on her behalf. Warm strong hands on her shoulders comfort her as he deals with the situation. But she was not prepared to see her old friend, Kort, alive and in person. And since she rarely listened to the news or paid much attention to the society rags, she didn’t realize that the young man she’d known at uni was the powerful bachelor billionaire in today’s world.
Neither was Kort prepared for their meeting, or for the feelings he developed during their flight to Gambler’s Folly. But he is determined to show her a good time on one of his favorite worlds. If nothing else, he could help her come back out and learn to live again.
Old Flame hasn’t made it to the editor yet, but how about a brief excerpt?
OLD FLAME
Gambler’s Folly Book 4
Checking her reflection in the mirror, she decided she didn’t look bad for a woman of her age. Her hair was beginning to gray a little, but it didn’t show too much in her blond hair. With a final tug at the skirt of her black dress, she slipped on pumps and took the lift to the third floor dining room. She preferred a table which wasn’t out in the open, so it took her a minute to get situated. Once seated, she took a deep breath and began to peruse the menu.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Murphy?”
Staring up at the stranger, she said, “I’m Elizabeth Murphy, yes.”
“It’s about time we met,” the man sneered.
“I don’t know you,” she answered. “What do you want?”
“You may not know me, but you have received several letters from my boss concerning a debt of $10,000. We haven’t received your payment yet.”
“You’re with them? I’ve written back and explained everything to your boss. I don’t know what the debt is for, and I can’t get the money to pay it.”
“May I remind you of a trust your late husband set up for you that you can borrow money against?” the man asked.
“How do you know about that? There is nothing I can do. Go and talk to the attorney who administers the trust. If your claim is legitimate, I’m sure he’ll do what’s right.”
“Mrs. Murphy, it isn’t wise to anger the people I work for. I suggest you find a way to get the money and pay us what you owe.”
“Look,” she said, beginning to panic. “I don’t know who you are, or who your boss is, but I’ve never owed anyone that kind of money in my life. And I can’t imagine Joe did either.”
“Mrs. Murphy,” he began again.
“No! Go away. Go talk to the attorney, but leave me alone.”
Her whole attention had been on the man across the table, but she suddenly felt warm, strong hands on her shoulders.
“Listen, friend,” a deep and vaguely familiar voice said. “You have the lady’s answer. Anything more from you is harassment. Call it a night.”
“This is none of your business. It’s a private affair. Go away.”
“Your private affair became my business when you shouted it across the dining room. You are bullying this poor woman, who I understand has lost her husband. Say good night.”
“Listen, buddy, I don’t know who you think you are, but I can make big trouble for you,” the man threatened.
One of the hands lifted from her shoulder and she heard the man behind her speak into his com.
“Security? Behrens here. I need to have someone escorted off the property from the third floor dining room. I’ve sent a photo.”
“You can’t do that!” the man across the table shouted.
“I think you’ll find I can,” he answered as his hand returned to her shoulder. Liz felt so much safer with him here.
Almost immediately, two security guards from the hotel came down and took the man into custody.
“Anything else, sir?” one of them asked.
“No, thank you. He was making a nuisance of himself and upsetting this lady. We were going to have dinner.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
As they took the man away, Liz felt drained and slumped into her chair. The hands left her shoulders, and the man came around to kneel in front of her.
“I’m sorry your stay here has been marred,” he said and then stopped abruptly, looking startled. “Liz? I mean, are you Elizabeth Stockton?”
Looking up into dazzling blue eyes that could belong to nobody else, she asked, “Kort? Is that you?”
“Yes. Liz, what are you doing in my neck of the woods?”
For some unknown reason, she sprang out of her chair and threw her arms around him. Tears she’d held back began to trickle down her face.
“Hey, it’s all right. I’ve got you. You’re going to mess up your makeup,” he told her softly.
Forcing herself to give him some space, she dabbed at the tears with the handkerchief he offered.
“I’m Elizabeth Murphy now. Our kids sent me tickets for my birthday, so I could come visit them.”
“How many kids do you have?” he asked.
“Two, a son and a daughter. Our daughter has two sons, who are eight and ten. What about you?”
“No. I married right after university, but it didn’t work out. A few years later, I tried again, and it lasted less than a year. I’ve been a bachelor most of the time since we last saw each other.”
“That’s a shame,” Liz said. “You were always such a sweet guy.”
With a hearty laugh, which was as delightful and sincere as she remembered, he said, “I know quite a few people who would disagree with you. Would you join me for dinner? We could catch up on old times.”
Seated comfortably at his table, she picked up the menu and began to look for something relatively inexpensive. She knew it was included in her holiday package, but she hated to waste money, even if it wasn’t coming out of her wallet..
“Liz, get whatever you like. It’s on me tonight,” Kort told her.
“Oh, no. I couldn’t,” she insisted. “Anyway, I’m sure you’ve got better things to do with your money.”
“Not really. I have loads of the stuff. Why not enjoy it?”
“Seriously? What do you do for a living?”
The look he gave her was part amusement and part surprise before he asked, “Do you watch the news?”
“Yes. Well, not watch. I listen to the news while I putter. Why?”
And then her mind put the facts together and she began to sputter.
“Oh! You’re that Kort Behrens–the billionaire who is always on TV?”
“Right in one,” he said with a smile. “How many Kort Behrens do you know?”
“Oh, Kort, or Mr. Behrens, you must have better things to do than entertain me. I’ll go order something from room service. Thank you for your help and everything,” she said as she began to push her chair away from the table.
“Liz, sit down. Please,” he insisted firmly. “I may be wealthy, but I love to visit with old friends. People who knew me before the media splashed my life all over the world.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “I don’t even know how to talk to you. I can’t believe the Kort Behrens I knew became one of the wealthiest people on Earth.”
“Sit down. Forget the money. I’m Kort, Liz, the guy who almost lost you over a balcony one night.”
“Oh my gosh! I’d almost forgotten that dance.”
“It wasn’t one of my better moments,” he said.
“Nice save, though,” she added.
“Thank you.”
They talked over dinner and wine before he suggested a walk around the gardens. She had forgotten how big the man was. He towered over her. If he was anything like he’d been at university, there was no fat concealed under his three piece suit. It was all washboard muscle. It was a good thing he had such a mild mannered way.
“Are you headed back east tomorrow?” he asked her.
“It’s sort of funny, considering I don’t travel much, but I’m not. I’m headed to Houston.”
“What’s in Houston?”
“The kids bought me a vacation package—transportation and four weeks of vacation on Gambler’s Folly.”
“Five o’clock shuttle?” he asked with a curious look.
“Yes, as a matter of fact. Why?”
“This is quite a coincidence. I’m booked on the same shuttle.”
“To Gambler’s Folly? You’re kidding,” she said in amazement.
“What flight are you on tomorrow morning?” he asked.
“I’m on the ten o’clock Delta flight. Why?”
“I can call and have your money refunded if you’d rather fly with me. There are fewer lines and hassles when you fly corporate.”
“Seriously? Won’t I be in your way?”
“Not at all. Once I get to Gambler’s Folly I’ll have a couple things to check on for business, but for the rest of the time, I’m on vacation. Just plain old rest and relaxation.”
“I don’t know, Kort,” she said, hesitantly.
“Say yes, Liz. It’ll be fun.”
“If you’re sure,” she told him, not sure why she was agreeing.
“Perfect! I’ll have my driver get your luggage in the morning. We need to leave by nine-thirty, which will get us into Houston early enough to have a late lunch before we go on to the Spaceport. Do you have all your paperwork ready?”
“Yes, Kate and I made sure of that before she left the hotel.”
They chatted all the way back to the hotel, where they were besieged by people with cameras.
“Is this a new girlfriend, Mr. Behrens?” one of the reporters asked.
“No, Liz is an old flame from my university days. Say hello, Liz,” he said with a smile.
“Hello,” she managed as Kort turned away from the reporters and entered the hotel.
“Sorry about that. I hadn’t expected them so soon. I’m glad we’ll be off planet tomorrow night. By the time we get back, they’ll have something else to talk about, hopefully.”
“I hope so. I never thought about reporters,” she said, still a little shaken. “Old flame?”
He grinned widely at her expression, winked at her, and put his arm around her shoulders. When they got to her room, he looked deeply into her eyes for a moment.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said before he pressed a warm, gentle kiss to her cheek. “Sweet dreams, Liz.”
It may be just a little while before this is ready to be published, but it is in the process.
