Julie Coulter Bellon's Blog, page 188
September 6, 2015
McRoll Part 5--We've Got This
This is for Lucky and all my McRoll girls. Never give up hope! There is one more part after this, to finish off my version of McRoll from the last season finale. Not much longer and we'll get our season opener, hopefully with some amazing McRoll moments! *fingers crossed*
As always, I do not own these characters and this is just for fun and entertainment purposes.
Part 5
We've Got This
Catherine stood at the table where she’d been so many times in the past, listening to Kono tell them what she’d found. This time, though, the crisis was unlike anything they’d ever faced. So many people would be killed and hurt, the island irrevocably changed if they didn’t find that nuke. Her heart sank, seeing what they were really up against. Could they really find it with so little time?
She gripped the edge of the table. They could and they would do this. They had to. This team was the only chance the island had. And every face that surrounded that computer screen trying to save the day was dear to her. That was the one and only bright spot to the entire thing¾being here with Steve and her closest friends. She couldn’t imagine how it would have felt if she’d been halfway around the world and something had happened to any of them.
That was the real problem, though. She’d stayed away, used her time in Afghanistan to try and forget what she was leaving behind here to pay her debt there. In the end, it felt like she’d paid a hundredfold. Life had gone on for them and stood still for her. How many nights had she lain awake in the heat of that faraway country wondering¾did Steve miss her as much as she missed him? Did the team ever think about her? Had her sacrifice been worth it?
She brought her mind back to the present when Chin came in, giving them a solid lead on where the nuke could be. They headed out and as they reached the door, Steve held it open for her. She gave him a small smile, which he returned. Just like old times. How often had she watched this team save the world? And they would do it again, she had no doubt.
They slipped into their routine, as if Catherine had never left and she was grateful. With Kono beside her in the car, running back up for the boys, her nerves settled down a bit. She kept a close distance between her and Steve, matching his driving skills when he whipped around the corner and cut off the trolley. Within seconds she was out of the car with Kono, guns drawn.
Muscle memory took over as Steve took care of things and she watched his back. He really is amazing to watch in action, she thought. Cool, collected, and in charge. Even with a nuke in front of him. But when Catherine glimpsed that nuke and heard Steve tell Danny they couldn’t disarm it, her palms began to sweat. A nuclear weapon might be the one thing bigger than even Steve McGarrett. It was too dangerous.
She didn’t voice her thoughts as Steve made the decision not to wait for the military to come and disarm it. They all rallied to help him, as they always did. It’s logical,she told herself, but it didn’t calm her at all. So many risks with his life and Danny’s.
As if he could read her thoughts, Steve called to her. “Catherine, we’re going to take care of this and get it on the helo. You be the lead, okay?” His voice soothed her and when he glanced at her for confirmation, all she could do was nod. She would always help him, always be there when he needed her. That was something he didn’t need to question.
But questions were still running through her mind. Even though she would lead the way and get him there as fast as possible, what if he didn’t come back? What if they didn’t get a chance to talk and she could tell him how she really felt? There was so much she wanted to say, but the words clogged in her throat. She turned away and got in the car. Focus. Steve needs you if he’s going to get the nuke off the island. In her heart she knew the only person who could do it was Steve. And she would do whatever he asked her to do.
As she drove, she watched him in her rearview, assuring herself he was still there. So many scenarios ran through her mind as to what could happen. Fear began to squeeze her heart, but she pushed it back. They could do it. Kono reached over and touched her arm. “It’ll be okay.”
Catherine tried to smile, but felt the tears stinging the back of her eyes. “We’ve got this.”
They didn’t say anything else, each lost in their own thoughts. Getting out of the car, she watched Steve unload the nuke from the trolley, feeling helpless, wanting to go to him and knowing she couldn’t. There was no way she would let him see her emotion when he needed her to be strong. Steve gave her a quick look, his eyes serious, telling her the things he couldn’t say. There was no time for words, but she knew what he was thinking anyway. She was thinking the same thing.
They needed more time.
As she watched the helo fly away, it felt like her heart was flying away with it. Come back to me, she thought. Shielding her eyes until the helo was only a black dot on the horizon, she looked heavenward and murmured. “Please.”
As always, I do not own these characters and this is just for fun and entertainment purposes.
Part 5
We've Got This
Catherine stood at the table where she’d been so many times in the past, listening to Kono tell them what she’d found. This time, though, the crisis was unlike anything they’d ever faced. So many people would be killed and hurt, the island irrevocably changed if they didn’t find that nuke. Her heart sank, seeing what they were really up against. Could they really find it with so little time?
She gripped the edge of the table. They could and they would do this. They had to. This team was the only chance the island had. And every face that surrounded that computer screen trying to save the day was dear to her. That was the one and only bright spot to the entire thing¾being here with Steve and her closest friends. She couldn’t imagine how it would have felt if she’d been halfway around the world and something had happened to any of them.
That was the real problem, though. She’d stayed away, used her time in Afghanistan to try and forget what she was leaving behind here to pay her debt there. In the end, it felt like she’d paid a hundredfold. Life had gone on for them and stood still for her. How many nights had she lain awake in the heat of that faraway country wondering¾did Steve miss her as much as she missed him? Did the team ever think about her? Had her sacrifice been worth it?
She brought her mind back to the present when Chin came in, giving them a solid lead on where the nuke could be. They headed out and as they reached the door, Steve held it open for her. She gave him a small smile, which he returned. Just like old times. How often had she watched this team save the world? And they would do it again, she had no doubt.
They slipped into their routine, as if Catherine had never left and she was grateful. With Kono beside her in the car, running back up for the boys, her nerves settled down a bit. She kept a close distance between her and Steve, matching his driving skills when he whipped around the corner and cut off the trolley. Within seconds she was out of the car with Kono, guns drawn.
Muscle memory took over as Steve took care of things and she watched his back. He really is amazing to watch in action, she thought. Cool, collected, and in charge. Even with a nuke in front of him. But when Catherine glimpsed that nuke and heard Steve tell Danny they couldn’t disarm it, her palms began to sweat. A nuclear weapon might be the one thing bigger than even Steve McGarrett. It was too dangerous.
She didn’t voice her thoughts as Steve made the decision not to wait for the military to come and disarm it. They all rallied to help him, as they always did. It’s logical,she told herself, but it didn’t calm her at all. So many risks with his life and Danny’s.
As if he could read her thoughts, Steve called to her. “Catherine, we’re going to take care of this and get it on the helo. You be the lead, okay?” His voice soothed her and when he glanced at her for confirmation, all she could do was nod. She would always help him, always be there when he needed her. That was something he didn’t need to question.
But questions were still running through her mind. Even though she would lead the way and get him there as fast as possible, what if he didn’t come back? What if they didn’t get a chance to talk and she could tell him how she really felt? There was so much she wanted to say, but the words clogged in her throat. She turned away and got in the car. Focus. Steve needs you if he’s going to get the nuke off the island. In her heart she knew the only person who could do it was Steve. And she would do whatever he asked her to do.
As she drove, she watched him in her rearview, assuring herself he was still there. So many scenarios ran through her mind as to what could happen. Fear began to squeeze her heart, but she pushed it back. They could do it. Kono reached over and touched her arm. “It’ll be okay.”
Catherine tried to smile, but felt the tears stinging the back of her eyes. “We’ve got this.”
They didn’t say anything else, each lost in their own thoughts. Getting out of the car, she watched Steve unload the nuke from the trolley, feeling helpless, wanting to go to him and knowing she couldn’t. There was no way she would let him see her emotion when he needed her to be strong. Steve gave her a quick look, his eyes serious, telling her the things he couldn’t say. There was no time for words, but she knew what he was thinking anyway. She was thinking the same thing.
They needed more time.
As she watched the helo fly away, it felt like her heart was flying away with it. Come back to me, she thought. Shielding her eyes until the helo was only a black dot on the horizon, she looked heavenward and murmured. “Please.”
September 4, 2015
Freebie Friday (TWO Freebies Today!)
I have two freebie for you today and they both look awesome!
The first one is I, Spy by Jordan McCollum. This was a fantastic romantic suspense and was a Whitney Award finalist, but it's also a book that is on my keeper shelf! You can read my review of it here
and download your free Kindle copy here
Here's the back copy:
Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.
It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?
She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn’t the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.
Clean romantic suspense novel featuring love, lies, secrets & spies; volume one in a clean romantic suspense trilogy. Get a free, award-nominated prequel novel inside!
The second freebie is To Sleep No More by Kathleen Marks. I haven't read this one yet, but it has a paranormal sensitive cat in it, so who wouldn't want to read about that?
You can download your free Kindle copy here
Here's the back copy:
She's heartbroken. He's the man who loves her.
In this tale of romance, suspense, and fantastical mystery, preternaturalist Alexandra (Alex) Dalton and her paranormal sensitive cat are hunting for the person who kidnapped and murdered Alex’s three-year-old daughter when her uncle’s deathbed request sends her across the country to solve two mysterious Night Hag murders. The worst part? She must once again risk her heart as she joins forces with her estranged husband, the handsome treasure hunter, Richard Dalton.
The first one is I, Spy by Jordan McCollum. This was a fantastic romantic suspense and was a Whitney Award finalist, but it's also a book that is on my keeper shelf! You can read my review of it here
and download your free Kindle copy here
Here's the back copy:
Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.
It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?
She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn’t the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.
Clean romantic suspense novel featuring love, lies, secrets & spies; volume one in a clean romantic suspense trilogy. Get a free, award-nominated prequel novel inside!
The second freebie is To Sleep No More by Kathleen Marks. I haven't read this one yet, but it has a paranormal sensitive cat in it, so who wouldn't want to read about that?
You can download your free Kindle copy here
Here's the back copy:
She's heartbroken. He's the man who loves her.
In this tale of romance, suspense, and fantastical mystery, preternaturalist Alexandra (Alex) Dalton and her paranormal sensitive cat are hunting for the person who kidnapped and murdered Alex’s three-year-old daughter when her uncle’s deathbed request sends her across the country to solve two mysterious Night Hag murders. The worst part? She must once again risk her heart as she joins forces with her estranged husband, the handsome treasure hunter, Richard Dalton.
September 3, 2015
Mysteries of Cove Book Trailer!
My son and I got to be extras in the Mysteries of Cove book trailer a while back and the trailer is out! You can see the back of my head in the first crowd scene (middle back) and my son is in the front near the guy speaking. So cool!
But the best part is, the book trailer is fantastic! This is a book your whole family will love. It will be out at the end of this month. You can preorder your hardback copy for $13.94 here
September 2, 2015
McRoll Part 4--Just Say It
Well, after some lousy spoilers, I thought I'd post Part 4 to cheer up my McRoll girls. (I know it's usually Writer Goal Wednesday, but just for today, we'll have McRoll Wednesday!)
There are two more parts that I'll hopefully be posting before the weekend! I hope you like this one. As always, I do not own these characters and this is just for entertainment.
(And in case you missed it, this is my McRoll fic of Catherine and Steve and what was going on with them in last season's finale.)
If you've missed the other parts, you can find them here:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4Just Say It
Steve was up early to make some phone calls about Sameer. It was like the guy had just disappeared with a nuke and every lead turned into a dead end. Steve ran his hands through his hair, his frustration level rising. He needed a run to get some of this energy out and clear his head. He grabbed his running clothes and shoes and changed before he slipped quietly out of the house, not wanting to wake Catherine. He pounded the sand, the monotonous rhythm soothing as he thought through his options. Sameer had to have reached out to someone to buy that nuke. That was the only logical explanation. And he was going to find this guy if it was the last thing he did. And that meant he needed to call Anders. He was his last resort guy, the person he’d never call unless he was out of options. And that’s where he was at.
With that settled, his mind turned to Catherine and the options he had there. Having her home was a great start. He just needed to figure out a way to talk to her. Maybe he’d just ask her what her plans were, get it out there. Today. His feet slowed and he walked the last bit home, watching the sun on the water. It was one of the most beautiful, clear days they'd had in a while and maybe that was a good omen. No matter what happened, though, his mood was considerably better than what it was when he started his run.
He unlocked the door and went inside, reminded of how many times Catherine had done that run with him. She loved the water almost as much as he did and the way running in the sand felt. The last time they’d run that route, though, they’d ended up in the surf, laughing and kissing, the water running over them like a cool blanket as he held her.
Pushing that memory aside, he walked to the kitchen, the house as quiet as it always was. The jet lag had really knocked Catherine out. He went to the fridge to get a bottle of water and noticed her suitcase stashed in the corner between the kitchen and living room, the same place it had been when he’d seen it yesterday. Had she set it down and watched for him to come in from his swim from the kitchen window? And if she was staying, why hadn’t she taken it upstairs? So many questions and no answers.
He finished off his water and grabbed the suitcase. For now, she was staying and she would need her stuff when she woke up. He carried it up the stairs and carefully opened his bedroom door. Setting the luggage down where she would see it, he turned to watch her for a minute. She was curled around his pillow and in that instant, he wished it was him she was holding and not just his pillow. He rubbed his hand over his neck, his thoughts drifting back to the last morning they’d spent together. He’d woken up before her and watched her sleep, just like he was doing now. She had this smile on her face, just a small one that let you know she was thinking of something happy. Does she dream about me as much as I dream about her? With a sigh, he went into the bathroom and turned on the water. A cold shower was just what he needed. Maybe he’d even splurge and make it an extra long one today.
Once he was done, he dried off and grabbed his tux pants and shirt. He needed to get dressed for Kono’s wedding, but he planned to put off wearing the tie and jacket until he absolutely had to. He’d call Anders, make something to eat, and then finish dressing for the wedding. Kono wanted to make sure everyone was on time and he didn’t want to disappoint her. With one last look at a sleeping Catherine, he went downstairs.
Pulling out his phone, he took a deep breath. The last time he’d talked to Anders, the guy had been a CIA gopher with zero clout. Now he was a department head with access to a lot of resources Steve needed pointed at finding Sameer. Dialing the number, Anders picked up on the second ring. “Anders, it’s McGarrett.” He glanced at his watch, forgetting about the time difference between them. Getting the guy up early probably wouldn’t help his cause, but it was too late now. “I’m assuming you know about Sameer and the nuke. Do you have any chatter or information we can use to find him?”
Anders didn’t seem to mind the lack of pleasantries and followed Steve’s lead, getting right down to business. “Nothing. It’s like they disappeared and no one’s talking. We got the same results every other agency did. The last ping on Sameer was off your shoreline, and that’s it.”
He sounded cranky, like he hadn’t had his morning coffee, but Steve pressed on. “And there weren’t any ships he could have hidden on?”
“McGarrett, we’ve checked them all. The Coast Guard has been busy all night, I swear.”
“Didn’t the CIA have a guy working on the inside?” Steve pulled out the frying pan, cramming the phone between his shoulder and his ear.
“You know I can’t answer that.” His tone was flat and Steve could imagine his face. Anders was a by the book kind of guy and didn’t like it when anyone strayed beyond those rules. It wasn’t an effective strategy all the time, but Steve respected him for it.
“Okay, can we speak hypothetically? Do you have any way of getting inside information?” Steve leaned against the counter, knowing what he wanted Anders’ answer to be.
“No.”
Steve took a deep breath. Did that mean "no" Anders wouldn’t speak hypothetically or "no" there’s no way of getting information? “So you’ve got nothing?”
“Well, we know where Sameer isn’t. That’s something.”
Steve could hear papers rustling in the background and knew their conversation and Anders' patience was coming to an end. “Thanks anyway, Anders. Let me know if anything comes up.”
“Don’t act like you’re going to wait for my call, McGarrett. I know I’ll be hearing from you in an hour.” He hung up.
Steve put his phone back in his pocket with a smile. Even though Anders acted all gruff and tough, he would help Steve out. He knew it. He got the scrambled eggs ready, making an extra big helping for Catherine. She needed food. And protein.
He went through his email while he was waiting for the food to finish, checking for any other new leads when his phone rang. After a glance at the caller ID, he quickly answered it, hoping for good news. “Danny, what’s going on?”
“I’m on my way over. You ready?”
“Yeah.” He glanced at the ceiling, hearing Catherine walking around. Within a few moments, the shower started.
“Steve? Earth to Steve. Is Catherine still there?”
“Yeah.” He took another bite of his late breakfast, trying to decide if he should wait down here for Catherine or give her some space.
“Really.”
Danny drew out the word. There was so much meaning behind it. Steve could hear Danny asking a million silent questions, but Steve wouldn’t go there. Not yet. “See you in a few.”
He finished making up the toast and left it on the table for her, buttered with jam, just how she liked it. It would probably feel like too much if he were sitting there waiting for her. And he needed another few minutes to decide how to ask her what was going on. I’m not running. I’m planning, he told himself. But he hated feeling unsure, especially about them. His relationship with her had once been the only thing he could count on. Leaving the plate, he walked outside. Maybe they both just needed a little space.
Heading to his favorite spot, he put on his jacket and tie and looked out over the ocean, different scenarios running through his mind. Hey, Cath, what are your plans? Or, I know you came back for the wedding, are you leaving when it’s over? But it wasn’t like he could ambush her with it the moment she came outside. He had to figure out a way to ease into it.
Danny got to the house in record time, interrupting his thoughts. Thankfully he guessed that Steve was thinking about Sameer and Steve let him. Catherine wasn’t something he could discuss. Not until he’d talked to her. He quickly brought up Charlie, offering to help pick up Gracie, anything to distract Danny from asking about Catherine. But when she walked out and interrupted Danny’s train of thought, everything Steve had contemplated saying to her went out of his mind. “Wow.”
“So you approve?” She pointed toward her dress and his mouth went dry.
He did more than approve. No matter what, she was always beautiful to him, whether she was in fatigues or fancy gowns. But this time she was seriously stunning. “Wow.” He very nearly reached out for her, but pulled his hands back at the last second.
“I’m going to let you two talk and maybe you’ll come up with more than one syllable. I’ll see you both at the wedding.” Danny waved goodbye and Steve hoped he could think of more than one syllable. It wasn’t looking good.
Catherine came close to him, touching his jacket lapels, before she looked up into his face. For just a moment the spark that had always been between them flared to life and it was as if they had never spent any time apart. “You look very, very, handsome,” she said, her voice low.
His hands ached to hold her, to touch her, but he kept them at his side. “Thank you. You, uh, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
He looked down at her and knew the moment of truth had come. He looked back toward the house, then met her eyes. Just say it. “So, after the wedding, how long are you planning on staying?” He watched her face, hoping he could see a hint of her answer before she said it, to somehow prepare himself.
She didn’t meet his eyes at first and his ribcage tightened as he held his breath. Was this it? Were they over? Was she leaving again? “I don’t know.” She searched his face. “How long do you want me to stay?”
So many answers ran through his head in the space of a heartbeat. This was uncharted territory. He’d always gone with his gut, but right now his gut was warring with his head. He felt raw, exposed, and maybe even needing to protect himself. Yet, he’d never been afraid to put himself out there before. This was Catherine. She knew him better than almost anyone. But in this moment, he needed her to meet him halfway. He opened his mouth to tell her that, but he couldn’t get any words out before his phone rang.
“Saved by the bell.”
Steve groaned inwardly. He needed to tell her. Talk to her. Hear her answers. Hold her. Figure things out. But once again, he had to brush it all aside and answer his phone. More like the “bell” was slowly killing him. “McGarrett.”
There are two more parts that I'll hopefully be posting before the weekend! I hope you like this one. As always, I do not own these characters and this is just for entertainment.
(And in case you missed it, this is my McRoll fic of Catherine and Steve and what was going on with them in last season's finale.)
If you've missed the other parts, you can find them here:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4Just Say It
Steve was up early to make some phone calls about Sameer. It was like the guy had just disappeared with a nuke and every lead turned into a dead end. Steve ran his hands through his hair, his frustration level rising. He needed a run to get some of this energy out and clear his head. He grabbed his running clothes and shoes and changed before he slipped quietly out of the house, not wanting to wake Catherine. He pounded the sand, the monotonous rhythm soothing as he thought through his options. Sameer had to have reached out to someone to buy that nuke. That was the only logical explanation. And he was going to find this guy if it was the last thing he did. And that meant he needed to call Anders. He was his last resort guy, the person he’d never call unless he was out of options. And that’s where he was at.
With that settled, his mind turned to Catherine and the options he had there. Having her home was a great start. He just needed to figure out a way to talk to her. Maybe he’d just ask her what her plans were, get it out there. Today. His feet slowed and he walked the last bit home, watching the sun on the water. It was one of the most beautiful, clear days they'd had in a while and maybe that was a good omen. No matter what happened, though, his mood was considerably better than what it was when he started his run.
He unlocked the door and went inside, reminded of how many times Catherine had done that run with him. She loved the water almost as much as he did and the way running in the sand felt. The last time they’d run that route, though, they’d ended up in the surf, laughing and kissing, the water running over them like a cool blanket as he held her.
Pushing that memory aside, he walked to the kitchen, the house as quiet as it always was. The jet lag had really knocked Catherine out. He went to the fridge to get a bottle of water and noticed her suitcase stashed in the corner between the kitchen and living room, the same place it had been when he’d seen it yesterday. Had she set it down and watched for him to come in from his swim from the kitchen window? And if she was staying, why hadn’t she taken it upstairs? So many questions and no answers.
He finished off his water and grabbed the suitcase. For now, she was staying and she would need her stuff when she woke up. He carried it up the stairs and carefully opened his bedroom door. Setting the luggage down where she would see it, he turned to watch her for a minute. She was curled around his pillow and in that instant, he wished it was him she was holding and not just his pillow. He rubbed his hand over his neck, his thoughts drifting back to the last morning they’d spent together. He’d woken up before her and watched her sleep, just like he was doing now. She had this smile on her face, just a small one that let you know she was thinking of something happy. Does she dream about me as much as I dream about her? With a sigh, he went into the bathroom and turned on the water. A cold shower was just what he needed. Maybe he’d even splurge and make it an extra long one today.
Once he was done, he dried off and grabbed his tux pants and shirt. He needed to get dressed for Kono’s wedding, but he planned to put off wearing the tie and jacket until he absolutely had to. He’d call Anders, make something to eat, and then finish dressing for the wedding. Kono wanted to make sure everyone was on time and he didn’t want to disappoint her. With one last look at a sleeping Catherine, he went downstairs.
Pulling out his phone, he took a deep breath. The last time he’d talked to Anders, the guy had been a CIA gopher with zero clout. Now he was a department head with access to a lot of resources Steve needed pointed at finding Sameer. Dialing the number, Anders picked up on the second ring. “Anders, it’s McGarrett.” He glanced at his watch, forgetting about the time difference between them. Getting the guy up early probably wouldn’t help his cause, but it was too late now. “I’m assuming you know about Sameer and the nuke. Do you have any chatter or information we can use to find him?”
Anders didn’t seem to mind the lack of pleasantries and followed Steve’s lead, getting right down to business. “Nothing. It’s like they disappeared and no one’s talking. We got the same results every other agency did. The last ping on Sameer was off your shoreline, and that’s it.”
He sounded cranky, like he hadn’t had his morning coffee, but Steve pressed on. “And there weren’t any ships he could have hidden on?”
“McGarrett, we’ve checked them all. The Coast Guard has been busy all night, I swear.”
“Didn’t the CIA have a guy working on the inside?” Steve pulled out the frying pan, cramming the phone between his shoulder and his ear.
“You know I can’t answer that.” His tone was flat and Steve could imagine his face. Anders was a by the book kind of guy and didn’t like it when anyone strayed beyond those rules. It wasn’t an effective strategy all the time, but Steve respected him for it.
“Okay, can we speak hypothetically? Do you have any way of getting inside information?” Steve leaned against the counter, knowing what he wanted Anders’ answer to be.
“No.”
Steve took a deep breath. Did that mean "no" Anders wouldn’t speak hypothetically or "no" there’s no way of getting information? “So you’ve got nothing?”
“Well, we know where Sameer isn’t. That’s something.”
Steve could hear papers rustling in the background and knew their conversation and Anders' patience was coming to an end. “Thanks anyway, Anders. Let me know if anything comes up.”
“Don’t act like you’re going to wait for my call, McGarrett. I know I’ll be hearing from you in an hour.” He hung up.
Steve put his phone back in his pocket with a smile. Even though Anders acted all gruff and tough, he would help Steve out. He knew it. He got the scrambled eggs ready, making an extra big helping for Catherine. She needed food. And protein.
He went through his email while he was waiting for the food to finish, checking for any other new leads when his phone rang. After a glance at the caller ID, he quickly answered it, hoping for good news. “Danny, what’s going on?”
“I’m on my way over. You ready?”
“Yeah.” He glanced at the ceiling, hearing Catherine walking around. Within a few moments, the shower started.
“Steve? Earth to Steve. Is Catherine still there?”
“Yeah.” He took another bite of his late breakfast, trying to decide if he should wait down here for Catherine or give her some space.
“Really.”
Danny drew out the word. There was so much meaning behind it. Steve could hear Danny asking a million silent questions, but Steve wouldn’t go there. Not yet. “See you in a few.”
He finished making up the toast and left it on the table for her, buttered with jam, just how she liked it. It would probably feel like too much if he were sitting there waiting for her. And he needed another few minutes to decide how to ask her what was going on. I’m not running. I’m planning, he told himself. But he hated feeling unsure, especially about them. His relationship with her had once been the only thing he could count on. Leaving the plate, he walked outside. Maybe they both just needed a little space.
Heading to his favorite spot, he put on his jacket and tie and looked out over the ocean, different scenarios running through his mind. Hey, Cath, what are your plans? Or, I know you came back for the wedding, are you leaving when it’s over? But it wasn’t like he could ambush her with it the moment she came outside. He had to figure out a way to ease into it.
Danny got to the house in record time, interrupting his thoughts. Thankfully he guessed that Steve was thinking about Sameer and Steve let him. Catherine wasn’t something he could discuss. Not until he’d talked to her. He quickly brought up Charlie, offering to help pick up Gracie, anything to distract Danny from asking about Catherine. But when she walked out and interrupted Danny’s train of thought, everything Steve had contemplated saying to her went out of his mind. “Wow.”
“So you approve?” She pointed toward her dress and his mouth went dry.
He did more than approve. No matter what, she was always beautiful to him, whether she was in fatigues or fancy gowns. But this time she was seriously stunning. “Wow.” He very nearly reached out for her, but pulled his hands back at the last second.
“I’m going to let you two talk and maybe you’ll come up with more than one syllable. I’ll see you both at the wedding.” Danny waved goodbye and Steve hoped he could think of more than one syllable. It wasn’t looking good.
Catherine came close to him, touching his jacket lapels, before she looked up into his face. For just a moment the spark that had always been between them flared to life and it was as if they had never spent any time apart. “You look very, very, handsome,” she said, her voice low.
His hands ached to hold her, to touch her, but he kept them at his side. “Thank you. You, uh, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
He looked down at her and knew the moment of truth had come. He looked back toward the house, then met her eyes. Just say it. “So, after the wedding, how long are you planning on staying?” He watched her face, hoping he could see a hint of her answer before she said it, to somehow prepare himself.
She didn’t meet his eyes at first and his ribcage tightened as he held his breath. Was this it? Were they over? Was she leaving again? “I don’t know.” She searched his face. “How long do you want me to stay?”
So many answers ran through his head in the space of a heartbeat. This was uncharted territory. He’d always gone with his gut, but right now his gut was warring with his head. He felt raw, exposed, and maybe even needing to protect himself. Yet, he’d never been afraid to put himself out there before. This was Catherine. She knew him better than almost anyone. But in this moment, he needed her to meet him halfway. He opened his mouth to tell her that, but he couldn’t get any words out before his phone rang.
“Saved by the bell.”
Steve groaned inwardly. He needed to tell her. Talk to her. Hear her answers. Hold her. Figure things out. But once again, he had to brush it all aside and answer his phone. More like the “bell” was slowly killing him. “McGarrett.”
September 1, 2015
Look What I Got!
I am so excited to show you the new Julie Coulter Bellon Books tote bag! It's extra roomy and heavy duty and I really love it. Plus, it's fun seeing some of my favorite book covers on there. What do you think? I bet I could fit a lot of library books in there!
I'll be giving away one of these tote bags filled with prizes any Book Lover would want, so stay tuned!
I'll be giving away one of these tote bags filled with prizes any Book Lover would want, so stay tuned!
August 31, 2015
Book Review & Giveaway for Joni, Underway (Hey That Rhymes!)
I am super excited to be part of the blog tour for Joni, Underway by Kelly Oram and Jonathan Harrow. I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I have to say, I was impressed.
We first meet Joni while she's in the middle of a college softball game that her team will win or lose depending on what she does at the plate. I loved her inner voice and how easy it was to relate to her and not wanting to screw up. During the aftermath of the game, however, Joni gets devastating news---her brother has been killed in a car accident.
That event turns her life upside down. She hadn't been close to her brother for years and now that chance was taken away forever. He'd been the traveler of the family and had an amazing trip planned that he was weeks away from taking before he was killed. Joni ends up going on the trip herself to escape everyone who is trying to help her cope with her loss. But it's on the sailing ship that she truly finds herself.
I loved the characters in this story with all their quirks and warts. Their personal stories and how they were all meshing into each other's lives kept me turning pages long after I should have been asleep. (For my gentle readers, there is strong language in this book.) I liked the growth in Joni's character, which only added to her relationship with Reid and how it evolved over the trip. *le sigh* (Reid was an amazing hero. Truly.) They all became family and with the way it was written, the reader became family along with them.
This is a story that will make you think about it long after you've read the end.
You can download your Kindle copy here
for $4.99!Here's the back copy:
Nineteen year old Joni is loving life as an adult—living on her own, dealing with grown-up things like jobs, hook-ups, and doing her own laundry. Best of all: after finishing her first year at ASU, she will never again be called a freshman.
But when her brother is suddenly killed in a car accident, Joni’s adult life is turned upside down. Struggling to cope with loss, guilt, and anger—not to mention the meddling of friends and family trying to “fix” her—Joni is relieved to be presented with an escape in the form of a sailing trip her brother had been planning for months before he died.
With her first step onto the sailing vessel Lady Marguerite, Joni plunges into an adventure that will mark the beginning of her real adult life—a journey across the ominous dark blue of the Atlantic Ocean with a small, eccentric crew, and the young Captain Reid, whose gorgeous looks are only outmatched by his talent for care and kindness. Unfolding through the ups and downs of life at sea is an unforgettable story reminding us that love will always be a work-in-progress and coming of age never gets old.
About the Author
Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen--a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful.
Jonathan Harrow left a career in Hollywood to pursue his dream of writing novels. He has an author crush on Charlotte Bronte, and a real crush on his author wife, YA bestseller Kelly Oram.
They live in Phoenix with their four kids and their cat, Mr. Darcy.
Connect with Kelly Newsletter Amazon Facebook Twitter
Connect with Jonathan NewsletterAmazonFacebook
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Official Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/911530065559196/
Aug 23 http://www.annadelc.com/blog www.julkbearreads.wordpress.com
Aug 24 http://www.bound2escape.com http://istyriabookblog.com
Aug 25 http://valesbookshelf.blogspot.com http://closetgeekbooks.blogspot.com/
Aug 26 Boymomlovesbooks.blogspot.com bookheathens.blogspot.com
Aug 27 www.redheadsreading.com https://ellelainey.wordpress.com
Aug 28 http://semishort.blogspot.co.uk/ http://rebeccalamoreaux-anauthorinprogress.blogspot.co.uk/
Aug 29 http://bookjunkiez.com http://www.wishfulendings.com/
Aug 30 http://bookschatter.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/tour-joni-underway.html http://sweet-n-sassy-book-a-holics.blogspot.com/
Aug 31 http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com roomwithbooks.com
Sept 1 http://natasha101star.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1 http://www.morethanareview.com/
Sept 2 http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com/ hello-booklover.tumblr.com
Sept 3 http://driftingintobooks.blogspot.com/ http://bowsandbulletsreviews.wordpress.com/
Sept 4 http://authorsrevealed.blogspot.com http://www.katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com
Sept 5 http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk bunnyminer.com
August 28, 2015
Freebie Friday
Today's Freebie Friday is Lord Trowbridge's Angel by G.G. Vandagriff. I really enjoyed this regency romance and you can read my review of it here
Download your free Kindle copy here
Here's the back copy:
The very handsome and very bored Lord Trowbridge knows something is missing in his existence. When he is asked by a friend to escort the seemingly quiet Miss Sophie Edwards to her first ball, he has no idea she possesses the key that will unlock him. It is her secret weapon.
Once he sees his own inner workings, life unfolds in a different manner. He will do anything to capture the love of his “angel.” Unfortunately, his old life and the shibboleths of the ton stand in his way. As he wades through these afflictions, Sophie is courted by another man. Who will she choose? How can he possibly show his love for her in a way as original and unique as she is? What are Sophie's feelings for him?
August 27, 2015
Under the Mistletoe Is Up For Preorder!
I'm so excited to let you all know that Under the Mistletoe , the Timeless Romance Anthology that includes six contemporary novellas by six award-winning authors (including me!) is up for pre-order! Yay! They are heart-tugging, awesome holiday stories and I know you're going to love them.
I haven't heard exactly what Mirror Press is going to use for the back copy yet, but thought I would share with you the one I wrote to describe my story.
"After a year of recovery, wounded war veteran Jonah Harrison comes home for Christmas. No longer the outgoing high school track star, he just wants to be left alone, away from well-meaning friends and neighbors. But when a blizzard strands him with Cami Jackson---the girl who once knew him best---he can’t hide anything from her, no matter how much he wants to. Cami has a wounded heart of her own, though, and it might take a Christmas miracle for them to find the healing they both long for and the courage to reach for a chance at love."
I can't wait to share all the stories with you. If you want to make sure you have the anthology delivered to your Kindle the moment it comes out, you can pre-order your copy here
for only $4.99!
August 26, 2015
Writer Goal Wednesday
photo credit: plnaugle via photopin cc I think I forgot to announce on the blog who the winners were of the Freetown DVD.
*drum roll*
The two winners that will each receive a copy of the DVD Freetown are:
Peggy and Faelynn!
Thank you so much to everyone who entered! Ladies, I will be contacting you so you can claim your prize.
This week's writing goals went great for me. My goal was 3500 words and I almost made that. I got 3440, but considering the busy week I had, I was so happy with that! I should have pushed on for 60 more, but it's okay. The book is really flowing and I'm feeling fantastic about it.
I think that 3500 is a good goal for me, so I'm going to stick with that one for my next goal. I'm really excited for next week, though, because my youngest one will be in school as well and I'll have a lot more writing time. It's going to be awesome I can feel it!
How did your goals go last week?
August 25, 2015
Puppy Themed Birthday Party
I've been having a little too much fun lately planning my little girl's puppy themed birthday party. It is finally over and I'm dying to show you all the pictures!
The Decorations
Puppy paws on the balloons
Adorable puppy cake!
I got brand new dog bowls from the dollar store for the treats and found cute little tags with dog themes on Pinterest.
The "Pup" corn was a bit hit!
Doesn't that really look like puppy chow? LOL It's just chocolate puff cereal.
Scooby snacks. :)
Paw print sugar cookies, aren't they adorable?
Drink station and "chew" toys.
Doggie bags for the kids to take home. Included in them are: a ball, a "best in show" medal, puppy chow, scooby snacks, and a Snoopy fruit snack.
The Fun
So when each child got there, they picked out some puppy ears and a tail, (I found fabric remnants and hot glued them to head bands for the ears, then sewed simple tails and put them on elastic) then we started working on their "collar" which was foam beads with a larger one in the middle for the "dog" tag.
then I face-painted simple puppy faces on them.
then each person got their own dog bowl for their snacks. (Also from the dollar store and washed thoroughly of course.)
We played games like obedience school (where they learned to roll over, howl, chase their tails, sniff for bones, play dead, and wag your tail.)
We also did a puppy obstacle course where they jumped through a hula hoop, pushed a ball with their nose, balanced a dog biscuit and dug for bones in the sandbox. The fun one was "guess the smell" and we had a pickle and some fruity shampoo in paper bags that they were trying to guess. LOL
We couldn't find a poster for Pin the Tail on the Puppy so my son hand drew one for me. It was fun!
We made a simple dog house to take pictures of our puppies in front of and show off their puppy faces!
Then, my neighbor brought over her two month old toy Pomeranian puppy to show everyone and talk about dog safety (never approaching strange dogs, asking owners first before you try to pet a dog, that sort of thing) and then everyone got to play with the puppy. After that we did presents and cake and ice cream, then everyone went home with their ears, tail, dog bowl, and a doggie bag. I think it was a success! I know my little girl loved it and we had a lot of fun planning it together.
The Decorations
Puppy paws on the balloons
Adorable puppy cake!
I got brand new dog bowls from the dollar store for the treats and found cute little tags with dog themes on Pinterest.
The "Pup" corn was a bit hit!
Doesn't that really look like puppy chow? LOL It's just chocolate puff cereal.
Scooby snacks. :)
Paw print sugar cookies, aren't they adorable?
Drink station and "chew" toys.
Doggie bags for the kids to take home. Included in them are: a ball, a "best in show" medal, puppy chow, scooby snacks, and a Snoopy fruit snack.
The Fun
So when each child got there, they picked out some puppy ears and a tail, (I found fabric remnants and hot glued them to head bands for the ears, then sewed simple tails and put them on elastic) then we started working on their "collar" which was foam beads with a larger one in the middle for the "dog" tag.
then I face-painted simple puppy faces on them.
then each person got their own dog bowl for their snacks. (Also from the dollar store and washed thoroughly of course.)
We played games like obedience school (where they learned to roll over, howl, chase their tails, sniff for bones, play dead, and wag your tail.)
We also did a puppy obstacle course where they jumped through a hula hoop, pushed a ball with their nose, balanced a dog biscuit and dug for bones in the sandbox. The fun one was "guess the smell" and we had a pickle and some fruity shampoo in paper bags that they were trying to guess. LOL
We couldn't find a poster for Pin the Tail on the Puppy so my son hand drew one for me. It was fun!
We made a simple dog house to take pictures of our puppies in front of and show off their puppy faces!
Then, my neighbor brought over her two month old toy Pomeranian puppy to show everyone and talk about dog safety (never approaching strange dogs, asking owners first before you try to pet a dog, that sort of thing) and then everyone got to play with the puppy. After that we did presents and cake and ice cream, then everyone went home with their ears, tail, dog bowl, and a doggie bag. I think it was a success! I know my little girl loved it and we had a lot of fun planning it together.
