Sunday Snippet: An Enticing Yule (Holiday Spirit short)

April is startingoff with a bang. We've had seven days of volatile weather. Thunderstorms,tornadoes, flooding, and another big drop in temperature with snow flurries. Ithought for a while we might end up with a blizzardnado—complete with sharks.If you know you know. It's that time of year where keeping warm-weather clothesbeside arctic gear isn't a bad idea.

Due to the crazyweather, I didn't get a lot of viewing in this week. I also had a full plateplus dessert of work projects. I'm very happy to have multiple things to occupymy time!

I did get anotherepisode of My Life Is Murder in and loved getting to see Madison struther stuff undercover. I'm going to miss this show when I'm finished watching.

Caught Midsomer Murder'sfinal episode for this season. Enjoyed the mystery. I'm a little disappointedthat it feels like the characters don't know much about each other. Winter hasbeen with Barnaby for quite some time now and it seems like the interactionsthey've had in the past are quickly forgotten. Really the only thing that kindof irritates me about British mystery shows.

Finished up thesecond half of Silent Witness. I think I'm going to like the new guys. Ireally enjoy Jack and Nikki together. The case was very confusing, but I endedup liking how things turned out.

Watched anotherepisode of Death in Paradise. It's almost the end of Humphrey's run andI'm kind of excited to finish up and start Jack's journey. And also pick upwith Humphrey and Martha back in England.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. Kind of fun to see some of Joan's old life collide withher new one. Not super thrilled that her friends thought she needed anintervention, but at least they came around by the end.

That's it for thelife update this week. I'm hoping to get back on track this week, barring any weirdand wild weather.

Tonight's post isfrom An Enticing Yule, a holiday spirit short featuring a shifter and awatcher.

Here's theminiblurb:

A shifter and a watcher have to find their Yule cheer …with a little help from holiday spirit, Cinnamon Mistleberry. She's got herwork cut out for her. Pandora Prewitt is a multi-shifter struggling to find hertrue form or risk banishment from her tribe. Dexter Diamond is a watcher, thegroup of preternatural humans who document the shifter chronicles, questioninghis life's work. Cinnamon brings the duo together at Yule to show them theenticing value of love.

And a preview snippet…

Dexter didn't need the confirmingnod from the other invitee.

And the moment he got within twofeet of her, his senses kicked in. Shifter. Well, damn. Nothing likebeing on the spot. She didn't look all that happy to see him either.

He grabbed his bag. "Look,I'll leave. You got here first." He'd find somewhere else to figure outhis future.

She reached out, placing a hand onhis bicep. "You don't have to do that." She flung an arm out."Look at this place. There's more than enough room for two." Sheremoved her palm from his sleeve and stepped back. "I just thought…"Her words trailed off, leaving an awkward vibe.

He picked up on her thought."That you'd be alone, right?" Yeah, he kind of thought the same.

She lifted a shoulder. "Well,yeah." She shook her head "No matter." Her hand shot forward."Pandora Prewitt."

Familiar with the name, a piece fellinto place.

He clasped her palm. "DexterDiamond. I have a feeling we're here by design." He let go and pointedtoward the sitting room. "Let's maybe get a little comfortable." Heheaded through the arched entryway.

Someone definitely put a littlethought into the décor. A fire burned in the hearth. Greenery draped … everywhere.Muted gold complemented the earthy tones of the garlands. Welcome comfort almostanyone would feel … but he could be the exception.

Pandora followed him inside."What do you mean, we're here by design?" Her gaze swept the area,and she gave a slight nod.

He settled in a wingback chair."You're a shifter. One, I'm assuming, facing a dilemma." He didn'tneed to be a genius to sense she had trouble on her mind.

Her eyes widened and she perched onthe edge of the sofa. "How do you know that?" A note of warinessentered her gaze.

Dexter rolled a shoulder."It's my job. I'm a watcher."

She opened her mouth then closedit.

He gave her a minute to digest theinformation. "We don't normally interact with pack members. It's easier ifwe don't." At least he'd learned that much.

Pandora's chin lifted. "Helpswith objectivity, right?"

He smiled. "Something likethat." Not that he ever stayed objective.

Pandora leaned against the armrest."You think someone brought us together on purpose?" Her tone betrayedthe interest she had in the topic.

Dexter gave a nod. "More likesomething, but, yeah, that's what my gut is telling me." Not thathe trusted his internal barometer much right now.

She went quiet again, gazing intothe fire. Dexter let the silence stretch out, testing his rusty instincts.Pandora would open up if she wanted to. If not, well, still more than enoughroom for two in the house.

She finally turned her attention tohim again. "I want to be angry at being manipulated, but, honestly, I'vehit the lowest place I can be in. Having someone else here might save mylife."

As far as reactions went … totallynot what he expected.

I love writing the holidayspirit shorts. It's so much fun coming up with the conflict and names for thespirits.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye