Sunday Snippet: Stealing Hannah

The end of Octoberis nigh and, man, it's been a month. Between work projects and personal life stuff,time flew by fast. Helped my oldest kidlet move some things from their oldplace to their new one and also took him for a job interview. Happy to say hegot an offer and should start sometime soon. Also looking forward to trick ortreat night and then gearing up for the holidays.

Happy to say theareas where I had my extractions are finally healed up enough that I can eatmost types of food. I'm still careful with anything hard and crunchy butotherwise normal intake isn't a challenge anymore.

Stayed busy withwork. Have a tricky manuscript that's kind of giving me fits with continuityand consistency concerns, which makes the edit slow way down. Sent off a coupleof quotes for upcoming projects and look forward to getting started on those.

Had a decent weekof viewing. I made it through a full round of my shows but kind of in backwardorder. Will probably have the same thing this week.

Started off with anepisode of Elementary and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice to see Lastradeget back on track. Interesting twisty case also.

Caught an episodeof The Batman and enjoyed it. Always like seeing the Flash in action. Iremembered most of this episode also.

Enjoyed an episodeof Classic Rugrats and only remembered one of the vignettes. The othertwo were either new to me or memory holed.

Watched anotherepisode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I do remember bits of this one and I’m gladI got to see the whole thing from start to finish.

Caught another episodeof London Kills and I like how the new cases play into the overall caseof the disappearance of David's wife. Looking forward to seeing how this seasonends.

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Death in Paradise. Loved the case because it's fun to see abit of Ruby's past mixed in with the present. I enjoy her interactions with CommissionPatterson. Gotta say, I'm not sure I enjoy Neville Parker. I appreciate thefact he's very different from the previous three DIs but … the constantafflictions are, well, annoying.

On a side note, Idiscovered there's a second spinoff of this show that's set in Australia. I'mlooking forward to seeing it when it's available in the US.

Started a new two-partSilent Witness and it's terrific to see Jack's niece take a role in theLylle. Looking forward to the second half of this episode.

Another side note …most of the cast from Battlestar Galactica is in Chicago for the twentiethanniversary of the show. I've been poking around all weekend to stay up to dateon what's happening at the convention. My mind is completely blown that it'sbeen twenty years since the premiere of the series. It's still probably myall-time favorite show.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Stealing Hannah,a novella that has one of my favorite tropes to write … meeting the wrong brotherfirst.

Here's the miniblurb:

Hannah Keane gets caught between Kane and Trent Cantermanwhen their sibling rivalry heats up. Kane loves to push his brother's buttonsby telling everyone Trent likes to steal girlfriends. When Kane introducesTrent to Hannah, Trent decides stealing Kane's girl is a good idea to settlethe score once and for all.

And a sneaky peek…

Hannah looked up fromher desk, a look of pleasant surprise on her face. "What are you doinghere, Trent?""That'sLieutenant to you, Junior Grade." Hannah raised a brow."Okay … Lieutenant." She sat up straighter. "Doesn't make thequestion less valid. What are you doing here?" Trent leaned in close, purposefullyinvading her personal space. "I have to have a reason?"Hannah sat back,putting some open distance between them. "We just met last night, and youshow up here this morning? Yeah, you've got a reason." Trent pasted a sardonicsmile on his face. "In that case, you can tell me how my little brother isdoing." He lifted a brow.Hannah snorted. "Don'tyou really want to ask if I'm letting him skate through class because he fucksme whenever I want?" Crude and right to thepoint. He had to give her points for that.He flicked his gazedownward. "Are you?" Hannah rose and thistime she leaned in close to him. "I don't base my grade on how well mystudents perform in bed."Trent quirked a brow. "So,Kane's not the first, then?" Hannah's eyes wentflat. "Not your business." She couldn't quite keep the sneer off herface when she added, "Sir." Trent didn't back off. "Kane'smy brother." As if that explained everything. Hannah narrowed her gaze."He's old enough to whip it out, Lieutenant. That means he's old enough toknow the score." Trent didn't like theanswer. "And what exactly is the score with you, Hannah?" "That'sLieutenant, j.g. Keane, Sir." Trent smirked."Touché. Junior Grade." He quite enjoyed the verbal sparring.Hannah's lips twitched."The score is, I like your brother. And until I don't, you've got nothingto worry about." Trent considered Hannah.Her words, her demeanor. And decided she spoke the truth. Maybe his brotherwouldn't get a free pass.Relieved, Trentrelaxed. "And his class work? What's the score there?" Hannah sat back down."He does okay. Struggles a little but works hard." She raised hergaze. "He pushes himself to match you." Trent snorted. "That'sthe old man's doing. He thought sibling rivalry was a good thing." Trentshrugged. "It's not that big a deal." Except Kane made it one…Hannah abruptly changedgears on him. "Have I answered each question to your satisfaction, Sir?"She stood up. "Class starts in five." Trent backed up andgave her room to come around the desk. His goal hadn't been to piss her off, sohe played his safe card. "I don't have a score sheet, Lieutenant. You'rehis instructor and he's my brother. I had to check it out." Hannah shrugged."Whatever. I get it. But he'll do what he wants. You should knowthat." Trent rolled his eyes."Believe me, I do." He stuck out his hand. "No offenseintended." She juggled her coursebooks and shook. "None taken." She gripped his hand hard when he wentto pull away. "Not much anyway." Point made. He offered an olivebranch. "Have you been in the new Mach VII yet?" When she shook herhead back and forth, he dangled the bait. "Wanna give it a go?" Hislips lifted in a smile.Hannah tilted her headsideways. "Are you serious?" Trent lost his grin. "Idon't joke about flying new prototypes." She considered amoment. "Then hell, yes. I'd love to get my hands on it." Her facelit up at the prospect.Trent walked with herto the door. "I'll let you know as soon as I arrange it." She nodded and headedfor class. Trent watched her stride down the corridor, cocky and confident.He found himselfrelishing the challenge she presented.

I have fun writingverbal sparring and Trent and Hannah are very good at shooting barbs.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye