Sunday Snippet: Muddy Up the Waters

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

I'm making headwayon the multiple work projects. Two have shifted off my plate for the next stepin the publishing process and the other six are coming along. I should have atleast two more finished up this week. YAY!

Had a pretty solidweek of viewing. I did make it through my regular slate of shows and gotstarted on my two new ones. Or, one new one and one that always seems to simmeron the back burner.

Enjoyed anotherepisode in my rewatch of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The firstcouple of episodes do such a great job of setting up the dynamic between thecharacters and I thoroughly enjoy the actors so much.

Watched anotherepisode of Death in Paradise and like how awkward things are betweenSelwyn and his daughter. I also kind of enjoy Katherine being in his face but Ialso think she kind of oversteps sometimes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That's pretty muchit 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 outtheir issues.

Here's theminiblurb:

Fiona and Warrick can't quite get their timing togetherlong 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 landingbut failed on an epic level. Instead of gliding into Warrick's place, she crash-landedin a heap in the middle of his first floor living space.And found him hot and heavy with ablonde, her legs wrapped around Warrick's waist, up against a wall with himdriving into her. That'll teach me to show up unannounced. She ignoredthe rising bile in her throat and ruthlessly tamped down the hot burn ofjealousy thrumming through her veins. She had zero claim on the council head.Warrick's head snapped around atthe disturbance. "What the hell are you doing here?" He used hisshoulders to block her view of his … bedmate?Or maybe life partner?Again, she swallowed down the nastytaste 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 aspecific time when issuing orders … if only to avoid anything like thishappening 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 headtoward the woman. "I'm a little busy at the moment."Fiona rolled her eyes. "Tenminutes. Then I leave the way I came." She stomped over to the stairs andclomped each step until she reached the top.The solarium beckoned her at theend of the hall. She'd loved this room … before Warrick accepted the positionas head of council. Before he lived here and called this space his own.She wondered how many changes he'dmade. Her hand stilled over the knob and trembled a little. Facing the past she'dwrecked and walked away from didn't give her any kind of right to bedisappointed.Sucking in a deep breath, shetwisted the handle and pushed the door open.Soft light from several sconces greetedher when she entered. The three walls and partial ceiling of windows opened thespace up to nightfall outside. The slipping sun of burnished orange dippedbelow the tree line. Her feet moved across the polished wood floor, through themix of plants and tables and shelves lined with books, bottles, and baublessteeped with the history of the glade.She came to a stop beside thewingback chair Upton Morse used to occupy. The previous head of council left ahuge empty spot when he succumbed to his injuries from a battle with a longillness. She still missed him … even if she no longer called the glade home.Continuing forward, she gazedthrough the expanse of glass with memories shifting in her mind not unlike thesway of the shadowy treetops dancing in the twilight. Warmth cascaded over her… the familiar surroundings creating a warm glow that sparked to life in herheart and soul. She had no illusions about Warrick leaving the space untouchedfor her. But she appreciated the lack of change anyway.Exhaling on a sigh, she closed hereyes. "I've missed this place so much…""It's not like it wentanywhere. You would be the one who did that."Squaring her shoulders, Fionabraced for a battle and turned to face Warrick—fresh from a shower if the damphair and unbuttoned shirt were indicators. "Why am I here, Warrick?"

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

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye