Tuesday Tales – Arm – Free Falling

by Sarah | Feb 23, 2015 | Books, Holiday, Tuesday Tales, Writing

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is Arm.

Well, Stars, Stripes & Motorbikes is with my editor, so it was time to move on to the Independence Day story for 2015, Free Falling. My heroine, Ryan, is a furniture builder/designer that sets her own hours…mostly so she can always have a three day weekend to go out and pick up guys. She’s not looking for a commitment.

Logan is a single dad who has to be dragged out, where he meets Ryan.  They had a really great night together, but since then there’s been a lot of tension…namely because Logan’s daughter unexpectedly came home and found Ryan in his bed.

For today’s post, Ryan has to deliver a hand-carved mantel to her clients house.:

The Bennett’s lived in Ryan’s favorite neighborhood in all of Lake Point, and where she hoped to live herself one day. Houses rarely went up for sale there, and the old stately homes stood as a testament to the town’s rich history.

Of course, Ryan loved the intricate details in the old homes, including woodwork throughout every area of the homes. Every few years she got a call from the neighborhood from someone else wanting to update and asking her to handle the woodwork. Thankfully the neighbors were all close, having all lived there forever, and so word of her skills had made it around.

In fact, that’s how the Bennett’s had gotten her name. She hoped the mantel was just an initial test, as the living room and dining room beside had both been emptied when she’d come to do measurements and discuss design. Usually that was a good sign a remodel was in the works.

She hopped out of the truck and went around to the back of her trailer. In a quick, practiced motion she had the trailer unlocked and open with the ramp in place. Rather than try to move the whole piece and try to lug the heavy item into the house, she’d left it in pieces for easy reassembly and transport.

Each piece was carefully wrapped, and the whole lot had been sealed in a box currently banded to a dolly. If everything went according to plan she’d have the mantel unpacked and assembled well before her appointment time at ten.

She halted with her arm extended, the memory of the awkward encounter with Logan at the bank two days before pulling her out of her work-focus. Rather than cave to the incessant thoughts of what should have been nothing more than another one night stand, she hauled the dolly onto the ramp.

On her way out of the trailer she grabbed her large tool bag and slung it over her head, cross-wise. She pulled the dolly up the driveway to the Bennett’s front stoop, and then one step at a time until she was on the porch. By the time she made it up, Mrs. Bennett was already at the door, holding it open with a welcoming smile.

“Good morning. You’re right on time, aren’t you?” Rather than meet her gaze, Mrs. Bennett was staring beyond Ryan toward her truck.

Confused, Ryan glanced back, wondering if there was something wrong with her truck. “I try to be. Do I need to move the truck?”

“What? Oh, no.” The smile returned to Mrs. Bennett’s features, but this time Ryan would almost dare to call it sly, like a cat that had a canary by the tail feather. “Come on inside. Will that fit through the door all right?”

“Definitely. I made sure to use a box that would fit through my shop door.” Ryan pulled the dolly over the threshold, glad to see they’d put some cardboard boxes across the hardwood floor to protect it as she’d suggested.

“Richard. Our new mantel is here!”

The murmur of conversation that had been filtering through the house quieted. Richard called back, “Coming.”

Ryan pulled off her tool bag and set it aside. One by one she pulled out the tools she’d need, rising only when Richard appeared.

Rather than an immediate greeting, as he usually gave her, he was stopped by a tug on his arm from his wife. There was a quiet exchange, during which Richard’s own smile nearly broke his face. He crossed the room with his hand extended. “Good to see you again.”

“Good to see you too.” Ryan did her best to keep her voice even and not show her confusion over the unusual behavior. “Like I said before, I’m not here to interrupt your day. You can go about your business and I’ll be out of your hair in no time.”

“We appreciate it, although I’m awful excited to see it in place.” Richard wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulder, a gesture that seemed both habit and pure affection. “That box looks heavy, though. Do you need help lowering it?”

She was more than capable of handling her job, but she wouldn’t be so rude as to say as much. Instead she tried a polite decline of the offer. “Oh no, I’m fi—”

“Logan!” Richard interrupted her, but the name was what made her still in her attempts to rebuff his offer of help.

The whole thing was a coincidence, of course. Fate wouldn’t be such a bastard as to throw her in the path of Logan again. Right?

Wrong. A moment later, Logan stepped into the room. Like her own vibrant mood had faded at the simple mention of the  name, Logan’s own cheery smile disappeared into a cloudy scowl. He immediately turned away from her to face his father. “Yeah, dad?”

A million curses she didn’t dare voice flew through her head, but she forced a smile. “Really, Mr. Bennett. It’s fine.  You have company, you should go enjoy yourself. I’ll be done soon enough.” Maybe even quicker now that she had every reason to get the heck out of Dodge.

“Why don’t you help her with that crate, son?” Richard continued on as if she hadn’t spoken. “We’ll keep Sher occupied.”

“I’m right here.” The young girl from the other morning walked in, a book in one hand. “Why do I need to keep occupied?”

Ryan immediately turned to put more focus into reorganizing her tool layout in hopes the girl wouldn’t recognize her. “Really, I’m fine. I do this all the time.”

“You heard her. She’s fine. Come on, Sher. Let’s take your grandpa and see if you can’t beat him at another game of chess.” Logan’s tone started cold, but warmed up with every word to his daughter. This was just a fabulous mess.

“What’s in the box?” Sheridan didn’t bother to respond to her dad. “Hey, I know you.”

Ryan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Rather than answer, she turned her attention to the crate. She ignored the simmering discussion nearby to do her job. By the time she had the crate flat on the ground and the crowbar position to open it, the young girl was at her side.

“Whatcha doing?” Sheridan eyed the box curiously.

“I’m putting a mantel up for your grandparents.” Ryan didn’t have any heart to be cruel or cold to the girl. It wouldn’t be the first time a child was curious about what she was doing, and she never turned them away.

“Sheridan.” Logan snapped. “Why don’t we let her work?”

“I want to see, dad. How do you do it?” Sheridan turned rich blue eyes, just like her father’s, up toward her.

Ryan grinned, despite the tension in the room. “The mantel is all ready to go. I carved all the pieces in my shop and made sure everything fit together, and now I’m going to put it up here.”

“Can I watch?”

“Sheridan. We should stop bothering her.” Logan stepped closer.

“It’s fine.” Ryan waved him off. “So long as she stays back when I ask her to, she might even be able to help me. I have a feeling Sheridan is a good listener, aren’t you?”

“I am. Smart too.” Sheridan stood tall.

“And so modest.” Ryan chuckled. “She won’t be in the way.”

“Come on, son.” Richard moved to usher Logan from the room.

Mrs. Bennett followed suit, and soon all three had left Ryan alone with her one-night-stand’s daughter. If things could get any more awkward, Ryan had no idea how. Especially since Sheridan clearly recognized her.

Ryan turned her attention to the girl. “Sure you want to stay?”

“Yeah. I want to see how you do this.”

“All right.”

 

*~*

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Tuesday Tales – Ruthless – Stars, Stripes, & Motorbikes

by Sarah | Jan 19, 2015 | Books, Holiday, Tuesday Tales, Writing

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is Ruthless.

After writing over 500k last year, I took a little break for the holidays. I’m really happy to be back in Tuesday Tales.  This week I’m bringing you a little piece of my Memorial Day book in my Holidays in Lake Point series.

Autumn is a local bike shop owner & her dad is a veteran of the Gulf War, who lost both his legs in the conflict.  Lincoln “Linc” is a veteran himself, having fought in Afghanistan. He’s from South Carolina, in town visiting a familiar face (Clay Ryley). He also lost his leg, but Autumn has no idea.  Anyway, through her dad’s conniving the pair are eating lunch together at The Midway:

Rather than risk bringing it up again, he cleared his throat to get her attention. “Am I allowed to ask about you at all?”

She pinched the edge of her lip between her teeth, her gunmetal blue eyes avoiding his gaze. After a moment, she nodded. “It depends on the question.”

“You and your dad really get along.”

Instantly, her features transformed into a brilliant and beautiful smile. All the confidence and life that had seemed to seep away at his question about Grady returned. “Dad’s the best. I actually chose to stay with him soon as he was mobile enough to take me back. He fought to get me back from that woman.”

“That woman?”

“My mom.” Autumn dismissed her mother with a wave of her hand. “I was always daddy’s girl. So after the war and the loss of his legs when she took off, and took me with her, I was a miserable brat. I think I made her happy to send me back here to New York.”

Linc was taken aback by the bitterness in her tone, but since he didn’t know the history, he didn’t try to question it.

“So I moved back with him when I was seven. It wasn’t easy, and it took us a while to figure out how to make things work. He opened the shop to keep himself busy, I took it over last year when he supposedly retired.”

“He taught you everything he knew, then.”

“You bet.”

He grinned at the enthusiastic bounce she added to the statement. “So he was in the Gulf War when it happened?”

“Yeah. He made it through most of the war just fine. His unit took the hit in January of ninety-one. On my fifth birthday, actually. Talk about sucky. Luckily he lived.”

Flashbacks of the attack that had taken his own leg flickered through his mind. His fist clenched as he breathed through them at let them pass. It had taken him years to figure out how to not let them take over, although he couldn’t always control the occasional nightmare. He smiled and shook his head. “Two years until he took you in has to be some kind of record for losing both legs. Having you to fight for must have made all the difference.”

“That’s what he says.” Their lunch arrived just then, and she dove in without another word about it. For several minutes they ate in silence. Just when he thought she might hold onto her silence in the same ruthless way she’d done at the shop, she spoke. “How long have you known Clay?”

“We grew up together. A couple doors down. Well, as ‘couple doors down’ as you can get on a couple of small ranches. We both raised horses, I did junior rodeo with his sister. Our parents were close. Made us like family.”

“Must’ve been nice.” She popped a fry in her mouth, eying him quietly. “I don’t picture you as a cowboy type, though. Clay is all cowboy.”

“I didn’t stick to it, no ma’am.” Linc chuckled. “Clay’s family held onto it fierce, my daddy did too. So did my brother. I became interested in other things. Did my chores, but stopped doing rodeo and sold my horse to Calli before I joined the army. I think it’s safe to say I gave up the cowboy on that day.”

“So you’re the black sheep.”

“If you ask my momma right now she’d say yes. She’s mad I left town again. Her only respite is that I’m not overseas with a target on my back anymore.”

“No, instead you’re driving around on a death trap, at least that’s what my grandmother always called them when she was alive.” She chuckled. “What does your mom think of them?”

“Considering I did rodeo she’s not so concerned about the bike as she is about me driving places where there’s no cell service. I think she was concerned I’d be taken out by some made serial killer living in the middle of nowhere.”

“Chilling theory. What if you were taken out by a serial killer in a seemingly pleasant, happy town. Or, better, the town isn’t as pleasant as it seems. There’s a massive conspiracy to feed those that wander through to some evil creature in the lake to keep it from destroying the entire world.”

“Morbid.”

“I know.” She wagged her eyebrows. “I’m totally evil myself, can’t you tell?”

“You must be. With your hair, and those eyes, I’d liken you to a siren set upon the strangers to lure them in.” He leaned closer when her cheeks darkened under the compliment. “Only problem is, I don’t know if you sing.”

“Nooooo.” She drug the word out in a giggle. “I shower sing and get yelled at for it. Can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but I can fix an engine in no time flat.”

“Hey, that’s hotter than singing any day.”

“You’re full of shit too.”

“No, ma’am.”

“So what would you do if you had wandered into my and my dad’s evil plan to chop you up into little pieces and feed you to our dog?”

He grinned and pushed aside his plate. “I’d beg your daddy to let you do your worst. If I’m going to die, it could be worse than staring at someone like you.”

“Oh my word I need to wear hip waders around you.”

“The best compliments come from truth.” He laughed outright when she threw a fry at him. “What? You want me to stop?”

“I’m starting to see the southern boy with all that charm you’re laying on thick. Do you realize the more you heap it on, the more your accent deepens?”

“I hadn’t, no.” He was surprised now that she’d said something, he could hear the twang that had seeped back into his voice. Over his years in the army, the south had seeped out of his accent until he’d been told it was pretty neutral. It probably helped that he’d always been able to absorb accents well. “Huh. I hadn’t noticed.”

“It’s because you southern boys are convinced all you have to do is turn on your charm and let your accent melt the panties of any nearby woman.”

He smirked as he scooted his chair closer. “Did it work?”

“It takes more than an accent and charm to melt these panties, soldier.”

“Like I said—I do like a challenge.”

“Then I really need to stop giving you one.”

 

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Tuesday Tales – Dance – Luck of the Cowgirl

by Sarah | Dec 15, 2014 | Books, Holiday, Tuesday Tales, Writing

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is Dance.

My goodness I went on a “brief” break that ended up lasting almost two months!  So sorry about that, but words didn’t want to happen.  Nowadays I have a tight deadline, though. That means you get a peek into my first ever F/F story…that came about quite by accident because of two fascinating secondary characters from previous Holidays in Lake Point books that demanded their own stories.

Calli Ryley is the sister of Clay Ryley (from Stalled Independence).  She’s a real certified cowgirl from South Caroline that’s got plenty of charm, but a painful past.  Deanna “Dee” Parker first showed up in Deep-Fried Sweethearts as a friend of Michaela’s. She was the town manager then, but a family emergency called her out of Lake Point for a while.

In this scene Dee and Calli have been trying on old west clothes while trapped during a blizzard. It’s been a fun time and I’m super jealous of them. 😀  So onto the scene:

Three hours later, after they’d exhausted just about every outfit that caught their eye Calli tugged her boots back on with a bit of regret. The laughter from the afternoon kept her heart light enough that she wasn’t too sad. “I think at least three of those outfits are ones I’d like to take home. I don’t know how you expect to pick out just one at the shop when we’re able to get there.”

“Shush. I don’t want to think about it. I want to move here just so I have an excuse to wear all of those outfits again.” Dee chuckled as she pulled on her cardigan. “I look damn good in a corset, if I do say so myself.”

“You sure as shittin’ do.” Calli would have been embarrassed by her statement a few days ago, but she felt they’d become friends in the past couple of days. Sure, the physical attraction was still there and stronger than ever after this afternoon, but she’d proven she could be an adult despite the attraction.

“I’m not the only one. Not that you needed one. What were you taken down, a whole inch? I had some extra to take off.” Dee was grinning despite her self-deprecation. “But now that my stomach is free, I’m starving. I swear I could eat five venison steaks right now.”

Calli’s stomach growled at the suggestion. “I am too. Wonder what they’ll have on the menu tonight. I’m in the mood for some mashed potatoes.”

Dee hooked her arm through Calli’s and led her from the large costume room. Within seconds they were out in the casino, which remained hopping despite the blizzard still raging outside. “I swear, half of these people weren’t here last night, how did they get here in this storm? This is crazy.”

“I have no idea,” Calli admitted. “How about we grab some Hammy’s and order some food. We still have a few hours before the show tonight. Are you up for another round of song and dance?”

“Another burlesque or an early bedtime listening to the blizzard? Gee, what a tough call.” Dee’s sarcasm was tempered by the laughter under her breath. “Women dressed in skimpy, corseted fashion, bawdy jokes and that amazing singer for the win, please.”

Calli dropped into the chair across from Dee and nodded. “Sounds like a win to me. In the mean time I want to spend a few hours looking through that coffee table book. Now that Colton has told us the history of the town I want to take a closer look at those photos.”

“Oh, me too.” Dee’s enthusiasm was interrupted by their waiter. Once their orders were placed, Dee leaned closer. “Did you see the picture in the lobby of the big bald guy with the Asian woman? Do you think that was the original owners first partner?”

“Sounds like it, but I didn’t see that one yet. I did see the woman in pants.” Calli grinned at the idea of a woman back then in pants. “Bet that would’ve been me.”

“Oh, easy. We have to ask Colton more about her. I think he said something about being Jane’s best friend, but he focused a lot on Jane and Cole.”

“Wonder how long it will take them to clear the streets. I’d love to see more of the town itself. This hotel is fascinating, but after the stories I want to see more.” Calli sighed. “Then again, to do that I might just have to come back in summer when the chance of snow is far smaller.”

“You couldn’t live here, you couldn’t handle all the snow, you poor delicate belle.”

Calli blew a raspberry and tried not to bristle under the challenge. “I can handle anything. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Dee giggled, a bright delicate sound that soothed away any of Calli’s rising tension. The arrival of their beer and salads kept her from any further comments on Calli’s ability to handle winter or snow.
After she’d made it halfway through her salad, Calli glanced over at Dee. “Would you really move here just for the clothes?”

“I’d really move here, but not for the clothes. What I’ve seen of this town I like it. It’s scrappy. Life kicks it in the teeth, but it comes back fighting.” Dee quirked a brow at Calli. “You should be able to relate. You’re scrappy, too.”

“Scrappy?” By the tone of her voice, Calli guessed she meant it as a compliment, but it sort of stung. Sure she was strong, but she wanted to be seen as more than that.

“Either way, I could see myself living here. I know you could, despite the snow.”

“Well sure I could. It’s a gorgeous area and there’s just so much land.” Calli let her gaze drift toward the wall, beyond which she knew was a fantastic view of the mountains. The extended winter would be a bitter price to pay, but she’d been in love since they had crossed the mountain pass into the valley.

“I suppose with the right person, the winter wouldn’t seem so bad.”

 

*~*

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Tuesday Tales – Picture Prompt – Luck of the Cowgirl

by Sarah | Sep 22, 2014 | Books, Holiday, Tuesday Tales, Writing

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!

Another fabulous week has passed. Unfortunately for you all, that means Heartstrings & Hockey Pucks is done and ready for my editor. You’ll have to wait until February to see more of the sexy Cage & wonderful Penny.

This weeks prompt is to be inspired by the word Picture on the left.

As always with a picture prompt we are limited to a mere 300 words, but luckily this works into my St. Patrick’s Day story (and first F/F) – Luck of the Cowgirl.  For those that remember Stalled Independence, Calliope “Calli” Ryley is the sister of Clay Ryley. She’s been a bit unlucky in love, and that’s what landed her in New York living with her brother. The woman that she’s being introduced to…well, you’ll have to wait to meet her…(Oh, and Hank is the Hero of my upcoming Thanksgiving story, A Thorough Thanksgiving…in which the H/h are in their late 40’s 😀 )

After a good long ride on the Neeley property, Calli once again found herself at her favorite spot. There was something about the clearing near the pond that held an old barn that just gave her a sense of peace. Even during the winter she’d brought her horse, Calamity, out here to relax.

In recent weeks, after almost nine months of taking things slow, her brother Clay and his girl Regan had started ramping up the romance again. While she was happy for him, she didn’t want to be around all the lovey dovey crap. Her last attempt at a relationship had been an unmitigated disaster from which she’d emerged without anything. Hell, that disaster was why she was in the god-forsaken freezer of hell that was New York.

No, her first real winter outside of South Carolina had not been her friend. Still, spring was in the air, and she was more than happy to welcome it. Unfortunately, approaching hoof beats indicated her solitude wouldn’t last long. So, she plastered on everyone’s favorite smile and turned toward the path.

A large Stetson ducked under the trees as her boss and friend, Hank Neeley rode into the clearing. On his tail, bumbling along on the most docile horse on the farm, sat a woman clearly uncomfortable with her current status on horseback. Oh goody, an untrained rider.

Hank grinned as he hopped down. “Hey there, Calli. Thought I might find you out here. I wanted to introduce you to our new office manager. She’ll be taking over the rest of my duties over the next few months.”

“This is who you hired?” Calli quirked a brow as the brunette tried to alight from her saddle. Without even thinking about what she was doing, Calli turned her head slightly to admire the woman’s tight ass. “Looks like she’s never ridden a horse before.”

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