The Bandwagon: Surface

Showing posts with label Surface. Show all posts

Official Kissing Day Blogfest

Sherrinda had a great idea to salute mistletoe this time of year, so I've joined in the Great Kissing Day Blogfest with a scene from Beneath the Surface, my September 2009 Samhain release.

Blurb: In retrospect, perhaps archaeologist Mallory Reeves shouldn’t have delivered the divorce papers to her estranged husband mere weeks before her marriage to another man. She knew seeing Adrian again would stir up memories, but she didn’t expect so many of them to be good, not after the mess they both made three years ago.

She also didn’t expect to want to stay at the dig site on the Yucatan Peninsula. But the lure of the ancient ship and, yes, her sexy ex provide more of a draw than the white picket fence she thought she wanted.

Marine archaeologist Adrian Reeves has good reason to trust no one. His former partner—and former best friend—made off with his last archaeological find. And his wife left him, frustrated by his obsession for professional revenge.

Now both Mallory and his nemesis have returned, and it can’t be an accident that they’ve turned up in the middle of the most important excavation of his career. Seeing her again unearths old pain—and rekindles never-forgotten desire. Now he has to decide if he can trust Mallory again. More importantly, if he can trust himself with her.

SET UP: Adrian has just unearthed a medallion that will prove his shipwreck is not from the Caribbean, when he spots Mallory on the dock. She'd left weeks ago with her former fiancee, looking for another job in archaeology, to see if she missed the job or she missed Adrian. She tells herself his discovery has drawn her back, but she knows it's a lie.

EXCERPT:

Adrian didn’t wait for Toney and Jacob to tie the boat off before he leaped to the dock. He barely registered the vibration of the dock beneath his feet as he strode toward her.

“Adrian, I—”

He didn’t let her finish. Damn, she was so pretty, even windblown, even with the flash of uncertainty he saw in her eyes. He took her face in his hands, stroked his thumb over her cheek and kissed her. Surprise had her tensing for a second, and he feared she might pull away. Instead, she relaxed, just a bit, and he came home.

She was as soft, as sexy as he remembered. Her taste hadn’t changed, her mouth moved beneath his the same way, as if those three years had never passed.

He rubbed her hair, regretting the calluses on his fingers that snagged on her hair, her skin. Her fingers closed on his bare shoulders, her nails digging in briefly before sliding under the straps of his shirt, and he was lost. Dropping his hands to her hips, he drew her against him.

Slowly, it came to him where they were, why they were standing here, and he lifted his head to smile. “You came back.”

She looked a little dazed, her mouth swollen, her eyes dark. She blinked, lowering her hands from his shoulders. “Adrian, I—”

“Come see what we found.” He slid his hand down her arm to take her hand and guide her to the Miss M. She resisted at first, then followed him, trying to ignore how everyone else was watching them with interest.

What the hell had she done, coming here? Mallory swayed on the dock and watched Adrian beckon her. Once she’d reached home, she’d put her feelers out. The offers had come in fast and furious, but all she could think of was getting here to help Adrian. She waffled for a long time about how much help she’d give him. The cashier’s check in her bag was the least she could do. Staying to help excavate was the most.

After that greeting, she didn’t know how wise it was to stay, even as everything female inside her proclaimed they were ready to set up camp. Had he been so glad to see her? No, something in his eyes told her there was more. Something out there had gotten his juices flowing.

Something out there always did.

Goals the Week of the DH's Vacation

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1) 7000 words on RS. I had that epiphany, but will it give me the page count I need?
2) Guest blog on Writers at Play, Wet Noodle Posse and Romance Bandits.
3) Sew purse—hopefully I have the write kind of interfacing now
4) Grades done for progress report
5) Big grocery trip (hopefully not as big as last time, though)
6) Get into house cleaning/writing routine.

I don’t have to cook this week since the dh is home. Yay! But the deal is, she who doesn’t cook has to clean and the dh is notoriously messy. BUT we should be eating earlier, so I should have more time to write.

I got my first review on Surface from Book Binge. They didn’t love it but didn’t hate it. So…good?

Today's the Day!!!

It's out!! (Okay, right NOW, it's not on the new release page, but maybe it will be when you read this.)

I'm also at Nobody Writes It Better today, posting about romantic adventure.

Here's another excerpt for you:

No matter how she’d prepared herself for affecting a cool reaction, nothing readied her for the man who approached. He moved with sinuous grace, hard muscled, lean faced, with his dark hair cropped close in what he called his “dig cut”, easier to keep clean. Silver-blue eyes glinted in the firelight. Her mouth dried up at the sight of him in the muscle-shirt style she’d always loved, his broad shoulders and sculpted arms tanned dark. She’d never touch him again, and the loss of familiarity weighted her belly. The past couple of years had been good to the man she’d known nearly half her life. The man who’d turned his back on everything she held precious.

Adrian Reeves, gorgeous as ever.

“Mal.” He was the only one to call her that. He braced a booted foot on a tree stump, the picture of virility. Unbidden, memories of being wrapped in those arms flooded back.

Mallory swallowed. “Adrian.”

“You look good.” His mocking smile took in her mud-spattered boots and pants even as his Scottish burr tickled her nerves. “Never thought I’d see you in those clothes again.”

She pushed away her reaction to his look, that jump in her stomach, by recalling Jonathan’s
expression of surprise when she’d packed. Her need to keep her gear had given him evidence she hadn’t put this life behind her as she’d claimed.

“Toney wouldn’t tell me what you’re looking at. I think he’s still mad at me.” She glanced after the younger man as he strolled off toward an open-sided tent before she turned to Adrian. “Have you found something good?”

A light came into his eyes, sending the cynicism she’d seen there before scurrying into the shadows. That hadn’t changed. Dr. Adrian Reeves loved his work.

“You might say that. Will you be able to stay through tomorrow? I’ve got some stuff to show you.”

He rubbed his palms together, grinned, and she caught a glimpse of the idealistic boy she’d loved. She glanced toward the dunes. On the other side would be the dive boat, the gear they’d need to go out to the site dozens of feet beneath the surface. She could taste the oxygen and feel the regulator in her mouth. The wash of nostalgia was unexpected. Turning back, she shook her head. “I need to get home as soon as I can.”

He stepped forward, his eyes scanning her, but she didn’t flinch. He was looking for a weakness. She refused to show him one.

“You said that on the phone. What’s your hurry?”

God, she didn’t want to tell him the truth, not two seconds after she got out of the truck. “I have a life in the States.”

“One you were willing to drop to come out here.”

“You didn’t leave me any choice.” She held his gaze for a long time, wanting him to understand he’d inconvenienced her, but also needing to hide how much it hurt her to come.

“Yeah, well, you have to stay tonight. I don’t want anyone in the jungle in the dark.” He flicked his gaze over her. “You’re probably hungry.”

He turned away, his body loose limbed, relaxed, the opposite of the tension that ran through her own body.

“Dinner should be almost ready. Let’s hit the mess tent.”

She fell into step beside him, unwilling to give him the slightest edge. “Let me guess. Chili and
beans.”

“The digestive tract’s best friend.” He looked over his shoulder at the Land Cruiser. “You going to leave your bag in the truck?”

She flushed. Over the past few years she’d gotten accustomed to being waited on by bellboys, waiters, valets, but Adrian’s gentle prodding reminded her of his rule—everyone carried their own weight in his camp. She backtracked the few steps to the Land Cruiser for her duffel and turned to see Adrian’s smirk as he recognized the worn bag.

Beneath the Surface Out TOMORROW

Here's an excerpt, just for you.

He didn’t speak right away, leaned on the railing of the boat, looking out over the waves before he turned to her. “Why are you here?”

She’d planned what to say. “I needed to finish this.” This time. She wanted to say more, but he gave her that smile, that one that started in his eyes, creased his face, flashed those white teeth, infusing his being with joy. The rest of her words stuck in her throat.

“I hoped you would,” he murmured.

“Not for you.” She had to make sure he knew that. She didn’t have the safety of the barriers between them anymore, not unless she could hold her own with him.

He nodded, not expressing any surprise, masking whatever he was feeling. He’d always been good at that, though she thought she knew him well enough to read him. Not today.

“Not for this, either.” She gestured toward the ocean. “For me.” Leaving Jonathan had been hard, but being alone hadn’t been as hard as she expected. That had been the most empowering revelation yet. She reached into her pack for the envelope there. “I took out my savings. And since I cancelled my wedding, I

got my deposits back. I want you to use this to help with whatever you need, hire more divers, get more equipment, whatever.”

He took the envelope, his eyes not leaving hers. “Mallory.”

“This is important. It’s important,” she repeated, and inclined her head toward the envelope.

He drew out the check, and his eyes bugged. “No hillside wedding, this.”

“No.”

He held the envelope out, his lips thinned, no trace of joy remaining on his face. “Mallory, I can’t take it.”

“I want you to have it.”

He hesitated. Clearly he needed the money but was unwilling to accept it on her terms. “I’ll keep it on one condition.”

She tensed at his tone. “What?”

“That you stay.” He folded the envelope, creasing it between his thumb and forefinger. “That you help with the dive.”

She drew her lower lip between her teeth, saw his eyes follow the movement. “I don’t know.”

He took a step toward her. “What have you got to go back to?”

She moved away and studied the deck beneath her. “Adrian, staying here, with you, is not a good idea.” She hated admitting that weakness.

“And yet you want to.” The burr deepened.

She lifted her chin. “If I stay, this”—she flipped her finger between the two of them—“can’t happen. I learned my lesson the hard way, Adrian. If I stay, it’s professional behavior only. Deal?”

He cocked his head just the slightest bit, almost a challenge. He tucked the envelope in his back pocket and reached out to her. “Deal.”

Goals for the Week BENEATH THE SURFACE RELEASES

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I was thinking, oh, not bad week, only.....

SURFACE IS OUT THIS WEEK. YAYYYYYY!!!!!

I’m going to be promoting like crazy.

Blog at Nobody Writes It Better (written), Samhain (written), Tawny Weber’s blog (written), Leah Braemel’s blog (written), Texas Authors of Romantic Fiction (written) and Jaunty Quills (not written)
Post excerpts to email loops (need to format) and reply.
Find out which email loops I can post to, and on what days.
Send out newsletter (written)
Update website
Faculty meeting
Attempt work on bodyguard story
Attempt a housekeeping/exercise schedule
Finish blue dress and cut out purse

I actually considered taking a half day this week to keep up with it all. Hope I don’t have to.

Now It Can Be Revealed

My new cover!!! Isn't it stunning?

Editing

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My Samhain editor is tough. The thing is, she's also good. I keep wanting to find fault with her comments, but you know, I never can. She has a great memory and a good eye for detail. She would NEVER let me get away with the stuff I'm reading right now (not the one pictured in the sidebar, btw. Haven't gotten around to changing it.)

In one paragraph, seven lines and seven sentences, there were the following cliches:

stopped her in her tracks
lose her cool
bigger fish to fry
duty called

In another, three sentences started with "It was."

I could never get away with that.

That said, I need to get back to work on Surface, give it another careful read (maybe even out loud) so I don't have to go through another round :)

Season Finale Night!

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I'm up early early early to meet my goal because TONIGHT IS SEASON FINALE NIGHT!

Now, I haven't seen LOST because the gf was here and dh and ds didn't start watching until 9:30, which is already past my bedtime :) And tonight I might not see SPN because Grey's finale is 2 hours. UNLESS I take a nap when I get home, which I may do if I meet my goal before school. See?

Are you excited about any season finales? Did you see FRINGE? I watched that one last night and--whoa. Was stunned. Also, NCIS looks like the finale will be good, if this last episode was a hint. Of course, loved CASTLE.

Okay, off to revise!

A Favor, and Goals for First of April

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I need some titles of some reunion romances. My Samhain blurb sheet wants comparative titles. I already used Elisabeth's Stolen Fury and HElen Brenna's Treasure for the archaeology aspects, so now I thought reunion.

Another busy week. I think I may take off Monday to catch up.

1) SPN Sisters blog
2) Read Trish’s ms, which so far is WONDERFUL
3) Start working on synopsis workshop
4) Order copies of books to sell after workshop
5) Work on Texas book. My goal was to finish by the end of Spring Break. Now my goal is to finish by Easter.
6) Finish reading Dark of Night because it’s due at the library and I can’t renew it.
7) Make dr. appts. for the boy and me
8) District assessment
9) Tutoring
10) Exercise
11) House-clean, that is

Probably shouldn’t make this list when I’m so tired. It’s very discouraging.

Made of Happy

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I contracted Beneath the Surface with Samhain!!!!! I have to rewrite the ending (natch) but I can do that!

For those of you keeping count, I sent it in last weekend.

DONE!

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I finally finished Surface last night! I started my revisions on BD so I can enter the Suzannah, and I prepped two submissions. I need to get my Eppie entries done today, and hit the grocery store and do laundry again.

I got my scores from Lone Star on STTA - a 95, a 91 and a 75. Ouch! I don't have the nerve to read the comments yet.

The Wet Noodle Posse is participating in Unleash Your Story. Our goal is to raise $3000, so if you're inclined, please click!

Also, the first kiss from Where There's Smoke is up for best smooch on ecataromance Please vote!

On Amazon

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So I've been checking for weeks and the print copy is on Amazon!!!! It has a link to another seller, but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to order it directly from Amazon soon. At least, I ordered Gina's directly from Amazon. Took forever, but.....

Amazon Where There's Smoke

Dad and Sue should be rolling in this afternoon. The house is mostly clean, though I'd like to clean off the patio furniture. We'll see, if I get home before they do.

Surface is the book that Will Not End. I just can't make it emotional enough.

School, Surface, Robin Hood and Sex and the City

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I haven’t blogged since school started and today I got up early and my internet was down!!! GAH. School is good, though, and I’m working hard to not slack off in the other areas – writing and keeping the house up. It’s been raining, though, so I haven’t been able to wear my very cute shoes!!! We've been going out to lunch every day and yesterday my mom was at the same restaurant and she bought me lunch ;)

I’m so tired. Last night was SARA. I got home at 9:30 and was in bed by 10. The meeting was great. My friend Sarah’s husband was the guest speaker, a 15 year police veteran, and he was very engaging. I got at least 3 new ideas ;)

I’m revising Surface, hoping that the ending will come to me…..nothing I come up with feels right.

I watched the last disc of Robin Hood yesterday. I would rate the season as this:

Disc One: Meh
Disc Two: Okay, looking forward to more.
Disc Three: WHERE IS THE LAST DISC? DOES ANY STORE IN SAN ANTONIO HAVE IT? I NEED IT NOW!!!
Disc Four: I cannot believe they did that. I CANNOT believe it. Must speak to someone who has seen it…..which is no one. Also, will watch Season 3 but not with hope.

My new old favorite show is Sex and the City. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that a man writes it because the friendships, the absolute loyalty these women have for each other. The break-ups and the relationships and the sickness and the celebrations. It’s idealistic, of course, but something women should strive for in their friendships.

One of my SARA friends is going through a rough time. Lupe, who posts here now and again, recently discovered her son Michael needs a bone marrow transplant. He was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago and went into remission twice, but has had 2 relapses. Thank God, a match has been found, and the surgery is scheduled for September. Please, if you could, say a prayer that everything goes well!

JDM goodness

First of all, the Watchmen teaser is finally here. Jeff looks AMAZING. AMAZING. He's a bad dude, though. I've only watched it....a half dozen times.

He's also on the opening page of the Watchmen website. A man with a gun....

AND rumor has it he'll be back for a couple of episodes in Grey's Anatomy. ::::THUD::::

Got through a rough new scene yesterday, need to write another new scene, then an old one needs revision. I think after that, though, it will all be new. I watched Dear Frankie for inspiration. I forgot what a sweet movie that is, and the black moment is really good.