Five Days Away!

I spent a big chunk of yesterday working on prep for next weekend, and I really hope we'll see you at Brook Hollow Winery Friday evening through Sunday afternoon! Last year was the first Friday evening Meet & Greet, and I didn't get to go last year, but I'll be there this year to hear some of the weekend's authors reading from their books. Then we have Saturday and Sunday afternoons, 50+ authors, so many different genres...a book for nearly every reader. I love events like this, wall to wall authors and readers, and this one has the added bonus of good wine. I can't wait to see old friends and make new ones again this year.

I'll be working on my prep all week, in the evenings after the day-job, and trying to squeeze in some revision time, too--we're nearing the end of April, and I need to figure out my May goals, as well--so I'm going to keep this short today and get to this week's snippet, from Light the Way Home.

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            Lucie didn’t argue when Nate refused her help with the dishes. Her insides still quivered from the realization that he was attracted to her.

            “I’ll see you in the mornin’, Lucie!” Hayden shouted, hopping on one foot.

            She smiled as she put her sweater on. “Yes, you will.” They’d already decided Hayden would join her after breakfast so Nate could cram in a few hours of work before he headed to the hospital to see his dad–and try to get his mother to come home rather than sleep on the less-than-ideal pull-out chair-bed in his dad’s hospital room again.

            She wasn’t sure that was a battle he would win, but she understood his concern.

            Hayden gave her a quick hug and then ran back to his book in the living room.

            “I really do appreciate this, Lucie,” Nate said from where he stood at the sink.

            “It’s nothing, Nate,” she said lightly. “Keeps me from having to spend endless hours on job search sites and getting more depressed than I already am.” She kept her head down as she buttoned her sweater up to her chin.

            “It isn’t nothing to me.”

            His firm, quiet tone snared her attention, and her mouth went dry. The shadows in his brown eyes made her curl her fingers around the edges of her sweater to keep from reaching out.

            “I’m not accustomed to asking for help.” He cleared his throat. “I appreciate it.”

            She swallowed. “It’s no problem,” she whispered. Dammit–hot, attracted to her, and vulnerable. Shit, that was trouble. She took a slow breath. “I’ll see you in the morning then.” She inched toward the door.

            A hint of awareness darkened his eyes, but he stayed where he was. “Good night, Lucie.”

            She took two more steps, clearing the doorway to the mud room, and a little relief sank into her belly. Until she heard footsteps behind her.

            Within reach of the back door, she whirled. He stood at the open doorway of the kitchen, undisguised desire in his eyes this time. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a quick rush of excitement that she tried to squash as he stepped into the mud room. She held her breath as he took another step. One more. Until he stood a foot away, and her breath rushed out.

            He studied her face for a long moment, and she wondered what he saw, what he was looking for. Impulsively, she moved closer to him, noting the way his eyes rounded, and she stretched up to brush a kiss on his mouth, lingered for a second, then stepped back.

            “Good night, Nate,” she whispered, reaching behind her for the doorknob.

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I have another newsletter in the works for this week, so you still have time to sign up in case you haven't yet, while I'm working on the giant to-do list.

I'd love to hear about what you're reading this week!

Until next week, happy reading!