New Month and All That

It's the first of the month today, which means new month, new goals, new to-do list. And since it's February, that means less time to do it all. So the big thing on today's to-do list is to fine-tune the goals and things on the list. One of the big things in the next two weeks is prepping for the Valentine's Day booksigning, so my prep list is sitting here on my desk. I actually started on it yesterday, so one step ahead for now. I might also be adding another event to March's calendar, and I should know about that in the coming week. Thankfully, last weekend's sore throat has turned out to just be a headcold, so not a big deal. Now if we could get inside kitty to not hate Pippi so we could get Pippi inside full-time...

Before I get back to the toals and things sitting here waiting for me, I have a snippet for you this week from Freeing Medusa.

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            He startled her by leaning close and brushing a kiss on her mouth. “We can talk about what we’re going to do next.”

            Her gaze flew back to his, and her mouth dropped open. “‘We’ don’t need to do anything,” she started.

            Hunter put his fingers over her mouth. “Don’t. I don’t want to argue with you before we get lunch.”

            She swallowed but kept her mouth shut. She could tell him later his temporary guardianship was over. She waited while he held her gaze for a long moment, resisting the urge to tell him now.

            Finally, he nodded once and got to his feet. “I’ll have lunch ready when you come down.” He touched her cheek with one finger, then left the room.

            Katharine shut her eyes for a second before throwing the blankets back. All through her shower, she kept replaying last night and their short conversation just now. He’d understand once she told him her cousins and their husbands were her best bet for safety.

            She dressed quickly after dragging her comb through her tangled hair. She wanted to gather her things together, but all she could find were her bathroom tote and her carry-on. She frowned, wondering what he’d done with her other things.

            Downstairs. He must have left the other bag and her box there.

            She stuffed her things into the carry-on and the bathroom tote, and carried them down with her, leaving them on the landing at the bottom of the steps. The living room was empty, so she turned to the hallway and the kitchen she’d barely glimpsed last weekend.

            Hunter was putting some chips in a bowl when she stepped into the room, and he smiled as he turned toward her. “Sit.” He gestured to the table, where he’d already set plates with sandwiches, as well as small deli containers of cole slaw and potato salad.

            Swallowing, Katharine dropped onto the chair, her stomach fluttering nervously.

            “Don’t wait for me.” He set the chips on the table.

            She picked up her sandwich and found tuna salad, starving in spite of her anxiety. By the time he set a plate of fruit on the table and sat, she’d eaten half her sandwich.

            Hunter smiled at her.

            She swallowed the bite of tuna salad in her mouth. “Thank you.”

            He shook his head and picked up half of his sandwich.

            “I mean it. I really do appreciate what you’ve done for me.” She set the sandwich down. “I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful. I know the Harvester would’ve killed me if you hadn’t gotten there at just the right time.” She tried to remember all the points she needed to argue, everything that had occurred to her during her shower.

            “Katharine.”

            She lifted her gaze to his.      

            “Eat your lunch. We’ll figure out our next step afterward.” He smiled.

            Her heart pounded harder in reaction to his smile, and she frowned. Leftover hormones, she thought.

            Rather than argue with him, she forced her gaze back to her plate and picked up the rest of her sandwich.

            Finally, Hunter sat back in his chair when he’d polished off his lunch. “Okay. Hit me.”

            She blinked at him. “What?”

            “Give me your best argument.”

            That wasn’t what she’d expected. She frowned again, pushing her empty plate aside and resting her forearms on the edge of the table. “I shouldn’t need to convince you,” she said after a moment. “You saw him. You heard how determined he is. And there are more like him. Lots more. All on the hunt, and because he found me, more of them will be looking specifically for me.” She brushed her fingers absently over the smooth surface of the table. “My best bet right now is to hook up with one of my cousins or their husbands who’ve dealt with the Harvesters before. Then you’ll be safe.”

            “You can’t muster up anything better?”

            Katharine glared at him, more annoyed when he just continued to smile at her. Only half a day ago, that look would’ve killed him. Now it didn’t even make her feel better to know that. “I shouldn’t have to convince you you’re unsafe as long as you’re with me.”

            He shrugged. “I’m not the Medusa. They’re not interested in me.”

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And because I mentioned prepping for the Valentine's Day signing...if you click the graphic below, you can find more information. I also have links on my event page here on the site to get more details.

Now I have to get back to this list. Hubby might want supper later. I might, too, for that matter. Haha! But if I don't clear some of these tasks, dinner will be late.

How are you starting the new month where you are? Still snowed in? Cozied up with a good book and cup of cocoa? I'd love to hear about it!

Until next week, happy reading!