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Today officially winds down the winter holiday week here, and we wrapped up our week with our usual family New Year’s dinner. Tomorrow, it’s back to work. I have my writing goals nailed down for the year and have made sure I’m going to be accountable for working toward them with some writer friends. Now we get to the fun part–balancing the writing plans with real life.
I actually spent some time today looking at my day-job schedule for the year to see where I’ll have down-time there to work on other things. Oh, the day-job schedule rarely stays the same from the beginning of the year to the end–people take vacations so the rest of us on the team help out, or something changes on the schedule at the last minute, you all know what I mean. But I have a game-plan, which is a good start. Of course, I also realized that not only is my busiest sales rep scheduled for the week in July when I’ll be in New York City for the annual Romance Writers of America conference, but several others are scheduled that week as well. I do feel bad about leaving that for someone else to handle, but since RWA’s conference only comes to NYC every four years, I don’t feel bad enough to take the conference off my schedule.
I’ve added my goals and dates to my pretty new 2019 planner, which is already in my work tote bag (with my current work-in-progress), so I will be seeing those goals every day. They’re posted on my bulletin board here in my home office, staring at me every time I sit here at my desk. And I’ve shared them with a small group of writer friends so I am not the only one who knows about my plans.
Before I call it a day, I have some writing to do, but I have a little story snippet to share with you first, from the second story in my shifter series.
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The elevator came to a smooth stop on the conference level, and Rory used his grip on her hand to steer India from the car.
She strode beside him, then realized if anyone came out and saw them there would be questions. She tugged on her hand.
He shot her a sidelong glance.
“Let go.”
Reluctance flattened his mouth a little, but he did as she asked before they reached the meeting room. She preceded him inside, her gaze sweeping over the occupants–the Russian from Chicago was still there, along with the bear from Washington, and her father.
Adar hurried in a moment later, and heat crawled up her throat. If her uncle had caught her with Rory, he would have had a stroke. And a screaming fit. No wonder half of his kids didn’t speak to him, and the other half were miserable.
A few other envoys returned momentarily, and India relaxed a little. Back to business.
Her father cleared his throat once everyone had reclaimed their seats. “We need to decide what our next step is with these rogues,” he began. “Our sources suggest their growing numbers are in preparation for a bigger, wider-spread attack than last time.”
“What do you suggest? Attack first? Try to negotiate with them? Arrange a union between our groups and theirs as a show of good faith?” the Russian asked.
Adar leaned forward. “India would be perfect.”
Before she could protest, Rory growled.
Adar either didn’t notice or just ignored him. “She’d be a perfect candidate,” he continued, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “She’s diplomatic and able to take care of herself–”
“You are not giving my mate to anyone, old man,” Rory growled, shoving to his feet.
India’s eyes widened, then she shut them for a second. Shit.
Adar gaped at Rory for a moment, then narrowed his eyes. “She is not your mate, wolf, or have you forgotten?”
Rory leaned over the table. “I have forgotten nothing, including my mate.” He held Adar’s gaze, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Damn him. She could not believe he’d just blurted that out. After all this time… Her pulse quickened.
Her uncle pushed to his feet, slowly. “You won’t have her.”
“She is mine already.”
“Stop it,” she said, at the same time as her father.
Adar looked at her, anger turning his cheekbones ruddy. “You had better not–”
She swallowed back her own growl, though she couldn’t do anything about the anger she knew he would see in her eyes.
“Enough,” Boyd shouted, rising as Rory reached over the table for her uncle. “Adar, you need to stop interfering. Their mating is none of your business.”
She blinked. Then glared at Rory and Adar.
“Can we get back to the issue of these rogues?” Boyd asked gruffly.
India fumed for the next hour, though she found it harder to concentrate on the discussion when everyone in the room kept sneaking furtive glances at her and Rory.
Boyd put both hands up finally, when the discussion had degenerated to random, shitty ideas or accusations of stupidity. “Ladies and gentlemen, I think we need to take a break. Let’s reconvene in the morning, when we’ve all had some time to think about this, all right?” He looked around the room, holding gazes and waiting for nods of agreement. “Great. I’m sure we’ll come up with a workable solution to deal with these rogues.”
India pushed to her feet. Steam must be coming out of her ears by now. Adar rose and started toward her.
“Adar.”
She glanced over when her father spoke again.
Her uncle’s mouth pinched, then he turned to face his brother.
“You will mind your own business,” Boyd repeated, giving his brother a hard stare.
Adar scowled, but nodded finally and changed direction, heading out the door.
She let out a slow breath.
Boyd held her gaze for a second, then looked at Rory. “I think you two need to hash this out privately.”
“Of course.” Rory nodded and rounded the table.
She blinked at his hand wrapping around her arm, then frowned up at him.
“Let’s go, a rúnsearc,” he said softly.
She opted not to protest while her father watched them.
“I’ll see you in the morning, India,” Boyd said.
Rory ushered her from the meeting room, and she let him. Until they were in the hall.
Then she tugged on her arm.
Rory’s fingers tightened. “Don’t make me put you over my shoulder,” he said in a low rumble.
India’s eye widened. “You have got to be kidding me.” Though she remembered a time or two when he’d carried her off somewhere, over his shoulder. Usually shortly before he– Don’t go there, India.
“Even though everyone knows now, I’m sure there will still be plenty of speculation on why we haven’t been together. You can feed it, or let them wonder.” He kept his grip on her arm all the way into the elevator.
She shut her mouth when several of the delegates joined them on the elevator, eying them curiously. She caught and held the gaze of one of the Russian tigers, until he finally flushed and looked away. Damned nosy busybodies.
She kept a bland expression on her face while more people crowded in the car, though she finally realized her father had called Rory earlier to tell him about the rogues.
He already knew.
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Now I’m off to do some writing before bedtime. I wish you all a very happy new year!
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