My lilacs are blooming like crazy this week, so spring is definitely here. I suppose that means that, in addition to cutting them to bring in the house, I should also be clearing out the flower beds to get them ready for the new season. Instead, though, today, I’m going to enjoy the flowers I brought inside while I write. I could write outside, but half the neighborhood has lawn mowers or other outdoor tools running, and even in the house, I can still hear them if I don’t have my headphones on. So I’ll put my afternoon to good use by getting more words on pages.
I’m still working on my revamped writing goals for the rest of the year, and I’m counting that as my spring clean-up. It kind of is, because otherwise, the rest of the year will be a shambling, disorganized mess, as far as my writing goals. Probably otherwise, too, if I don’t get update this settled. So I am aiming to finish this new writing plan before the end of this month. I have to.
Before I get back to the writing, I have a little snippet of Medusa #2…
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Philomena let him seat her at a corner booth in the bright diner he found and didn’t protest when he told the waitress they both wanted the dinner special. She just kept thinking of her mother and Jason and the danger they were in because of her. Because if she didn’t think about that, she’d be thinking instead of the coming night and the monstrous bed in the tiny cabin she was about to share with Ryder. And that was unsafe territory after the past twenty-four hours, just as dangerous as the Harvesters, but in a much different manner. “You’re thinking way too hard about this, Mena,” he said softly, stroking the back of her hand where it lay on the table.
She glanced up from her plate, aware of the warmth sliding up her arm from his touch. “How can I not?” “Danny is going to make sure they’re safe.” His low voice was soothing, though it still sent a shiver up her spine in a way that was far from soothing. “They’ll be getting ready to travel tomorrow, then hit the road the following day.” “Jason should be in school.” She didn’t let herself think of the other thing. He smiled, setting his hand more securely over hers. “It’ll be fine, baby. I promise.” She set her fork down. “You shouldn’t make promises like that. You can’t know for sure.” His dark eyes went serious in a flash. “I will keep the two of you safe, Mena.” Her stomach twisted at his words. “You should worry about keeping Jason safe first.” “And how do you think he’d feel if I let something happen to you?” His grip on her hand tightened.
She looked away, swallowing. She didn’t want to think about that either. “For all intents and purposes, you’re his mother, Mena. You’ve raised him since he was born. No–” he held up his other hand when she opened her mouth to protest– “just because she gave birth to him and physically lived there for a couple weeks afterward and sends him a birthday card when she thinks of it, that all means nothing. Desi is a lousy mother, but you aren’t, and Jason knows that. He’d be devastated if I let something happen to you.” He shot her a hard glance. “And even if I didn’t want you so bad my zipper’s about to burst, I’d need to keep you safe just because you’re family.” That didn’t make her feel better. “So you have control issues and a knight in shining armor complex,” she said, lifting one shoulder. He tugged on her hand, getting her attention again. “I may work well in protector mode, Mena, but I’m no knight in shining armor.” He held her gaze this time, his own heated. “Having a sheet of solid metal between us is my idea of torture.”
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Now I’m off to write. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
