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My last load of laundry is in the dryer, the dinner leftovers are put away (or sent home with the boys and some to the neighbor), and it’s finally time to relax. But I don’t feel very relaxed. I feel antsy and edgy. I think it’s because there’s so much going on here–until we get through the yard sale next month, I don’t think I’m going to have much down-time (and have I mentioned how much I hate yard sales? I do, so this is my one and only. Ugh.). The yard sale isn’t my only non-writing project either, and the day-job is still insanely busy. But I did spend quite a bit of time in the last week working on my revised writing goals for the year. I still need to tweak, and to be realistic–if I’m going away on vacation for a week in September, chances aren’t good I’m going to get as much done as I think I should. So I will work out the last of the kinks in that by mid-week and be ready to work on my April goals.
I’ve also been looking over Medusa #2, tweaking and making notes on things I want to polish up, and doing a casual read of Medusa #3. Those won’t be so bad to complete. The harder work will come when I get to the point of formatting, covers, release dates… My mind spins just thinking about it. So for now, I’m going to try to rein that in and stay focused on the stories. No need to freak myself out yet.
I did think earlier in the week how much I could use a vacation. September is a long way off. I may need a couple of long weekends between now and then if I’m going to make it that long until vacation. But I do have Maine to look forward to.
It just seems so very far in the future right now. I guess I should count myself lucky that I’ve got so much going on right now, that time should fly right by for a little while.
While I try to convince myself of that, I have a little snippet of my first shifter story to share with you this week.
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Upstairs, she pulled her tote out of the closet and started folding her clothes into it. Since the alarm was functional, she could go home tomorrow after work, instead of returning here to the compound, and right now, putting some distance between herself and Harley seemed like a very smart idea.
Of course, she reflected, she probably didn’t have any usable furniture left in her house. She hadn’t asked, though the trash bin in her driveway yesterday when Harley took her to pick up her car had been overflowing. Tessa frowned, putting the tote aside to think. She might need to rent some furniture until it was time to move.
She sat on the edge of the bed. Maybe a sleeping bag for tomorrow night, then she could see what she needed once she got home.
The tap on her door startled her, and she shoved upright again. “Yes?”
The door opened just a little, and Harley stuck his head around it. “Hey.”
“Harley.” She swallowed, feeling a blush creep up her throat to her face.
“Can I persuade you to join me for a walk in the rose garden?”
Tessa felt her pulse quicken. “Not a good idea.”
One of his eyebrows winged up. “Why not?”
“I have things to deal with tonight.”
One corner of his mouth tipped up, too. “You can’t take fifteen minutes for a walk?”
“Harley, we shouldn’t have kissed last night.” Much as she’d dreamed of that very thing for years.
His smile vanished.
“And it can’t happen again.”
He scowled at her. “Why not? We’re both adults.”
Her heart thumped against her ribs when he stepped into the room. “Because I’m not staying, and you are. Because you’re my best friend’s brother. Because–” she stopped talking when he took a step toward her.
“Because you’re afraid.”
Heat rushed to her face. “I am not.”
He smiled again, a dangerous curve of his lips. “You are.”
She frowned at him. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not happening again.”
“We’ll see.”
“Please leave my room, Harley.”
He winked at her.
“Not again. We can’t.” She pointed at the door.
He backed out of it, his amber gaze still on her face. “We’ll see.”
Tessa shoved the door shut and leaned against it, her pulse skipping. Why couldn’t Harley have wanted this years ago? Even if it was just for a summer fling?
She straightened. It didn’t matter. In a matter of weeks, she’d be gone.
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What will be occupying your time this week? Lots of work at your day-jobs? A break to read for hours? That last one sounds lovely and reminds me I am overdue for one of those breaks.
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