Just Another non-Manic Monday

 

This past weekend I visited a few blogs involved with Weekend Writing Warriors and a few of them are writing snappy mysteries involving feisty female P.I.'s, and it had me thinking of the very first book I ever sold to a publisher. Because I'm wallowing in nostalgia, I thought I'd share one scene.

To set the scene:

Shelby Stewart - a small-time private investigator, determined to make it on her own without any help from...

Tank - aka, Jake Steele, ex-husband, and former business partner. His main goal is to win back the heart of Shelby and he'll get some help from...

Polly - Shelby's best friend as well as her very bored receptionist. She is firmly in the corner that Shelby and Tank should get back together.

***

He pushed off the desk and moved around to stand in front of me. By sitting at my desk, I’d boxed myself in. That Tank was aware of this was evident by the hint of a smile touching the corner of his lips. Testosterone and male awareness poured off him and my heart suddenly began pounding in my throat and I closed my eyes. He drew close enough that I caught his scent.

He smelled like peppermint. I bit back a groan. I used to love peppermint.

I could feel the warmth of his breath, brushing my temple and had a death grip on the arms of the chair. This time I’d stay in control. No good-looking, drop-dead, gorgeous man would turn me into a wilting female. No way, not this time. I... Warm lips covered mine.

Blank. My mind went blank when he began nibbling on my lower lip. He was such a good kisser. Wanting more I leaned forward, lips parting in anticipation. My eyes flew open when he broke off the kiss. With his face mere inches from mine and his eyes twinkling with humor, I knew I’d been had.

“See you later, darlin’.” He straightened and swaggered out, looking like he kissed girls senseless all the time. Bemused, I watched him walk away. His jeans, low on his hips, the material faded and worn, caressed him like an old friend. He really did fill those Levis out nicely. Oh crap! I forgot to tell him where he could stay.

“Guest bedroom only,” I called after him. “Tank?”

The front door slammed. Why did my noodle go on vacation whenever he was around? Heavy sighing could be heard in the next room. Polly was drooling over Tank again.

“Pull it back in, Polly. I can hear dripping from here.”

She sighed out, “Oh god, he’s the most gorgeous man ever!” I pictured her with her chin resting on her palm, all gooey and dreamy-eyed, watching him get on his motorcycle. “I don’t know why you won’t take him back, honey. If he was mine, I’d be in his front pocket all day.”

Yeah, well, those days were over. I grabbed the keys to my car. I should have about an hour head start on him. By the time he got to my place, dropped off his stuff, and made it out to the Grant’s, I’d be long gone.

I loved it when a plan worked.

****

What do you do when things don’t go According to Plan? For starters, you trick, deceive and lie to the very person who ruined your best-laid plans.

Welcome to the world of Shelby Stewart, P.I., who’s been hired to find socialite, Harrison Grant. To complicate matters further her ex-husband, Tank shows up looking for Harrison as well, albeit for a very different reason. Harry is the prime suspect in the grisly murder of a call girl in L.A.

That wouldn’t be so bad, but Tank plans on staying at Shelby’s house and makes it obvious he’s quite willing to help her heat the sheets, again. Shelby knows that sex with Tank is dangerous, fast, and sometimes a little dirty. Now is not the time to become side-tracked.

Frustration becomes Shelby’s newest partner as she makes plans to out maneuver Tank in their parallel quest. Tank, on the other hand, is always one step ahead of the game—and is not what, or who Shelby thought.

He broke her heart once before. This time she’ll harden her heart. This time his sweet, slow kisses won’t take her knees out from under her. This time she won’t tumble into bed with him. This time it will all work out ~ According to Plan.

THROWBACK THURSDAY ~ ACCORDING TO PLAN

Fear anchored him to the seat. For every mile he'd driven, a different scenario played inside his mind. She could look at him and smile prettily because he was a stranger. Or, hide because Caleb warned her not to trust strangers. But the one that gripped his heart and squeezed was the thought she could look at him with indifference. Not because she didn't remember him, but because she had...and didn't want him back in her life.

Available HERE

First Page Friday ~ Sue BARR

This was the first manuscript I ever sold in 2010. In 2014 I received my publishing rights back for ATP and seven other publications. In 2015 I re-published According to Plan under my own name (after taking out the naughty bits...). Today, I'm sharing the first page from Tank and Shelby's story.

Blurb:

Shelby Stewart's been hired for the biggest case of her career. Locate missing socialite Harrison Grant. To complicate matters, her estranged husband lands on her doorstep. He's also on the hunt for Harrison, albeit for a completely different reason. Harry is the prime suspect in the grisly murder of a call girl in L.A.

Agent Jake Steele, aka Tank, is deep undercover as a P.I., and sometimes there's collateral damage in his line of work. His marriage to Shelby is one of them. With her life in danger, he lets her think he left for another woman. When this case is over, he means to win back the heart and trust of Shelby, the only woman he's ever loved.

However, there's another person who has their eye on Shelby and will stop at nothing to possess her.

From an attempted kidnapping to an explosion with deadly consequences, this is not your average missing person's case.

First Page:

A hint of rain lingered in the air without breaking the stifling heat. Seated in my office, which I’m sure was a broom closet in a former life, sweat threatened to trickle down the inside of my bra. I hated being cooped up on days like this and longed to be outside. At least if I was on the job, I could duck into a coffee shop for some air-conditioned relief, but long overdue paperwork threatened to topple off my desk. Despairing this day would never end, freedom arrived with the ringing of my desk phone. I pounced on it like a cat with a new toy.

“Stewart Agencies. This is Shelby.”

“Our son is missing,” a deep, modulated voice said with no preamble.

 I found that odd, but with the angst that rides alongside a missing family member the man obviously did not want to waste precious time. I grabbed a note pad and asked, “How old is your son, Mr...?

“Grant. Raymond Grant. Harrison is thirty.”

I fell against the back of my chair, admittedly stunned by the caller’s identity. Raymond Thurston Grant was one of our state’s more influential political insider, a behind the scenes kind of guy. It was rumored he even had the ear of the President. Harrison, the spoiled chubby little cherub, was his only son. How could he be missing? My take on Harrison was that he wouldn’t stray far from the family home, or more specifically, the family money. Plus, mommy’s apron strings only stretched so far. Still….

“How long has he been missing?”

“I don’t have time for small talk, Miss Stewart. Be at our home in forty-five minutes.”

Before I could reply, Mr. Grant hung up.

 There you go. I hope you enjoyed this vignette.

FIRST KISS FRIDAY

For fun, I thought I'd share the first kiss between my characters Shelby Stewart-Steele and her estranged husband, Jake Steele (aka Tank) from ACCORDING TO PLAN. Now, what you don't know is that he left her high and dry with nary a word for almost a year. Is she mad at him? Yup. Does she still love him? Yup. Is she mad that she still love him? You betcha.

Shelby has seen that Jake is coming into her place of business and decides to hightail it out the rear of the building. As we find out throughout the book, not everything she does goes ACCORDING TO PLAN.

I blew out the rear door and had gone almost three steps when strong hands grabbed and twirled me around. I kicked and wriggled until he put me down. About to have an adult conversation - oh heck, I was going to yell at him - he bent down and rocked his lips over mine. Anything I might have said, or thought melted with the liquid fire spreading through my limbs. I ached to sink into his familiar embrace until my brain finally kicked in gear and I pushed against his chest. I may as well have shoved a brick wall.

"Get off me."

"Is that anyway to say hello to your husband?" With one arm around my waist, he dipped his head and attempted to steal another kiss.

I executed a quick side step taught to me by my dad and twisted out of his arms and his lips met nothing but air. I took a small step back and ignored the rapid tattoo of my heart. Tank had a way of making me forget things, like breathing.

Oh no - do you hate him? Well, before you dig in your heels and get all mad... here's the blurb.

Jake Steele, aka Tank, walked away from his wife Shelby and their business without explanation. One year later, Shelby's hired for the biggest case of her career, locate missing socialite, Harrison Grant. To complicate matters further, Tank lands on her doorstep. He's also on the hunt for Harrison, albeit for a completely different reason. Harry is the prime suspect in the grisly murder of a call girl in L.A.

Agent Jake Steele is deep undercover as a P.I., and sometimes there's collateral damage in his line of work. His marriage to Shelby is one of them. With her life in danger, he had to let her think he left for another woman. When this case is over, Tank means to win back the heart and trust of Shelby, the only woman he's ever loved.

But, there's another person who has their eye on Shelby and will stop at nothing to possess her. From an attempted kidnapping to an explosion with deadly consequences, this is not your average missing person's case.

Tidbit Tuesday

My first book ever published was According to Plan, a contemporary romantic suspense. Heavy on the romance, light on the suspense. I thought I'd share a brief snippet where I exercised my descriptive narrative muscle. I hope you enjoy.

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Review ~ 4.5 Stars!

ACCORDING TO PLAN

In Shelby’s line of work, elements of danger, secrecy, and deceit are to be expected. Spying on cheating spouses and apprehending bail jumpers is what pay the bills for this small-time private investigator. However, when her own cheating ex comes barreling back into town on the back of a Harley, danger, secrecy, and deceit become part of her personal life instead of just her professional one. It isn’t long before complications between the case she’s currently working on and her confused emotions for Tank converge, leaving Shelby’s heart, mind, and body at war.

From the moment he met her, he knew she was the one, but his profession had him doing something he never thought he would do. But now, Tank is ready to start-over with Shelby and right the wrongs that broke them up in the first place. He vowed to never lose her again, but this time he may not have a choice.

Fast paced with great emotional quality, this story keeps you on the edge of your seat with lots of plot twists and scorching love scenes. Shelby and Tank’s physical chemistry is off the charts sizzling and undeniable from the moment they touch, but they are also each other’s own personal brand of kryptonite.

I really appreciated that both Shelby and Tank’s perspectives are given and nothing too revealing was allowed until it became necessary as part of the plotline.

Reviewed by Dahlia

It's ALIVE!

I'm so excited to announce that my book, According to Plan, is available on a variety of digital platforms! Yeah me.

Buy Link

Sue B