WeWriWa: Counting Blessings . . . and Stars

Still in a tryptophan coma from Thanksgiving, I'm offering up on a platter this next scene from PRINCE OF FOOLS that continues from last week's excerpt that ended with hunky hero Rico suggesting to a skittish Amber that she upgrade her living situation . . . 

Before she could stammer something inane like "Are you asking me to move in?" Evie hollered, "Mom, c'mon or I'll be late!" forcing Amber to shake off that wistful folly. There was no room for the two of them in his one-bedroom bachelor abode.

"Just a sec," she called back, slipping out from under the situation with a quick rinse of her brush without making further eye contact. Had things so changed between the three of them that there was there no going back to the cautious distance she preferred to keep?

If she had reservations, the sight of the two of them standing at the stove sent them scattering with Rico sneaking a strip of bacon, Evie trying to swat him with a spoon, him so large and protective, her so innocently trusting . . . the two she loved more than life.

Rico glanced her way, still grinning, and the flare of heat in his eyes incinerated all doubts on the spot as he called, "Get it while it’s hot.” 

With his still sleep-heavy eyes, in his rumpled tee shirt and on the edge of being too revealing sweat pants, the hot that came to mind wasn’t breakfast until he reminded, “This kid’s got school.”

While she was steered toward the table, Rico and Evie made an efficient tandem in the kitchen, filling and passing plates, her so slight and serious, him so happy and . . . hot. 

She could have this every morning of every day.

It was all Amber could do to swallow past the tightness in her throat, the scene so perfect . . . too perfect to be real.

What's a guy gotta do? Put a ring on it (or in his case, a Terriot diamond earring in it)? Me thinks she doth protest too much. Maybe all she needs is a little convincing for her to count her blessings instead of believing she's reaching for the stars. We'll find out in next weekend's post. I'll be hosting my critique group pals for our holiday festivities as December starts off with a literal (make that literary) bang beginning with thanks and ending with giving.

Speaking of giving, I'm participating again this year in Literary Escapism's Black Friday event that puts our book characters in the middle of holiday madness. I've written a "coulda been" scene from PRINCE OF FOOLS featuring Rico and Amber's daughter Evangeline on a shopping trip that, if you've read the book, doesn't end well. Enjoy the extra scene, and a chance for a winner's choice of one of the four Kindle e-books leading up to PRINCE OF FOOLS. While you're there, see what other heroes and heroines are doing when they take a little holiday R-and-R!

Don't forget, my "Midnight to Moonlight" Reduced Price/New Release tour is ongoing through the 30th with a shot at a $10 Amazon gift card (a Happy New Year's gift to the lucky winner!).

Excuse me while I go hop on the treadmill to work off some pie poundage before Tuesday's pre-surgery doctor's appointment (talk about the scales of justice!). Hope all who celebrated Thanksgiving found plenty to be thankful for (Make that everyone. It never hurts to be thankful!). What are some of the things on that list? Mine starts with an extra four hours of sleep on the weekend!

Happy writing fellow Warriors!!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.

Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.