Concealing the gift under a washcloth in her hand, Daisy turned back to the room, intending to stash the present in her suitcase and preventing any questions of it tonight. When she crossed over the bathroom threshold, her foot caught on something. Daisy tumbled downward with a shriek; the gift flew from her hand.
The washcloth flung away, and she watched in slow motion the flashy, sparkly red bow flip end-over-end through the air until the rest of the room rushed upward and the carpet broke her fall.
Drew dashed to her and helped her sit up. She could see him better if those damned stars weren’t in the way.
“What happened?” she muttered, then looked to see Olé stretched over the doorway, the little Chihuahua’s little face looking guilty, yet a sliver of intent lay hiding in his eye. She realized just how invisible the dog had been all night.
Then the picture of the gift in flight set Daisy to a panic.
“Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no,” she chanted, imagining the gift from the gods fragile and now broken by her hand. She went to her knees and crawled along the floor, seeking the missing gift beneath the dresser, the desk. Olé joined her, sniffing but not knowing any better than she did for what the heck they searched.
She crawled over to one bed and threw up the covers to check beneath it. All she saw was Drew’s face appearing on the other side of the bed. “What are you looking for?”
She threw the covers back into position. “I don’t know,” she admitted, and crawled around to the other bed, checking every corner where the gift could hide. She noticed Drew’s interest, possibly focused on her upturned derriere.
She flipped the other bed spread flaps up and checked beneath to spot the box in shadow. Relieved, she reached under the bed frame and grabbed the box, bringing it with her as she rose, but the relief was short-lived. In her palm, the tiny, elaborately decorated red box lay open and empty. Drew stared expectantly at the inch-sized cube. She found nothing on the floor.
Before Daisy could consider what punishment the gods might demand of a lousy messenger, her nose detected a scent she knew well from the wild roses woven into the farm’s front gate. Roses meant home to Daisy.
Drew’s brow crashed. “Do you smell flowers?”
He leaned toward her and sniffed so close she felt the tug of breeze into his nose. “It’s you. You smell like flowers. Must be your shower soap.”
But she used the soap she made on the farm, oatmeal and otherwise unscented.
Daisy became super-aware of Drew’s close proximity. He just stood there beside her, wearing nothing but a hotel bed-sheet toga, the corners tied at one shoulder and draping the long line of his physique. Her eyes rode the open side of the toga, down his rib cage past his hips, where hard thighs and scattered hair took over. She was struck with the strongest urge to touch him, to slip her hands to his chest and run her fingers through the hair there. To caress his city-pale flesh, knead his weight-sculpted biceps, stroke the sides of his lean torso. The feeling was so strong, she broke into a sweat. Her palms itched.
Drew stepped back and began to hyperventilate. He paled, dropped onto the bed, his hand to his chest as if his breath had escaped him. He looked truly panicked.
“What is it, Drew?” Daisy asked, fearing the moment. She tossed the empty red box aside and took his hand to feel it clammy.
Was this The End?
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Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Our SPOTLIGHT on Michele Hart, and "No Funny Stuff," CONTINUES ...
~ABOUT MICHELE~
A latch-key kid raised in Brandon, Florida, Michele found the world outside her house boring so she lived inside shows about futuristic worlds, fantastic places. Star Trek, Bewitched, Night Stalker. Battlestar Galactica, I Dream of Jeannie, Logan’s Run. Naturally, she found her future in alternate realities! She’s keeping it UNreal.
Transylvanian blood explains her pallor and fangs, the huddling in shadows, that evil snicker! Must be a horror story lurking somewhere in her When writing a law enforcement character, she gets her concealed weapons permit. When she writes swashbucklers, she takes sword-fighting classes. She’s ready for an interstellar space trip, NASA!
Michele’s written Sci-Fi Romance, Erotic Romantic Suspense, and Romantic Comedy in lengths from a 4,000-word short story to a 9-book series. Yeah, she needs a life!
At this very moment, she’s at her computer writing a new story, doing promotions, fixing that “dumb” computer, or sticking her head in a science book, sweating bullets as she labors to understand physics, cosmology, and quantum mechanics. The girl has only so much brain RAM to work with!
Michele’s written Sci-Fi Romance, Erotic Romantic Suspense, and Romantic Comedy in lengths from a 4,000-word short story to a 9-book series. Yeah, she needs a life!
At this very moment, she’s at her computer writing a new story, doing promotions, fixing that “dumb” computer, or sticking her head in a science book, sweating bullets as she labors to understand physics, cosmology, and quantum mechanics. The girl has only so much brain RAM to work with!
Michele’s favorite writers are Katie Macalister, Jennifer Estep, and Alisha Paige. Her favorite living thing is a cute and fluffy Malti-Poo named Rocket.
PRAISE FOR MICHELE AND, "NO FUNNY STUFF"
Bitten By Books
5 out of 5 Tombstones
5 out of 5 Tombstones
What do you get when you mix the Muse of Laughter, a calamity-ridden man, a fantastically eccentric red head, a Chihuahua with the heart of a rottweiler, and a task from the Gods? An utterly fabulous story filled with humor and depth, that’s what. This story practically flew off the pages and I had so much fun… I loved this spin on Greek Mythology…and the back story for Drew’s family curse was interesting. The interplay between the different deities was well done and a rather humorous version of what was said to happen rather frequently when Olympians take sides. I also got a real kick out of Thalia’s various shoe stores. I highly recommend this tale if you’re looking for a laugh out loud story that is the perfect remedy for a downer of a day or a long day at work. 
Reviewer: Sarai
The Long and Short of It
5 out of 5 Books
Greek gods and muses have their own way of looking at the world, and it’s not always a nice one. If you live forever, you can hold a grudge forever, and boy, do the poor mortals sometimes suffer as a result. Thalia, muse of laughter, usually steers clear of these darker doings of her fellow celestial beings. It’s hard to find a punch line in a tragedy. But when she’s asked a little favor, she has no choice but to become involved. Daisy and Andrew meet by accident. Literally. She nearly runs him over in busy New York. Morose after losing his job, he’s in no mood to see the bright side of life, but Daisy is just such a breath of fresh air, he feels himself succumb to laughter even when he’s sure she’s nothing but trouble. That’s when the gods get involved, blowing on an already flaming fire between Andrew and Daisy. Life couldn’t get any better for either of them, but tragedy looms on the horizon. Not, however, if Thalia can help it. Sometimes the most depressing darkness just needs to be tickled in the right spot. Now if only she can decide on the perfect shoes to wear for the job… I know, I know, the genre classification isn’t quite on the usual list. However, Ms Hart’s enthralling tale needs that classification, for it has enough of each element to more than satisfy readers of humorous contemporary and fantasy alike. Beautifully written, with characters so three-dimensional you feel you can reach out and touch them, this novel is the best I’ve read for a long time. It will have you laughing out loud, chewing your nails, and sitting nowhere but on the very edge of your seat. Be warned: do not try to drink coffee while you’re reading this, you might end up spurting the brew all over your electronic reader. You’ve been warned. I highly recommend No Funny Stuff, it’s fantastic. Reviewed by: Eglantine
The Long and Short of It
5 out of 5 Books
Greek gods and muses have their own way of looking at the world, and it’s not always a nice one. If you live forever, you can hold a grudge forever, and boy, do the poor mortals sometimes suffer as a result. Thalia, muse of laughter, usually steers clear of these darker doings of her fellow celestial beings. It’s hard to find a punch line in a tragedy. But when she’s asked a little favor, she has no choice but to become involved. Daisy and Andrew meet by accident. Literally. She nearly runs him over in busy New York. Morose after losing his job, he’s in no mood to see the bright side of life, but Daisy is just such a breath of fresh air, he feels himself succumb to laughter even when he’s sure she’s nothing but trouble. That’s when the gods get involved, blowing on an already flaming fire between Andrew and Daisy. Life couldn’t get any better for either of them, but tragedy looms on the horizon. Not, however, if Thalia can help it. Sometimes the most depressing darkness just needs to be tickled in the right spot. Now if only she can decide on the perfect shoes to wear for the job… I know, I know, the genre classification isn’t quite on the usual list. However, Ms Hart’s enthralling tale needs that classification, for it has enough of each element to more than satisfy readers of humorous contemporary and fantasy alike. Beautifully written, with characters so three-dimensional you feel you can reach out and touch them, this novel is the best I’ve read for a long time. It will have you laughing out loud, chewing your nails, and sitting nowhere but on the very edge of your seat. Be warned: do not try to drink coffee while you’re reading this, you might end up spurting the brew all over your electronic reader. You’ve been warned. I highly recommend No Funny Stuff, it’s fantastic. Reviewed by: Eglantine
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Visit Michele on the web- http://www.iloveshapeshifters.com/
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The SPOTLIGHT is on, "No Funny Stuff," by Michele Hart...
Under conspiratorial inspiration of Olympian thrones, Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, sends a blessing of love and laughter to Drew Murphy, a young man cursed to a short and miserable life.
But when her favorite messenger Daisy Sullivan accidentally launches the magic --wrong time, wrong place, wrong method, wrong everything!-- Thalia must force to light buried secrets of a millennia-old family curse and face down a most vengeful Immortal on his own bloody stage if she wishes to free both Drew and Daisy from an unJust fate.
Ares, the God of War, loves only one thing as much as he loves bloodshed....
How's Thalia supposed to make THAT funny? At least, she's wearing her best sandals!
Purchase 'No Funny Stuff'- http://www.thewildrosepress.com/no-funny-stuff-song-of-the-muses-p-925.html
Chapter 1 of, "Past Regrets"
PAST REGRETS
BY: DEBRA A. SOLES
Prologue
Their mission was over and they had returned to the space station that was the Galactic Security’s main headquarters. General Ginmatager Hardigan, better known as Ginger, let out a sigh of relief as she watched her brother, Josh, leave the ship. The ship was headed back to the main offices to report in with the Warrior Delegates on the success of their mission.
Since she was old enough to go into training at age eight, Ginger had been part of the Zogone Military. First, at the Academy, then as part of the Warrior Delegates, before becoming part of the Zogone’s main forces of the Galactic Security, and then reaching the rank of Security General.
Her main goal had been to be trained well enough to be able to go on missions, like the one she had just returned from. Her crew had just come back from a rescue mission on Earth, or rather a retrieval of a human with a secondary mission to annihilate one of the Zogone’s top ten dangerous criminals. It had been a dangerous mission that had required patience, brain and all her years of experience to pull off. Over five hundred years ago, her great, great, great grandmother had been brutally killed. Her killer was a minister-turned-vampire, better known as the Puritan Vampire, who believed Ginger’s grandmother had cursed him—and he swore to stop at nothing to kill her grandmother again. Somehow the monster knew she had been reincarnated, as if her smell or very essence could be felt in the air the moment she was reborn.
At the death of his young wife, Brian, her great, great, great grandfather had been cryogenically frozen and was re-awakened at the time his wife’s life signature was recognized in a present-day teenager. After being reincarnated, Colleen was renamed Arlene, and when she started college, Ginger and the Zogones had maneuvered her life. The first day in her new college town, she had met Brian and the memories started to pour in until Arlene remembered everything from her past life.
After bringing Arlene back into their lives, the Zogones’ last goal was to destroy the Puritan Vampire. Their mission was to stop the monster, so that he could never harm anyone again, though his victim’s list was disturbingly long.
Now with their mission complete, they had returned home to the space station. Brian and Arlene slipped by Ginger and headed back to the Science Department along with Arlene’s present day parents, Harold and Marsha Garnet.
Then there was Sam, another of the Puritan Vampire’s victims. His mother had been attacked, raped, beaten and left for dead, carrying a viral blood disease that killed her six years later, but not before she had born a child from the attack, Sam himself. He was half-vampire/half-human, thanks to the Puritan Vampire. Nevertheless, Sam had found his revenge, being the one to place a silver, holy-water-forged bullet in his father’s brains, killing him and ending the cycle of evil.
Like Arlene, Sam was a human, an Earthling and now a friend to them all. For Ginger, Sam was not just a friend or like a brother. No, Sam made Ginger feel things she had never felt before. Like an Adonis of Greek legend, he had long dirty blond hair and smoky blue gray eyes. An aura of mystery surrounded him. But unlike a Greek god, Sam was tall and almost gangly in his young man’s body, not quite fully grown at twenty years old.
Ginger had spent so long and worked so hard on training that she had never taken the time for a life of her own, never wanted a relationship with anyone, until now. Not until Sam had slipped into her life, with shared dreams and fears, forcing her to see there was more to life than just work.
It was terrifying and agonizing, but it gave her hope. Her grandparents had a love that had spanned the ages, undying and true to each other. Ginger could sense the same things could develop with Sam one day if she could find the courage to tell him how she felt, but being a novice in love she wasn’t sure how. Now that Brian and Arlene planned to renew their wedding vows, it just seemed to bolster Ginger’s courage and help her decide to try.
Giving him a small smile, she took his hand in hers and led him through the station toward the Galactic Security center’s dorms where her private quarters were located. Standing up straight, using her position of authority to bolster her confidence, she took both his hands in hers and let their gazes lock.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
His eyes flickered down to their clasped hands, then back up to her face. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you, too.”
“Good, so we are agreed this talk has been put on hold long enough. I’m not sure how you feel, but I would like you to stay with the Zogone people instead of going back to Earth.”
Lifting a hand, he brushed his strong fingers across her earlobe and twining them through her short red hair. “Why do you want me to stay?”
Twitching nervously under his gaze, she licked her lips before she could mumble around the lump in her throat. “I care about you and … well, I think you would be happier here.”
He watched her closely and for some reason she could tell both her actions and her words affected him as his breath grew shallow. “I have every intention of staying with your people. I don’t belong on Earth around normal people. I belong here where I can do some good.”
Her heart leapt, “I’m glad you are going to stay. I would like for us to … I mean, we could try and …”
Her words faltered along with the trembling confusion of her feelings. Each movement of his body, each tiny breath riveted her. Licking her suddenly dry lips again, she gasped as he moved closer.
Taking her agreement for granted, he pulled her tightly into his arms and slowly his head lowered until their lips touched. Unlike the morning at the campground where they had first kissed, he didn’t just touch her lips gently before pulling away. This time he advanced further, racking a hand through her hair, angling her head back and then took full possession of her mouth.
Last time had been comforting, sweet and a gentle caress. This kiss was wild, hot, stimulating and the desire that rocketed through her made her knees weak. Her stomach quivered and her hands trembled as they wound around his neck.
Her shyness vanished as her emotions took over. She let herself go on instinct, letting her body find the best position against him, snug in his embrace. Her hands slid over his shoulders, feeling all the hard muscles of his chest.
Their first kiss left her wondering, because it had been her first kiss ever.
However, this kiss made a world of promises that left her expectant.
Her skin felt hot like it was on fire, yet at the same time shivers raced down her spine as if her feelings were forming a mutiny to take control of her body, until she could no longer think.
There was a hard rap on the door and before Ginger and Sam could pull back. Her brother Josh let himself in the door. Josh loved to barge into Ginger’s room uninvited, because no one else could confuse the door locks. His genetic coding matched Ginger’s and confused the locking mechanism.
Pulling back beyond embarrassed, Ginger’s eyes met the confused emerald green ones of her older brother. “I don’t know what is going on here and I don’t want to know, either. I just came to deliver a message.”
Her voice cracked as she asked, “What message?”
“It isn’t for you.” Turning toward Sam he said, “Major Sharball is on a transmission line in one of the offices and he wants to talk to you. I saw you leave the dock with Ginger and figured I would find you where ever Ginger was.”
Turning to Ginger he shrugged, “Your assistant said you had headed this way.”
Not wanting to believe her own ears, she turned to Sam, “Major Sharball, the Major Sharball of the Warrior Delegates, Josh’s commanding officer? What does he want with you?”
Sam looked at Josh, “Give me ten minutes and I’ll catch up with you.”
Nodding gravely, Josh left the room, as Sam turned to Ginger. “I was planning to tell you. We just got a little sidetracked.”
Ginger stepped back shaking her head, “No, you said you were staying here.”
“I said I was staying with your people. I never said I was staying right here on this space station.”
Sam reached toward her, but she jerked her arm back. “You know damn well I thought you meant you would stay here … with me.”
Dropping his hands by his sides, Sam sighed. “I’m sorry, Ginger; this is just something I have to do. I would like to stay here, with you, but I just can’t.”
Balling up her fists tightly she gulped holding her anger in, but could hardly keep herself from yelling, “Why? Why can’t you just tell them you’ve changed your mind and stay with me?”
Sam’s eyes met hers again and she could see the desperation written on his face.
“Because I don’t deserve you. I’m a monster like my father and I have to make up for all the bad things before I have a right to call my life my own.”
Understanding his feelings, though knowing he was wrong she asked, “Isn’t there some way I can change your mind?”
“No, I’m sorry.”
“When are you leaving?” she asked through tight lips and barely hidden tears.
Turning his back on her, he mumbled, “In two days I’ll be leaving for Adrivar with Josh.”
As he walked out the door, she yelled back, “Fine go then, be a macho jerk and see if I care.”
It was the last thing she said to him, because he didn’t come back and she didn’t go after him. She did not see him again, before he left two days later, except from far off as he boarded the space ship with the other Warrior Delegates headed for their home planet of Adrivar.
That night she cried herself to sleep and promised herself never again would she let stupid little girl emotions rule her.
From that day, she amended to become the best General alive and forget about any relationship that was not linked by blood.
Chapter One
Every day and every night was spent on Galactic Security business, to the point where Ginger had no life except for the Zogonrescue obsession.
The expected summons came from Colonel Daimlar during one of Ginger’s unusually slow days, making it easy for her to leave her office and make it in time for her meeting. With a professional and not over-eager smile planted on her face, Ginger was shown into Daimlar’s office.
Wearing the long blueberry blue-and-white robes of the Galactic Security Academy, Diamlar looked very sophisticated, very colonel-ish with his short light-brown hair and age-carved skin. He was tall and willowy, stooping slightly and looking like a giant humpback.
Saluting each other smartly, middle finger and index finger held together then tapped to the forehead, Daimlar motioned for her to take a seat. “I’m sure you’re curious why you’ve been summoned here today.”
Nodding politely she answered, “Yes, I was sir, but I’m sure you’ll alleviate that curiosity.”
“All of your commanding officers have noticed your hard work since the restart of this war with the Baygers and we would like to reward you for everything you have done.”
Trying to act surprised Ginger replied, “Why thank you, but no reward is needed. I work hard for our people, for their protection and happiness.”
Reciting part of the Galactic Security mandate.Linking his fingers on the desk in front of him, Daimlar nodding. “But of course no reward comes without judgment. The colonels all agree that in order to get your promotion you need to prove you are completely ready to be a major.”
With a smile, she nodded sweetly, though she was fuming inside, “Of course sir, whatever the colonels think is best.”
Grinning widely he answered, “I knew we could count on you, General Hardigan. We have a very important mission for you. The youngest son of Colonel Qualtose was aboard the luxury ship Lasondra when it was attacked by one of the Baygers’ squadron last week.”
He held out a small rectangular handheld computer system. “Here is all the information we were able to receive on his kidnapping. Your mission is to go to the Baygers’ main military headquarters on their home planet and rescue young Mr. Qualtose.”
Scanning the first page of information Ginger automatically went into general mode.
“How many men will I be taking for back-up?”
There was a pause, one Ginger was used to preceding unwanted information, so looking up she watched Daimlar as he tapped his desktop nervously. “Just one man. The Warrior Delegates have a newly promoted captain who they believe needs a chance to prove himself, so they are giving him that chance by sending him with you.”
Shocked beyond belief, Ginger dropped the computer device in her lap and stared across the desk at Colonel Daimlar. “You expect me to sneak into the Baygers’ main headquarters, rescue some rich, pampered, whiney kid and make it back here alive? But I’m supposed to do that with one hot-shot rookie warrior who has a thirst for adventure, but not enough sense to keep himself alive much less cover my backside?”
Holding up both hands, he waved them at Ginger. “Now just wait a minute, there is no need to jump to conclusions. Do not judge the situation yet. We would not be sending you if we did not think the two of you could successfully complete this mission. Now the warrior captain will be here soon and the two of you can work everything out.”
For the next few minutes, Ginger went over each minor and major issue of the case. Diamlar showed her maps of the planet where Qualtoes was being kept. Ginger started a list of the equipment that would be needed for the rescue mission.
There was a knock on the door and one of Diamlar’s secretaries stuck her head in, “The Warrior Delegates’ captain is here to see you, Colonel.”
Ginger kept entering figures into her handheld, while the door was shut and reopened, then she looked up as Diamlar said, “Good afternoon Captain, so good of you to come all this way.”
Ginger was half way out of her chair before she realized what she was doing, then instantly sat back down. There wasn’t going to be any warm welcome from her.
Diamlar waved the captain into a chair before making the introductions. “General Ginmatager Hardigan, Galactic Security. Captain Samuel Paddington of the Warrior Delegates.”
Ginger barely nodded, refusing to show familiarity at all. “Captain.”
Sam on the other hand spoke up with, “Yeah, I know Ginger. If you look at my file you’ll see I work under her brother General Jomafash Hardigan and all three of us worked together on a mission before I joined the Delegates.”
Scratching his head Colonel Diamlar shuffled through a folder in front of him. “Ah, yes I see that here. General Hardigan even left a note in here saying the two of you worked great together. I hadn’t realized, but someone must have seen this and taken it into consideration when partnering you two for this mission.”
Nodding, Ginger cut in, “If that is all, Colonel, I need to get back to work.”
Handing her the file folder in his hands he nodded, “Yes that will be all. I expect a detailed list of your requirements in the morning. I would like you to leave in two days max.”
“Understood Colonel.” Nodding at the two men she mumbled, “Captain.” Then she walked out the door.
Ginger fumed all the way back to her office. No one had ever busted their butt harder for the Galactic Security Academy, yet she had to prove herself in order to get a promotion she had more than earned years ago. Then to be sent on some rescue mission to save some useless rich punk was a complete slap in the face!
But the worst offense of all was being sent on some suicide mission and being stuck alone with Sam for goodness only knew how long. Sitting behind her desk, she spent the next twenty minutes cursing him.
Damn him for coming back! Damn him for walking back into her neat organized life. Moreover, may the ceiling fall down around his head for looking like some blond Adonis god of her deepest-most-secret desire.
Burying her head in work and war hadn’t removed the hurt and humiliation of having handed him her heart and having him stomp on it, before walking out on her. She was not the same weak-kneed girl she had been four years ago. People had even gotten to the point of whispering behind her back. The usual was that she was a relentless hard ass who only cared for the military.
Ginger was definitely not the sweetie pie college girl Sam had met on Earth. She had become General Hardigan, heart and soul. As long as he was around that was the side she promised to show him, there would be no more love-sick stupid little girl in front of him ever again.
Taking a deep breath, she told herself to let it go and not let it bother her. Carefully she filled out a list of equipment she would need for the mission.
1. Transmitter equipment
2. Portable tracker equipment
3. Four laser rifles
4. Two bedrolls, weather watch ones to control nighttime unknown temperatures
5. Two lightweight backpacks
6. Military rations for two including water cantinas: about three days worth
7. Two fire resistant uniforms with built in invisibility busters and utility belts
8. Security detectors with inferred and heat sensors
9. Miniature explosives ranging in different special abilities
10. Detailed maps and floor plans (if they managed to get them in time)
Nodding, Ginger stood up, thinking the list would do. Leaving everything on her long silver metal desk, except for her list, she walked out of her office. Catching a messenger, she had them run the list back up to Colonel Diamlar’s office with a note saying she would be ready when the supplies were ready, as well as the Warrior Delegate’s captain.
She stopped off at her secretary’s office long enough to let the young blond girl know to send all messages to her private quarters. Putting everything out of her mind, she headed toward the dorms, knowing she needed to rest up for the mission ahead. It sure was not going to be easy physically or mentally for that matter.
“Maybe I’ll send a transmission to Gran and Pop tonight. I’m sure they’ll be worried when they find about this mission.”
But she wouldn’t be surprised if her dear brother Josh had already told them.Thinking it was probably a good idea, she nodded to herself as she flipped a lock of fire red hair absentmindedly behind her ear.
Yeah, she could do that, and then have some dinner before bed. Anything else could be put off till tomorrow.
Saying and actually doing were two things, though. Her mind automatically went over her list and the new information she had covered that afternoon. War tactics and training programs swirled around her brain in a confusion of techniques she could use on her rescue mission.
Distractedly she stopped in front of her door and placed her thumb on the DNA coding lock, to let herself in. Pulling the military required flat-blue hat from her head she dropped it on a near by metal end table along with the tiny silver General wings pen from her left shoulder.
Kicking off her shoes, she headed to her bedroom, then down the hall to her private bathroom. After a quick shower, Ginger slid into a long black silky nightgown, then pulled on a matching robe.
Sam!
Why of all the Warrior Delegate’s captains, did they have to pick Sam for this mission?
Not to get her wrong, she knew Sam probably made a fabulous captain and would easily advance in the ranks with the Warrior Delegates. After all, Ginger had worked side by side with Sam on her mission to Earth four years prior and had watched as he overcame all odds to defeat the monster that had ruined so many lives like his and shaped others like her own.
As a partner in war, he was great, but any other captain would have been ten times more welcome. Any anonymous rooky would have been easier to deal with than Sam.
Though she hadn’t wanted to admit it even to herself, every tiny change in Sam had drawn her in, making her notice each insignificant tiny thing. The last time she had seen Sam his dirty blond hair had been brushing the tops of his shoulder blades in an almost shaggy wave. Since joining the Delegates, he had cut it an inch or so above his shoulder, taking off a good half foot, leaving a smooth even line.
The hunched, stressed look of maltreatment had melted from his body to be replaced by a strong confidence. The angry wariness had been replaced by a sickeningly sunny disposition. In the old days, Sam had been dark and threatening, now he just seemed human. Maybe loving and losing made her romanticize him into a man who had never really existed. His dark mysterious prowess was now just a blond god or rather just a man, another soldier like any other.
Unimagined by her, he still edged up to almost six feet tall. His eyes were still that heated blue gray from her memories and, if possible, his body was even more muscular and lean than her dreams. The sexy, rough stubble that seemed to persistently rein on his hard-sculpted chin was now gone—he had a clean-shaven look. The change wasn’t really that bad, though she could still feel the bristles racking across her sensitive face as if he had only kissed her moments before.
Straightening her shoulders and glaring with all the authority she possessed, Ginger growled.
“Oh well, it really doesn’t matter. It was his choice to leave. His own fears were more powerful than anything he felt for me, so it’s his loss.”
However, Ginger knew it wasn’t true; it was her own loss, as well. Sam’s fears had cost them both so much, time, experience and true love. In her own way, Ginger did understand. Sam had never felt like he deserved Ginger and everything she was offering him.
Ginger hoped that when their enemy was destroyed, Sam might come to her and share his love, but she had been wrong once again. Sam destroyed the monster known as the Puritan Vampire, but didn’t think he had done enough to deserve her. He felt as if he had to pay back the galaxy for all his sins, as well the sins of the monster he had destroyed.
The thing was, the Puritan Vampire had been his father and he himself was half vampire/half human. In leaving Ginger and joining the Warrior Delegates, he thought he could do enough good to deserve Ginger. But honestly, when would it be enough? When would he stop paying for the sins of his father, a man who had raped and beaten his own mother?
Ginger had given up hope waiting for Sam. Now that he was back it would be pure hell to be around him and even worse to be alone with him for so long. She promised herself that she would not let him see how deeply he had hurt her and how much she still cared about him. Pride might be a dull companion for the rest of her life, but it was all she had left. She wasn’t about to let Sam trample her heart again.
From this point on, she would act like the uptight general and be all business. For Sam there would be no more Ginger, just his commanding officer General Ginmatager Hardigan. Using all of her abilities, she would quickly complete their mission.
Then, they could return to base and she would never have to see him again. Her soul might bleed a little more each day without him, but she was strong and knew from the last four years that she would survive.
Trying to force Sam from her mind, she remembered her idea of contacting her grandparents. Ginger smiled just thinking about them. Her mission with Sam four years ago had also included her older brother Josh, better known as General Jomafash Hardigan of the Warrior Delegates. Also on their trip was her grandfather Brian, a scientist specializing in alien communication.
Brian was technically her five-hundred-and-twenty-six-year-old great, great, great grandfather, although he now lived in the body of a twenty-six-year old. After the brutal murder of his wife Colleen, Brian had chosen to be cryogenically frozen until the day their computers could spot his wife’s life signs again after she had been reincarnated.
Six years before, the computers had located her on Earth. Ginger’s mission was to go to Earth help the girl known as Arlene Garnet regain Colleen’s memories and destroy the Puritan Vampire who had not only killed Colleen, but promised to destroy Arlene, as well.
It sounded strange that her grandparents were each actually over five hundred years old, but lived in bodies of twenty-something’s. Arlene and Brian had been remarried and transferred back to his science department on Space Station Swanson just out of orbit of the Zogone’s home planet Adrivar. On Earth, Arlene had become more than family to Ginger; she had become her very best friend, her first true friend.
Ginger sat down in a big squishy chair in front of a bare wall in her living room. Then waving a hand in front of the blank wall, a large screen appeared.
“Communication to Space Station Swanson to Dr. Brianeth Hardigan’s private quarters.”
The screen blinked, beeped twice, and then suddenly it was zooming in on a purple silk-covered hip. Ginger grinned as Arlene slid into the chair opposite her own screen.
A happy flush covered Arlene’s face as she grinned back, comforting Ginger with the simple gesture.
Arlene was only twenty-two and still held the bright look of youth, an ecstatically happy one at that. Being head-over-heels in love with the man of your dreams looked great on her, but seeing how much he loved her in return was even better. Some times Ginger thought Arlene was the luckiest woman in any galaxy.
Arlene’s long reddish-brown hair was a touch darker than Ginger’s own red mane. Ginger thought that Arlene must be growing her hair. In her previous life, Colleen’s hair had grown down to the back of her waist. Arlene must have remembered that fact and regretted the loss of the glorious locks.
Like Ginger, Arlene had pale skin, enhanced with bright emerald green eyes. Though Arlene was a respectable five-foot-six inches, Ginger still won that race by a few inches, climbing almost to five-nine. It was amazing how much alike they were. Both lean, though Ginger was more muscular from being in the military so long. And because of Colleen, Ginger was one-sixteenth Earthling, but Arlene was a full-blooded human.
“Oh, Ginger, I’m so glad this was you.”
“Hi, Gran! How are you and Brian doing these days?”
Grinning like an impish fool Arlene answered, “We are absolutely fabulous as you can imagine. Life with Brian just gets better and better.”
Then stopping with a frown, she added, “Though we have been worried about you. Josh called us yesterday to tell us about your new mission. Do you think this is such a good idea? I mean you shouldn’t have to prove anything to those people, for goodness sake! You work yourself to death for those ungrateful, little—” she started fuming, cursing under her breath.
Her temper had obviously been inherited from Colleen’s Scottish roots. Just watching Arlene growl furious remarks about her commanding officer made Ginger feel ten times better. She congratulated herself on her decision to contact Arlene, because she always made Ginger feel better about any situation. Then again Arlene wasn’t just her best friend, but also her grandmother so it was a given that she would contact her regularly. It was still a little hard to grasp that her great grandparents were so young, especially Brian who was well over 500 years old now. Odd as it may be she still loved them both dearly.
“It’s okay Gran. I’m sure it is nothing I can’t handle. I will be in and out in a few days with no harm done. I am more than qualified for this type of mission. But you’re right; the Colonels just need a lackey to clean up after them, and I was lucky enough to be picked.” Twirling a finger in the air beside her face she added, “Wow! lucky me.”
Arlene frowned, but Ginger could tell she was trying to cover a grin. “I’ll try not to worry, but don’t bet on it. At least I’ll sleep better knowing Sam will be there with you.”
Stopping, Arlene’s eyes flickered over Ginger’s face obviously looking for a reaction, because Arlene had always known how Ginger felt about Sam.
“How do you feel about having him back here?”
Not meeting her eyes, because she could never lie to Arlene, she answered, “I don’t feel anything. We have a job to do. We will get it done, and then he’ll go back to Josh and the Delegates. No big deal; life goes on.”
A loud clearing of the throat brought Ginger’s attention back to the screen. “Well, I do think it is a big deal. Why don’t you take this assignment as a helping hand from destiny? Talk to Sam and tell him how you feel. I mean, it has been four years, Ging; maybe Sam is ready now, too. Maybe the two of you can work it out now.”
Shaking her head, Ginger leaned back in her chair with a sigh. “No, it’s too late. Sam never felt the way I did and I have more pride than to throw myself at a man who doesn’t want me. Besides it has been four years and maybe I didn’t have the patience to wait for him.”
Nodding sheepishly, Arlene smiled, “Four years is nothing. You are just as stubborn as your grandfather and he waited over five hundred years for me.”
Kissing her hand, she waved it at Ginger. “You think about that, sweetheart. Bye baby, keep me posted on what happens between you two. I‘m sure it is going to get interesting one way or another and I can‘t wait to see what happens.”
Arlene disconnected and the screen went blank before vanishing from in front of Ginger back into the wall. It was true that Brian had chosen to wait for Colleen to be reborn, but he had been frozen all that time. He didn’t have to live each empty lonely day, wishing and wanting something that would never come. Brian had known one day that Colleen would be reborn. Ginger had no reassurance that Sam would ever give up his salvation mission and come back to her.
Shaking her head, she said the words aloud to make sure she got the point across to herself.
“No, if Sam had really wanted me he would have never left. If he wanted me now, he would be here. But he doesn’t, so he isn’t. It’s over, forget about it. Go on with your life, Ginger, you’ll survive!”
Nodding at the blank wall in front of her, she hopped up and headed to bed. Forgetting to eat didn’t seem to matter. Ginger was more interested in sleeping and putting this day behind her and being that much closer to watching Sam leave when the mission was over.
http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/debraasoles.htm.
BY: DEBRA A. SOLES
Prologue
Their mission was over and they had returned to the space station that was the Galactic Security’s main headquarters. General Ginmatager Hardigan, better known as Ginger, let out a sigh of relief as she watched her brother, Josh, leave the ship. The ship was headed back to the main offices to report in with the Warrior Delegates on the success of their mission.
Since she was old enough to go into training at age eight, Ginger had been part of the Zogone Military. First, at the Academy, then as part of the Warrior Delegates, before becoming part of the Zogone’s main forces of the Galactic Security, and then reaching the rank of Security General.
Her main goal had been to be trained well enough to be able to go on missions, like the one she had just returned from. Her crew had just come back from a rescue mission on Earth, or rather a retrieval of a human with a secondary mission to annihilate one of the Zogone’s top ten dangerous criminals. It had been a dangerous mission that had required patience, brain and all her years of experience to pull off. Over five hundred years ago, her great, great, great grandmother had been brutally killed. Her killer was a minister-turned-vampire, better known as the Puritan Vampire, who believed Ginger’s grandmother had cursed him—and he swore to stop at nothing to kill her grandmother again. Somehow the monster knew she had been reincarnated, as if her smell or very essence could be felt in the air the moment she was reborn.
At the death of his young wife, Brian, her great, great, great grandfather had been cryogenically frozen and was re-awakened at the time his wife’s life signature was recognized in a present-day teenager. After being reincarnated, Colleen was renamed Arlene, and when she started college, Ginger and the Zogones had maneuvered her life. The first day in her new college town, she had met Brian and the memories started to pour in until Arlene remembered everything from her past life.
After bringing Arlene back into their lives, the Zogones’ last goal was to destroy the Puritan Vampire. Their mission was to stop the monster, so that he could never harm anyone again, though his victim’s list was disturbingly long.
Now with their mission complete, they had returned home to the space station. Brian and Arlene slipped by Ginger and headed back to the Science Department along with Arlene’s present day parents, Harold and Marsha Garnet.
Then there was Sam, another of the Puritan Vampire’s victims. His mother had been attacked, raped, beaten and left for dead, carrying a viral blood disease that killed her six years later, but not before she had born a child from the attack, Sam himself. He was half-vampire/half-human, thanks to the Puritan Vampire. Nevertheless, Sam had found his revenge, being the one to place a silver, holy-water-forged bullet in his father’s brains, killing him and ending the cycle of evil.
Like Arlene, Sam was a human, an Earthling and now a friend to them all. For Ginger, Sam was not just a friend or like a brother. No, Sam made Ginger feel things she had never felt before. Like an Adonis of Greek legend, he had long dirty blond hair and smoky blue gray eyes. An aura of mystery surrounded him. But unlike a Greek god, Sam was tall and almost gangly in his young man’s body, not quite fully grown at twenty years old.
Ginger had spent so long and worked so hard on training that she had never taken the time for a life of her own, never wanted a relationship with anyone, until now. Not until Sam had slipped into her life, with shared dreams and fears, forcing her to see there was more to life than just work.
It was terrifying and agonizing, but it gave her hope. Her grandparents had a love that had spanned the ages, undying and true to each other. Ginger could sense the same things could develop with Sam one day if she could find the courage to tell him how she felt, but being a novice in love she wasn’t sure how. Now that Brian and Arlene planned to renew their wedding vows, it just seemed to bolster Ginger’s courage and help her decide to try.
Giving him a small smile, she took his hand in hers and led him through the station toward the Galactic Security center’s dorms where her private quarters were located. Standing up straight, using her position of authority to bolster her confidence, she took both his hands in hers and let their gazes lock.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
His eyes flickered down to their clasped hands, then back up to her face. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you, too.”
“Good, so we are agreed this talk has been put on hold long enough. I’m not sure how you feel, but I would like you to stay with the Zogone people instead of going back to Earth.”
Lifting a hand, he brushed his strong fingers across her earlobe and twining them through her short red hair. “Why do you want me to stay?”
Twitching nervously under his gaze, she licked her lips before she could mumble around the lump in her throat. “I care about you and … well, I think you would be happier here.”
He watched her closely and for some reason she could tell both her actions and her words affected him as his breath grew shallow. “I have every intention of staying with your people. I don’t belong on Earth around normal people. I belong here where I can do some good.”
Her heart leapt, “I’m glad you are going to stay. I would like for us to … I mean, we could try and …”
Her words faltered along with the trembling confusion of her feelings. Each movement of his body, each tiny breath riveted her. Licking her suddenly dry lips again, she gasped as he moved closer.
Taking her agreement for granted, he pulled her tightly into his arms and slowly his head lowered until their lips touched. Unlike the morning at the campground where they had first kissed, he didn’t just touch her lips gently before pulling away. This time he advanced further, racking a hand through her hair, angling her head back and then took full possession of her mouth.
Last time had been comforting, sweet and a gentle caress. This kiss was wild, hot, stimulating and the desire that rocketed through her made her knees weak. Her stomach quivered and her hands trembled as they wound around his neck.
Her shyness vanished as her emotions took over. She let herself go on instinct, letting her body find the best position against him, snug in his embrace. Her hands slid over his shoulders, feeling all the hard muscles of his chest.
Their first kiss left her wondering, because it had been her first kiss ever.
However, this kiss made a world of promises that left her expectant.
Her skin felt hot like it was on fire, yet at the same time shivers raced down her spine as if her feelings were forming a mutiny to take control of her body, until she could no longer think.
There was a hard rap on the door and before Ginger and Sam could pull back. Her brother Josh let himself in the door. Josh loved to barge into Ginger’s room uninvited, because no one else could confuse the door locks. His genetic coding matched Ginger’s and confused the locking mechanism.
Pulling back beyond embarrassed, Ginger’s eyes met the confused emerald green ones of her older brother. “I don’t know what is going on here and I don’t want to know, either. I just came to deliver a message.”
Her voice cracked as she asked, “What message?”
“It isn’t for you.” Turning toward Sam he said, “Major Sharball is on a transmission line in one of the offices and he wants to talk to you. I saw you leave the dock with Ginger and figured I would find you where ever Ginger was.”
Turning to Ginger he shrugged, “Your assistant said you had headed this way.”
Not wanting to believe her own ears, she turned to Sam, “Major Sharball, the Major Sharball of the Warrior Delegates, Josh’s commanding officer? What does he want with you?”
Sam looked at Josh, “Give me ten minutes and I’ll catch up with you.”
Nodding gravely, Josh left the room, as Sam turned to Ginger. “I was planning to tell you. We just got a little sidetracked.”
Ginger stepped back shaking her head, “No, you said you were staying here.”
“I said I was staying with your people. I never said I was staying right here on this space station.”
Sam reached toward her, but she jerked her arm back. “You know damn well I thought you meant you would stay here … with me.”
Dropping his hands by his sides, Sam sighed. “I’m sorry, Ginger; this is just something I have to do. I would like to stay here, with you, but I just can’t.”
Balling up her fists tightly she gulped holding her anger in, but could hardly keep herself from yelling, “Why? Why can’t you just tell them you’ve changed your mind and stay with me?”
Sam’s eyes met hers again and she could see the desperation written on his face.
“Because I don’t deserve you. I’m a monster like my father and I have to make up for all the bad things before I have a right to call my life my own.”
Understanding his feelings, though knowing he was wrong she asked, “Isn’t there some way I can change your mind?”
“No, I’m sorry.”
“When are you leaving?” she asked through tight lips and barely hidden tears.
Turning his back on her, he mumbled, “In two days I’ll be leaving for Adrivar with Josh.”
As he walked out the door, she yelled back, “Fine go then, be a macho jerk and see if I care.”
It was the last thing she said to him, because he didn’t come back and she didn’t go after him. She did not see him again, before he left two days later, except from far off as he boarded the space ship with the other Warrior Delegates headed for their home planet of Adrivar.
That night she cried herself to sleep and promised herself never again would she let stupid little girl emotions rule her.
From that day, she amended to become the best General alive and forget about any relationship that was not linked by blood.
Chapter One
Every day and every night was spent on Galactic Security business, to the point where Ginger had no life except for the Zogone military. Over the last few years, she hadn’t even taken a real vacation, only taking a few days at a time to visit her grandparents on the science space station, called Swanson, two galaxies over.
Her excuse was that the war between the Zogones and the Baygers kept her busy, between training programs, delegations and actually going into battles. This war had become Ginger’s new personal vendetta to replace her grandmother
Every day and every night was spent on Galactic Security business, to the point where Ginger had no life except for the Zogonrescue obsession.
The expected summons came from Colonel Daimlar during one of Ginger’s unusually slow days, making it easy for her to leave her office and make it in time for her meeting. With a professional and not over-eager smile planted on her face, Ginger was shown into Daimlar’s office.
Wearing the long blueberry blue-and-white robes of the Galactic Security Academy, Diamlar looked very sophisticated, very colonel-ish with his short light-brown hair and age-carved skin. He was tall and willowy, stooping slightly and looking like a giant humpback.
Saluting each other smartly, middle finger and index finger held together then tapped to the forehead, Daimlar motioned for her to take a seat. “I’m sure you’re curious why you’ve been summoned here today.”
Nodding politely she answered, “Yes, I was sir, but I’m sure you’ll alleviate that curiosity.”
“All of your commanding officers have noticed your hard work since the restart of this war with the Baygers and we would like to reward you for everything you have done.”
Trying to act surprised Ginger replied, “Why thank you, but no reward is needed. I work hard for our people, for their protection and happiness.”
Reciting part of the Galactic Security mandate.Linking his fingers on the desk in front of him, Daimlar nodding. “But of course no reward comes without judgment. The colonels all agree that in order to get your promotion you need to prove you are completely ready to be a major.”
With a smile, she nodded sweetly, though she was fuming inside, “Of course sir, whatever the colonels think is best.”
Grinning widely he answered, “I knew we could count on you, General Hardigan. We have a very important mission for you. The youngest son of Colonel Qualtose was aboard the luxury ship Lasondra when it was attacked by one of the Baygers’ squadron last week.”
He held out a small rectangular handheld computer system. “Here is all the information we were able to receive on his kidnapping. Your mission is to go to the Baygers’ main military headquarters on their home planet and rescue young Mr. Qualtose.”
Scanning the first page of information Ginger automatically went into general mode.
“How many men will I be taking for back-up?”
There was a pause, one Ginger was used to preceding unwanted information, so looking up she watched Daimlar as he tapped his desktop nervously. “Just one man. The Warrior Delegates have a newly promoted captain who they believe needs a chance to prove himself, so they are giving him that chance by sending him with you.”
Shocked beyond belief, Ginger dropped the computer device in her lap and stared across the desk at Colonel Daimlar. “You expect me to sneak into the Baygers’ main headquarters, rescue some rich, pampered, whiney kid and make it back here alive? But I’m supposed to do that with one hot-shot rookie warrior who has a thirst for adventure, but not enough sense to keep himself alive much less cover my backside?”
Holding up both hands, he waved them at Ginger. “Now just wait a minute, there is no need to jump to conclusions. Do not judge the situation yet. We would not be sending you if we did not think the two of you could successfully complete this mission. Now the warrior captain will be here soon and the two of you can work everything out.”
For the next few minutes, Ginger went over each minor and major issue of the case. Diamlar showed her maps of the planet where Qualtoes was being kept. Ginger started a list of the equipment that would be needed for the rescue mission.
There was a knock on the door and one of Diamlar’s secretaries stuck her head in, “The Warrior Delegates’ captain is here to see you, Colonel.”
Ginger kept entering figures into her handheld, while the door was shut and reopened, then she looked up as Diamlar said, “Good afternoon Captain, so good of you to come all this way.”
Ginger was half way out of her chair before she realized what she was doing, then instantly sat back down. There wasn’t going to be any warm welcome from her.
Diamlar waved the captain into a chair before making the introductions. “General Ginmatager Hardigan, Galactic Security. Captain Samuel Paddington of the Warrior Delegates.”
Ginger barely nodded, refusing to show familiarity at all. “Captain.”
Sam on the other hand spoke up with, “Yeah, I know Ginger. If you look at my file you’ll see I work under her brother General Jomafash Hardigan and all three of us worked together on a mission before I joined the Delegates.”
Scratching his head Colonel Diamlar shuffled through a folder in front of him. “Ah, yes I see that here. General Hardigan even left a note in here saying the two of you worked great together. I hadn’t realized, but someone must have seen this and taken it into consideration when partnering you two for this mission.”
Nodding, Ginger cut in, “If that is all, Colonel, I need to get back to work.”
Handing her the file folder in his hands he nodded, “Yes that will be all. I expect a detailed list of your requirements in the morning. I would like you to leave in two days max.”
“Understood Colonel.” Nodding at the two men she mumbled, “Captain.” Then she walked out the door.
Ginger fumed all the way back to her office. No one had ever busted their butt harder for the Galactic Security Academy, yet she had to prove herself in order to get a promotion she had more than earned years ago. Then to be sent on some rescue mission to save some useless rich punk was a complete slap in the face!
But the worst offense of all was being sent on some suicide mission and being stuck alone with Sam for goodness only knew how long. Sitting behind her desk, she spent the next twenty minutes cursing him.
Damn him for coming back! Damn him for walking back into her neat organized life. Moreover, may the ceiling fall down around his head for looking like some blond Adonis god of her deepest-most-secret desire.
Burying her head in work and war hadn’t removed the hurt and humiliation of having handed him her heart and having him stomp on it, before walking out on her. She was not the same weak-kneed girl she had been four years ago. People had even gotten to the point of whispering behind her back. The usual was that she was a relentless hard ass who only cared for the military.
Ginger was definitely not the sweetie pie college girl Sam had met on Earth. She had become General Hardigan, heart and soul. As long as he was around that was the side she promised to show him, there would be no more love-sick stupid little girl in front of him ever again.
Taking a deep breath, she told herself to let it go and not let it bother her. Carefully she filled out a list of equipment she would need for the mission.
1. Transmitter equipment
2. Portable tracker equipment
3. Four laser rifles
4. Two bedrolls, weather watch ones to control nighttime unknown temperatures
5. Two lightweight backpacks
6. Military rations for two including water cantinas: about three days worth
7. Two fire resistant uniforms with built in invisibility busters and utility belts
8. Security detectors with inferred and heat sensors
9. Miniature explosives ranging in different special abilities
10. Detailed maps and floor plans (if they managed to get them in time)
Nodding, Ginger stood up, thinking the list would do. Leaving everything on her long silver metal desk, except for her list, she walked out of her office. Catching a messenger, she had them run the list back up to Colonel Diamlar’s office with a note saying she would be ready when the supplies were ready, as well as the Warrior Delegate’s captain.
She stopped off at her secretary’s office long enough to let the young blond girl know to send all messages to her private quarters. Putting everything out of her mind, she headed toward the dorms, knowing she needed to rest up for the mission ahead. It sure was not going to be easy physically or mentally for that matter.
“Maybe I’ll send a transmission to Gran and Pop tonight. I’m sure they’ll be worried when they find about this mission.”
But she wouldn’t be surprised if her dear brother Josh had already told them.Thinking it was probably a good idea, she nodded to herself as she flipped a lock of fire red hair absentmindedly behind her ear.
Yeah, she could do that, and then have some dinner before bed. Anything else could be put off till tomorrow.
Saying and actually doing were two things, though. Her mind automatically went over her list and the new information she had covered that afternoon. War tactics and training programs swirled around her brain in a confusion of techniques she could use on her rescue mission.
Distractedly she stopped in front of her door and placed her thumb on the DNA coding lock, to let herself in. Pulling the military required flat-blue hat from her head she dropped it on a near by metal end table along with the tiny silver General wings pen from her left shoulder.
Kicking off her shoes, she headed to her bedroom, then down the hall to her private bathroom. After a quick shower, Ginger slid into a long black silky nightgown, then pulled on a matching robe.
Sam!
Why of all the Warrior Delegate’s captains, did they have to pick Sam for this mission?
Not to get her wrong, she knew Sam probably made a fabulous captain and would easily advance in the ranks with the Warrior Delegates. After all, Ginger had worked side by side with Sam on her mission to Earth four years prior and had watched as he overcame all odds to defeat the monster that had ruined so many lives like his and shaped others like her own.
As a partner in war, he was great, but any other captain would have been ten times more welcome. Any anonymous rooky would have been easier to deal with than Sam.
Though she hadn’t wanted to admit it even to herself, every tiny change in Sam had drawn her in, making her notice each insignificant tiny thing. The last time she had seen Sam his dirty blond hair had been brushing the tops of his shoulder blades in an almost shaggy wave. Since joining the Delegates, he had cut it an inch or so above his shoulder, taking off a good half foot, leaving a smooth even line.
The hunched, stressed look of maltreatment had melted from his body to be replaced by a strong confidence. The angry wariness had been replaced by a sickeningly sunny disposition. In the old days, Sam had been dark and threatening, now he just seemed human. Maybe loving and losing made her romanticize him into a man who had never really existed. His dark mysterious prowess was now just a blond god or rather just a man, another soldier like any other.
Unimagined by her, he still edged up to almost six feet tall. His eyes were still that heated blue gray from her memories and, if possible, his body was even more muscular and lean than her dreams. The sexy, rough stubble that seemed to persistently rein on his hard-sculpted chin was now gone—he had a clean-shaven look. The change wasn’t really that bad, though she could still feel the bristles racking across her sensitive face as if he had only kissed her moments before.
Straightening her shoulders and glaring with all the authority she possessed, Ginger growled.
“Oh well, it really doesn’t matter. It was his choice to leave. His own fears were more powerful than anything he felt for me, so it’s his loss.”
However, Ginger knew it wasn’t true; it was her own loss, as well. Sam’s fears had cost them both so much, time, experience and true love. In her own way, Ginger did understand. Sam had never felt like he deserved Ginger and everything she was offering him.
Ginger hoped that when their enemy was destroyed, Sam might come to her and share his love, but she had been wrong once again. Sam destroyed the monster known as the Puritan Vampire, but didn’t think he had done enough to deserve her. He felt as if he had to pay back the galaxy for all his sins, as well the sins of the monster he had destroyed.
The thing was, the Puritan Vampire had been his father and he himself was half vampire/half human. In leaving Ginger and joining the Warrior Delegates, he thought he could do enough good to deserve Ginger. But honestly, when would it be enough? When would he stop paying for the sins of his father, a man who had raped and beaten his own mother?
Ginger had given up hope waiting for Sam. Now that he was back it would be pure hell to be around him and even worse to be alone with him for so long. She promised herself that she would not let him see how deeply he had hurt her and how much she still cared about him. Pride might be a dull companion for the rest of her life, but it was all she had left. She wasn’t about to let Sam trample her heart again.
From this point on, she would act like the uptight general and be all business. For Sam there would be no more Ginger, just his commanding officer General Ginmatager Hardigan. Using all of her abilities, she would quickly complete their mission.
Then, they could return to base and she would never have to see him again. Her soul might bleed a little more each day without him, but she was strong and knew from the last four years that she would survive.
Trying to force Sam from her mind, she remembered her idea of contacting her grandparents. Ginger smiled just thinking about them. Her mission with Sam four years ago had also included her older brother Josh, better known as General Jomafash Hardigan of the Warrior Delegates. Also on their trip was her grandfather Brian, a scientist specializing in alien communication.
Brian was technically her five-hundred-and-twenty-six-year-old great, great, great grandfather, although he now lived in the body of a twenty-six-year old. After the brutal murder of his wife Colleen, Brian had chosen to be cryogenically frozen until the day their computers could spot his wife’s life signs again after she had been reincarnated.
Six years before, the computers had located her on Earth. Ginger’s mission was to go to Earth help the girl known as Arlene Garnet regain Colleen’s memories and destroy the Puritan Vampire who had not only killed Colleen, but promised to destroy Arlene, as well.
It sounded strange that her grandparents were each actually over five hundred years old, but lived in bodies of twenty-something’s. Arlene and Brian had been remarried and transferred back to his science department on Space Station Swanson just out of orbit of the Zogone’s home planet Adrivar. On Earth, Arlene had become more than family to Ginger; she had become her very best friend, her first true friend.
Ginger sat down in a big squishy chair in front of a bare wall in her living room. Then waving a hand in front of the blank wall, a large screen appeared.
“Communication to Space Station Swanson to Dr. Brianeth Hardigan’s private quarters.”
The screen blinked, beeped twice, and then suddenly it was zooming in on a purple silk-covered hip. Ginger grinned as Arlene slid into the chair opposite her own screen.
A happy flush covered Arlene’s face as she grinned back, comforting Ginger with the simple gesture.
Arlene was only twenty-two and still held the bright look of youth, an ecstatically happy one at that. Being head-over-heels in love with the man of your dreams looked great on her, but seeing how much he loved her in return was even better. Some times Ginger thought Arlene was the luckiest woman in any galaxy.
Arlene’s long reddish-brown hair was a touch darker than Ginger’s own red mane. Ginger thought that Arlene must be growing her hair. In her previous life, Colleen’s hair had grown down to the back of her waist. Arlene must have remembered that fact and regretted the loss of the glorious locks.
Like Ginger, Arlene had pale skin, enhanced with bright emerald green eyes. Though Arlene was a respectable five-foot-six inches, Ginger still won that race by a few inches, climbing almost to five-nine. It was amazing how much alike they were. Both lean, though Ginger was more muscular from being in the military so long. And because of Colleen, Ginger was one-sixteenth Earthling, but Arlene was a full-blooded human.
“Oh, Ginger, I’m so glad this was you.”
“Hi, Gran! How are you and Brian doing these days?”
Grinning like an impish fool Arlene answered, “We are absolutely fabulous as you can imagine. Life with Brian just gets better and better.”
Then stopping with a frown, she added, “Though we have been worried about you. Josh called us yesterday to tell us about your new mission. Do you think this is such a good idea? I mean you shouldn’t have to prove anything to those people, for goodness sake! You work yourself to death for those ungrateful, little—” she started fuming, cursing under her breath.
Her temper had obviously been inherited from Colleen’s Scottish roots. Just watching Arlene growl furious remarks about her commanding officer made Ginger feel ten times better. She congratulated herself on her decision to contact Arlene, because she always made Ginger feel better about any situation. Then again Arlene wasn’t just her best friend, but also her grandmother so it was a given that she would contact her regularly. It was still a little hard to grasp that her great grandparents were so young, especially Brian who was well over 500 years old now. Odd as it may be she still loved them both dearly.
“It’s okay Gran. I’m sure it is nothing I can’t handle. I will be in and out in a few days with no harm done. I am more than qualified for this type of mission. But you’re right; the Colonels just need a lackey to clean up after them, and I was lucky enough to be picked.” Twirling a finger in the air beside her face she added, “Wow! lucky me.”
Arlene frowned, but Ginger could tell she was trying to cover a grin. “I’ll try not to worry, but don’t bet on it. At least I’ll sleep better knowing Sam will be there with you.”
Stopping, Arlene’s eyes flickered over Ginger’s face obviously looking for a reaction, because Arlene had always known how Ginger felt about Sam.
“How do you feel about having him back here?”
Not meeting her eyes, because she could never lie to Arlene, she answered, “I don’t feel anything. We have a job to do. We will get it done, and then he’ll go back to Josh and the Delegates. No big deal; life goes on.”
A loud clearing of the throat brought Ginger’s attention back to the screen. “Well, I do think it is a big deal. Why don’t you take this assignment as a helping hand from destiny? Talk to Sam and tell him how you feel. I mean, it has been four years, Ging; maybe Sam is ready now, too. Maybe the two of you can work it out now.”
Shaking her head, Ginger leaned back in her chair with a sigh. “No, it’s too late. Sam never felt the way I did and I have more pride than to throw myself at a man who doesn’t want me. Besides it has been four years and maybe I didn’t have the patience to wait for him.”
Nodding sheepishly, Arlene smiled, “Four years is nothing. You are just as stubborn as your grandfather and he waited over five hundred years for me.”
Kissing her hand, she waved it at Ginger. “You think about that, sweetheart. Bye baby, keep me posted on what happens between you two. I‘m sure it is going to get interesting one way or another and I can‘t wait to see what happens.”
Arlene disconnected and the screen went blank before vanishing from in front of Ginger back into the wall. It was true that Brian had chosen to wait for Colleen to be reborn, but he had been frozen all that time. He didn’t have to live each empty lonely day, wishing and wanting something that would never come. Brian had known one day that Colleen would be reborn. Ginger had no reassurance that Sam would ever give up his salvation mission and come back to her.
Shaking her head, she said the words aloud to make sure she got the point across to herself.
“No, if Sam had really wanted me he would have never left. If he wanted me now, he would be here. But he doesn’t, so he isn’t. It’s over, forget about it. Go on with your life, Ginger, you’ll survive!”
Nodding at the blank wall in front of her, she hopped up and headed to bed. Forgetting to eat didn’t seem to matter. Ginger was more interested in sleeping and putting this day behind her and being that much closer to watching Sam leave when the mission was over.
http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/debraasoles.htm.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Our SPOTLIGHT continues with "Past Regrets," by Debra Soles ...
About DEBRA-
Since the age of 12 when I discovered romance novels I've been hooked. By the time I was 15 I knew I had to be a writer and share my love of Happily Ever After. Now I'm a writer of sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal and romance with an imagination outside the box. I have two Futuristic Romance (sci-fi) novels out from my Zogone series, with more to come. I also have a time-travel romance called One Wish coming out in January of 2010. If you are looking for vampires, witches, weres, aliens and new worlds with unforgettable characters my books were made for you.
PRAISE FOR "Past Regrets"
Review for Past Regrets by Elsie Lyn at http://www.ecataromance.com/?p=1264
Debra Soles’ Past Regrets is a tale of loss and a tale of second chances. Four years ago, General Ginmatager Hardigan fell in love with Samuel Paddington only to have her heart trampled. Sam felt his past would not allow him to accept her love. Ginger buried her love and her desires in her work and now she is in line for a promotion. To earn her promotion, she must rescue the son of Colonel Qualtose, who had been captured by the Baygers. The rescue team will consist of only two people and Ginger is paired with a new Warrior delegate Captain - Samuel Paddington. Sam has always regretted leaving Ginger and he feels this mission will give him the chance to plead for a second chance. He did not count on being captured and losing the medication which keeps his vampire half under control. He also did not count on Ginger finding some cryogenically preserved cloned scientists and then rescuing them, With Past Regrets on his mind, Sam realizes lives are injeopardy and must be saved before they can start to even think about a second chance.Past Regrets is an apt title for this tale by Debra Soles. Sam certainly did regret his past actions by leaving Ginger behind but now it may be too late for those Past Regrets. Debra Soles weaves a tale taking us into her world, first created with Old Dreams. She does an excellent job developing her characters whose lives are entwined in the various stories. We can only hope that there are many more to come. Debra Soles teases us with a hint and leaves us something to look forward to.
EXCERPTS from "Past Regrets"
Sam curled up in a borrowed bunk in one of the guest quarters, with his hands crossed under his head and his long legs stretched out to where they crossed at the ankles. For the last hour, since he had plopped down on the bunk his thoughts had led him a merry chase, forcing him to stare at the wall as if lost in space. Not only had Ginger paid him the least bit of recognition when he entered Daimlar’s office, but she had gotten the heck out of Dodge the second she was able to.
Instead of being offended by Ginger’s actions, they had given Sam hope. If Ginger had shaken his hand and acted like an old acquaintance, he would have been worried, but no, not his Ginger! No, Ginger acted as if he didn’t exist, then when she was forced to face up to knowing him, she ignored him.
Then she had excused herself formally without directly communicating with him. Obviously Ginger was totally pissed off to find out he was going to be her partner for this mission. People who didn’t care didn’t get pissed. Girls who still had feelings for a man, definitely did get more than a little upset. That had to mean Ginger still felt something for him. Something was better than nothing.
Four years ago, Sam had blamed himself for all the world’s problems just because of his own violent birth. It took four hard, lonely years for him to realize he had always helped more than he had harmed the world. It also took those same four years for him to realize what a damn fool he had been to walk away from the one woman who had ever looked at him as more than a monster. She had looked at him like a man, one she cared about—and he had lost her, because of stupid pride.
When Josh had told him about this mission, Sam jumped at the chance to be the appointed Warrior Delegate. Josh had even worked it to look like the Delegates had come to him, forcing him to prove himself, when everyone there knew he had nothing to prove. Every Delegate that knew him, knew they could count on him in any situation. Sam had busted his butt to gain the Delegates’ respect and his position among them. Screw the military, Sam had volunteered for this mission for one reason, to use the time alone with Ginger to win her back. No, that wasn’t right. They had never made it to the point of actually being together, but by the time their mission was finished, they would be together if he had anything to say about it.
Over the last four years, Sam had made a life for himself with the Zogones. Not only had he thoroughly became a soldier for the Warrior Delegates, but a well-known one. All four years were spent working under Josh, whom had been the one to find him on Earth and bring him into their group. Josh had become closer to Sam than best friends. It almost seemed like Josh was the brother Sam had never had, but always wanted.
Being stationed on Adrivar with Josh meant that at any free period of time they had, they could spend it together or on Space Station Swanson with Brian and Arlene. Considering they looked so young, it surprised Sam that he felt just like one of their grandchildren, just like Josh. Unsurprisingly though they had always treated Sam like family, like one of their own. Arlene worried about him and Brian was always handy with advice, just like good grandparents should be. Being an Earthling like Arlene made them closer than some of the others, though.
So, when Josh had suggested this mission, Sam had talked it over with Arlene first. Arlene had been his confident where Ginger was concerned for quite a while now. Arlene didn’t want to give away too much of Ginger’s personal feelings, but did give Sam hope. She didn’t tell of Ginger’s lost hope or constant love, but she did give Sam hope that he might be able to win Ginger over. She reassured him that it was the right thing to do. With Arlene’s blessing to push her granddaughter as hard as necessary, Sam had boarded the ship to the Galactic Security Headquarters space station. After checking in, he had showered, shaved and dressed in a clean dress uniform before showing up at Colonel Diamlar’s office, all for the sake of catching Ginger’s attention.
He thought he might have done that and more, even angering her by looking too good to her. He could tell he had gotten her attention, even getting under her skin. Now all he had to do was keep her focused on him.
They would do their mission, but they would also spend that time getting to really know each other all over again.With a grin, Sam decided to give Ginger a wide girth until they left for their mission, but once they were on a ship alone, that was a different story.
From that moment on, he promised himself to be relentless in his pursuit of Ginger.
Excerpt #2
With a smile, Ginger knocked on the apartment door. Josh answered with a sigh of relief and pulled her into a tight embrace. “God, when Sam told me what happened it scared the living daylights out of me.” Pulling back, he held her at arm’s length and looked her up and down. “Are you sure you are okay?”
“I’m perfectly fine, worrywart. Besides you know how fast Sam is; you should be worried about him.” Waving her into the small living room, Josh shook his head. “No, I had a look at Sam’s back. It looked nasty for a few minutes, but you know how fast he heals. Well now that I have seen you for myself, I’m going to make myself scarce. You aren’t the only one with a date tonight." An eyebrow came up, “Is that a problem? I mean me and Sam, does it bother you?”
Josh snorted, “No, of course not. I think you are both damned prideful fools, and it’s about time.” Giving her a wink he added, “I’ve always wanted to do this. Sam is in his room. Why don’t you go have a look around?”
Mischievous grin and all, Josh slipped out the door, leaving Ginger curious about what he had wanted to do and why she should look through Sam’s room. Taking his advice, she let herself into Sam’s bedroom. The sound of the shower running echoed from the next room told her Sam’s location.
Feeling a little bad for snooping, Ginger went from table to dresser looking for anything unusual. There were pictures of Sam and Josh together in uniform. There were pictures of both Arlene and Brian both together and with Sam. There were even pictures that were unmistakably taken on Earth. One picture showed Becky’s Kitchen where Ginger and Arlene had worked as waitresses and Brian as a cook. In the picture, Ginger and Arlene were standing together talking in uniform after the place had closed. There were two taken at Sandlend Beach in Raleigh, North Carolina where they had gone one weekend. One was a picture of Sam and Josh with Ginger standing in-between them.The second picture she had never seen before or even knew of its existence. It was a picture of her and Sam standing together, facing each other. They looked like normal Earth teenagers. Ginger in a blue bathing suit and cut-off jean shorts, with her red hair pulled back into a short ponytail. Sam wore a pair of low riding swim trunks and nothing else. His young lean form glistened with water droplets that made her mouth go dry. From the way they were standing, it looked as if Ginger had stumbled and Sam grabbed on to her to straighten her up. Whoever had taken the picture had caught them the moment she had looked up into Sam’s eyes. The picture said more than she had dared say herself. In other words, Josh had to have been the perpetrator who snapped the shot.
With a groan, she sat the frame back on the wooden dresser top and marched across the room to sink down on Sam’s bed, and that was when she found what Josh had undoubtedly been talking about. On the ceiling was a painting. It had to be a good eight feet long and four feet wide. It was placed perfectly so the bed’s occupant would fall asleep with the view of the painting surrounded by the four tall bedposts.
It was a picture of a woman with flowing red hair. A thin battle-hardened body was encased in tight black battle armor, silhouetting each lovely curve of her body. Long peach legs were slightly bent as she took to the air in flight. Black leather army boots came up to mid-thigh silhouetted the tight calf muscles. Two beautifully sculpted translucent wings showed from behind her back, and her arms were outstretched if simply waiting for her lover to come into them. Ginger didn’t know whether to be furious or mortified, because blushing profusely she easily recognized the woman as herself.
Lying there, a million thoughts ran through her mind. How long had the painting been there? Who had painted her so perfectly? Sam himself or someone else with a vivid imagination? And why did he have such a thing? Was this his way of pining for her in secret all this time, while she had sat alone aching for him?
The sound of the shower died and only moments later Sam made his way into his bedroom wearing nothing but a long white towel and a few errant drops of water that had stubbornly clung to his chest.
Ginger crossed her arms over her stomach, and then raised her eyes to meet his. Guiltily his eyes shifted from hers, to the painting, then back to meet hers again.
“Care to explain this, Samuel Paddington?” Ginger asked softly, letting none of her irritation or confusion be heard in her voice.“I would think it was pretty obvious. Most men keep pictures or posters of beautiful women. She just happens to be mine.” Eyes averted, he answered, and then turned his back to pull clothes out of his dresser.
Snorting in aggravation, Ginger sat up and shot back, “Don’t give me that crap. I’m not so stupid I can’t recognize myself. Who painted that and why?”
His shrug drew her eyes to the angry inch-long slashes across his back that had obviously been caused from stepping in front of her during the explosion. The sight of the cuts dissipated her anger a little in sympathy. Taking a sweater and a pair of jeans, he turned toward the bathroom to make his escape.
“Let me get dressed and we can talk about this later.”Ginger grabbed his arm and turned him back to look down at her. “No we will talk about this now. Why Sam? Why would you have such a painting of me drawn over your bed?”
Setting his clothes aside, he shrugged Ginger’s hand away. “Just leave it alone Ginger. I don’t think you are ready for the wormhole you are about to open.
"She could feel her face flaming as her temper rose and she reached out and grabbed his arm again. “Leave it alone. You walked out on me and you have the audacity to have something like that painted? Well, I want to know why right now and I will not be shrugged aside like some child being overly curious.”
Teeth gritted, Sam cursed under his breath, before grabbing Ginger by her forearms and literally pulling her up on tiptoes to glare at her. “Yes, I left you. I thought it was what I had to do, but I could never get you out of my mind. So as penance to you, I spent every night painting that picture so I would never forget the accusing look on your face and damn it … so that I would always have some piece of you with me.”
Shoving her back to her feet, he started to turn away again, but Ginger stopped him halfway with a hand on his back. “But why, Sam? If I really meant so little why do it?”Growling low in his throat, Sam swung around and pulled her against him. “Who ever said you didn’t mean anything to me?”
“Well, I know you cared for me just like for Josh, Arlene or Brian. Friends, but otherwise …” her voice trailed away as she motioned absentmindedly.
“God, you are dense. It almost killed me to leave you. I thought you knew that.”
Shaking her head violently their eyes connected and held as she desperately tried to comprehend his true meaning.
“You are just saying that to make me feel better. Just like you did by kissing me back then.”
“At first I didn’t even want friends, but your family grew on me. Then the more I got to know you, the sweet side, the take-charge side and all that spunky fire got to me.” Slowly he pushed the bangs back from her face and softly slid his lips across hers.
“I was desperately in love with you.”
Ginger let his lips linger over hers as she whispered back, “No, because if that were true you never would have left me.”
“I thought it was something I had to do, but now that I am older and wiser, I regret every second of time I missed with you. It kills me that so much time has been wasted, time we could have been together. Now I think it is about time I stopped regretting and started doing something about it.”
Visit Debra on the web- http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/debraasoles.htm.
Check back tomorrow for a sneak peak at CHAPTER 1 of "PAST REGRETS"
Monday, November 2, 2009
The SPOTLIGHT is on, "Past Regrets," by Debra Soles
Sam was a man with a past, one that had taken him years to realize wasn’t his fault. But now he is back to rectify his biggest regret of all—losing Ginger.
Ginger’s work had become her life. Nothing mattered except surviving her mission, even if that meant having to deal with Sam. Together they made more than one horrific discovery that will force them to fight for their loved ones and what could have been.
Rating: Sensual.
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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Excerpt from, "Looks are Deceiving"
Elissa watched his suspicious green eyes roam the cocoa-and-white living room appreciatively. “Greg’s got some pad here.”
His vision fixed on the cases of wine stacked beside the airport-lights sound system and flat-screen TV embedded into the wall. One would’ve thought the electronics would draw a thief’s eye.
This one pointed the gun at the cases of wine, then back to her. “That’s what I’m looking for.”
"You’re holding me at gunpoint for wine? Some alcohol problem you have.”
The man cast her an angry snarl. “Shut up. Don’t be a problem, and you won’t get hurt.”
“I can do that,” she replied, keeping her hands in his sight as not to illicit a bullet. No reason to earn a gunshot wound. She was about to take his gun away, anyway.
Over the man’s shoulder, Elissa spotted the front door easing open, and she saw Greg stick his head in. He eyed the man, then slid back noiselessly behind the door. His sudden appearance changed everything.
Now Elissa wasn’t sure how to keep everyone from injury.
The stranger ordered her, “You’re going to pick up those cases and put them in the trunk of my car.”
Elissa shook her head, gambling, now hoping to exclude his gun from the action entirely, avoiding any physical struggle altogether. He’d need to put down the gun to pick up the wine. “I can’t lift them. I tried earlier.”
Her assailant gave her a nasty grimace. “What do you mean you can’t lift them? They can’t be over thirty pounds.”
She shrugged her shoulders, taking in his posture, sizing up his every move, an eye out for some advantage she could exploit or an unexpected aggressive motion. “I have a bad back. I’m bound to drop a case and shatter the bottles.”
Clearly frustrated, the man tucked the gun into his holster on his belt, exactly what she needed him to do. Then he grabbed hold of her upper arm and hauled her over to the window where he ripped the pull cord from the glass door’s mini-blinds. In his rough handling, she spotted Greg skulking through the front door to duck behind the island of the kitchen.
The wine thief shoved her to the floor at the metal-and-glass coffee table, and he wrapped the cord around her wrists without a fight from her. She focused on keeping her assailant’s attention on her so he wouldn’t pick up the small sounds of Greg passing over the tiled kitchen floor.
“You know, you can get help for the alcohol problem,” she said, watching over the gunman’s shoulder as Greg surfaced on the other side of the island and slipped into a door beyond.
“I know a few places you could get help. You just really have to commit to it—”
“Shut up.”
"Got ya, shutting up.”
Having tied her rather insecurely to the table, the armed man then grabbed hold of two of the stacked cases, one atop the other, and he hauled the cases outside. Wordless, she watched Greg slip from the bedroom, a Glock-22 semi-auto in his hand, and he sneaked back into the kitchen to press himself against the refrigerator, shielded by an entranceway wall.
Elissa took a deep breath and thought up a quick prayer. Why would someone, an armed someone, show up at a home to steal three cases of wine, passing up the nicest home theater system she’d ever seen?
When the man stepped back into the house for the third case, he passed the wall Greg hid behind. In one smooth motion, Greg stepped into the hall and pressed the muzzle to the back of the man’s head.
"Don’t move,” Greg told him, stopping the man cold, and the look of surprise on the gunman’s face was profound. “And I won’t shoot you. Move a muscle, and your brains are going to be my new decorating scheme.”
His vision fixed on the cases of wine stacked beside the airport-lights sound system and flat-screen TV embedded into the wall. One would’ve thought the electronics would draw a thief’s eye.
This one pointed the gun at the cases of wine, then back to her. “That’s what I’m looking for.”
"You’re holding me at gunpoint for wine? Some alcohol problem you have.”
The man cast her an angry snarl. “Shut up. Don’t be a problem, and you won’t get hurt.”
“I can do that,” she replied, keeping her hands in his sight as not to illicit a bullet. No reason to earn a gunshot wound. She was about to take his gun away, anyway.
Over the man’s shoulder, Elissa spotted the front door easing open, and she saw Greg stick his head in. He eyed the man, then slid back noiselessly behind the door. His sudden appearance changed everything.
Now Elissa wasn’t sure how to keep everyone from injury.
The stranger ordered her, “You’re going to pick up those cases and put them in the trunk of my car.”
Elissa shook her head, gambling, now hoping to exclude his gun from the action entirely, avoiding any physical struggle altogether. He’d need to put down the gun to pick up the wine. “I can’t lift them. I tried earlier.”
Her assailant gave her a nasty grimace. “What do you mean you can’t lift them? They can’t be over thirty pounds.”
She shrugged her shoulders, taking in his posture, sizing up his every move, an eye out for some advantage she could exploit or an unexpected aggressive motion. “I have a bad back. I’m bound to drop a case and shatter the bottles.”
Clearly frustrated, the man tucked the gun into his holster on his belt, exactly what she needed him to do. Then he grabbed hold of her upper arm and hauled her over to the window where he ripped the pull cord from the glass door’s mini-blinds. In his rough handling, she spotted Greg skulking through the front door to duck behind the island of the kitchen.
The wine thief shoved her to the floor at the metal-and-glass coffee table, and he wrapped the cord around her wrists without a fight from her. She focused on keeping her assailant’s attention on her so he wouldn’t pick up the small sounds of Greg passing over the tiled kitchen floor.
“You know, you can get help for the alcohol problem,” she said, watching over the gunman’s shoulder as Greg surfaced on the other side of the island and slipped into a door beyond.
“I know a few places you could get help. You just really have to commit to it—”
“Shut up.”
"Got ya, shutting up.”
Having tied her rather insecurely to the table, the armed man then grabbed hold of two of the stacked cases, one atop the other, and he hauled the cases outside. Wordless, she watched Greg slip from the bedroom, a Glock-22 semi-auto in his hand, and he sneaked back into the kitchen to press himself against the refrigerator, shielded by an entranceway wall.
Elissa took a deep breath and thought up a quick prayer. Why would someone, an armed someone, show up at a home to steal three cases of wine, passing up the nicest home theater system she’d ever seen?
When the man stepped back into the house for the third case, he passed the wall Greg hid behind. In one smooth motion, Greg stepped into the hall and pressed the muzzle to the back of the man’s head.
"Don’t move,” Greg told him, stopping the man cold, and the look of surprise on the gunman’s face was profound. “And I won’t shoot you. Move a muscle, and your brains are going to be my new decorating scheme.”
Buy your copy of Looks are Deceiving here- http://www.sirenpublishing.com/michelehart/lad.asp
Visit Michelle on the Web- http://www.iloveshapeshifters.com/
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