CHASING RAINBOWS
by Genie Gabriel
Romantic comedy--rated PG-13
Just as spring in my part of the world has changeable weather, so can romantic comedies have emotions besides humor, as in this suspenseful cliffhanger from Chasing Rainbows.
***EXCERPT***
Ian and Rissa paused at the castle only long enough to change clothes--or rather, to change into what Ian referred to as disguises. Rissa considered it torture. "Tell me again why we're dressed in these ugly uniforms?"
"We don't want the kidnappers to recognize us before we get Madelaine safely away. So we're going to be birdwatchers."
She wrinkled her nose at the khaki shirt and slacks Ian had insisted she wear. "I didn't join Girl Scouts because I hated uniforms."
"You look lovely. And don't forget the matching scarf and cap."
Rissa didn't smile. "Are your disguises always this...um..."
"Birdwatchers really do wear this kind of stuff."
"Why do you get the binoculars?"
"Because it was my idea," Ian said.
The rest of their drive up the narrow, twisting mountain road passed mostly in silence. Rissa thought about her aunt, while Ian scanned the mountains with the binoculars.
"Do you see anything that could be a hide-out?" Rissa asked.
"Not so far--stop! That may be--"
Rissa stomped on the brakes and Ian jerked forward against the shoulder harness.
"Sorry." Rissa set the brake on the van. "What did you see?"
Ian climbed out of the vehicle to stand at the edge of the road, pointing the binoculars toward a nearby ridge of land. "Come take a look."
Rissa squinted through the binoculars. "I don't see anything."
"Here, let me help." Ian reached over her shoulders and turned the binoculars so the sun glinted off something shiny--the window of a cabin.
"I see it!" Rissa spun around, grinning at Ian. Then her breath caught. She was wrapped in his arms and he was staring at her mouth.
He's going to kiss me, Rissa thought, as Ian dipped his head toward her. And I'm going to let him.
She braced her feet and her mind as her eyes drifted shut. It's just a kiss.
Yet as Ian's lips claimed hers, the earth trembled. The rushing wind lifted her high above the earth and his arms tightened around her.
His whispered curse brought her back to reality a moment before they jarred against the ground, tumbling over and over down the hillside.
Rissa grabbed at shrubs and protruding rocks--anything that came within her grasp. This was no sensual fantasy. They were crashing--perhaps to their deaths--and she wasn't through with life yet. There were so many things she wanted to do--
Excerpt copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel
No comments:
Post a Comment