CHANGING SEASONS = LIFE CHANGES

POSTED BY: Genie Gabriel

Web site: www.GenieGabriel.com

The changing of the seasons features prominently in my book, THE BODYGUARD. As fall approaches, Julia Cabot's marriage takes a violent turn and she runs for her children's lives. Her panicked flight leads her to take refuge with Mitch Garrison, a former bodyguard with his own challenges. 

As fall turns to winter in this book, Julia and Mitch face the deepest challenges of their lives. In the middle of a fierce winter storm, Mitch, Julia and rescue teams battle for a Christmas miracle that will save the lives of Julia's four-year-old twins.

***EXCERPT from THE BODYGUARD***

Up the mountain, Cayle was identifiable by the neon pink and green stocking cap pulled over his head, diligently searching the snow for other signs of someone who may have been in the area. By the time Mitch and Julia trudged up the slope, snow was falling in thickening intensity. 

"Cayle, we need to turn back," one of the members of the team shouted above the wail of the wind through the trees. 

"Another fifteen minutes." Cayle pushed on through the whirling snow. 

"How long can we keep looking?" Mitch asked the team two leader. 

Sam Jackson was a conservative man. He considered every angle, every possibility, and didn’t take chances. Sam shrugged. "That’s a matter of judgment. For me, we‘ve reached the point where the lives of the rescue teams are in danger. Cayle pushes the envelope. He takes chances. And he’s pulled off some rescues when everyone else had given up hope." 

"My children are out here somewhere." Tears mixed with the snowflakes on Julia’s cheeks. 

"Jack Stryker grew up in these mountains. If he hooked up with your kids, they’ve probably holed up in one of these old gold mines somewhere," Sam said. "The temperature rarely varies more than fifteen degrees inside the mine, even when it’s freezing out here." 

"Or they could be out in this mess," Julia stated. 

"That’s another possibility," Sam conceded. 

"I won’t give up if there’s a chance we can find my children," Julia said. 

"I’m sending the teams back." Sam opened his backpack. "Cayle will want to push on. You’ll need extra supplies to wait out the blizzard. Lash yourselves together so you don’t get separated." 

Sam stashed a first aid kit, chocolate bars, and solar blankets in Mitch’s pack. Then he looped a rope between Mitch and Julia and snugged it around their waists. "Keep the woman between you. The only way you’re going to find anyone in this weather is to stumble across them. When it gets so bad you have to stop, stay by a tree. Their branches will form a natural shelter near the trunk. Listen to Cayle. He’s the best. And pray." 

With one last salute, Sam followed the rest of the team down the slope of the mountain. Cayle had circled back to them by that time. "Good. Sam’s got you prepped." 

Cayle looped the rope around his waist and knotted it. "I figure we’ve got about an hour before the storm hits full force. We’ll cover as much ground as we can, but it’s going to be slow going into the wind. Stryker will stay close to the trees for shelter, so that’s what we’ll do. We may get lucky and stumble onto his hideaway. When we can’t go any further, we’ll dig in and ride out the blizzard. Ready?" 

Julia pulled the ski mask over her face and buttoned the top button of her fleece-lined coat. Mitch’s gloved hand clasped hers and for a moment their gazes collided. She drank in his strength and courage and determination. Then Cayle’s hand slipped under her arm and they stepped into the face of the storm. 

Cliffhanger for A Wife for Jay Prescott

Cliffhanger from A Wife for Jay Prescott.

                All the tension he’d felt throughout the evening vanished in the warmth of Lilli’s arms. For the first time in his life, he knew he’d come home. He wanted to stay with her forever.

                From the moment he’d met Lilli, he’d been attracted to her. Only he’d struggled with his feeling before he admitted that he truly cared about her.

                He pressed his cheek against hers, breathing in her delicate floral scent. “You smell wonderful. Do you realize you were a puzzle to me even before we met?” Jay laughed quietly against her hair. “I smelled your fragrance in the men’s room and knew something was different.” Only I didn’t realize you’d have such an effect on my life.

                “And now?” She pulled away from his then looked into his eyes.

                “I think you’ll always puzzle me. That’s part of your mystic.”

                She released a sigh as if she’d held her breath waiting for his answer. Then she rested her head on his shoulder.

                Although the dance floor was crowded, Jay ignored the other people around them. For him there was only Lilli. With his hand at the small of her back, he pulled her closer. Her breast pressed against his chest. She trembled slightly. Could she feel the same chemistry he did?

                His heart ached with the need to have Lilli in his life all the time. Not just occasionally for Mimi’s benefit but for the rest of their lives.

                The middle of the dance floor surrounded by their employees wasn’t the place to pledge his undying love. They needed an intimate surrounding for their conversation. After stating, not once but several times, he never wanted to get married, Jay knew it would be hard to convince Lilli that he needed to share the rest of his life with her.

                Gradually they slowed their movements until they were standing still. Content, Jay continued to sway with Lilli in his arms. When the sound of applause filled the banquet room, he looked up. So in turned to Lilli and his love for her, he didn’t realize the music had ended and they were the only ones left on the dance floor.

                Lilli’s hand griped his tighter. Jay bowed to break the tension and stop the applause. With her hand still in his, he led her to their table.

                “Way to go, Jay,” someone shorted from the back room.

                Before they were able to sit down, Mimi walked up to the microphone. “For those of you who are new to the company, I’m Jay’s grandmother and every year, at this time, I give a toast.”

                Jay held the chair out for Lilli then returned to his seat beside her.

                When Mimi removed the microphone from the stand, a sharp squeal sounded throughout the room. “I usually stand up here and say how proud I am of all of you. Only this year is different. Now don’t get me wrong, you’ve all done a wonderful job. I’m so excited I forgot my glass. Just a minute.” She started to walk toward the table. Before she reached her destination, Jay handed her a glass of champagne. Mimi’s eyes sparkled.

                Steve shrugged his shoulders then he turned his chair around apparently to have a better view.

                “Most of you are like family to me so I’d like to make a personal toast. To Jay and Lilli.” She held her glass up. “May they set a date soon and not keep this old woman waiting any longer.”

Excerpt from A Wife For Jay Prescott

Excerpt from A Wife For Jay Prescott.

The phone rang again and still no answer. Knowing she occasionally had trouble walking, Jay didn’t hang up.

     “Hello.” Her warm voice broke the silence.

     “Hi. Mimi. I’ve only a few minutes, but I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

     “Nothing new here. How was your trip?”

     “Good. I almost froze. Never realized New York winters could be so cold.”

     “It’s been quiet around here. You were away on business and my friend, Peggy, had an emergency trip to California to see her new grandchild. He was seven weeks early.”
     Be prepared for the unexpected. He could easily hear Lillian’s soft-spoken words. Would her voice haunt him as much as her legs?

     The silence on the phone line lengthened before Jay realized his grandmother was waiting for a reply. “That’s good.”

     “She called last night. A baby boy named Eric, after Peggy’s late husband.”

     “Bet she’s happy,” he answered absently.

     “Jay, what’s troubling you? You don’t sound like yourself. What’s on your mind?”

     “Nothing.” Ever since he was a child, she knew when something disturbed him. Their routine was always the same. She’d ask what was wrong, he’d say nothing, and by the end of the conversation she’d know all about his problems. She was a crafty woman, but she wouldn’t extract any information from him today. He knew all her tactics.

     “Jay, I’d like to see my great-grandchildren before I’m gone.” Her voice sounded different, troubled. Her statement didn’t resemble her usual pestering request, “I want you to get married.”

     “What are you trying to say, Grandma?” Jay sat up straighter in his soft leather chair. He knew she wasn’t as active as she used to be but he wasn’t prepared for her filing health. She meant everything to him an he’d do anything for her. “Have you seen a doctor lately?”

     “Yes, dear. I see one once a week.”

     “Once a week!” The muscles in the back of his neck tightened. “What’s wrong with you?”

     “Dr. Mason plays bridge with us.”

     Jay released an audible sigh. “Mimi, you had me worried.”

     “I’m fine. My hip doesn’t always cooperate, that’s all. Back to you, Jay. What do you want to tell me?”

     Jay glanced down at the yellow legal pad on his desk. If he focused on something else, she wouldn’t weasel out of him what was on his mind. “I won’t be able to stop by on Sunday. I have to finish up some paperwork here at the office.”

     “You work too hard, Jay…”

     A knock on his office door distracted him for a moment. He placed his hand over the mouthpiece. “Come in.” Steve wanted a meeting, so Jay knew he’d have to end his phone conversation. “Grandma, I have—“

     A discreet cough drew his attention to his office door and the woman standing there. She wore a familiar-looking linen suit and silk blouse, yet she had long strawberry blonde hair. Her sexy smile also looked familiar. Confused, Jay glanced down at ankles. He’d recognized those ankles anywhere. His gaze returned to her face. Without the wig, glasses, and wrinkles she was obviously –“A young woman,” Jay muttered to himself.

     “You have a young woman.” Mimi squealed. “How delightful! Why didn’t you tell me right away? What’s her name?”

     Bewildered by the woman across the room, Jay only heard half of what his grandmother said and answered her without thinking. “Lillian Ross?” he whispered in disbelief.

     “Bring her by for Sunday dinner.”

It's Check In Day at the Angels Blog

Choose The Write Path!

It's Check In Day.

Time to pay the piper! How did you do? How much did you write? Did words explode on your WIP?

This is the Rogue's Angels weekly check-in. Every Thursday we encourage the Angels and visitors to let us know how their writing is going.

How well are you doing?

Had problems this week? That's ok. Just sit down this coming week and write. Whatever you do, don't let difficulties from the week before get in your way this week.

Every word is one word closer to the finished product.

Don't know how it got to be Thursday already. Finished the rewrites and complete RD. Now I'm editing the rest of Highland Sunrise in hopes of sending it to my editor by the end of next week.

 Happy writing.

How was your week?

The Angels Present: No More Poodle Skirts

Title: No More Poodle Skirts

Author: Genie Gabriel

Website: www.GenieGabriel.com

Genre: Romance/Fantasy/Paranormal

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 2

Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com

After drifting for years in the innocent age of the 1950s, a woman struggles to join today's world by finding a career and a new love, with some help from her zany family.

EXCERPT

Life seemed much simpler when all a girl had to worry about was keeping her bobby socks and the pompom on her poodle skirt a brilliant white. Daphne Madison wiggled and gyrated into panty hose that seemed determined to twist around her like a boa constrictor squeezing its prey.

A modern woman was expected to have it all--a husband, a family, a career--with never a wrinkle in her face or her confidence.

Daphne zipped up her dress and drew a shaky breath as she stared at herself in the mirror. The form-fitting pink dress wasn't as comfortable as her skirts, and the high heels shoved her feet down into the pointy toes.

I can do this, Daphne reassured herself. She hadn't even been born in the fifties, but it seemed like such an innocent time. If she could pretend to live in that time, surely she could live in the current millennium.

Something doesn't seem just right, she thought, as she fastened a strand of pearls around her neck. However, she refused to wear the short skirts she had seen on television programs. The pencil thin skirt that ended just above her knees was as daring as she would go.

She slid her arms into the pink jacket that matched her dress and considered herself once again. Something still seemed amiss. She settled a pink pillbox hat borrowed from her sister on top of her smooth blond hair. Better.

White gloves restored her confidence even more.

With another deep breath, Daphne swept down the stairs to garner the reaction of her family. She knew her adult son, Ryan, would be of little help but to offer a gourmet breakfast gleaned from the latest cooking show on TV. A meal Daphne knew her jittery nerves wouldn't tolerate.

Her sister wouldn't be stirring yet, but Linda would be organizing the house for the day. She was the mother of Daphne's daughter's husband. Did that make her and Daphne sisters-in-law? No, that wasn't quite right, and thinking about it made her brain hurt.

She gave her head a slight shake. It didn't really matter. Linda was quite practical and had motivated Daphne out of her fantasy life. She would know if Daphne was dressed appropriately for her job interview.

"So what do you think?" Daphne turned slowly as she entered the kitchen.

Her son glanced up from the television long enough to mumble a good morning. Linda considered her thoughtfully. "Very elegant. Where's your interview?"

"The bank is hiring for a teller."

"Ah." Linda nodded. "Perhaps take off the hat and gloves…"

Panic niggled in Daphne's stomach. The two accessories that had restored at least a smidgen of her self-confidence.

Linda smiled when she noticed Daphne's obvious distress. "Well, maybe just take off the gloves to shake hands with the interview committee."

Daphne swallowed. Perhaps she could manage that.

"Are you going to eat breakfast before you go?" Linda asked.

"I-I really couldn't." Daphne laid a hand over her belly. "Already full of butterflies."

Linda's smile grew wider. "You're beautiful and smart, Daphne. I'm sure you'll knock 'em dead."

Horror mixed with the butterflies in Daphne's stomach at the thought of her interview committee keeling over dead when she stepped into the room.

"It's just an expression." Linda patted Daphne's hand. "Try to relax and let them see how much of an asset you would be to their bank."

With a shaky nod, Daphne faced the long, long journey down the hallway and through the front door, out into a world she really wasn't sure she wanted to live in.