Secretive Heroine, Incapable of Secrets Author: A Dialogue
I was innocently minding my own business, trying to write about a sexy modern day Viking hero (and rather enjoying it, I might add) when his heroine snuck into the back of my mind. Watching me.
I’ve never been fond of being stared at, so eventually, I turned. There she sat, leaning forward on a backwards chair. Her eyes, dark blue in a beautiful face framed by thick, curling black hair, trained on me the way a tiger stares at a fool who has wandered into her territory.
Well, that’s not a good sign. “Can I help you?”
She nods. That’s it. Just a nod.
“Uhhhh… How?”
She inclines her head toward the breathtakingly tall and, well, just breathtaking Viking. Right about now, he’s working diligently on one of his long boats, sanding the curve until it looked like one solid piece. He’s dressed, but that plain white T-shirt hugs his muscles like its in love. I can’t see his jeans too well but I know those have as much fondness for his long, powerful body as the rest of us. Sawdust is everywhere, floating on the air despite the open garage door and the cooling breeze. It clings to the tips of his close cropped pale blond hair like snowflakes.
It’s hard, but I manage to turn away from that sight and look back at the rather dangerous looking woman who clearly does not approve. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“You don’t like me looking at him?”
“Would you?”
This is a valid point. Except… “I thought you didn’t want to date him.”
One of her eyes narrows. “That’s between me and Locke.”
“But I’m your writer. I kinda need to know these things.”
Her gimlet stare informs me that I do not.
I shrug and turn back around. “Then, I get to look at him until I figure it out.”
It takes a minute, but a frustrated growl finally comes from behind me. “If I tell you anything, you’ll tell everyone you possibly can.”
It’s my turn to look at her incredulously. “I’m your writer,” I repeat.
“Where I come from, that just another word for Big Mouth.”
“Well,” I sputter. “Fine, then. I won’t write your story and you can just watch him from afar. See how you like that, you closed-mouthed cow.”
“I like it fine, you rampaging gossip!”
“Heifer!”
“You already called me a cow! I thought you were a writer!”
“I am!” I growl back at her, pounding my chest with Celine Dion-like confidence. “Why else would I know eighteen synonyms for your giant bovine ass?”
She glares at me militantly for endlessly long moments. “I don’t think I like you very much.”
Something tells me that she’s starting to see reason. “Buuuuuuut?”
Her gaze flicks to Locke, still blissfully unaware of both of us. There’s a longing there she can’t begin to hide. “If I tell you my secrets…you’ll help us be together?”
It’s hard not to be greedy and pounce on her in glee. “Of course.” I say it as if I’m cool like that.
She nods, accepting the deal. But this IS Susie Packard. There’s going to be strings. She gets up from her chair carefully, like a cat deigning to resign her perch. “Fine. I’ll share them with you. But not here. Not all at once.”
And wouldn’t you know it, she started walking away.
“Hey! If not now, when? Where?”
She continues to stroll off, mysterious and enigmatic as ever. “You’ll see. You just keep up your end of the deal. I’ll tell you as we go.”
I keep sputtering as she disappears.
“It won’t do you any good,” Locke advises as he sands.
Surprised, I turn back to him. “How long have you been listening?”
“The whole time. You’re never going to get her to tell you anything if you keep demanding like that. You want Susie’s secrets, you’re going to have to be patient. Gentle.”
I watch him, realizing he’s still not looking my way. In case she can see him from wherever she ran off to? “Sneaky,” I add.
His smile is small, but makes me want to fan myself. “Sneaky does have its charms.”
And that’s when I knew I had a whirlwind on my hands. Two incredibly vivid characters who were going to make me work for every layer of them I pulled away. Their happy ending was going to take everything in me to pull off. I knew it, but I smiled and opened the document anyway. In fact, I couldn’t wait to begin.
How about you? Have any exciting challenges come your way lately? Care to share? Post in the comments and be entered in a drawing to win an ecopy of both The Virgin’s Revenge and Trust In Me, both books that feature Susie Packard and Locke Jackman!
Dee
**BP NOTE: Thanks Dee for joining us and sponsoring this giveaway. The winner will be announced on the 31st of July. Good luck! Don’t forget to come back and check out our review in the late post today.**
No current exciting challenges which is fine by me. I have heard good things about Trust in Me from blogs and reviewers I follow.
My biggest challenge this spring was running a half marathon and I did it! I was sooooo slow, lol!
No exciting challenges happening to me.
This sounds like a great book.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Amy–You know, there’s something to be said for a nice respite, lol. My challenge today is going to be not melting to death in the humid heat, lol. I’m glad you’re hearing good things! I hope the book meets your approval too! 🙂
Rebe–you RAN? 13 miles???? Wow. You have my extreme admiration. I only run when blood is being spilt. And even then, it has to be bleeding profusely. (odds are good you’re in better shape than me for your efforts tho, lol.) Huge congrats!
Hugs,
Dee
Nothing exciting happening
Weeellll….I’m going through a major life change right now… a 5 year relationship has ended… I’m moving into a great new place and I’ve spent a lot of money getting new stuff… It’s bad but yet good all at the same time. So…. yeah… 🙂
My current challenge is remaining patient with my brother who is very slowly getting over surgery and he’s a very bad patient (the other kind of patient). 🙂
@kaetrin67
The biggest challenge ive had lately is trying to get my daughter to eat healthy. Lol
Trying to landscape my front and back yard with a limited budget.
My biggest challenge this spring was to maintaing my GPA for my spring semester and meeting the requirement to get into my masters of social work program. woo hoo!
Erin–LOL, there’s nothing more dangerous to a credit card than starting up your new home. Mazel Tov! (I have SOOOOO much trouble walking out of housewares at the store. If only the stuff was free!)
Awww, Kaetrin–Okay, I don’t envy you the bad patient. Makes you look at the sleeping meds a little too long for your peace of mind, doesn’t it? LOL! Wishing you some rest and him some speedy recovery.
Kurlann–Lady, you have my commiserations! I’m trying to get my daughter to eat ANYTHING other than bread, pasta, tortillas and cheese. I’ve successfully attached her to Vienna Sausages and I’m hoping to parlay that into some kind of singular animal. Or a vegetable. Or something with some kind of color. Hope you’re some success!
Kai–OOOOOH! It takes a lot of backwork and stuff, but my Mom lives to cultivate her yards. I’ve seen her turn rocky red clay into a grassy oasis! Here’s to the backyard of your dreams!
Dee
First-time commenter here! My challenges this week include preparing for our family vacation–a 10 day road trip to Yellowstone Ntl. Park and the Grand Tetons–while shuttling kids to karate, gymnastics, swimming and tennis. It will be a relief when school starts again!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Every few months, I’ve been planning a party celebrating certain life events for various friends. I’m not a professional event planner, so each celebration is a unique challenge requiring lots of organization and coordination with other people.
My challenge is to clean my father’s bedroom, organize parent’s basement and pack up my house so that it can be refinished…in a week. Oh, and I’m sick with a summer cold.
Love Ms. Tenorio’s books. Thanks for the contest and chance to win.
No current challenges right now but next month I’m back in school finishing up my BA which comes with a whole host of challenges of keeping my grades up, finishing assignments on time….