*** Penta protested as Cash pulled her to her feet. “I am not getting a tattoo.” She found his sexy and loved to trace them with her fingers—and her tongue—but was certain one would look ridiculous on her. What about the kids? Delilah had already been hinting she wanted one and she was only fourteen. What kind of example would it be? “It’s only temporary.” Cash cupped her elbow and licked a rivulet of ice cream that had escaped from her cone off her wrist. “Mmmm. That’s delicious. I want more.” She didn’t think he was talking about the icy treat. Her entire body shivered at the swipe of his warm tongue and goosebumps rippled on her flushed cheeks. She struggled to corral her straggling thoughts. “How long do they last?” Cash tickled the inside of her wrist with the tip of his tongue and then released her. “I don’t know. Probably a couple weeks, depending where you put it. Come on.” He strode down the hill and she followed reluctantly. “I don’t think we have time for this.” She ate the last of her ice cream and detoured to a garbage can to toss in her napkin. “It’s going to rain and I didn’t bring an umbrella. We should go back to my house.” Cash tilted his ruddy head to look at the sky and then raised a skeptical eyebrow. “There are four clouds and none of them look like rain. Nice try.” He stopped in front of a canvas tent. The inside walls were covered in images depicting all the designs available. Two middle-aged men hovered protectively over not-quite teenage girl as a woman with short blonde hair drew a rainbow on the girl’s forearm with a fine ink pen. A stir of interest replaced Penta’s concern. If these parents thought it was okay for their daughter... “You promise it will wash off?” “I promise.” Cash looked at her with a smile hidden in his eyes, the one she was sure only she could see. “Penta Unleashed, remember? Be a bad girl and get a tattoo.” She straightened her spine and made her decision. “What would I get?” “What do you want it to say about you?” He lifted his hand, the one with the phoenix tattoo across the back. “Make it meaningful, even if it only is temporary.” Just like us, Penta thought with a sudden stab of sorrow. The tattoo wouldn't last, just like her relationship with Cash. Just like us. *** Now hop to Leslie Hachtel and see what flash fiction she's come up with!
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 The topic this week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop… If one of your books could be made into a movie, which one would you pick and what actors would you like to play your characters? I think No Life But This would make a great movie. It is set in an amazing location (the Azores), the characters do interesting activities (snorkeling with wild dolphins, bike riding into volcanic craters, paragliding, horseback riding), there are plenty of sexy scenes, and of course there is a wonderful happily-ever-after. Amanda Seyfriend would make a wonderful Abigail. She has the waif-like, ethereal fragility I picture for my fish-out-of-water heroine. And Jeffrey Dean Morgan has that slightly rough-edged handsomeness that would be perfect for Santos. Of course, the characters in the book are younger than these actors, but hey – that’s what movie magic is for, right? Now hop over to PG Forte and discover which of her books she's chosen to make into a movie!
I have to admit, I’m a really picky movie viewer. I find it much harder to forgive poor storytelling and awkward acting in a movie than in a book. Maybe it has something to do with my years in television broadcasting. I simply find it harder to achieve that suspension of disbelief that is necessary to get into the story. Usually I prefer watching a movie I’ve seen and liked before than trying a new one. I think the movie I’d like to “see again for the first time” is My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I absolutely love this movie, but the problem with rewatching a comedy is that you see all the jokes coming, so they lose some of their punch. I remember sitting in the movie theatre crying with laughter the first time I saw it, and I would love to experience that hilarity again. What about you? What movie would you choose to see again? Let me know below, then hop over to PG Forte to discover her choice!
Mind you, I probably wouldn’t walk out on the date. I’m not the kind of person that would make a scene like that. But I’m pretty sure it would be our last one! What about you? What would put an end to a date before it began? Then hop over to PG Forte to see what would send her running in the opposite direction!
We went there in June 2017 and lived for a few days in a small walled village called Vallabregues, just outside of Avignon. We rented a car and drove all over the area – to Nimes and Gordes and Arles and Saint-Remy-de-Provence and all the way to the Mediterranean. What amazed me most was how many ancient constructions are still in daily use. We passed by a Roman amphitheatres that had just hosted a rock concert and walked across the Pont-du-Gard, a more than 2000 year old Roman aqueduct. Castles of all shapes and sizes are used as event venues and bridges that are hundreds of years old carry modern traffic. I would love to have more time to explore the area and soak in the atmosphere. Being a resident, not a visitor, would be a whole new experience. What about you? Is there somewhere you would like to live for a year? Let me know, and then hop over to see where Leslie Hachtel would love to live!
I may have to do something similar with shots from our trip across Canada. I don't have enough of one theme, but I took lots of sunsets, lighthouses, waterfalls, and old forts. If I do, I’ll share it with you here. Now, be sure to hop over to Jenna da Sie and continue your Tuesday journey.
Also, I’ve become a semi-serious fisherman. When I was a kid, if my parents made we go fishing with them, I would burrow down in the bottom of the boat with a book and a rarely held a fishing rod. Nowadays, if we’re trout fishing in a boat, I still often hold a book in my free hand, but when we are river fishing for salmon, I will brave icy waters and wear oh-so-stylish hip waders in order to hook my dinner. What about you? What have you done that is out of character? Let me know below, then hop over to Leslie Hachtel.
Scent can be incredibly evocative, and what we associate with them is very personal. For example, the smell of burnt sugar may not be attractive to some, but for me it is the smell of Christmas. My mom makes pies often. One holiday, a pie overflowed as it baked and when we stepped into her house we were overwhelmed with the sweet caramel scent. It might have been a mess to clean up, but it smelled delicious! I generally detest the smell of cigarette smoke. But the scent of wine-dipped cigars reminds me of childhood. My dad used to smoke them – and a pipe, as well – and I still love the aroma. One scent that is sure to bring back memories is damp earth and mothballs. I know, sounds horrible, doesn’t it? But my grandparents had a cellar with a dirt floor and my grandmother used mothballs to protect the linens and clothes she stored down there. It will forever remind me of the good times I had there as a child and an adult. What about you? What scents trigger memories for you? Then continue your hop with PG Forte!
Right now, we are re-watching Friends. There’s a reason this show was such a huge phenomenon. We still laugh and giggle every episode. And while I can see myself as a character in each of the sitcoms I mentioned earlier, the one I really relate to is Monica. While she’s a little more over-the-top than I am (to great comedic effect) we share many similarities. I am definitely organized, a hard worker, and have a competitive streak. Our cleaning habits may not match (I am a neat person but there is often a layer of dust on things) but we both like Chandler the best of all the guys. Friends has such a great cast. Each of them has weaknesses and strengths, and they can all drive each other crazy. But at the foundation of it all is a sense of love and trust and acceptance that makes me just a teensy bit jealous I didn’t have the same experience in real life. Be sure to hop over to PG Forte to see what sitcom character she would be! And just a quick note to say this will be my last blog post for several weeks. My husband and I are going on a bucket list adventure! We’ll be driving across Canada between now and mid-July, so I’ll be taking a break from blogging. If you want to come along on my travels, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram, as I’ll be posting there as we go. See you in six weeks!
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