Welcome to Snippet Saturday where authors share snippets of their work. Today we’re showcasing Holiday scenes. I’ve chosen a scene from Unraveled, one of my Holiday themed stories from Samhain Publishing (Available as an individual e-book, and in print as part of an anthology). Christmas is a favorite time of year for me. This one’s set in Florida. I know…no snow. But still, the holiday theme abounds. Hope you enjoy!
It was warm this afternoon. Greta was sweaty and the sun beat incessantly down on her body. Being so close to the roof of the motel wasn’t helping cool her down any, either. But the job needed to be done, she’d put it off long enough. Decorations had to go up, and that included lights around the motel.
“Festive.”
She shot her gaze down at Mitch who looked cool and unruffled in his board shorts and white tank top.
“Ho, ho, ho.” She hung another light to the hook.
“Want me to help you?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got it covered.”
“Wouldn’t it go faster with some help?”
She blew out a breath and stared down at him. “Shouldn’t you be at the Hyatt or Westin or something?”
He grinned. “I like this place.”
“No you don’t. You just like irritating me.”
“Sheesh. Use a guy for sex one night, discard him the next day.” He shook his head.
After a horrified glance around to make sure no one was around to hear him, she laughed, then flushed all over, remembering the night before. She’d tucked away her beautiful silver dress, convinced she was never going to wear it again, then put on her drudge clothes. The ball was over for this Cinderella. “I’m hardly the type to use and discard. Especially after only one use.”
“So, you’re saying you’re a recycler.”
“Uh huh.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Her body flamed, but it wasn’t from the hot sun. “You do that. Now go away and let me work.”
He disappeared, and she went back to hanging lights, but almost fell off the ladder about ten minutes later when she saw him appear on the roof, walking up from the other side.
“What are you doing up there?”
He leaned over and helped her drag up the lights, deftly grabbing and latching them onto the hooks. “I told you, I’m helping.”
“You can’t. What if you fall off?”
He cocked his head to the side. “I never fall off.”
“My liability insurance won’t cover it, Mitch. I’m serious.”
“I have plenty of insurance. Quit worrying.”
Exasperated, she let him complete the other side while she finished the one she’d started.
“This is a little different than what you normally do, isn’t it?” she asked.
He lifted his head. “Huh?”
“Board rooms, million dollar deals, fancy hotels and probably a supermodel on your arm while you’re in a tux drinking champagne. Not quite the same thing as hanging off the roof of a beaten down old motel putting up old Christmas lights.”
He stared at her until she grew uncomfortable. “Greta. I grew up here, remember? My parents lived in the same two-bedroom house for forty years. The house I painted myself three times. Not a great house, either. I used to climb up on my beat-up roof and hang old Christmas lights every year.”
She’d forgotten that young Mitch ever existed. All she saw now was the flash, the money. The millionaire. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. But don’t ever forget that I know what it’s like to be without money. And don’t look down on me just because I have it now. Because I busted my ass to get where I am.”
She nodded, feeling awful. “Okay.”
He slid his thumb across her cheek. “No tears or I’ll have to drag you off that ladder and kiss you. Then what would the people on the beach think?”
Be sure to visit these author sites to see their snippets:
Michelle Pillow
Mandy Roth
Anya Bast
Lacey Savage
McKenna Jeffries
Moira Rogers
TJ Michaels
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Jody Wallace
Ashley Ladd
Shelli Stevens
Shelley Munro