I'm off on vacation for the next week. Taking my laptop with me so hopefully I'll get some serious writing done (or at least figure out what the heck is going to happen in the climax since it's in the next chapter! Ay ya ya...).

Will be back Labor Day.

Happy writing to all!

I *think* I can post this since it's already up and running on the world wide web.

Check out Linda's new website. It is soooo cool! Uber-talented CP Joan is to thank (again) for designing yet another fabulous site. I've received nothing but rave reviews about mine. You rock, J!

And in case you missed Linda's big announcement, be sure to stop by her blog. She landed a top agent and finally signed her contract last Friday. Congrats, Linda! I know big things are on the horizon for you!!! (And I can always say, "I knew her when...")

See ya, babe! I'm off to the office.

A full day of work looms ahead of me - eight hours with the WIP, full steam ahead. No interruptions, just me and my muse, the computer, a few research books and a gallon of coffee (with half-n-half and splenda, of course).

Yeah, right. In my dreams.

My 'office' is a spot on the living room couch with my laptop perched on my knees, research books scattered across the coffee table and floor, and my half-empty cup of cold coffee on a coaster (okay, generally NOT on a coaster) on the table in front of me. More often than not, the older two kids are bopping in and out or screaming in a nearby room, and the baby is at my feet playing on the floor.

Eight full hours of writing, uninterrupted???? I don't know what I would do with myself!!!

I have learned to be quite prolific amidst general chaos. So much so that in the evenings when the kids have finally gone to sleep and the DH is in the great room watching his gigantosaurus TV, I'm sometimes at a loss. I can write 5 pgs during the day here and there, but give me a couple hours of complete silence and I freeze up. (IM doesn't always help. LOL Although it's great for brainstorming!)

I often wonder if I would be more productive if I had my own "space". We have an office, but it's DH's office. And he has his own unique filing system where his work is generally laid out in feverish piles all over his desk. Do I want to move his laptop, clear a space and work in there? Uh...not. You never know what could crawl out from underneath that pile of clinicals. I find sitting on the couch is more comfortable, and it's easier for me to get up and down to deal with the next big trauma in the house if I'm actually IN the house and not hiding in the corner office. Of course, when I'm printing, working on queries or need to feel "official", I do work in there, but not all that much.

Do you have a set office where you write? Or are you like me...kinda all over the place and more? I sat in a workshop at Nationals - Writing Unforgettable Love Scenes with Christine Skye - and she addressed workspace briefly. She had a good trick for getting into her characters' heads...headphones. And not just any headphones, but those great big orange ones you can get at Home Depot to block out sound - the ones you see controllers wearing on the tarmack at the airport. Now there's an idea...I could block out my kids screaming. Oh wait....might not be the best idea. That could get me in some serious trouble.

Then she went on to talk about office space and got into a bunch of stuff I'm not sure I'm all that into. Like don't put your desk between the window and door because your creative energy will flow right out of the room. (huh?) Or don't put your desk in a place where your back is to the door because people can sneak up on you and you won't ever feel comfortable. Hmmm....not so sure about these. In Nora's chat she said her desk is against a window, she has a view of the woods...and yeah, her back is the to door. And I'd say that hasn't hampered her creative juices.

So where do you write? If you have an office, where's your desk? What time of the day are you most productive?

I thought some of you might benefit from this.

What Editors Don't Want To See
(with Abby Zidle - HQN, Krista Stroever - Steeple Hill, Mavis Allen - Silhouette)

1. Queries with crazy opening questions.
Be upfront - why you're targeting that line, what the story is about. Give a brief bio, but only relevant information.

2. No fluff bags - they like bubble wrap bags.

3. Synopses that don't show character emotion and growth.
Synopses needs to show not only the plot but how the characters change and what their emotional connection is. Esp. important for Harlequin. Must give the ending, and show an example of your voice.

4. Overdone conflict they're tired of seeing .
A) Characters who were foster kids and as adults have trust issues.
B) Man burnt by love and now can't trust his heart again
C) Character whose parents divorced and now has intimacy/commitment issues

5. Plots they don't want to see.
A) Minister hero falls in love with the bad girl heroine.
B) Romantic Suspense - Heroine has a stalker but refuses police protection or doesn't call the police when something bad happens.
C) Fake Marriage plots
D) Wimpy heroines
E) Romantic Suspense - Two handsome men, no other suspects. Hello. Dead giveaway. Need more than two suspects.
F) Romantic Suspense - Scooby Doo Endings
G) Big city girl who washes out and goes home because she couldn't cut it. Tired of seeing the city as the big bad guy, and the small town as the place of salvation
H) Finding faith only in a small town as opposed to the city
I) Witty dialogue that doesn't move the story forward.

And of course, they were quick to point out for every one of these items they "don't" want to see, there are always exceptions to the rules. Write a great fake marriage story with only two handsome suspects, and they still may look at the book - all depends on how it's done.

Finally getting around to posting some pictures from Nationals. Only a few weeks late. :)

Here's me with my partner in crime, Piper Lee, at the welcome reception. (I'm the sexy blonde. LOL) Did I mention she kept me up until 2 am every night? It was a week-long slumber party.


Another with Danita and Paty. They dragged me to the casino to gamble. All I wanted was a free drink. After losing $11 in the nickel slots, Piper so eloquently informed me that drink wasn't free. (Piper Party Pooper)


Lissa Manley, Danita Shattuck, Leah Vale, Paty Jager.

A small part of our group after the Awards Ceremony. Danita Shattuck, Piper Lee, Paty Jager, Alice Sharpe, Me, and Genene Valleau. We were all dead tired because it was midnight and we'd been sitting for over three hours. It's a wonder we could still smile!

The queen of procrastination can waste a whole day perusing writer loops. I'm sure I'm not the only one (gasp! I hope I'm not the only one). And to prove a point, I did just that today. (When I should have been working on chapter 19...grumble, grumble)

Now, I'm on several loops - so many that I can't even keep them all straight. I look at My Yahoo Groups link and my eyes cross. Among the many are my local RWA loop, the KOD loop, RWC, RWAPro loops (I think there are four), RWA loops (again, at least four), the RWAProNationals loop, AskAnAuthor (um, two maybe?), The Knight Agency loop, Romance Contests (had enough yet?)... I could go on and on (don't worry, I won't.)

And even though I'm on all these loops, how many am I really active in? One. Just my chapter loop, to be honest. I peruse the rest daily (along with several blogs I won't even mention here), but I'm very hesitant to jump right in and start offering advice. I was pretty active in the RWC loop way back when, but sort of dropped off as I was writing more and more. And now, I'm just not sure I have all that much to add to the conversations. It's not like I'm agented. It's not like I'm published. I haven't won ten-thousand contests, and I'm not the type of person to toot my own horn and brag about all my requests. And someone else will always offer the same comment I would have made, so what's the big deal?

The big deal is I miss the camaraderie. Especially from other writers. I posted a few times on the RWAProNational loop, but just didn't feel comfortable enough to get into it. And then I missed out on meeting some great women at Nationals who were all there. My own fault.

But since coming back from Nationals, I think I'm a bit more hesitant to jump in to all these other loops for one very big reason...people actually read all these posts!! I met lots of people whose names I recognize from these loops - some pubbed, some not, but it really made me sit up and think before I start shooting off my mouth and posting on loops that are basically, public domain.

So what's my point? Well, yesterday I read a post on a loop by an epubbed writer which grated on my nerves. It was an "I'm great because of this..." type post that had nothing to do with the question that was being asked. And it got me thinking. This particular writer is also active on a lot of the other loops I peruse, and it just reinforced to me how your image is so easily spread from place to place. How you put forth that image is what counts. And being nice and not know-it-all-ish on the loops is soooo important. This particular thread totally reinforced that to me.

Not sure if I'll jump back in on some of the loops or not. My mouth tends to get me in trouble when I get too involved in certain things, so for now, I'll probably keep my lips tightly shut and go on reading.

And procrastinating when I should be working on chapter 19...

Snarky moods can be good for the muse.

21 pgs today and counting. I'm now in the middle of chapter 18.

It's a wonder what one can accomplish when she puts her mind to it (and plops her butt in the chair).

Of course, it's probably all crap, but a crappy page can be edited. A blank one cannot.

(And I am sooooo going over 20 chapters. Thank goodness for editing...and hacking, slicing, shredding...)

Ever feel like good things are happening to people around you and you're just standing still? Been feeling like that a lot the last few days.

Paty placed first in the paranormal category of the Great Beginnings Contest. Way to go, Paty!!! Carol recently finaled in the Maggie. Linda has uber-exciting news she can't quite share yet, Joan's agent is about to send her book out to publishers, and Piper got to be in a movie.

And me? What have I done lately that's super exciting?

Not one darn thing.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DATA SHEET

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Substance: Woman
Symbol: W02
Discoverer: Adam
Atomic Mass: Accepted as 55 Kg, but there are known isotopes ranging from 45 Kg to 225 Kg
Occurrence: Large quantities in urban areas, with traces found in most other areas

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Surface normally covered in powder and paint film (thickness variable according to age)
2. Aromatic odour.
3. Boils at nothing, freezes for no apparent reason.
4. Melts if given appropriate treatment.
5. Yields if pressure applied in the correct manner, explodes if stressed excessively.
6. Bitter if used incorrectly, may become sour with age, can sometimes be sweetened up.
7. Found in various grades, ranging from virgin material to common ore, pure specimens are relatively uncommon..

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. Great affinity to Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Platinum (Pt) and all precious stones.
2. Capable of absorbing great quantities of expensive substances.
3. Liable to explode spontaneously, without warning or reason.
4. May explode spontaneously if left alone with a male.
5. Softens and takes on a rosy glow when soaked in hot water.
6. Insoluble in liquids, but greatly increased activity when saturated in alcohol.
7. The most powerful money reducing agent known to man.

COMMON USES
1. Highly ornamental - especially in sports cars.
2. Can be a great aid to relaxation.

TESTS
1. Pure specimens turn bright pink when discovered in the natural state.
2. Turns green when placed alongside a superior specimen.

HAZARDS
1. Highly volatile and dangerous except in experienced hands (highly dangerous in inexperienced hands)
2. Delicate handling required.
3. Illegal to possess more than one permanent specimen (great care must be taken when handling multiple specimens).
4. May begin to swell if suitable handling precautions are not taken.

CONTAMINATION PROCEDURE
1. If contaminated, the services of a skilled lawyer must be sought.


HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DATA SHEET

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Substance: Man
Symbol: M+ (Free radical most desirable)
Discoverer: Eve
Atomic Mass: Accepted as 65 Kg, but there are known isotopes ranging from 55 Kg to 115 Kg
Occurrence: Large quantities in urban areas, with traces found in most other areas. Highly concentrated deposits at all sporting events and areas known as "singles bars". Extremely low quantities can be found in any location where cleaning up is required. (See Women and Slave Labor)

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Surface normally covered in grease and fur oxidase except at apex of specimen
2. Surface liable to tarnish, stain and attract dirt.
3. Pungent or stale odour.
4. Usually inert, but correct stimulus can promote a reaction.
5. Yields if pressure applied in the correct manner, explodes under strain.
6. Bitter if used incorrectly, sours with age but can sometimes be sweetened up.
7. Found in various grades, ranging from virgin grade to base material, but pure specimens hard to find nowadays.
8. Not one of the ‘noble elements’ (usually found in combination with Woman).

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. Great affinity to alcohol (ethanol).
2. Capable of liberating quantities of expensive substances if treated correctly.
3. May explode spontaneously if left alone with a female.
4. Softens and wilts when soaked in hot water, greater rigidity at cooler temperatures.
5. Insoluble in liquids, especially inert after saturation in alcohol (athough this state is preceded by an initial and noisy period of increased activity).
6. The most powerful money producing agent known to woman. High valency - capable of multiple bonds with Woman.

COMMON USES
1. Highly ornamental - especially during Match of the Day or Formula One racing.
2. Can be a great aid to relaxation.

TESTS
1. Pure specimens turn pale and shrivel when discovered in the natural state.
2. Behaves erratically when placed alongside a superior specimen.
3. Localised expansion and rigidity when excited.

HAZARDS
1. Dangerous in inexperienced hands - unpredictable when activated
2. Illegal to possess more than one permanent specimen (great care must be taken when handling multiple specimens).
3. May induce swelling if suitable handling precautions are not taken.

CONTAMINATION PROCEDURE
1. If contaminated, the services of a skilled lawyer must be sought.

I have nothing of interest to say. So I will leave you with some words of wisdom courtesy of Paty:


WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST

She's sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.
Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.
Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.
Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.
And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.


WOMEN'S REVENGE

"Cash, check or charge?" I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase.

As she fumbled for her wallet I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse.

"So, do you always carry your TV remote?" I asked.

"No," she replied, " but my husband refused to come shopping with me, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally."


UNDERSTANDING WOMEN (A MAN'S PERSPECTIVE)

I know I'm not going to understand women. I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax, pour it onto your upper thigh, rip the hair out by the root, and still be afraid of a spider.


MARRIAGE SEMINAR

While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, "It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes."

He addressed the man, "Can you name your wife's favorite flower?"

Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "It's Pillsbury, isn't it?"


CIGARETTES AND TAMPONS

A man walks into a pharmacy and wanders up and down the aisles. The sales girl notices him and asks him if she can help him. He answers that he is looking for a box of tampons for his wife. She directs him down the correct aisle.

A few minutes later, he deposits a huge bag of cotton balls and a ball of string on the counter. She says, confused, "Sir, I thought you were looking for some tampons for your wife?"

He answers, " You see, it's like this, yesterday, I sent my wife to the store to get me a carton of cigarettes, and she came back with a tin of tobacco and some rolling papers; cause it's sooo-ooo--oo-ooo much cheaper. So, I figure if I have to roll my own .......... so does she.

( I figure this guy is the one on the milk carton! )


WIFE VS. HUSBAND

A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?"

"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."


W O R D S

A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day...30,000 to a man's 15,000.

The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men...

The husband then turned to his wife and asked, "What?"


CREATION

A man said to his wife one day, "I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time."

The wife responded, "Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!"


WHO DOES WHAT

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning.

The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee."

The husband said, " You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee."

Wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee."

Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me."

So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says.........."HEBREWS"


THE SILENT TREATMENT

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper,"Please wake me at 5:00 AM." He left it where he knew she would find it.

The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up."

Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

(For Part I, be sure to visit Linda's Blog)

A wicked grin crossed Ethan’s face. "Get him a Blow Job." At Sam’s incredulous expression and Caitlin’s murderous one, his brows shot up, and he smiled. "What? Every guy likes those."

Tick’s jaw tightened. "Jim Beam’s fine."

"I’ll be right back. Get us a table." Sam leaned in to kiss Ethan. "Try to behave yourself."

She sauntered away, Ethan’s gaze following her. Tick crossed his arms over his blue-stained chest. "Now, do you two want to tell me how you really know each other?"

Caitlin linked her arm through his. "It’s not important. Come on."

He refused to budge. "You don’t think I’m going to give up that easily, do you?"

She tunneled a hand through her hair again, the silver beads on her dress clicking. "One could hope."

He smiled, his good-ol’-country-boy smile. "One can start talking, too."

Ethan waved a hand between them. "You two did have premarital counseling, right?"

Tick’s face darkened. "Cait, who the hell is this guy?"

"Here you go." With a side smile, Sam extended a glass of amber liquid in Tick’s direction. He took it with two hands and extreme caution.

"Thanks."

Confusion darkened Sam’s brown eyes. "I thought we were getting a table."

"We are." Caitlin gave Tick a gentle shove toward a shadowy booth.

"I know you don’t think this conversation is over."

"Would you give it a rest, Lamar Eugene?"

They settled into the booth, Caitlin and Tick on one side, Sam and Ethan on the other, a candle flickering in a cut-glass globe between them. Tick spun his glass on the table. "So, Dr. McClane, you specialize in working with kids?"

Ethan nodded. "I have a private practice, but do some work with the state juvenile justice system."

"What state?"

"Oregon."

Tick’s eyebrows winged upwards, and he glanced at his wife. "I see. Oregon."

Caitlin glanced away, muttering a curse beneath her breath.

"Hello?" Sam settled back into the booth. "Is there some secret code I’m missing here? What is going on?"

Tick lifted his glass, a hard smile playing about his mouth. "You know, Miss Parker, that’s exactly what I’d like to know."

Caitlin shot him a glare. "God, you never quit, do you? Fine, Tick. He was my therapist. I worked a horrific case in Oregon last July, and the Bureau forced me to spend the afternoon from hell in his office before I could go back to work. Are you happy now?"

"Precious-"

"Falconetti, I swear to God, if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll get even with you for this." A broad-shouldered man with short dark hair and sharp gray eyes set his beer on the edge of the table and tugged up a chair. "Today’s Law Enforcement and the Media? What the frik’ is that?"

Fingers shaking, Caitlin sipped at her drink. "That, Cookie my friend, is revenge for that stunt you pulled the night before my wedding."

Mark Cook leaned back in his chair, took a long pull from the bottle. He darted a knowing smile Tick’s direction. "Didn’t hear good ol’ Lamar Junior over there complaining."

Tick chuckled. Caitlin drew in a long breath, darting a glare her husband’s direction. He coughed, sobered quickly and lifted his glass to his lips.

Sam glanced around the table. "Just what did he do?"

Mark glanced her direction for the first time. An easy smile spread across his face. "Well, now. Looky what we have here. I don’t think we’ve met." He leaned over the table, held out his hand. "Mark Cook. Everyone calls me Cookie."

Sam’s brow raised, and she shook his hand. "Sam Parker. And just why does everyone call you Cookie?"

He winked, settled back in his seat. "Sweet as sugar. Just as addictive. Don’t know a woman alive who can’t resist a good Cookie."

Caitlin rolled her eyes and groaned. "I know several. Cookie, leave the poor girl alone."

A lopsided grin quirked his mouth. "Damn, Falconetti. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous."

Caitlin almost spit her drink out. Sam suppressed a giggle. Ethan’s eyes narrowed on the newcomer, his jaw clenched.

Mark raised his brows, looked toward Sam. "Why don’t we let the pretty girl with big brown eyes find out for herself."

"Down, slick," Ethan growled.

Caitlin lifted her drink, an amused smirk across her lips. "Need a cigarette yet, Dr. McClane?"

He narrowed his eyes on her and tossed back the rest of his drink.

Mark glanced at Caitlin, jerked a thumb Ethan’s direction. "Who’s this guy?"

"Dr. McClane," Tick said, waving his hand. "They’re together."

Mark’s eyes widened, focused on Sam. "You’re with him? Oh, honey, we need to have a chat."

Ethan dropped his glass on the table with a thunk, shifted toward Mark and opened his mouth. Sam placed a hand on his arm to stop him. "Behave," she said under her breath. She glanced back at Mark. "So, Cookie, what did you do the night before their wedding?"

Mark grinned, rested his forearms on the table. He reached for the bowl of nuts near the flickering candle. "Good ol’ Lamar Eugene here has a thing for blondes." Tick rolled his eyes. Mark smiled wider. "Since he was shackling himself to Agent Uptight over there, I just figured I’d give him a nice little send off."

Caitlin’s eyes narrowed. "Handcuffing him to two blondes the night before our wedding is not a nice little send off."

Tick ran a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. Sam giggled.

Ethan lifted his drink. "I’m surprised you didn’t handcuff them to the coffee table," he muttered under his breath.

Tick’s eyes widened. He whipped toward Caitlin. "You told him? Holy hell, you told him?"

Caitlin covered her red face with both hands.

Sam held up a hand, looked toward Ethan. "Wait. These are the two?"

"Sweet Jesus," Tick said with wide eyes. "She knows, too?"

Ethan leaned back, waved a hand. "She snoops. I accidentally left the file lying around the house."

"Oh, my God," Sam said. "These are the two?" Laughter consumed her. She wrapped an arm around her middle, slapped her free hand on the table. Drinks sloshed in glasses. Ethan and Tick both reached out to brace the table from falling over.

"Oh, God," Caitlin groaned, dropping her head.

Mark’s brows shot up. "I think I missed this one. Someone fill me in."

"No." Caitlin and Tick spoke simultaneously.

Caitlin glared at Ethan. "Whatever happened to doctor-patient confidentiality?"

"Oh, that went out the door when you threatened me in my office."

"I did not threaten you."

A grin lightened Tick’s thunderous expression. "She doesn’t threaten. She promises."

"Oh, come on. Fill me in. Please?" Mark said.

Tick scowled. "No."

"Pretty please?" Mark slid a grin in Caitlin’s direction. "With sugar on top?"

Caitlin quirked one eyebrow at him, her green eyes icy. "Not in your wildest dreams."

His gray eyes glinting with wicked glee, Mark pointed at Tick. "Actually, I want to hear more about his wildest dreams. Sounds like one of them came true."

The slow, country-boy smile appeared again, and Tick lifted Caitlin’s knuckles to his mouth. "They all came true."

Sam giggled. "Oh, he’s good."

Caitlin lifted her eyes to Tick’s, a sultry grin curving her mouth. "Very."

"Oh, God." Mark rolled his eyes and signaled the server. "I need another beer."

Smiling, Sam wrapped her fingers around Ethan’s forearm. "Maybe what you really need is the right woman."

Disconcerted, Mark stared at her, then laughed. "Honey, there’s no such thing."

Caitlin nudged his knee with her foot. "He has commitment issues-"

"Yeah, anything longer than one night is an issue." Tick lifted his glass, chuckling.

"Maybe Dr. McClane can help you with that, Cookie." Caitlin flashed an evil smile in Ethan’s direction.

He shook his head. "I don’t treat law enforcement officers anymore, Agent. You cured me of that. Now I’m the one with nightmares."

Sam patted his arm. "It’s all right, honey. I’ll hold you."

Tick pulled his blue-stained shirt away from his chest and glanced at Caitlin. "Whatever this crap is, it’s sticky. What say we get out of here so I can clean up?"

She tossed off the rest of her drink. "You just want an excuse to get near that Jacuzzi."

Mark’s jaw dropped. "Your room has a Jacuzzi? Oh, that’s it. The next time we do one of these conference things, I’m filling out the paperwork."

Tick slid from the booth and held out a hand to his wife. "Nice to meet you, Dr. McClane, Ms. Parker."

"Good night." Caitlin smiled. The couple walked away, hands clasped, winding their way through the tables and the pulsing crowd.

Sam traced a design on the back of Ethan’s hand. "You know . . . this many cops in one place, there has to be a spare pair of handcuffs around here somewhere."

Ethan grinned, his gaze fixed on hers. "I’m sure."

A pair of metal bracelets clanged on the table. Sam and Ethan jumped.

Mark sighed. "Have fun."

Ethan’s gaze dropped to the silver circles, lifted to Mark’s, and he grinned. Snagging the cuffs, he slid from the booth and nodded. "Thanks."

With Sam giggling, he pulled her toward the lobby.

Mark watched them go and shook his head. He reached for another handful of peanuts as the server set his beer on the table.

"Right woman, my ass."

(For part I, be sure to visit Linda's blog.)

Ethan didn’t break her gaze. The tick of a clock on the wall was the only sound echoing through the room. Caitlin's back straightened under his intense stare.

"What I did isn’t important. It’s what I did after that matters. I could have let it break me, but I didn’t. The question is, Agent Falconetti, what are you going to do?"

She turned back to the window and crossed her arms over her chest. "The same thing I’ve been doing."

"Wallowing in your misery?"

"Maybe I like wallowing. It’s not hurting anyone."

"What about the people who love you?"

A disbelieving laugh rumbled through her. "Yeah, right. They’re few and far between. Don’t you listen to the rumor mill? This Betty Bureau is unlovable."

His brow lifted. "And why is that, Agent?"

She glanced at her watch. "Isn’t our fifty minutes up?"

He relaxed, smiled. "I don’t have anything else on my calendar for the day."

"Great." She grimaced. "How’d I get so lucky?"

Tapping his pen against his leg, he stared at her again. She blew out a breath. "You know, if you cut me loose, I could catch a flight back to Virginia and you could sneak out for a round of golf."

"I don’t golf."

"Figures." She turned away, her body vibrating with repressed stress.

"All right. Not talking about the nightmares or your feelings of inadequacy-"

"I’m not inadequate." She shot him a glare. "My case closure percentage is close to a hundred."

"So tell me about your partner."

"She died."

"That has to be difficult for you."

With a mocking laugh, she leaned against the back of the chair. "What do they do, give you cards to memorize with those lines on them?"

He watched her, rubbing a finger over his lips. She stared back. The clock ticked. She narrowed her eyes again.

"You’re dying for a cigarette, aren’t you?"

Another smile. "As I said, we’re not talking about me, Agent. This is all about you."

"Oh, joy." She rolled her eyes. "I don’t think I can stand the excitement."

With another chuckle, he glanced at her file again. "So talk to me about Georgia."

She stilled, her expression freezing. Her chest lifted with a deep breath. "No."

"You were involved in a shooting."

"I’m not talking to you about Georgia."

"I have all day."

"You can have all year." She crossed her arms. "So who’s your favorite famous psychology guru? Freud? Jung?"

"Hannibal Lecter."

She laughed and shook her head. "You’re a quick one."

"So I’ve been told." His face sobered. "Tell me about Georgia."

"Jesus, you’re a piece of work. You never quit, do you?" She turned back to the window. "Now I need a cigarette and I don’t even like the taste of smoke."

His brow lifted and he nodded, a slow shift of his head. "Aha. He smokes."

She whipped around, eyes narrowed. "He’s not important. We’re not talking about him."

"Why not?"

"Because we're not. Drop it, doctor."

He reached for the file on the table in front of him, ignoring her icy warning, and flipped it open. "Georgia county sheriff’s investigator was shot. Paperwork says you two were at Quantico together. I’m guessing from your apprehension, there’s a history there." He glanced up, but she didn’t respond, so he went back to the file. "You fired your weapon. Disarmed the suspect. Both men survived."

Her muscles tightened, and she shifted back toward the window. "I should have shot him in the freakin' heart."

"Which one?"

She glanced at him over her shoulder. "Which one do you think?"

"You tell me."

Her eyes narrowed. "You’re really irritating, you know that?"

He smiled, his lips curling in a wide grin. "It’s my job. But you still haven’t answered my question."

She let out a breath. "If I tell you, will you let me go?"

"Perhaps."

She studied him one long minute. A sultry smile finally curled one side of her mouth. "I’m not so sure you want to hear this, Dr. McClane. It might just give you ideas."

"Try me."

She sauntered to the chair in front of him, ran her fingers over the back cushion as if caressing a lover. "It involved handcuffs, a coffee table and lots of hot pink latex."

National Whirlwind

Wow. What a week. I don't even know where to start. I learned more than I expected, was inspired more than I thought I would be, and was star-struck beyond belief.

Highlights of the week:

1) Running into Nora in the hall. Oh. My. God. Talk about being star-struck.

2) Pitching. Not nearly as bad as I thought. Even with all the quirky eyebrow looks I got whenever anyone asked the dreaded question, "Who are you pitching to?"

3) Debbie Macomber's "Why Not You?" speech. Inspiring. It WILL be me.

4) Susan Elizabeth Phillips admission that yeah, she SUCKS at writing synopses.

5) Being surrounded by 2000 women who "get" it.

6) RS Braiding. I knew it, but BAM, it hit me how important it really is.

7) Allison Brennan & Patti Berg's class - No Plotters Allowed. Validation for those of us who don't plot! Hilarious. And fun. And even though Allison now thinks I was stalking her (rolls eyes), it was a highlight.

8) The GH/Rita Awards. Even amid all the controversy of the presentation, I was awed. Not because of the pictures or music or presenters. But because of the winners. As a newbie, I zoned in on the important stuff...the women who have worked their asses off and earned the high honors of the Golden Heart and Rita Awards. Uber-inspiring.