TJ Wilde – Page 4 – Annie DeMoranville

Full Sail: Chapter One

Full Sail cover Golden Fishing Pier with sailboat and dolphin in the background

TJ Wilde has been busy the last five years. A good job, a good guy, and a nice house. Stevie, her dumpster rescue kitten and Wyatt, a two-year old Bernese Mountain dog rescue complete their little family. But TJ is restless and looking for adventure. Be careful what you wish for…

The eBook is available now at this link.

As is my custom, here is Chapter One:

ONE

Murder is my favorite crime – LAURA

Fuck! I thought it wasn’t supposed to rain in Southern California. I was soaked to the skin standing in a torrential downpour underneath the fishing pier at Venice Beach. A few miles down the road from the ritziest of Malibu mansions and the kitschy fun of Santa Monica Pier’s Pacific Park. Grateful Colby convinced me to buy what had to be a military-grade phone. It was holding up to the deluge better than I. Of course, I would never tell him he was right. Keep him guessing. That was my relationship philosophy.

I had been following the ping of my best friend Mimi’s phone, but it had suddenly stopped, leaving me anxious and stranded, dodging the incoming tide. I tamped down the growing dread. She was in serious trouble, but I wasn’t sure what kind of trouble. Was she a fugitive on the run, or had some harm come to her? Either prospect was frightening.

Full Sail: Chapter Two

TWO

I have to warn you, I’ve heard relationships based on intense experiences never work – SPEED

I am a medium girl. I’m medium height and medium weight. My hair is medium brown and medium length. I live a medium life. I take walks in the forest. I’ll never hike the Appalachian Trail. I cycle on groomed paths. I’ll never ride down the Rocky Mountains or race on a BMX track. I run a decent mile, but I’ll never run a marathon. I quit kendo before going much further than the average tween. Though skilled, I’ll never master.

Sure, I have had a few adventurous moments, but no more cloak and dagger for me. No more being shot at, held at gunpoint, stalked, and terrorized. Now, I live a quiet life. I was conflicted on the merits of that.

These days, I have a nice, unassuming position at a museum near Arlington, Virginia. A middling, nine-to-five job, researching and authenticating art acquisitions for a modest, quite ordinary collection. My life at this juncture was unremarkable.

Work Wednesday: Home Stretch

two elevated garden beds against a fence backdrop

Ridiculously warm this week, so the gardening bug has fully bit me. I won’t be fooled though, I know this is fake summer. Winter is lurking behind that sun, just waiting to blow in for one last hurrah.

I am spending some time, though, getting ready for actual spring. I’m going with elevated beds for most of my veggies this year, though I also am going to try my hand at a three-sisters garden. The remainder will be mostly tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Maybe a few herbs.

Furry Friday: Snow Squalls

White duck in a blue pool surrounded by a dusting of snow

Nora does love snow. All my ducks have loved snow..and rain…just not wind and hail. Who can blame them.

We awoke to a smattering of snow today, which is to continue throughout the day. So happy for that, it has been unseasonably dry since fall.

Work Wednesday: Spring Fever

Iris reticulata purple iris flowers with yellow centers — Iris reticulata in my yard

We have had an unseasonably warm and dry winter here. I’ve had to water once a month per the recommendation from the city/county (and I have the water bill to prove it). I know for many of you that seems like small problems as you dig out from yet another storm. But we do worry about wild fires.

We are hoping to get at least a few inches of snow at the end of the week. We’ll see how that pans out. At this point, I’m ready for steady rain. Snow you had your chance, reapply in October.

And while I have been hard at work with the final edits to Full Sail, spring fever is hitting hard. What I really want to do is get my hands in the dirt and start cleaning up the beds. It’s too early, but I am already planning out this year’s veggie garden.

Next week will be spent hiking and spa-ing, so at least I have that to look forward to.