Sweet Saturday Sample - 2/18/12

For this week's Sweet Saturday, I've posted another deleted scene from my current release LIFE ON THE EDGE. Last week's deleted scene left off with Sergei spraining his ankle as he ran after Emily while they played around in the yard. Em has brought Sergei home to his apartment after a visit to the emergency room.

I sat on the bed next to Sergei and positioned the ice pack on his bandaged ankle. "Do you need anything else before I leave?"

"I never got my victory kiss,” he said with a gleaming smile.

I laughed. "You are hopeless."

He placed his hand over his heart. "You can't deny a crippled man."

"Already playing the injury card, are you?"

"I can't chase after you, so I don't have many options."

"Well . . .” I let out an exaggerated sigh. “I guess I can give you one kiss . . ."

I leaned over and pressed my mouth gently to Sergei’s. One kiss turned into several, each lasting longer than the one before it. The soft tingle from his lips caressing mine was too much to resist.


When I finally moved to stand, Sergei reached for my hand. "Don't leave me. You're a better pain reliever than Advil."

I smiled and squeezed his palm. "I wish I could stay, but I have to skate early in the morning, remember?"

"I know your coach, and he'll take it easy on you." He winked.

"Yeah, right. You know you're going to be cranky because you can't get on the ice with us.” I gave him a quick kiss before sliding off the bed. “Call me if you have any emergencies.”

"Does needing more kisses qualify as an emergency?"

I laughed and shook my head as I walked toward the door. "Goodnight."


For more Sweet Saturday samples, check out the list here!

Sweet Saturday Sample

For this week's Sweet Saturday, I've posted another deleted scene from my current release LIFE ON THE EDGE. This scene was part of the first draft of the story before I made a lot of cuts and altered the timeline of events. Emily and Sergei are spending the weekend alone on Martha's Vineyard at Em's aunt's house. They're getting ready to play croquet, which Em used to play with her cousins but Sergei has never heard of.



I set up the wickets around the expansive yard and gave Sergei a brief explanation of the rules. Once we started playing, he quickly moved around the course, and before long he was beating me rather handily.

"You're sure you've never played this before?" I asked.

He held up his hands and chuckled. "I swear, I haven't."

I stalked toward my red ball, cursing my apparent rustiness with the game. Later when Sergei gained an even bigger point lead on me, I took my mallet and knocked one of his balls clear across the yard.

"Hey!" he exclaimed. “What are you doing?"

"Oops, guess I slipped." I shrugged and widened my eyes with innocence.

He laughed. "You are such a sore loser."

"I haven't lost yet!"

"I'm giving you a three-shot penalty for misconduct," he said, trying not to smile.

"You don't have the authority to do that."

He crossed his arms over his chest and spread his feet firmly. "Oh, I have the authority."

My frustration was momentarily forgotten as I couldn’t ignore how hot Sergei looked in his stance. The aviator shades resting on his slightly sunburned nose, the T-shirt stretching over his tanned biceps, the khaki shorts that showed off his muscular legs . . .

I cleared my throat and folded my arms, mimicking Sergei. "Well, let it be known I am finishing this match under official protest."

"You know, we never said what the stakes are," he said. "I think the winner should be entitled to something."

"I think bragging rights will be a sufficient prize."

"No, there should be more . . . like the winner gets to pick the meal and movie of their choice next weekend."

I scrunched up my nose. "Ugh, then you're going to make me watch some weird foreign film with subtitles."

"Are you conceding the match?" He smiled.

"Not a chance." I pointed my mallet at him. "Go get your ball and let's finish this."


It didn't take long for Sergei to complete the course, at which time he thrust his arms into the air. "Victory!"

"Yeah, yeah, you got lucky on your first time out. And I haven't played in a few years."

He grinned. "Yep, that's the sore loser I know and love."

"I'm just telling it like it is," I huffed.

He held his mallet in both hands and looped it behind my back, using it to trap me against him. "You can't admit I beat you fair and square."


I tilted my head upward. "If beating a girl at a country club sport means that much to you, then by all means, go ahead and gloat."

"Oh, I will. And I'm looking forward to picking out a good movie next week. Something Italian . . . or French . . . a very long movie. And you can cook a three-course dinner. What's something that takes a really long time to cook?" He lowered his mouth toward mine with a smile. "That's what I'll want."

"I might be a sore loser, but you're an obnoxious winner.” I pushed lightly on his chest.

"Uh-uh, you're not getting away. The fine print says the winner gets a victory kiss, too."

"You're gonna have to catch me first.”

I wrestled away from Sergei and took off running across the yard. He sprinted after me, so I turned and reversed direction. As I ran toward the side of the house, I heard Sergei cry out in pain.


For more Sweet Saturday samples, check out the list here!

Sweet Saturday Sample

For this week's Sweet Saturday, I've posted another deleted scene from my current release LIFE ON THE EDGE. This scene was part of the first draft of the story before I made a lot of cuts and altered the timeline of events. It takes place a couple of months into Emily and Sergei's relationship.

After our morning training sessions, Aubrey, Marley, and I drove to one of our favorite lunch spots near the rink. As we dove into our salads, Aubrey said, "Marley and I were thinking about doing a shopping trip to Boston this weekend. You in, Em?"

"Can we do it next weekend? Sergei and I are going to the Vineyard this weekend."

Aubrey held her fork in midair. "You're going for the day?"


"No, we're going to the cliffs for the sunrise, so we're leaving Saturday and coming back Sunday.”


Marley raised her eyebrows, while Aubrey set her fork on her plate. "You're staying the night? Just the two of you?"


"Yeah. At my aunt's summer house."


Marley glanced between Aubrey and me. "This is pretty big, Em."


"I know what you’re thinking, but it's not like that," I said.


"You can't really be that naïve," Aubrey said.


"I'm not. I just don't think something has to happen simply because we're alone together."


"Alone in a house . . . at night . . . on an island . . ." Marley added.


"You've gotta know it's the only thing Sergei's thinking about. Honestly, I'm surprised it's taken him this long to make a move," Aubrey said, leaning back in her chair.


"Well, we've been alone at his apartment plenty of times. I guess I've made my boundaries subtly clear," I said.


"Clear enough that he won't be expecting anything this weekend?" Marley asked softly.


I bunched up the napkin in my lap. "I was looking forward to this trip, but now you guys are stressing me out about it."


"I can't believe you weren't already thinking about what could happen,” Aubrey said. “What are you going to do if Sergei expects more?"


"I have to be honest.” I lowered my eyes to the table. “I just hope it doesn't make him have second thoughts about us."



For more Sweet Saturday samples, check out the list here!

Sweet Saturday Sample

This is my first time participating in Sweet Saturday, and I've posted a deleted scene from my current release LIFE ON THE EDGE. This scene was part of my very first draft of the story! Emily and Sergei are at a Halloween costume party. Sergei is dressed as a cop and Emily is in a 1940's-style dress.

Aubrey left to find Marley, and I turned to the makeshift bar on the kitchen counter for a soda. The ice chest was almost empty, so I scooted into the small utility room off the kitchen to get a new bag. Behind me, someone grabbed my right arm.

"Ma'am, you're under arrest," Sergei said, gently taking my other arm and circling handcuffs around my wrists. "You have the right to remain silent."

I laughed. "What are you doing?"

"You have to come with me." He laid his hand on my shoulder and steered me toward the back door.

We walked out into the damp night, and I twisted my neck to look at Sergei. "What am I being charged with?"

He didn't answer as he continued to nudge me ahead of him. We turned the corner of the house, and he spun me to face him while backing me against the wall. 

Leaning toward me, Sergei locked his eyes on mine. The corners of his mouth tipped slightly upward. "Endangering the life of a police officer," he said.

"How did I do that?"

He momentarily lowered his gaze. "You're killing me in that dress."

A shiver accompanied my smile. "I didn't realize I was lethal."

"I'm going to need to frisk you," he said, putting his hands on my waist.

"By all means. I'm not hiding anything."

Sergei angled nearer, his mouth hovering and teasing mine, making my heart race with anticipation. As his hands slowly traveled up from my waist and settled on the bodice of my dress, our lips finally met. The long and lingering kiss that followed proved worth the wait. 

"What's a girl have to do to get out of these cuffs?" I asked breathlessly.

He eyed me with amusement. "How do I know you're not going to grab my gun?"

I stifled a laugh. After regaining composure, I said, "I guess you're just gonna have to trust me."

Sergei appeared to ponder my statement, but his smile grew wider. Turning me around, he released my hands from the cuffs. I faced him again and said sweetly, "Thank you, Officer."

As he moved closer to me, I quickly reached for the plastic gun in his holster and yanked it out. Sergei grasped my wrist, but I already had the barrel pointed at his nose. 

"Don't even think about it," he said.

With a big grin, I pulled the trigger, sending a spray of water all over his face. I giggled as he wiped his eyes with his hand. 

"You think that's pretty funny, don't you?" he said.

I laughed louder, and Sergei drew me to him, dripping water on me. My squeal was silenced by Sergei's lips covering mine. I wrapped my arms around him, letting the gun drop to the ground. 


The breeze rustling the trees and the faint sound of music from inside the house provided the only background noise until a voice exclaimed, "Oh!" 


Sergei and I broke apart and looked toward the voice. Jeremy and his girlfriend stood there, both with their mouths hanging open.




For more Sweet Saturday samples, check out the list here!