I’ve been remiss with the blogging (seriously, I need to get some roommates.  I don’t think I have the time, or the energy, or whatever, to keep this place running by myself.) Anyway, Romance Divas have begun to post and link to members’ excerpts on Monday, and I’ve never done it before.

This is from Rocky Mountain Howl, my one and only WIP, which I’m trying to finish within, let’s see – oh, just the next ten days.  I want to submit three sentences to the Knight Agency’s Book in a Nutshell contest (click on the link, then search for “book in a nutshell” – I can’t seem to link to the specific post), but it’s only for completed manuscripts.  The Tomboy Diva is on Easter break this week, and will be doing a round of house parties and relative visiting that would exhaust a Regency heroine, so I just might be able to pull it off.

At the end of  of this post are links to other Divas’ excerpts.

***Begin Exceprt***

Cade MacDougall struck a match against the front porch railing and lit a cigarillo.  He took a long, satisfying drag as he leaned against a column and surveyed his domain in the blinding sunshine of a postcard Colorado summer’s day.

In the distance to his right, horses ran free in the pastures while grooms cleaned the stables.   To his left, the wood shop vibrated to the sound of saws and hammers and drills.  From inside the house behind him wafted the aroma of baked chicken and fresh bread.   And ten yards in front of him, beside a swing set in the grassy center of his compound, a young wolf tormented the person Cade loved most in the world.

Aaron couched while Rebecca grabbed a fistful of fur and swung a stubby little leg over his back.  She pulled herself up to sit astride, legs dangling three feet off the ground.   Aaron began turning in circles, around and around as a dog chases his tail until Becca, dizzy and laughing, fell into the soft grass.  When she tried to stand up, Aaron poked her in the butt with his nose, or nudged her in the stomach with his head, or lightly tapped her on the back with his tail.  She plopped back down to the grass.  Becca stood up.  Aaron knocked her down.  Soon, overcome with shrieking giggles, she lay for a while in the grass while Aaron yawned and scratched and waited for her to catch her breath.  Then they did it all over again for the sixth or tenth time while Cade looked on with quiet delight.   He preferred Becca’s giggle to any other sound on earth, and he liked any wolf who made her giggle like that.

Mrs. Palmer would have no trouble getting the child down for her nap after lunch.  He would have a great deal of trouble if Mrs. Palmer saw Becca and Aaron.  The latest nanny didn’t approve of little girls roughhousing with werewolves.

“Baby girl,” he called.  “Go inside and let Euri wash you up for lunch.”

“Da-deeee….”

“Inside, Rebecca.  Now.”

She pouted, but she seized a chunk of the good-natured Aaron’s flank to pull herself up.  Still a little dizzy, she careened up the porch steps.  He reached down to stroke her cheek and run his hand through her long hair, as black and curly as his own.  She gave him a big knee hug and smiled up at him.

“I’m gonna try to be a cat again.”

“Why don’t you try to be something else?  I can’t tell my wolf friends my baby girl’s a cat.”

“That’s what I am, Daddy!”

He laughed ruefully.  “If you say so, baby.”  It tickled him that she pretended to be the sole shape-shifting female on the planet.  But a cat?

Becca went inside, Aaron right behind her.

Cade put out a boot to stop him.  “Only two-footed in the house, pup.  It’s a nanny thing.”

While the wolf might not understand the words, he recognized a command from his Alpha and obeyed immediately.  Aaron bounded off the porch.

Cade knew Mrs. Palmer had wolf issues, but she didn’t drink, she didn’t steal, and she didn’t have a thing for fur.  He didn’t want to hire another nanny.  Premiere Professional Child Care didn’t want him to.  They had yet to keep a placement fee from him.

Euri joined him on the porch.  “The meal is ready.  You should eat before it gets cold.”

Cade nodded but lingered to finish his cigar.  “Becca wants to be a cat.”

“Perhaps you should get her a kitten.”

He did a double take.  He’d never heard Euri say anything remotely in jest, and the brownie looked quite serious now.

“A kitten.  On a ranch full of wolves.”

Euri nodded.  “The girl needs a pet.”

“A cat’s not a pet.  A cat’s an appetizer.”

****End Excerpt***

Other Diva Excerpts – Go.  Read.  Discover:

Stephanie Adkins – Resisting Kane (excerpt is PG-13, site is NC-17)

Gina Ardito – A Run For the Money

M. Berthier

Eden Bradley – A 21st Century Courtesan (excert is R, site is NC-17)

Lynn Chandler – Inheritance

Ella Drake – Scenting Cinnamon (excerpt rated R, story rated NC-17)

by Becca Furrow – Del Fantasma: Tiger Juice

Amber Gilchrist – First in the Soulguard series

Babette James – More Than Magic

Jeannie Lin – Butterfly Swords (and there’s a poll!)

Rose London – The Encounter (steamy)

R.F. Long – The Scroll Thief

Maureen McCarrie – Set the Night On Fire (Rating: NC-17 for language)

Christa McHugh – A Soul for Trouble

Bria Quinlan – Cami’s First Kiss

Kirsten Saell – The Chancellor’s Bride (NC 17 excerpt, grown-ups only website)

B.E. Sanderson – Dying Embers

T. Sue Versteeg – Another Time, Another Place

Vivienne Westlake – A Halloween Novella (rated 17 and above)

Kate Willoughby – Asking For It (excerpt is PG, site is not)

Filed under: The Romance Genre, Writing