tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91527103777787180032024-03-12T21:28:24.724-07:00LLiv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.comBlogger320125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-6030438244148783902023-05-09T16:48:00.007-07:002023-05-09T16:48:53.569-07:00There and Back Again: an author's trip to Oz<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqo3-mnw2YsE7A0DGN5G7jUfoQfmKuDuuj2lGWSqv9_zNjf1F3jsLGPTeYyKVp25KVN6CvTr0VUyYKsamZ7whcROcupLvcfsH61KziX4vtotnKFVoCGl0mzMZtk-po7h4qoo2VvlerE8GAl_mck7pp1T8f2uQ3rFK3bb_QvPbJxRyZATj5fqhOz1wP/s640/image0%20(16).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqo3-mnw2YsE7A0DGN5G7jUfoQfmKuDuuj2lGWSqv9_zNjf1F3jsLGPTeYyKVp25KVN6CvTr0VUyYKsamZ7whcROcupLvcfsH61KziX4vtotnKFVoCGl0mzMZtk-po7h4qoo2VvlerE8GAl_mck7pp1T8f2uQ3rFK3bb_QvPbJxRyZATj5fqhOz1wP/s320/image0%20(16).jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good to go at the RARE book signing!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last month, I had the amazing good fortune to travel to Australia. I participated in the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/romance-author-reader-events-presents-rare23-melbourne-tickets-320595558947" target="_blank">RARE book signing in Melbourne</a> and tacked on a trip to see my sister, who lives on the Gold Coast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most definitely the best of both worlds!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been to books signings before - GRL, PNWA, 20Booksto50k - and I've even traveled outside the US to sign books at UK Meet last fall. Flying all the way to Oz, though, broke new ground. I hauled something like 100 pounds of luggage, mostly books, and learned that there are worse sins than renting a cart when you have to hike from the international to the domestic terminals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was A LOT, but I managed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More importantly, I got to meet people, both readers and authors, who love books as much as I do. A few were new acquaintances and some I'd only ever connected with via the internet. (<a href="https://klnoone.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">KL Noone</a>, thanks for sharing my table! And Mia, if you're reading this, THANK YOU AGAIN for bringing a copy of <a href="https://books2read.com/Frogman" target="_blank">The Frogman and the Spy</a> for me to sign!) I came home with some wonderful memories and with a renewed sense of myself as an author.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the thing. It's awfully easy to discount yourself as an author. It's hard to gain visibility, not every reader's gonna love your stuff (and some are incredibly articulate in telling you why), and self doubt shadows just about everything you do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not whining. I mean, no one sat me down and forced me to publish. I still remember the moment, at about 20 years old, when I realized that the only person who told me I didn't have a good-enough voice to sing in a band was...well, me. (I went on to sing in bands for something like 25 years.) I pushed myself to get out there and sing, and I pushed myself to write a damned book and get it published. Yes, it's hard, but you know what?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spending four days with a whole bunch of book people did wonders for my enthusiasm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk76jBQwsaf_4wPH0jhxB2MnXDtE59Xvu-lp0QKHhSliCkqr5rUdXu0zsNMKRr_gmhXho0wz-9WPLBLRQiizYLkFVJZQNTqT3HvKUqfbQCMk7AgdptYTYUhmJ6rybhod53bkKE0QS_KJ3H6cHnnN5SrhzfsaTffmw0LzwuBYQNcO5NyT4JMaI6Ln9/s640/image1%20(9).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk76jBQwsaf_4wPH0jhxB2MnXDtE59Xvu-lp0QKHhSliCkqr5rUdXu0zsNMKRr_gmhXho0wz-9WPLBLRQiizYLkFVJZQNTqT3HvKUqfbQCMk7AgdptYTYUhmJ6rybhod53bkKE0QS_KJ3H6cHnnN5SrhzfsaTffmw0LzwuBYQNcO5NyT4JMaI6Ln9/s320/image1%20(9).jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching horse races on ANZAC Day - and possibly betting a little.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a fabulous five days in Melbourne, I flew to the Gold Coast, where my sister made me feel like a true celebrity. We crossed off all the important bits: shopping, eating fabulous food (which is the only kind they make in Australia), and exploring the Nerang River and Surfer's Paradise. We also spent an evening at the <a href="https://outbackspectacular.com.au/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw3ueiBhBmEiwA4BhspGKIYNXhABLdAv5ZO7UCpU-O0asYdni9n1p7tGS69A-ZbJt6DZ3NwRoCNGQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">Australian Outback Spectacular</a>, which you should totally check out if you're ever in the neighborhood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Really, my only complaint the whole time was the travel time. I swear I made the most complicated arrangements possible, and each way took me somewhere between 27 - 28 hours. Not even joking. Next time I'm springing for a non-stop on Quantas. Because there'll definitely be a next time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">RARE is talking about Brisbane in Spring '25!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJvg-gb0rLmORnShNOUCgMVBYm9lxLbxQPEhyVtAfiFi7YVUZFxEuwTxkV3r9KweRS6temr_7CNpJ5gkJAgtHIkfHZo56-H0t3-OzH3Gb3v2O_JEjwcM3lWTM8xuFh_xyd7GyiGj06Zhhm3i_r2Iy5UpT7Zwyke45Pxm933mEhzdfJ2D4h6dz2xkz/s640/image2%20(5).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJvg-gb0rLmORnShNOUCgMVBYm9lxLbxQPEhyVtAfiFi7YVUZFxEuwTxkV3r9KweRS6temr_7CNpJ5gkJAgtHIkfHZo56-H0t3-OzH3Gb3v2O_JEjwcM3lWTM8xuFh_xyd7GyiGj06Zhhm3i_r2Iy5UpT7Zwyke45Pxm933mEhzdfJ2D4h6dz2xkz/s320/image2%20(5).jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got home in time for tulip season!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><p><br /> </p><p><br /></p>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-22436358368088840992023-04-05T13:21:00.000-07:002023-04-05T13:21:03.305-07:00Cover Reveal! The Lighthouse Keeper, a Victorian Gothic M/M Romance<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCtHPACjuboSmO-Mc3Z87D-nxlROjs08v_0hF7SHycGDDnK6kzQBqq0DoHB74fJ0vTojZu_zzs-ZOBGh43VufMrL1KmnXiYcMXmGbSSU1uZitT9-f-pJ67VrIHxlcr2N5IU3iZrIpwbwJLquu0yi9E3jtDhtQQagZxVBF4mv8-pnSXj6AXqnsYiry/s1080/TLK%20teaser%20Coming%20Soon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCtHPACjuboSmO-Mc3Z87D-nxlROjs08v_0hF7SHycGDDnK6kzQBqq0DoHB74fJ0vTojZu_zzs-ZOBGh43VufMrL1KmnXiYcMXmGbSSU1uZitT9-f-pJ67VrIHxlcr2N5IU3iZrIpwbwJLquu0yi9E3jtDhtQQagZxVBF4mv8-pnSXj6AXqnsYiry/w490-h490/TLK%20teaser%20Coming%20Soon.png" width="490" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I really suck at keeping secrets, so sitting on this cover for weeks (months?) has been SOOO hard. When I first emailed my cover artist,<a href="https://kanaxa.com/" target="_blank"> Kanaxa</a>, I'd intended to simply get on her calendar whenever she had space. She was so excited by the premise - "<span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a;">Oh. My. Goodness. A </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; outline: none !important;"><u style="outline: none !important;">gothic Lighthouse theme?!</u></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a;"> Are you serious?!" - that she started work right away. Which was fantastic, but it meant I had to keep the cover under wraps since last December.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">So. Hard.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now to whet your appetite further, here's the blurb...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwDEWMN6PvD_g2KGpMT0E4xDJOnlD5tXMlbZI12kTZdBmngzLhpvTXP0PwQErxAnbppwrXUES1VGOQgtPU55AyZrGeLaFbDxO9w_K5apyDERKwUrFnViftp3rlQVDDRDHJ7CeXyaCRQtYcWWKIx7xIIkPE5rHQRwrrxaVd6Nyvn4MLJ-kVV6j74bR/s400/FelixTitleBlogHeaderBlurb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-indent: 0in;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwDEWMN6PvD_g2KGpMT0E4xDJOnlD5tXMlbZI12kTZdBmngzLhpvTXP0PwQErxAnbppwrXUES1VGOQgtPU55AyZrGeLaFbDxO9w_K5apyDERKwUrFnViftp3rlQVDDRDHJ7CeXyaCRQtYcWWKIx7xIIkPE5rHQRwrrxaVd6Nyvn4MLJ-kVV6j74bR/s320/FelixTitleBlogHeaderBlurb.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Twenty years ago,
Martin Gallagher stole the Ferox Cor, and now he’s dead.<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">Vincent Fairchild,
a witch with little power beyond his charm, is tasked with finding that
dangerous magical object. He’s already been pruned from the family tree because
“nice” people don’t have magic. If he fails to return with the Ferox Cor, he’ll
lose his place with the Witches’ Council, leaving him very much alone.<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">Vincent travels to
the West Point Lighthouse, where he finds things are different than he expects
them to be. Gallagher didn’t use the Ferox Cor to enrich himself, and
Gallagher’s son is not a child. In fact, Rafe Gallagher might be the most
powerful witch Vincent has ever met. Powerful, adult, and incredibly handsome.<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">Martin will return
on Hallowe’en, when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest, unless Rafe
and his mother destroy the Ferox Cor. If they fail, a great evil may be
unleashed on the world, but helping them puts Vincent’s future at risk. There's
a way forward, but to find it, he must look to his heart.<o:p></o:p></p></div></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/thelighthousekeeper" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29mZI1zqQJTEtWiHWwkUbASc3hawpKzfa154SBH9yh3ZU0qyjghxpO8RBITaF7vTEVWjtuimowqRFFtxmyBkwlHfnj9ptTKCS4VOom9TjdeZA7QiLy2Wq_FM8mmn865ikMvlIC4RU91xFaJm4bH2ckxYTuDnpjjshiqQZgJsI4SlChST64OKR2MBM/s320/FelixTitlingBlogHeaderBuyLInks.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">CLICK ON THIS DUDE TO PREORDER!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The book is currently only listed on Amazon, but will be wide</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>and there'll be a print version available!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now, for those of you who are here <strike>for the bellyaching</strike> to learn about my editing process, here goes...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last month I made a post extolling the glories of editing. (<a href="https://liv-rancourt.blogspot.com/2023/03/editing-is-where-its-at.html" target="_blank">Find it here</a>.) And even though work on The Lighthouse Keeper has involved some pretty heavy lifting, I still think editing is cool.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I just wish I could write a full-length novel that didn't require surgery to make it shine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm working with a new editor on this one, and I really like her. She's not the problem, I am. (LOL) The draft I sent her wasn't bad, but a couple of the issues she identified had me restructuring the story to make it work better. Once I start moving scenes around, I have to look at every other scene to weave things in and make sure it all still makes sense.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So that's where I've been, combing through the thing, paragraph by paragraph. Some bits just take a little tweaking, but some need a complete rewrite, and while I know the whole thing'll be stronger when I'm done, right now...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gah.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">All that said, I love Vincent and Rafe and I want to make sure their story lives up to that awesome cover!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAFKI8zyM8llcfrO-JxMFTWdUrXzcChdaaD8Dk4G_zDSAx1MOz2WAsGMxqhjlELkEOedzz2xgPAv8kNgH0PaIv6C-QON_zC0wboq9zBRncafJG1HrmUJo3d7_TvZfequO5fvd2_rdXLZOvhF-WHH7-CtlMSwGfwrgp6RSR_77aT4V0rFRKPlT0pzI/s400/FelixTitlingBlogHeaderExcerpt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAFKI8zyM8llcfrO-JxMFTWdUrXzcChdaaD8Dk4G_zDSAx1MOz2WAsGMxqhjlELkEOedzz2xgPAv8kNgH0PaIv6C-QON_zC0wboq9zBRncafJG1HrmUJo3d7_TvZfequO5fvd2_rdXLZOvhF-WHH7-CtlMSwGfwrgp6RSR_77aT4V0rFRKPlT0pzI/s320/FelixTitlingBlogHeaderExcerpt.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To whet your appetite, here's a bit where Vincent learns something</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">interesting about Rafe...</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rafe Gallagher knelt on the ground in a clearing, surrounded by a circle of fir trees and vine maples. Holes had been dug at regular intervals and he held one hand extended several inches about the dirt. He muttered something, words that were unfamiliar but recognizably powerful. At <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>some unseen cue, he produced a trowel from his cloak. He dug up dirt and pine needles and threw them aside. When he'd made a pit that was deep enough to hide the trowel, he stopped, again holding out a hand.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I didn’t know what we were waiting for, his tension had me hold my breath.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever he wanted, it was not there. Crawling, he found another spot and began to dig, still muttering. If he noticed me or my light, he gave no sign.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The strangeness of his behavior both intrigued and repelled me. Logic suggested that he too searched for the Ferox Cor, and if he – with all his power – couldn’t find it, I didn’t stand much chance.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still, when he threw the trowel to the ground, I cleared my throat. He froze. Something in his stillness frightened me more than his wild digging had done.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Who’s there?” he snarled.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I cleared my throat again. “Vincent. Vincent Fairchild.”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Did Mother send you?”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No. I’d hoped to find a way to some sort of civilization.”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You won’t. Not here.” He spoke calmly, as if his hands and nails weren’t black with dirt. “The bluff is too steep to climb, and unless you know one of the natives who called this place Per-co-dus-chule, you’d never find your way.”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Per-co-dus-chule?” I mangled the pronunciation, though Rafe didn’t seem to notice.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This place we guard. Did you think our name was the only one?” He swiped a hand across his face, leaving a streak of dirt and blood.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I guess I never gave it any thought.”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">His laugh was bitter. “I’m not surprised. Did you know the first man to sail a tall ship into the Sound named the bluff behind us Magnolia, because he mistook the madrona trees for the pretty flowers he’d known in his youth?”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A collection of rainwater dripped off my hat as if to punctuate the absurdity of the situation. “I didn’t know that either.”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hmph.” He found the trowel and tucked it away. “Find my cane.”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Pardon?”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My cane. Where is it?”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I was thoroughly confused. “There, leaning against that tree.”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The witchlight wasn’t sufficient for me to read his expression, but since he didn’t seem to be joking, I retrieved his cane and held it toward him. “Here.”</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Standing, he reached in my direction, making one unsuccessful swipe before clasping the cane in hand. Without any thanks, he tapped the ground, pausing between taps as if listening for a response. He began to walk in my direction. I was too caught up in his actions to get out of his way. He only stopped when we were chest to chest.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Move, Fairchild.” His tone brooked no argument, yet I held my ground.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes I have very little common sense.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">He might be strange, and rude, and more than a little frightening - hell, he didn’t even show me respect by meeting my gaze - but Rafe Gallagher intrigued me.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Move, now,” he repeated. From this close he smelled of smoke and burning herbs, though I saw no evidence of fire.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gathering my courage, I looked directly into those amber glasses, and though it might have been a trick of the light, it seemed his eyes were wholly black.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got out of his way, though it may have been closer to a jump than a dignified step. He brushed past without another word. I stood, my witchlight dwindling, until I could no longer hear his footsteps through the brush.</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rafe Gallagher was not a boy and he possessed more power than the Witches Council knew. And unless I was very wrong, something almost demonic had stared at me through his eyes.</div></div><br /><p></p>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-33789497544467664552023-03-01T09:52:00.000-08:002023-03-01T09:52:27.344-08:00Editing is where it's at!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/Lost-n-Found" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNYUkUpzsILjA2rPt0ZkoZ_fACIx2SiwdEwTzBXMdQ_prC6Ih5WTSKscRnqV-2sLSxIzoxepvjhR7gEaHl9yb-aM5a8MJuvsgyXbfLWqgOI2EZTI0I6gXKyC3tFnWz78lkwrpWtZuZpwE89AUd8-1RAOAf_Jc8X9lQ3KpvoYHzKhX6_hV83HIIihd/w355-h236/LnFTeaser4.png" width="355" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last night I sent a novella off to my editor. </div><p></p><p>Such a simple sentence, but it represents SOOO much work! LOL. I'd promised to get The Novella From Hell to her by the end of the month (of February) and over the weekend it dawned on my that the end of the month was NOW. I was about seven thousand words shy of where I wanted it to be, and the thing needed a solid edit before anyone - let alone an editor - could read it.</p><p>When I'm drafting, I'm likely to do thinks like change a side character's gender, decide I want to cut Character X and use their name for Character Y, change the point of view (POV) from first to 3rd (or the reverse - either way is <i>not recommended</i>) or make sundry other major modifications. </p><p>Once I changed a book from m/f to m/m after I couldn't get past the first chapter of the m/f version. (The m/m version is <a href="https://books2read.com/aquafollies1" target="_blank">Aqua Follies</a>, which worked out pretty darned well, if I do say so myself.)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/aquafollies1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVg3JHVL5U96MFrlWHQbFVwS2EGFtfIW4YTLSIYal68O8TIzoqLdsf87bod77l_C9geTKtVmgc1AV68Fxle4slnsgwexBSfIducxjqFzQTRTFSHj0tKtuBFB1http38QOlgdpHHuFRimE1SepvT0LJ1upeTmrpdfdAPSUfucr0qQ3iSJz64OrQ68Hv/s320/AFBookbrushTeaser1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Basically, during that first draft, anything is fair game. I throw a bunch of words at a document and see what sticks. Creating the first draft is fun, because I get to see where the story is going to go, but I really love the editing process. Once I can see the bones of the story, then I can make it pretty.</p><p>There is a method to my madness. When the first draft is complete, I'll do a re-read, leaving comment bubbles and highlighting the things I need to fix. I'll sometimes leave the last chapter undone, because the process of cleaning things up might show me how the story actually ends. If it's a full novel (or a novella where I have the time lol) I'll make an excel workbook with a page for the story calendar, a page for the outline, and a third page for the punch list.</p><p>The calendar is pretty self-explanatory and the punch list is something I create toward the end, to show me what still needs work. For the outline, I track the chapter number, the word count, the POV (if there's more than one), first line, last line, a chapter/scene summary, the plot threads it hits, the romance arc, and any notes. </p><p><i>Here's a screen shot of my first couple chapters of The Lighthouse Keeper, coming to you sometime this spring.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfkSkUAUui_gzCAUgmd4z0rcUBhI2mL1jxqMm6rdX5wyaM2jiIvXcNT7uDgfCtmI-mZ7dbAve2vOrjRmjV7CpTUHwFmfre7CLX8RgrhdZY9qbmGNFhL8bskp6mDg3qhw8ibFYBcLb2MWXY18ACpryMk4XeWic44R7L9fPuVKqPBifDuUgnRpowI4f1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="1837" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfkSkUAUui_gzCAUgmd4z0rcUBhI2mL1jxqMm6rdX5wyaM2jiIvXcNT7uDgfCtmI-mZ7dbAve2vOrjRmjV7CpTUHwFmfre7CLX8RgrhdZY9qbmGNFhL8bskp6mDg3qhw8ibFYBcLb2MWXY18ACpryMk4XeWic44R7L9fPuVKqPBifDuUgnRpowI4f1" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sometimes I'll add an additional column for scenes, if there are more than one in a chapter. Word count is important because I think there's a rhythm to chapters, and I want them to all be more-or-less the same. If there's more than one POV, I want to make sure each character has about the same page time. I also like to look at first line and last line, to make sure they're not all the same. <div><br /></div><div>For example, the outline for my book <a href="https://books2read.com/Lost-n-Found" target="_blank">Lost & Found</a> showed me that the POV character stormed off in anger at the end of at least three chapters, maybe more. It wasn't a good look (lol) so I changed a couple of them.<div><br /></div><div>Creating the outline is slow work, but I learn so much from it that for me it's worth the time. It shows me "scenes" that don't actually accomplish anything and gaps that I need to fill in. My "rules" about chapter length and POV word count are malleable; if I can think of a good reason why Chapter X needs to be twice as long as any other, I'll go with it. I just want it to be a conscious decision. Once I start rewriting, I sometimes add another column with a summary of how the scenes actually end up, or how I think they should end up, especially if I end up doing major surgery.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because yeah, sometimes surgery is required.</div><div><br /></div><div>Writers spend a lot of ink (e-ink?) debating whether they're plotters are pantsers, but I think there's almost as big a divide between drafters and editors. My writing partner <a href="http://www.irenepreston.com/" target="_blank">Irene Preston </a>and I are a good illustration of that divide. Irene sweats over each word, carefully placing them exactly where she wants them to go. I just want to get the words down so I can get to fixing them. She spends a lot of time pondering her characters' motivation before she starts, while I get to know my characters as I go. </div><div><p>We could not be more opposite, and tbh editing our shared projects can get a little tense.</p><p>We've survived six books (and counting), so we're making it work. It's been good for me to learn someone else's process, and I think she's learned from me, too - even if she does want to wring my neck a lot of the time.</p><p>At any rate, this weekend required a fairly streamlined approach to getting The Novella From Hell ready for the editor. Saturday I wrote 1100 words, Sunday I wrote 5000 (!!!) words, Monday was a wash because Life, and yesterday I sat down at the computer at 0630 and sent the email to my editor about 5:30 pm. It was a looooong day, but I'm pretty happy with the outcome. </p><p>Until she gets back to me with all the stuff I need to fix.</p><p>But hey, it's editing, so I'll have fun!</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://livrancourt.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbNATrMMRI5pObkuuHq6sw3gLZw2-WhxwHLn86lwe4_w_aBOJGVqLTR1IG5iG4qTlZ5GY9BT_yS_Tf9LKikTVSuNHBXwCny9wJh8hpx5vScJ79l6y3GGYNiYPJ5tPwnaleaLeifbadYdD9Q-nRkoHiCxUWzV2ff0uaachr0Axh3f9jQN__ojRsBHT/s320/the%20lighthouse%20keeper%20teaser%201.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-18044302897449207732023-02-13T17:09:00.003-08:002023-02-13T17:09:29.926-08:00Happy Valentine's Day!! Flash Fic Special!<p> </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsVCyv7JLNnkrDd6weU3xTgk-w8bRHma6CUFiTYZ3k7FtDp0JCjbkkfWoz_LAhADCbUyYNLHhbCxK_HwrbkxQQjTwC0IZP9vfvaoRni-sLDWfSs-jpnhYcj0iEYetk1QIykMZlCZQds0REuzKy-J_985BYRJXR_Mmg4LbH2TLKp8sxsOwc0Z9Jencd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="645" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsVCyv7JLNnkrDd6weU3xTgk-w8bRHma6CUFiTYZ3k7FtDp0JCjbkkfWoz_LAhADCbUyYNLHhbCxK_HwrbkxQQjTwC0IZP9vfvaoRni-sLDWfSs-jpnhYcj0iEYetk1QIykMZlCZQds0REuzKy-J_985BYRJXR_Mmg4LbH2TLKp8sxsOwc0Z9Jencd=w306-h379" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flash fic prompts: this city street, a busker, and a key...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p><i>So this time last year, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/605057917169258" target="_blank">Small but Mighty MM Romance Group page on FB </a>had a flash fiction challenge. The organizer invited group members to post pictures plus three word prompts, and we were all invited to choose one and write a short piece. It was a lot of fun! I liked the shortie I came up with, and even though some of you might have read it already, I wanted to post it over here on the blog. I hope you enjoy it!! And happy Valentine's Day!!</i></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Valentine’s Day in Paris, and the rain matched my mood. The
French limited the celebration to lovers – no tacky paper cards for everyone at
school or gags for the gang at work – so I got nothing from no one. Yeah, I’d
been abandoned in the city of love and the rain-slicked streets made me feel
right at home.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’d staked out a spot under a café’s awning in the Place du
Tertre, a hat on the ground at my feet. Wearing my hair in a ponytail let the
damp send shivers down my neck. The rain chased away most of the tourists, so
the hat was empty, but the artists whose booths lined the square were happy
enough to have me serenade them.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Keeping a mandolin in tune while playing outside, with or
without the rain, had its challenges. I paused between songs, plucking the
pairs of strings to find the offender. Twisted the peg, my gaze on the wet
cobbles. Plucked again. Twisted.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">A single strum told me I’d restored order. My fingers found
the strings, as if they’d made an independent decision regarding what to play
next. I took a quick look around. A man leaned against the nearby wrought iron
streetlamp. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was sharp, and aimed directly
at me.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I played the opening chords of <i>Scarborough Fair</i>,
choosing the tune made famous by Simon and Garfunkel, rather than one of the
older, less familiar melodies. The man smiled, nodding in time. The lyrics tell
the story of a series of impossible tasks that must be performed to win true
love, although most people only know the list of herbs that make up the
refrain.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I finished the verse that asks for an acre of land and the
man on the light pole raised a finger. He was taller than me, and darker, with
a ball cap shading his face. Still, the heat of his gaze took the edge of the
cool damp air.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">He began a new tune, though the melody still fit the chords
I played. He sang <i>The Elfin Knight</i>, an even older folk ballad
than <i>Scarborough Fair</i>.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Instead of parsley and sage, the refrain repeated <i>blow,
blow, blow, wind blow</i>. I adjusted my strum, adding more drone to suite the
earlier mode, hoping the wind wouldn't take it as an invitation. For the next
verse, I joined him on the melody, guessing which set of lyrics he’d use.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">That ol’ degree in music history came in handy every now and
then.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">With me holding down the tune, the stranger found a
counter-melody, weaving his voice around mine in a way that raised the hairs on
my back of my neck. Our lyrics weren’t a perfect match, but I’d spent hours
rehearsing with ensembles who hadn’t gelled nearly as well as me and some guy
on the street.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">We finished another verse, and I wanted to test us both. I
paused my hands and, with a teasing grin, said, “the <i>Battle of Evermore</i>”.
The Led Zeppelin song was showy and popular, and the stranger returned my
smile.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I shortened the finger picking introduction to get us to the
vocals and jumped into the verse. Four lines in, the vocal line shifted to a
higher register, often performed by a second singer. I nodded at him and the
stranger came in, his pure tenor both a delight and a challenge.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">After Led Zeppelin, I tried <i>Tam Lin</i>, figuring if
he knew <i>The Elfin Knight</i> he’d know this. He did and he
harmonized, verse after verse, the overtones created by our blend evidence of
our perfect tuning.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>How is this happening?</i> The twining of our voices
felt like a seduction. We’d drawn a small crowd, despite the rain, and God
knows me and my ne’er do well ex- had never sounded so good.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Rather than get derailed by the guy who’d left me broke and
busking in Paris, I shut my mind down and just played. <i>Greensleeves</i>,
as much a classic as <i>Scarborough Fair</i>. <i>Gaudete</i>, because
it’s always Christmas somewhere. <i>Sumer is icumen in</i>, a bouncy
Medieval round.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Wait,” the man said after the last cuckoo’s call faded.
“Play <i>Belle qui tiens ma vie</i>.”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Beautiful one who holds my life</i>.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Slower than the others, the song he’d suggested was a
pavane, a courtly dance. Though only known by history nerds and SCA types, the
lyrics were unashamedly romantic.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Your beauty and your grace<br />
And your divine ways<br />
Have melted the ice<br />
Which was freezing my bones<br />
And have filled my heart<br />
With a loving ardour.</i><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">While the song might have been a declaration of courtly
love, something in the man’s expression gave the words added layers of meaning.
His tone was an invitation, and while my dick thought that was a fine idea, the
rest of me was gun-shy.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I stopped after the third verse, the heat in the harmony
becoming too personal for a public square. I didn’t even know his name, but
right then he could have talked me into anything.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">“What?” he asked, one brow raised as if he sensed my
discomfort and found it amusing.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Uh…” I gestured at my hat, now holding a few francs and
some coins. “I can buy us both a drink.”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">His smile broadened. “Another time, perhaps, but thank you
for the music.”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">He bowed from the waist, as anachronistic as the songs we’d been
singing. His smile held mischief, but his eyes were full of promise.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">And me? I was cock blocked in the extreme.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The rain picked up, chasing away the crowd. I packed up my
mandolin and pocketed the cash. I wasn’t in the mood for a solo visit to a
café, so I found a market and treated myself to a baguette, cheese, and a
bottle of wine. All the while, my nerves thrummed with leftover excitement.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Since my ex- had left, I’d had to downsize. Rather than a
decent two bedroom flat, I had a small studio, the kind that rented by the
week. The place had once been a fancy home, but it had been carved up long
enough ago that each apartment came with an antique metal key.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">A key that was no longer in my pocket.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Damn it</i>.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Standing in the mildewy hallway, I set my parcels on the
floor and patted myself down. Nope, the key wasn’t in any of my jacket pockets,
and it hadn’t magically traveled to my pants. <i>What the fucking hell had
I done with it?</i><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Hello Damon. Looking for something?”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The question startled me so bad I hopped. “What?”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The guy from the Place stood a few feet away, dangling my
key between his thumb and his index finger. “If I had to guess, I’d say this is
what you're after.”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Questions tumbled out of my mouth on a single breath. “How’d
you know my name and where’d you get that and who are you and what the fuck is
going on?”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">His grin widened. “I’m Leo Dubois, Bard of the Danaan sidhe,
and I borrowed your key so I’d have a reason to see you again.” He closed the
distance between us. “And as to what’s going on, I hope we do more of this.”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss over my lips. Up close,
he smelled like fresh air and clean pine forest, and, acting on instinct, I
grabbed his jacket and hauled him in.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Our second kiss was longer and deeper and hotter than anything
in recent memory. The blend in our voices was nothing compared to the way our
spirits melded together. When we finally eased apart, I stood with my forehead
resting against his chin.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">“You still didn’t tell me how you knew my name.” I should
have been embarrassed by how breathless I sounded, but Leo’s answering laugh
wrapped me in reassurance.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Invite me in, and we’ll talk. I feel we have much to
discuss.”<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I blinked, suddenly aware that we were two men kissing in a
semi-public place. Not the smartest thing ever, so I fitted the key into the
lock.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I had questions and hopefully he’d have answers, but either
way, my dick was first in line for satisfaction. This Valentine’s Day had taken
a mighty unexpected turn, and, almost vibrating with excitement, I invited him
in.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfglRO9DYvsWmQOM45hgeHlV9RO9PNP99tM9JPQrIBnPqTpEFxq5V1His8ssBI_Nu8ISExLpU1OWAuYmtgiT8gIfTlpDRUStvzU86EqU-IcvzhDSlOAa86oLvkRzPSEvS73zL6rzkr_kFUpQxkPgPp5L9m7a0JJutmAl2sQMquxAKMLN3VfQxTsvBc/s3356/jiroe-b9kh72kOcdM-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="3356" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfglRO9DYvsWmQOM45hgeHlV9RO9PNP99tM9JPQrIBnPqTpEFxq5V1His8ssBI_Nu8ISExLpU1OWAuYmtgiT8gIfTlpDRUStvzU86EqU-IcvzhDSlOAa86oLvkRzPSEvS73zL6rzkr_kFUpQxkPgPp5L9m7a0JJutmAl2sQMquxAKMLN3VfQxTsvBc/s320/jiroe-b9kh72kOcdM-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-88411531352885276802023-01-31T09:42:00.001-08:002023-01-31T09:43:34.320-08:00Try something new, she said... (On finding ways to promote my books)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzVmubtaBCN2yh9qtdSWxtfWvrNQ9YF4kZrLy1CEUjzmqhO1UXKC1BdgSYln_ZARl6jk6wXTaaYQtLei4rSGw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An early TikTok video. There's plenty of room for improvement. 😊</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>For the last couple years, I've been a member of the <a href="https://products.angelajames.co/fw2r-vip-membership-50-off-30/" target="_blank">Book Boss Author Community </a>run by Angela James. It's been a great experience, both for networking with other authors and for expanding my own knowledge base. This fall, I took Angela's <a href="https://angelajames.co/book-boss-strategy-intensive/" target="_blank">Book Boss Strategy Intensive</a>, a 4-month course in business planning for authors. That experience, more than anything else, has helped me shift my mindset. Writing is not my hobby. I'm running a small business and books and their related content are my product.<div><br /><div>Those words are at once freeing and loaded with responsibility. I still tend to throw things at the wall and see if they stick, but I'm (hopefully) more intentional about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of the Strategy Intensive, we all created a business plan. Angela gave us individual feedback on our plans, and her advice to me was to try new things. I'd basically built a marketing plan that was based on what worked for Soulmates, the first book in my Soulmates series, even though the 2nd and 3rd books in the series hadn't done as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to point out what should be easy for me to see. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, determined to Try New Things, in early January I joined a Bookfunnel promo and dropped the price of Soulmates to free for a 5-day period. The book has been out for 2 years and it's the first time I've done a free promotion, and OMG did it go well. I had about 2000 downloads over the 5 days, with almost 30 new reviews so far - and those reviews are like gold. I also had sales and KU downloads for the next two books, along with a handful of new reviews for each. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't run a free promo all that often, but I was very pleased with the experience. January's going to be my best month since Redeemed's release in April.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bolstered by that experience, and in a fit of "throw it against the wall and see if it sticks", I dove into TikTok. Angela made a how-to video for the Author Community that demystified the process, so I made a couple of short videos and la voila, I have a TikTok account. (<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@livrancourtauthor" target="_blank">You can find it here</a>.)</div><div><br /></div><div>While it's been fun so far, and making the videos exercises a different part of my creative brain than writing does, I'm just now realizing how much I don't know. I did join an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/authortiktokers" target="_blank">Author TikTokers </a>FB page and dug up a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmUBIbs37M8" target="_blank">video on TikTok from the 20Booksto50K conference</a> I went to in November, so I have resources for learning. I'm also beginning to appreciate the time commitment involved in creating new content every day. The little buggers are short, but it takes time to put them together.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, my oldest kid called me yesterday morning and told me that he and his friends love my TikTok account. His friends think it's cool that his 60-year-old mother is living her best life, and you know what? Encouragement like that motivates me to push on. </div><div><br /></div><div>Blogging is also an attempt to try something new, and I'm pretty happy with how that's going, too. Thank you all for reading along, and drop a comment if you have questions or want to share promo ideas. We can all learn from each other!</div><div><br /></div></div>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-28664026874464029652023-01-17T20:10:00.007-08:002023-01-18T08:33:43.068-08:00So you want to write a book....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/toSMxU7Mguxnq/giphy.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="227" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/toSMxU7Mguxnq/giphy.gif" width="404" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So many books....so little time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>A friend of mine messaged me the other day, asking if we could get together for a glass of wine. She wanted to ask me about writing a novel, specifically, what <i>she</i> needed to do to write a book. Prior to that text, I had no idea she had an interest in writing, so before we got together, I did some brainstorming.<div><br /></div><div><i>What do I say to someone who wants to write a book?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't want to insult her by coming in too basic, and I didn't want to scare her off with a whole bunch of info she might not be able to use. Instead, I tried to split the difference.</div><div><br /></div><div>I told her to read.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pick any author, and I can guarantee they were readers before they were writers. Reading others' work inspires us to write and teaches us how. A good book expands our ideas for what is possible and motivates us to do more with our own writing. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I studied voice, my teacher told me to listen to excellent singers. Whether Ella Fitzgerald, Debra Harry, or Whitney Houston, I listened hard and tried to copy what they did. I'd store these little tricks of phrasing or interpretation in my own toolbox, ready for when I was working on a new song. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do the same thing when I'm reading.</div><div><br /></div><div>See, no author operates in a vacuum. Whether it's one of the classics, a new bestseller, or the project I'm beta reading for an author friend, reading consciously will help me learn. And you know, it's also okay to copy a little, as long as there's no plagiarism involved. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since I didn't have much sense for where my friend was in her writing journey, I suggested she make an effort to read in the genre she wanted to write, and to study how other authors put their books together. I also recommended <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Memoir-Craft-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B000FC0SIM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=32Q1SD720DJ7D&keywords=on+writing&qid=1674010524&sprefix=on+writing%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-1" target="_blank">On Writing by Stephen King</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life-ebook/dp/B000SEGI8Q/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AQ95NOISE5WA&keywords=bird+by+bird+anne+lamott&qid=1674010572&sprefix=bird+by+bird%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Bird by Bird by Anne Lamotte</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Down-Bones-Freeing-Writer-ebook/dp/B00HEN3K0I/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2UFCCMF9XN5OD&keywords=writing+down+the+bones&qid=1674010608&sprefix=writing+down+the+bones%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg</a>. All three books touch on both craft and inspiration, and they were all important to my growth as a writer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't had the chance to reconnect with her, but I've got some ideas for her next steps. Because really, the key for how to write a novel is to, you know, <i>write</i>. Make writing a part of your life, whether you're journaling or brainstorming or sitting down to Chapter One.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some would probably tell my friend she must write every day. Others are more relaxed, but to me, the most important part isn't frequency or schedule. The important thing is that when you sit down to write, you write, whether or not the muse has chosen to grace you with her presence.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you wait for your muse, your book may never get finished.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's actually another thing I learned from singing. For almost ten years, I was the cantor for my church's Saturday evening Mass. For almost ten years, every Saturday I stood up in front of the congregation and led them in the Psalm, Ordinary, and hymns. I generally did a solo at Communion - whether I felt like singing or not.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was great training for an author.</div><div><br /></div><div>The discipline it takes to write when you're not feeling it will stand you in good stead when you need to get through edits. Even if the words weren't flowing when you drafted them, you've got a whole bunch of chances to fix things before you send your work out into the wild. (And if you've spent any time on Goodreads, you know how<i> wild</i> it can be! LOL) </div><div><br /></div><div>I guess you could say that the three steps to writing a book are reading, writing, and editing, though this barely scratches the surface. I'm not trying to pile everything on at once - nor could I, even if I wanted to. The thing is, writing is a journey, and the information you need will be available when you need it. To get started, though, just read. </div><div><br /></div><div>And write.</div><div><br /></div><div>Best,</div><div>Liv</div><div><br /></div><div>PS... it can be helpful to start small. A six thousand word short story is a lot easier to wrestle into shape than a 80,000 word novel. </div><div><br /></div><div>PPS...here are a few other resources I found helpful...</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Last-Screenwriting-Youll-ebook/dp/B00340ESIS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JP1TPVXQ23FB&keywords=save+the+cat&qid=1674013937&sprefix=save+the+cat%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Save the Cat by Blake Snyder</a> (great book on story structure)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/GMC-Motivation-Conflict-Debra-Dixon-ebook/dp/B00DZ01FRY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31JUDEEST8TH0&keywords=debra+dixon+goal+motivation+conflict&qid=1674013969&sprefix=debra+dixon%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon</a> (granular look at how scenes and stories work)</li><li><a href="https://www.margielawson.com/" target="_blank">Lawson's Writing Academy </a> (excellent program, especially Margie's classes about body language and dialogue tags and just about anything by Rhay Christou) </li><li>Janice Hardy's <a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/" target="_blank">Fiction University</a> (blog posts that address any craft question you can think of - seriously)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Damn-Fine-Story-Mastering-Narrative-ebook/dp/B075FXP591?ref_=ast_sto_dp" target="_blank">Damn Fine Story by Chuck Wendig</a> (for when you want your writing craft with F-bombs)</li></ul><div>*** All links are from Amazon b/c I'm lazy. They're not affiliate links, so I don't earn anything if you click.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>PPSS...adding another thought....Kristen Lamb, blogging/writing goddess, coincidentally made a post today on how important it is for writers to read. <a href="https://authorkristenlamb.com/2023/01/what-do-you-call-a-writer-who-never-reads/" target="_blank">Here's the link</a>. It's well worth, uh, reading. 😊</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-56686624721844806172023-01-03T11:29:00.137-08:002023-01-03T12:06:42.378-08:00<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPR5MJEVkpNPQ3UyKd2POOJ2ZuqGjEzpCNWBFJyxdtypMBD7zrSNwfANM4geSGPl9wux60ae0SsgZcGS4bGTwp2e7zE6RVBfFRLEL2ST3E6YuJAJv0g4tXyD3WLDBJBfeD03_QOaxlSx2dWCiGoU9V8zSCTwusY00YeXHrvS_QygH4OZXtJwQUbkC/s2514/IMG_3867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2514" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPR5MJEVkpNPQ3UyKd2POOJ2ZuqGjEzpCNWBFJyxdtypMBD7zrSNwfANM4geSGPl9wux60ae0SsgZcGS4bGTwp2e7zE6RVBfFRLEL2ST3E6YuJAJv0g4tXyD3WLDBJBfeD03_QOaxlSx2dWCiGoU9V8zSCTwusY00YeXHrvS_QygH4OZXtJwQUbkC/s320/IMG_3867.JPG" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My sweet Ed the dog, may he RIP</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Google defines <i>blogging </i>as "add new material to or regularly update a blog." I used to blog, both <a href="https://liv-rancourt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here on blogspot </a>and on the <a href="https://spellboundscribes.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Spellbound Scribes.</a> Then the Scribes went on hiatus and life got in the way. Blogging was one of the things I let slide.</p><p>To say I've been<i> inconsistent</i> with this blog is fairly hilarious - one post every other year makes you invisible, not inconsistent. I'm feeling the itch, though, so one of my New Years Resolutions is to blog more regularly. I manage once a month on the Scribes, but now I want to double that. </p><p>That's right. You can look forward to twice a month blog posts on <a href="http://liv-rancourt.blogspot.com">liv-rancourt.blogspot.com</a>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMZjwzFD-t_u6_P_ZzB5dO44ZHGHLUXjMWlvUdpTOBSa1Fle5lVok5o4gCOmiS1m21Zlh5uM2IK6kcTQFvFDA3Gxyeekp8O2oJEj8XzA-fj1Ncm8YIldTmCixwCuFg8HfgwM1Clh965Gf4A-hLTu8UpKaDMdTtpXwCmwRx4ccf-felzjB9oJcXMt-V" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="577" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMZjwzFD-t_u6_P_ZzB5dO44ZHGHLUXjMWlvUdpTOBSa1Fle5lVok5o4gCOmiS1m21Zlh5uM2IK6kcTQFvFDA3Gxyeekp8O2oJEj8XzA-fj1Ncm8YIldTmCixwCuFg8HfgwM1Clh965Gf4A-hLTu8UpKaDMdTtpXwCmwRx4ccf-felzjB9oJcXMt-V=w282-h207" width="282" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Did you know that when you google a word's definition, you also get a little graphic showing how often a word has been used? (Handy for historical romance authors, ya know?) I don't know why it amuses me, but "blogging" shows a flat line until about 1995.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You might be wondering what I've got to blog about. I expect it'll be similar to my posts on the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9152710377778718003/5668662472184480617#" target="_blank">Spellbound Scribes</a>; a mix of writing craft, what I'm up to, and stuff that pisses me off. I'll also post flash-fiction pieces, along the lines of <a href="https://liv-rancourt.blogspot.com/2022/12/blog-post.html" target="_blank">The Hunt</a>, my December post. I could also see doing a serialized story, depending on how things go. I'll start with two posts a month and see where I find my groove.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of this has me wondering whether you make New Years Resolutions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've made a couple besides blogging. I've committed to limiting my game time on my phone to an hour a day (hard!) and eating more vegetables (harder!). It might not seem like much, but when I make resolutions, I try to keep a few basic rules in mind.</div><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Goals should be specific, measurable, and within your control.</h4><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Twice a month blogging fits into that fairly well, as does limiting game time on my phone. (What an effing time-suck <a href="https://www.dots.co/twodots/" target="_blank">Two Dots</a> can be! Don't download it!!) <i>Eating more vegetables</i> is a little nebulous, though if I give it some thought, it won't be hard to figure out how to articulate that goal in a way that fits the rules.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I will eat 1.5 - 2 cups of fruit and 2 - 3 cups of vegetables a day, every day, </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>in order to lose the weight I gained over the holidays.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See? That wasn't hard at all. </h3><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In general, setting goals is easier than keeping them, but keeping them is easier if you make them as specific as possible. "I'm going to change my life," might feel good in the sparkle of New Years Eve champagne, but "I'm going to do 30 minutes a day on the spin bike" is a lot more concrete. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's important to keep in mind that your goal should be something that is within your control. An author might say "this year I'm going to sign with an agent", but it's up the an agent to offer a contract - or not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What's within an author's control? Research, queries, and persistence.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"I'm going to research agents in January, come up with a list of names in February, </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>send out queries in March, and rinse-and-repeat until I'm offered a contract."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, an author can hone their craft and make sure their books is the best it can be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which isn't to discourage anyone from making big goals. Something like, "I'll wear my high school jeans to my 20th class reunion" might feel grandiose, but break it into smaller steps that define the scope of the goal and articulate what it'll take to get there. Then use the success that comes from accomplishing small steps to motivate the next and the next after that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dream big, but keep your feet on the ground!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This all reminds me of the song, "In My Mind" by Amanda Palmer. I'm not all that familiar with Ms Palmer's music, but the lyrics for this one are so accurate and so honest that I can't help but love it. Check out the link if you're curious, and btw leave me a comment with your favorite NY Resolution. I'd love to hear from you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kGhz1VHPz5s" width="320" youtube-src-id="kGhz1VHPz5s"></iframe></div><br /></div><p><br /> </p>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-7232726784901635752022-12-13T09:07:00.005-08:002022-12-13T11:15:04.745-08:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 28pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY9mmBk5ORaStVWtwbnl9kPQNmCRkTfD2rn6fqY6F_szZyKkd9GWPba14dkYiGEQD02LARB_JIeuibuLc73V5_Mqu01jl-a3wrbDeoVDXutB9vMTuafGS3-lQ3kdrt2YiMjGTQCoxIrd1juPtiZ9rQgbbFU24NQthgBpK0PIBF3NsGGN87-dWMgDt/s600/THeGiftHeader.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY9mmBk5ORaStVWtwbnl9kPQNmCRkTfD2rn6fqY6F_szZyKkd9GWPba14dkYiGEQD02LARB_JIeuibuLc73V5_Mqu01jl-a3wrbDeoVDXutB9vMTuafGS3-lQ3kdrt2YiMjGTQCoxIrd1juPtiZ9rQgbbFU24NQthgBpK0PIBF3NsGGN87-dWMgDt/w485-h265/THeGiftHeader.png" width="485" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i>(It's time for my annual-adjacent dusting off of my blog to share something for the holidays. The Hunt was inspired by a prompt from a post on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/605057917169258" target="_blank">Small but Mighty MM Romance Group </a>on Facebook. I hope you'll have as much fun with it as I did. It's a vampire's Christmas!! Hope you all have a wonderful holiday, however you choose to celebrate.)</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Petit Formal Script;">The Hunt</span></i></h2><div><i><span style="font-family: Petit Formal Script;"><br /></span></i></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’ve been celebrating Christmas since the time when we
killed a wren and burned a log for twelve days; since the child born that night
was called Mithras; and since the Wild Hunt rode.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The Hunt still has a role to play, but in this world where
electric lights turn night into day and telegraphs transmit words around the
globe as fast as thought, the ghosts of the past have been reduced to mere
shadows.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I, too, am a ghost from the past, albeit a more corporeal
specter. So long as I taste human blood and avoid the sun, I will carry on. Why?
Because I can and because someone must. As long as one soul remembers the old
ways, they will live on.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I’d settled on the Cornish coast, where blustery winds
caress the moors and the sea crashes into jagged rock. My home had once been a
knight’s stronghold. Its battlements appealed to me, a fearsome face to guard
the comforts within.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">And this is a most comfortable space. My companions – they’d
been with me so long they were more than hired help – have seen to every
detail. Terese brought the role of housekeeper to unimagined heights, while Dom’s
ability to make magic out of wood and nails had served me more than well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">But, as these things go, Dom had passed on. I sent his
grieving widow to their daughter’s house for a time. That left me alone,
rattling around this pile of stone, albeit one with electric lights and running
water and a library fit for a king. I’d tried to send Duke with her, the hound
who’d followed Dom like a four-legged shadow, but she’d insisted the dog stay
with me. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I could manage on my own for a few days, well, me and Duke together,
and when it came time for Dom to join the Hunt, I would be here to wish him
well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I rose at sunset and, after a cursory bath, I settled in my
study. I had invested many hours transcribing notes left by the alchemist Mary
the Hebrew from their original Arabic into something modern scholars could comprehend.
It bothered me no end to allow knowledge to fade into obscurity, and tasks like
this gave me something with which to fill the endless hours of the night.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">My study had a single electric lamp and a pair of oil sconces
on the wall behind my desk. A bookcase held only such resources as would be required
for this project, and Duke lay curled on the woolen rug nearby. Pens and a vial
of ink sat at my right hand, and a sheath of good quality paper at my left. The
document I worked from was an ancient parchment, obtained through channels I’d spent
years cultivating. I did not begrudge the ink stains on my fingers, nor the knot
growing between my shoulders. The work was all the more satisfying for being
difficult. On this night of all nights, it gave meaning to my very existence.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Duke and I noticed the change at the same time. A whiff of
something new, some note of freshness mingled with the metallic scent of ink. I
lifted my head even as the dog lifted his, and I let go of the phrase I’d been
parsing, allowing my mind to drift. <i>There. A noise</i>. The dog shuffled to
his feet. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“What is it?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Duke glanced at me over his shoulder, a quick reassurance
before he went off to explore. He’d never treat me with the affection he gave
Dom and Terese, but we’d reached an accord. For a dog of few words, his big
brown eyes could be eloquent. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">His nails clicked on the mahogany floor and I returned my
attention to the parchment. He’d alert me to anything amiss.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Untangling the next phrase absorbed me completely. A sharp <i>woof
</i>from Duke, however, made me jump to my feet, sending a spray of ink from my
pen. Without taking the time to blot the ink, I followed the dog.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">My study was on the ground floor, a small room off the great
hall. The enormous room was lit by electric bulbs concealed in ornate sconces.
I stood in the center of the floor, puzzled by a steady thump echoing off the dramatically
high ceiling.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i>Thumping? What on earth?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I followed the noise, curiosity overriding everything else.
I wasn’t afraid; it would take more than an odd noise to trigger fear in such
as me. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Following the sound to the rear of the room, I ducked
through the small servant’s door. The thumping continued, and I moved across
the flagstones, as silent as a shadow.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I found the source of the sound in the kitchen. A young man
knelt midst the shelves of crockery and the cold cast-iron stove. Duke sat in
front of him, accepting pats and scratches, his tail beating a steady rhythm on
the floor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">For a moment I did nothing except to draw a curtain of
shadow around myself. The young man was maybe five and twenty years, and he had
the look of one who’d been sleeping rough. His clothing was worn and dirty, the
cap on his head doing a poor job of hiding a riot of curls. His spirit, though,
sent an aura of clear light around him. And the warm, earthy, scent of his
blood made my mouth water.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">While I didn’t celebrate the holiday in the modern sense, it
occurred to me that I’d rarely been given such a lovely gift.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">At my age, I had little need to feed. Dom and Terese between
them had more than satisfied me, but we’d lost Dom and Terese was sure to
follow him soon. Perhaps it was time to expand our household once more.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">No, I was getting ahead of myself. I knew nothing of this young
soul, except for the angelic curve of his cheek and the kiss of gold in the scruff
on his unshaven face. The affection with which he handled Duke made it clear
they’d met before. Who was he, this soiled cherubim? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Who was he, and why was he in my kitchen?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Releasing the shadows, I cleared my throat. The man froze,
though Duke’s tail kept up its steady cadence. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Who’s there?” His voice was richer and deeper than I expected,
as intriguing as the rest of him. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I stepped forward, allowing myself to be seen. “I am.” Should
I introduce myself? Perhaps, but Lord Randolph Paget, Marquess of Reading felt
like such a mouthful. “You can call me Rand.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The man rose to his feet. Duke bumped his leg and he reached
down, resting his hand on the dog’s head. “I didn’t know anyone would be here.
Tessa said…”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Hmm?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He blinked, shaking his head. I could easily trap him with my
gaze, but I hadn’t made the attempt. <i>Interesting</i>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“You know Tessa? The housekeeper? I’ve helped her with a few
things since her husband passed on, and she said…” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Again his voice drifted off, making me stifle a smile.
Terese had indeed intended to give me a gift. My heart warmed at the thought. “What’s
your name?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Some of the color faded from his face. “Jones. William Jones.
I go by Bill.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Well, William, it’s lovely to make your acquaintance. May I
ask after your intention in coming here?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He rubbed a palm over his mouth. “Nothing like what you’re
thinking. I just”—he nodded in the direction of the stove—“thought I’d start a
bit of a fire.” He lifted a bag I hadn’t yet noticed. “Would you like some rabbit
stew?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">His spirit was too clear, too pure to be harboring ill
intent. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to partake.” I allowed my gaze to wander
down his body. His boots were as worn and dirty as the rest of him, though his
pantalons did a lovely job of showing off his thick thighs. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He didn’t flinch. If anything, his breathing quickened. <i>Oh
Terese, you’ve given me a gift indeed</i>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“But please, make yourself at home. I have plenty of space
and would be grateful of the company.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Oh, I couldn’t…” He backed up a step, clutching his bag.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I fought the urge to command him. A gift must be freely
given. “You couldn’t let me show you to one of our guest rooms, where you could
take a proper bath and perhaps borrow a change of clothes?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He shook his head. “No. Thank you, but I’m not fit for your
hospitality.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Where have you been sleeping?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He dropped his gaze, this time ignoring Duke’s request for affection.
“Your barn. The horses keep it warm enough.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The urge to compel him grew stronger. Still, I resisted. “Where
are you from? Surely you haven’t been living in my barn for long.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Look, I appreciate your…” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I allowed the pause to go on a heartbeat too long. “If you
can’t tell me what it is you appreciate, I think you should stay until you
figure it out. Besides, the wild hunt rides tonight. Stay with me.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“They say I killed a man.” He met my gaze with a sudden
frankness, as if inviting my rejection. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Did you?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">His jaw tightened, the muscles in his angelic cheeks
working. “I’m not sure.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I crossed the distance between us faster than he could
possibly have seen. The touch of my finger on his chin made his eyes go wide
enough to show the whites. “You did not. I’m sure of that, although it wouldn’t
matter either way.” I ran my thumb over his lower lip, boldly, rudely, and was
gratified when his nostrils flared. “I’ve killed many men, although none recently.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">His intoxicating mix of desire and fear threatened my
control. I stepped back, keeping my posture relaxed, amiable. “Now, leave the rabbit
here and let me show you to your room.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Wordlessly, he set the bag on the nearest counter. Duke
whined, scratching the cupboard beneath it. I laughed, and after a moment, so
did William. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“I’ll just put this higher,” he said, moving the bag to a
shelf at eye level.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">My smile may well have shown a hint of fang. “This way,
please.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I gave him the room closest to mine. Silly, really. I could
have given him any room, knowing full well I had every intention of bringing
him to my own bed before the night was through. I’d never taken a lover while
the Wild Hunt rode. The idea filled me with more excitement than I’d felt in years.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Hell, I hadn’t taken a lover of any kind in years. I had no
preference; men and women pleased me equally. Dom and Terese had taken care of
all my needs, at least until time slowed them to the point of disinterest. Dom became
too frail, and while I still loved Terese’s body, softened as it was by time
and age, laying with me caused her more discomfort than pleasure. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This man, though, this William Jones who was called Bill? He’d
give me what I craved.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I showed him the bathroom, standing silently behind the door
while water splashed into the tub. He’d set the lock with a soft click. I
smiled and closed my eyes, allowing my mind to fill in what I could not see. Without
those rags, his shoulders would be broad, his chest firm. A scattering of golden
hair would make a trail from his chest to the darker curls around his manhood. Would
he be cut, or would his prick still have its soft hood of skin? My mouth
watered. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I should go back to the study while he bathed. I’d left the
ink uncapped, the page I’d been writing now spoiled. But I couldn’t bring
myself to leave. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">With endless nights to fill, I could always start over on
the translation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Using my power over the shadows, I obscured the door from
his gaze and slipped inside the bathroom. He sighed, as if that tub full of
warm water had taken him to heaven. Snatching up his trousers and shirt, I left
one of Dom’s older suits as a replacement. The old-fashioned garments were well-made
and would fit his broad frame. My excitement grew stronger.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">A splash and a gurgle told me he’d risen from the water and
was draining the tub. I guessed that his sharp intake of breath meant he’d seen
Dom’s suit. Water splashed in the sink, and a very soft scrape hinted that he
was shaving. <i>Oh, to be able to watch!</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He caught me in a swoon, still standing in front of the door
when he flung it open. “The boots don’t fit.” He held them out to me, his
expression unreadable. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">They were a fine pair of kid boots with buttons up the side.
Dom had rarely worn them, as he preferred sturdier fare. “Too small? Wait, I’ll
find another pair.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This time I brought him an older pair, one Dom preferred for
dressier occasions. The black leather uppers laced up. Wordlessly I handed them
to William. His expression still carefully blank, he thanked me and went into
his room.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Whereupon I stood where he left me, inhaling his warm, soapy
scent. He might have tried to brush his hair back from his face, but his curls had
already begun to escape. They framed his face in a soft golden halo. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">When he didn’t reappear immediately, I ducked into my own room.
I’d dressed for a night in the study, so with quick and practiced movements, I
changed my collar and tied a fresh cravat. Instead of my plain waistcoat, I put
on blue silk shot with silver threads. I tossed my ordinary jacket aside and
put on one of fine wool. Regarding myself in the mirror, I gave a satisfied
nod. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I would do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I was still fastening my cufflinks on my way out the door.
They were gold and pearl, and I almost dropped one when I found William waiting
in the hall. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Let me,” he said, gently clasping a hand around my wrist.
Neither of us spoke while he slipped the peg through the holes in my cuff and
screwed the back into place. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“The other?” He took my hand, but that cufflink was already
in place. Still, I intertwined my fingers with his for the briefest moment. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Sadly,” my voice was surprisingly gruff, “Terese isn’t here
to prepare your rabbit stew.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He gestured toward himself. “I probably should have dressed
the rabbit before I dressed myself.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We shared a smile. “I wonder if she left something in the
ice box.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“I shouldn’t make myself any more beholden to you than I am
already.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I gave a fairly inelegant snort. “Come with me.” Taking him
by the elbow, I led him down the carpeted hall to the grand staircase that led
to the great room. We’d come up straight from the kitchen, so he hadn’t seen my
home at its best. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">With a snap of my fingers, the enormous fireplace came to
life. A single log had been burning slowly for the last several days, so it
took just a little nudge to bring it to a flame. A pair of overstuffed chairs
were positioned close to the hearth, a table set between them. Duke already lay
curled on the rug, the tip of his tail wagging at our approach.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">After encouraging William to sit, I left him only long
enough to commandeer a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses. As I’d guessed,
Terese had left a pot pie in the icebox, so I added that to my tray. He’d have
to eat it cold, because setting it on the hearth to warm would tax Duke’s sense
of obedience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Returning, I set my prizes on the table between us. Now the
seduction would truly begin, though from the guarded expression in William’s
eyes, it would not be easy. He played with one of the buttons on his waistcoat,
a small hint that his mind might be in turmoil.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Why are you doing all this, Rand?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">His question was more open, more honest, and more obvious
than I’d expected. I could only reply in kind. “Because I want to.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“But…” He frowned at the fire. “It makes no sense. Tessa
told me she meant to spend the holiday with her daughter’s family and that I could
use the kitchen if I wanted. I had no idea she’d leave you here alone.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Interesting. He knew of my existence. “I’m capable of taking
care of myself.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Of course. I didn’t mean to imply—”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">My laughter cut him off. “And she’s left the icebox well
stocked. I shall not starve.” Not with such a beautiful man within my reach. “Now
here.” I poured us each a glass of wine. “Let us drink a toast.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I raised my glass and after a moment’s hesitation, so did
he. “To the peace of this night and our hopes for the new year.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Our glasses clinked together and we both took a sip. Duke woofed,
shifting his position, and the fire sent up a spray of sparks. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Tell me more about yourself, William Jones. How did you
come to be sleeping in my barn?” I could have asked him to recite the alphabet.
Anything to hear that beautiful voice again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He stared darkly into his wineglass. “I’m from around Devoran.”
He gave it the Cornish pronunciation, Deveryon. “I wasn’t much for mining. I’d
rather read than dig, honestly.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I all but rubbed my hands with glee. “You must see my
library, then.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Could I?” He glanced at me, those dark eyes brightening.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Of course. After our wine.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He took a good deep swallow while I stifled my grin. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“My Da managed to scrape together the pennies for me to join
the priesthood. I liked it well enough, until…” Whatever he’d been about to say
was lost in his moody gaze. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Until?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He gave me a tight smile. “Let’s just say I’m not cut out to
be a priest.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“I’ve never had much use for religion.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Oh, it has its place.” He swirled the wine in his glass. “This
is good, by the way. Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I refreshed our glasses. “You’re very welcome.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We sat in silence for several moments, each busy with our
own thoughts. I wondered if the man he might have killed had something to do
with why he left the seminary. Though curious, I didn’t pry. That would be a
story for another time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">At my insistence, he cut into the pot pie and served himself
a healthy slice. “You won’t have any?” he asked. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I simply smiled. “Not now.” <i>Later</i>. Later I would feed,
and it was all I could do to keep from drooling. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He was so lovely.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We talked of many things. He’d made a brief sojourn to the Continent,
traveling as far as Rome. I’d wandered the same roads, though many years ago. He’d
visited churches and libraries. I’d visited gaming hells and brothels. Still,
we found common ground, and by the end of his meal, his cheeks were flushed and
he’d shown off a lovely sweet smile.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">When he was finished eating, I piled everything on the
serving tray and poured us each another glass of wine. “Come,” I said. “We’ll
take this back to the kitchen and then I’ll show you the library.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">With Duke following behind us, we traversed a short hall
lined with windows. They gave us a view of the formal garden, now frosted white
with snow. Similar windows lined one wall in the library, so we’d be able to
watch the Hunt as they rode past. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He paused in front of the last window before we reached the
library door. “Magical.” He murmured the word, and I had to agree. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Just wait.” I breathed the words, leaning close enough to
feel his shiver. “Come.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I deliberately left the electric lights off. Candlelight
would show the room off to its best advantage. Picking up the heavy candlestick
Terese left for me, I lit it with a flick of my fingers. I slowly circled the
room, lighting candles as I went, gratified by William’s gasp of surprise.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“This is…amazing.” He stood in the center of the room,
turning to follow my progress. Bookshelves lined the walls. Some were set
perpendicular, to fit more shelves in. A large, upholstered chair took up
valuable floor space near the windows and I’d begrudgingly allowed a desk to
take up more. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This wasn’t a place for work as much as a place to revel in
the collected knowledge of so many, many minds. “I’m something of a collector.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">William took a tentative step toward the closest shelf, hand
lifted as if he couldn’t help but try and touch. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Go ahead,” I said softly, the hairs on the back of my neck
rising. The Hunt was near. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">William lifted a folio, allowing it to drop open. “A Midsomer
Night’s Dream.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“There are a number of plays on that shelf.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He ran a fingertip along the page, and I brought the candle
closer. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“This is amazing.” His grin invited me closer still. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I put a hand on his back, resisting the temptation to stroke
the curve of his arse. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He stepped away, but only long enough to set one folio down and
pick up another. “I could stay here all night.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The thud of horses’ hooves drew my gaze to the window. “Come.”
I took his arm and drew him away from the bookshelf. “They’re here.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The wind blew wildly, scooping up flurries of snow and spraying
them across the landscape. Duke took up a position at my side, lips bared in a
silent growl. Anyone blind to the magic of the night would see nothing more
than wind and snow. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I saw riders, fierce and furious, surrounding their queen.
She rode a white horse and her page carried a blank banner the color of snow. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">William’s sharp intake of breath distracted me. “What do you
see?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Riders.” His deep voice sent a shiver up my spine. “Is this
it, then. Are we dying?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Chuckling, I put an arm around him and drew him closer. “Not
us. Watch.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">A ghostly figure appeared at the edge of the garden. “Dom.” A
rider slipped away from the pack and rode toward him. The rider paused long enough
for my friend to climb aboard and disappeared into the mass. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">My friend was gone. Duke whined, a final goodbye.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> “I’ve always believed
that the devil dogs came for your soul,” William said.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“They do.” I tightened my hold on him, grateful for his warmth
and his quiet curiosity. “But only of those who are already dead. Besides, a
priest mustn’t put much stake in the old tales.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">His slow turn gave me time to put both my arms around him. He
rested his hands on my shoulders. “What sort of creature are you? Tessa said…”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“She warned me that you had unconventional habits.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I grinned, showing both fangs. “You might say.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He tilted his head, more curious than anything else. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“You can see the hunt and you’re not afraid of me. You’d
make a very poor priest indeed.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“I suppose.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I traced one of his errant curls. “You are welcome here for
as long as you choose to stay. My habits are…irregular, but I don’t think you
will find them a hardship.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">If he had any doubt as to my meaning, the jab of my prick
against his thigh had to make it plain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">His smile dampened, and for a moment I worried that I’d
misread his preferences. Before I could ease myself away, he pulled me closer,
as if he’d sensed my intention. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“There may be some who are still looking for me. I would
never intentionally bring danger to anyone as kind as you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">“Oh, William.” I rutted against him. “There’s a reason I
live in a castle. These battlements have withstood far greater threats. Now”—I flicked
a finger overhead and a cluster of mistletoe appeared—“I believe it’s time we begin
our celebration.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">He glanced at the bundle of leaves with its small white
berries. Returning his attention to me, his eyelids had grown heavy with lust. “I
agree.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Our lips met in a sweet kiss that soon grew wild, infused with
the energy of the night, the old ways. It took little to persuade William to
return to the rug in front of the fire, although Duke did protest our choice.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">There, we honored the darkness on this darkest of nights.
Honored, and celebrated, and rejoiced, until dawn brought us a new day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Petit Formal Script";">The End</span></div><span style="font-family: Petit Formal Script;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> <o:p></o:p></p></div><p><br /></p>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-21431647482226742942021-01-04T03:59:00.005-08:002021-01-04T03:59:56.010-08:00Ten Lords a Leaping<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Quintessential;">Ten Lords a Leaping</span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhvVfaiOvDZnWx8XFa7PFIXbrF_cE_mg3atIWqToDlEixaICm8pmDghrJnD6Dpo2nk2herkywP-D79sdm4ul8areSxMgqQk07qDc-sWtPGBfJhmsrEi9h4pDfuj0erjuiGH0jVj5s50A/s567/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="567" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhvVfaiOvDZnWx8XFa7PFIXbrF_cE_mg3atIWqToDlEixaICm8pmDghrJnD6Dpo2nk2herkywP-D79sdm4ul8areSxMgqQk07qDc-sWtPGBfJhmsrEi9h4pDfuj0erjuiGH0jVj5s50A/s320/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />~*~</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to another installment in the QUILTBAG Historicals Bleak Midwinter Funfest! For this post, there's no leaping and the scene takes place in June, and while that might sound like a stretch, there is dancing - or at least the description of Nijinsky dancing - and it's set in 1920 Paris.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Aren't we ready for a midwinter break, anyway?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This scene is from <a href="books2read.com/Lost-n-Found" target="_blank">Lost & Found</a>, and we're in Benjamin's point of view. Benjamin is a recovering WW1 Army physician and Louis was once a dancer, and they're struggling through the slowest burn romance I've ever written. Enjoy, and happy New Year!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~*~</div><div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{74c15a83-cc12-4a16-af3a-3495a6fc566a}{58}" paraid="1583353959" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 28px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":432,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{74c15a83-cc12-4a16-af3a-3495a6fc566a}{60}" paraid="785920575" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 28px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">One day passed, and then another. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">We’d reached the middle of June.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My mood was as consistent as the fractious spring weather, sunny and warm </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">for a few moments</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> followed by </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">spitting rain. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">As much as I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d hoped someone would come forward with knowledge of Elias</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">s whereabouts, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> had no response to the advertisement I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d placed</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d given up asking artists on the street</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In all honesty</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> came very close to giving up altogether.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":432,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{74c15a83-cc12-4a16-af3a-3495a6fc566a}{116}" paraid="768501549" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Again, Louis saved me from myself.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">After a fruitless day </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">in the Latin Quarter, another neighborhood </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I would</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> cross off my map</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> came upon him sitting </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; 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background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Oiseau</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Bleu</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{74c15a83-cc12-4a16-af3a-3495a6fc566a}{150}" paraid="1163457716" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Bonjour,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Benjamin.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{74c15a83-cc12-4a16-af3a-3495a6fc566a}{162}" paraid="146415154" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">If he hadn</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t hailed me, I might </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">not have stopped. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Louis.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{74c15a83-cc12-4a16-af3a-3495a6fc566a}{180}" paraid="742899018" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Join me for dinner?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">He tossed a few francs on his table</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, gripped his cane,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and rose.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">We</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">ll go to </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Le Bon Bock. I doubt you</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">ve been there.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{74c15a83-cc12-4a16-af3a-3495a6fc566a}{216}" paraid="971413098" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I smiled, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">both because I had the </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">sense</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> he</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d been waiting for me and </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">because I was </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">grateful for an excuse to put aside my worries. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">You</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">re right.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{74c15a83-cc12-4a16-af3a-3495a6fc566a}{242}" paraid="1598736637" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">It</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">s </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">not far</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> He </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">joined me on the sidewalk, and with</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> a smile, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">he brushed my elbow.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">This way.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{21}" paraid="348939000" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The shock of his touch chased</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> easy conversation from my mind. I strode beside him</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, silent and shy,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> until </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I grasped an idea and</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> blurted </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">it </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">out</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; 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background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">So</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">what did happen to</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> your </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">leg</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{59}" paraid="1516408286" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">We were navigating one of the stairways connecting the curving streets on Montmartre. Although I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d promised </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; 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margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">myself</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I wouldn</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t push Louis, his obvious </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">difficulty </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">bothered me.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> His quick glare told me</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I should have let the subject </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">alone</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, yet he surprised me with an answer.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{85}" paraid="88250905" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">When I was nineteen</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> He turned his attention back to the stairs</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">grasping </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">the railing with his right hand and</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">navigating each step with the help of h</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">is cane.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> He moved with strength and grace, as if his whole being concentrated on </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">each step.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{115}" paraid="829978489" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">While </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I didn</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t want to </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">annoy </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">him with a barrage of questions</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, w</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">e</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d be at the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">bistro </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">soon</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. He might </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">close off in more</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> intimate </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">surroundings,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> so I picked </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">a single point of inquiry</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{157}" paraid="56673215" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Do you ever stand without the brace?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{167}" paraid="667688600" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">His scowl darkened. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Non</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> The </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">leg</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> is</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">shrunken</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> weak.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{195}" paraid="257466033" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">We walked side</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">by</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">side, and when he didn</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">continue</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, I did not press. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">At the end of the block,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> my patience was rewarded.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{221}" paraid="994590092" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">From the time I was a </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">child</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, I wanted to dance. My older brothers were fighters and sportsmen</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, but</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">had no interest in those things</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{6b40d7fe-124e-4520-bedc-889e7a5529a0}{245}" paraid="447001161" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">He paused for long enough I began to debate prompting him with a question. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">So</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> guarded</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">What had happened to make him that way</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{4}" paraid="796429650" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Ma </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">mère</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> didn</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t understand </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">dancing</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, but she understood passion. Papa thought I should take up boxing.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> He caught my eye. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Boxing,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> he laughed.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{34}" paraid="1562815147" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I only smiled, because honestly, I wouldn</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">want</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to face him in a ring, cane or not.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{48}" paraid="618317786" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">But then the Ballet</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">s</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Russes came, and everyone on the street was talking about </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Nijinsky</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Another pause, this one heavier. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">They were brave, and wild, and when he danced, it was as if the spirit of the earth itself took form.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> He stopped and cleared his throat. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjRweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgNCIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTYuMiAoODE2NzIpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2guY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPnNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9IkZsYWdzIiBzdHJva2U9Im5vbmUiIHN0cm9rZS13aWR0aD0iMSIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgZmlsbC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIC0yOTYuMDAwMDAwKSIgaWQ9InNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPGcgdHJhbnNmb3JtPSJ0cmFuc2xhdGUoMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIDI5Ni4wMDAwMDApIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDMgQzEuMjUsMyAxLjI1LDEgMi41LDEgQzMuNzUsMSAzLjc1LDMgNSwzIiBpZD0iUGF0aCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjRUIwMDAwIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQiPjwvcmVjdD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPC9nPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Pardonnez-moi</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I only saw him once, but…</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> His voice faded away.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{86}" paraid="1607510614" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The crowded street, the traffic, all the people passing on the sidewalk became indistinct, distant. Instead, I saw a man on stage, his limbs strong and supple, dancing with inhuman strength and beauty.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{92}" paraid="309772629" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Though in my mind, the man</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">s shoulders were broad, his hair dark and sleek, and his face that of Louis Donadieu.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{102}" paraid="85759075" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">We reached </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Le Bon</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Bock</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, and I pushed open the door. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Louis </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">smiled on his way by, eyes still caught up in his memories. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Gaslights warmed the wood paneling, art covered the wall</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, and each table was draped in white linen</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. When we were seated, Louis</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> continued his story.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{126}" paraid="353297054" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Then the war began.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> His </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">murmur drew me closer</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, the scent of his pomade a heady undercurrent to the more robust </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">smell of garlic and roasted beef</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Both of my older brothers signed up. I said I would go, but </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ma </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); 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background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">è</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">re</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> insisted I continue my studies. By then</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> my teacher was Mlle</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Nijinska</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. She was very stern, and nearly as gifted as her brother.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{166}" paraid="166807683" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">So</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">danced, and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> made my debut with the Ballet</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">s</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Russes. That was…astonishing.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> He smiled at </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">me,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> his face transformed by an inner light. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">But then</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">—he looked </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">away,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the light extinguished</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">—</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">“</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I fell</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> ill</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> There was an outbreak of influenza in the city, but when I recovered, my leg was very weak. The doctors said I had polio.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{202}" paraid="2138522197" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Of course</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I thought maybe </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">you</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">damaged the knee joint</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{228}" paraid="477979297" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">His smile was back, sad and sweet. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Non, mon </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ami</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">m fortunate it didn</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t affect my breathing.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{9373a481-ef0a-4a89-b894-09960839010d}{252}" paraid="1085276847" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">True.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Polio extracted a heavy toll</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Louis was lucky to be alive.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I didn</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t know of any good treatments for the effects of </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">that horrible disease</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, but</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> surely there must be something</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{29}" paraid="531386843" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">One of my friends found a brace at the Saint-Ouen market</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. With it,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I can walk.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">He gave a careless shrug. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I cannot dance, but I can walk.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{53}" paraid="732871854" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">By now</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">recognize</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">loss he tried to cover with a</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">n</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">indifferent</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> attitude.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">d seen it, raw</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and naked, at the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Théâtre </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">de </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">O</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">péra</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">This was not the time to </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">coddle him with trite statements about his good fortune</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. Instead, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I sat with him, offering comfort with my presence rather than words.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> A waiter brought beer and cheese, and in time</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">our gazes met, clashed</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{119}" paraid="1275652944" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Neither of us looked</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> away.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{127}" paraid="876707891" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">lungs grew tight</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> my pulse </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">pounded </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">in my ears. He shifted closer, or maybe I did, so close his breath brushed against my cheek.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{143}" paraid="574289398" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Tell me more about your friend.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{153}" paraid="283760505" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I inhaled deeply, breaking the spell. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Elias?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{165}" paraid="1340077408" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">You said you </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">helped him court</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the woman he wanted.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{179}" paraid="1574255958" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Margaret Ann</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">e</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Could that rough sound be my voice? I hardly knew.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{195}" paraid="1486817228" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Oui</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> He smiled. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">But has there ever been anyone for you?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{215}" paraid="1744505626" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Yes? No?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">m not like that.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{233}" paraid="1125356182" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Like what, Benji?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{010ba459-f114-4a04-8eab-c897d531c8bb}{243}" paraid="343277145" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I gulped </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">at my beer, desperate to change the course of the conversation. We needed the waiter to </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">bring us </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">another round</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> or Elias himself to wander</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> in off the street, or the ceiling to cave in on our heads. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I don</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t seem to be as interested in affairs of the heart as other men are, certainly not as interested as Elias is. It</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">s a failing of mine.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{f479a229-58d7-4dab-ba2b-d7b18ac1db96}{20}" paraid="1089499175" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Failing? I wouldn</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">’</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">t call it that. You could be extremely selective.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">T</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">he precision of his speech </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">felt </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">like fingertips on my skin. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Besides, men like us seldom take things seriously.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">He shifted in his seat, and I jumped, startled by the sensation of his knee bumping mine. I should have moved, scooted my chair away, but instead</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I pressed harder.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{f479a229-58d7-4dab-ba2b-d7b18ac1db96}{58}" paraid="397680808" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">What are you doing?</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> he asked, and I found I could not answer. The waiter chose this moment to arrive, and soon we had large platters of sausage with crispy fried potatoes to distract </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">us. Still, my knee rested against his under the table, sending electric shocks through my veins </span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">with every move</span><span class="TextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559739":160,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{f479a229-58d7-4dab-ba2b-d7b18ac1db96}{76}" paraid="1612710065" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"7a0fcbfe-5826-4335-af9b-fc35af9fe3dd|57","Properties":[134233117,"true",134233118,"true",134233279,"true",134233614,"true",201340122,"2",201341983,"0",268442635,"24",335559731,"432",335559740,"360",469769226,"Times New Roman",469775450,"paragraph",469777841,"Times New Roman",469777842,"Times New Roman",469777843,"Times New Roman",469777844,"Times New Roman",469778129,"paragraph",469778324,"Normal"],"ClassId":1179649}" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Louis</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s question echoed. </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What was I doing?</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">This flirtation was dangerous, potentially catastrophic. </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I had no time for such a distraction. </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Hell,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d spent the last two days </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">drowning </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in fear</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and I was only </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a few </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">weeks from my </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">departure</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{f479a229-58d7-4dab-ba2b-d7b18ac1db96}{118}" paraid="1219109415" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But like </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Eve who </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">craved the taste of</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> apple, I could not stop.</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Every bit</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of sausage had more flavor because of Louis</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">gaze</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The beer was made livelier by his smile.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW16325669" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{f479a229-58d7-4dab-ba2b-d7b18ac1db96}{148}" paraid="1088657540" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The perilous nature of this </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">conversation</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">woke</span></span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-family: Alice;"> m</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont, Times New Roman_MSFontService, serif;">y soul </span></span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">to a painful degree</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; outline: transparent solid 1px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{f479a229-58d7-4dab-ba2b-d7b18ac1db96}{148}" paraid="1088657540" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW16325669 BCX0" paraeid="{f479a229-58d7-4dab-ba2b-d7b18ac1db96}{148}" paraid="1088657540" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="books2read.com/Lost-n-Found" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN0fR_x17_0xeqqhoF3c41J3e4841gWvQfXSzin-OSWidtXa5oGVyDKI7GCRPTwIZ0JIh1UcLONP7UutXUfKgRtQqxYd4xZq7DfrIimjJAkMKgRFjl1jzT3zzrH0IBkqmSI-zDWOchfg/s320/LnFTeaser4.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you'd like to read more of Lost & Found, you can find it <a href="books2read.com/Lost-n-Found" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you!!</div><br /><span class="EOP SCXW16325669 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559738":240,"335559740":360}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 28.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span><p></p></div></div>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-40751309800054871622020-12-27T09:43:00.005-08:002020-12-27T09:43:58.623-08:00Two Turtledoves<h2 style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifIYJ981NkS3TbSb78CZ6LizchQ6xncJFc3U8nIfrSF9_PuFKk9BFVFJ05s_rIpbRBls36M9bTkFG45ilvHgCDzYk013Bf5PT67zKMJwTL3LoAeI8gYfHHKcD9aBbjGIvc9kfaOct-xA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="567" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifIYJ981NkS3TbSb78CZ6LizchQ6xncJFc3U8nIfrSF9_PuFKk9BFVFJ05s_rIpbRBls36M9bTkFG45ilvHgCDzYk013Bf5PT67zKMJwTL3LoAeI8gYfHHKcD9aBbjGIvc9kfaOct-xA/" width="283" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Fondamento;"> Two Turtledoves </span></h2><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Fondamento;">Two Turtledoves.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">..<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In a recent FB conversation, I floated an idea for a plot
bunny involving an antique book dealer – who's also a vampire – and the book
he’s searching for, the book that contains clues to the whereabouts of his
long-lost love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The idea was met with so much enthusiasm that it’s on the
calendar for next year. For today’s “</span><span style="font-family: Quintessential;">Two Turtledoves</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">” post, I thought it would
be fun (and motivating for me!) to draft a getting-to-know-you scene, showing
one possible way my vampire meets his true love. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They say turtledoves mate for
life, and so, perhaps, do vampires....<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">***<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">London, 1870<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I didn’t set out to be a collector of antiquities. At least, not at first.
In the early days, I sold new books, their leather bindings embossed with crisp
gold, the scent of their ink as distracting as the scent of fresh blood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">And for a vampire, that’s very distracting indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I owned my shop when I was made a vampire and I own it
still. Books, those mysterious compendiums of human thought, have been a
touchstone, giving meaning to my existence. And books – or one book in
particular – symbolize my greatest loss. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">Let me tell you how that came to be...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">The day was dark and cold, the sun barely penetrating the
thick layer of clouds. I opened the store at the regular time for a Tuesday,
for the Christmas holiday was two days past and there was no reason to stay
closed. You might think it odd that a vampire would hold shopkeepers’ hours,
but between my advanced age and the depths of the London winter, I was quite
safe from the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I’d had few customers that day. The booksellers from nearby
Paternoster Court still observed the holiday, and my next closest neighbors, between the Spitalfields Market and Whitechapel, couldn’t likely read. On an
ordinary day, I sold a handful of worthy volumes and three times as many penny
awfuls from the rack at the front of the store. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I couldn’t expect everyone to meet my standards, now could
I?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">The bell above my door jangled some thirty minutes before
closing. A young man pushed through, his dark suit fine but soiled, his hair
mussed. By the time he reached my desk, I knew two things: he was desperate, or
desperately hungry, and he was like me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">A vampire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I noticed a third thing, but only in passing. He was
handsome, with strong features and a firm jaw. For all he was unkempt, he was clean-shaven,
as he must have been when he was turned. Curious. Who was this, and why had he
come to me?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">His gaze clashed with mine, and he drew up short. I remained
seated so as not to trigger his fighting instinct. Not that he’d be any match
for me. He was too young and too hopeless to be a threat. Still, I’d learned
that not all fights were worth winning, and so I waited.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“Are you”--he twitched, as if someone had poked him with a
pin--”are you A. Christopher Monohan?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">So said the sign over my shop’s door. “I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“Maggie Darden sent me. She said you could help.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">Maggie Darden ran a public house a block or so from away
from me. She kept her doors open to all, no matter how unfortunate or inhuman,
as long as they treated each other with respect. Maggie had recognized my
nature early on. This forlorn individual wasn’t the first she’d sent to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I gestured to the chair near my desk. “Sit and tell me what
you need help with.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">He jerked his gaze toward the door, then back to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“Sit.” I made it a Command, and he sat, or rather deflated,
his head in his hands. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“Can you tell me your name?” I asked. I didn’t want to
Command all of his responses. Hopefully if I kept my composure, he would regain
his.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">It took several long moments before he raised his eyes.
“David,” he said, his voice gruff. “I....don’t remember more.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“No surname?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“I must have one, but...” he left off, shaking his head.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“What do you remember?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">His mouth worked for a moment, as if he battled with some
unseen foe. I could guess his opponent. He must be freshly turned, had likely
never fed. Some bastard had lost control and made another like us, then left
him to fend for himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Queen would
be most unhappy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">And I wasn’t referring to Queen Victoria.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“I’m not sure which are memories and which are dreams.” He
played with the simple gold cufflink on his left sleeve. “I was in a box in the
dirt. Buried. In a casket. It took all my strength to crawl out, but when I went
home, my wife, she...”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">He stopped and cleared his throat. “I couldn’t get near her.
I had the feeling I should take the train to London, so I did.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">At least his maker had pointed him in the right direction.
“How do you feel, David?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">He made fists with his hands, the knuckles white. “I’d like
to tear one of your arms off and drink....and drink...” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">He gagged.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“You can’t tear my arms off.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">He rose to standing, fists planted on my desk, expression
strangely grim. “Oh, I think I can.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I stood and faced him, allowing my fangs to show and
dropping the human glamour I wore most of the time. Without that glamour, my was
alabaster and my blue eyes turned to flame. “You cannot.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">He gave a sharp inhale, his darker eyes going wide. Folding
into the chair, he gave me another hopeless look. “What does all this mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">Resuming my human posture, I returned to my seat and decided
the direct approach would be best. “Someone has made you vampire.” I gave him a
moment to digest the information, but aside from another sharp breath, he didn’t
interrupt me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“There are few things as terrible as turning a human then
leaving him on his own, but that is what has been done to you.” <i>And I had a
good idea by whom</i>. I rose and came around the desk, hitching my hip up to
lean against the desktop. “I can help you, but you’re going to have to trust
me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“How? Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“How?” I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “I
can feed you and I can teach you what you need to know to feed yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">He didn’t respond, so I kept going. “We’ll need to do some
digging, to learn your surname and where you’re from.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">“And my wife?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I spread my hands, palms down, on my desk. “You must never
see her again, or you run the risk of driving her mad.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">He nodded, covering his face with his palms. Some
combination of his beauty and despondence prompted me to make an
uncharacteristic offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Come.” I held
out my hand. “We’ll go to my rooms” - my private lair, the exact location known
to no one but me - “where you can feed.” Though feeding him myself would cement
my responsibility for him. His maker had made him orphan, and apparently, I was
willing to adopt him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">Slowly, tentatively, his gaze still on the desktop, he took
my hand. “That....thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">I stood and drew him to his feet. “Let us go, Nameless
David. After you feed, you can rest.”</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;">~*~</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Not sure when there'll be more of this, but now that I have a handle on the two protagonists, the rest should start taking shape. Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Best, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Liv</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><span style="font-family: Quintessential;"></span></div>Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-39920827421534764962018-12-05T16:01:00.000-08:002018-12-11T21:26:57.740-08:00Rainbow Advent Calendar Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgKrgvFOlY-imPypril3zP5fJCfOulL6lT2cDmaruwHNod6lPodVXe8q0uG4q5xCk3Vj7lSklxvsTIKp3c-IQiSxNC9wr9k5hzWDJ6xHbwojho8CclALx29tvZ4HINgEy7Pg7vPYOS7Q/s1600/rainbow+advent+calendar+LR+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgKrgvFOlY-imPypril3zP5fJCfOulL6lT2cDmaruwHNod6lPodVXe8q0uG4q5xCk3Vj7lSklxvsTIKp3c-IQiSxNC9wr9k5hzWDJ6xHbwojho8CclALx29tvZ4HINgEy7Pg7vPYOS7Q/s640/rainbow+advent+calendar+LR+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's here! The annual Rainbow Advent Calendar giveaway! All through December, a bunch of cool authors are giving away free stories, ranging from flash fiction to full novels. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowAdventCalendar/" target="_blank">Here's a link to the Rainbow Advent Calendar Facebook group</a> where you can find ALL the freebies. There's also <a href="http://alexjane.info/rainbow-advent-calendar-2018/?fbclid=IwAR0jZ6s-EAjMKQIOw99bo2cnBILjHK26-49frh5HEkHlpcjKeljt5lfH1SQ" target="_blank">a master-list of all the giveaways HERE</a>, put together by our coordinator Alex Jane. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Check the master-list or sign up on the Facebook page. There's lots to see!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My story, </span><a href="https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/FMVOP5uc" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Christmas Prince</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, is a sequel to </span><a href="https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/wjqYx" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Clockwork Monk</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. (If you haven't read Monk, it's available FREE from prolificworks. </span><a href="https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/wjqYx" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Find it here</a> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- opt-in optional<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">) Both stories are set in an alt-Victorian world, and my goal for </span><a href="https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/FMVOP5uc" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Christmas Prince</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> was to make a sweet-spicy and romantic story. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you have a very happy holiday...</span><br />
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<a href="https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/FMVOP5uc" target="_blank"><img alt="https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/FMVOP5uc" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26GfLIAOj8dWIfvGR3SnCstl3BQm9WohvO72Eq4ycEcxo67lULIoQT4Q4QVZ0ihi90NYlnv0sPxezB_y-4pXQEwau2dJO4VwnIotdGOPTyAM_8c6JyRNcTVNOG6qr2nUuUiIoYBn8vyY/s400/ChristmasPrince_v2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>All Trevor wants for Christmas is a handsome man <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>and a reason to move out of his mother's home.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>All Prince Edward wants is a moment of relief <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>from the responsibility of being the heir to the British crown.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>If they can find a way to solve each other's problems, <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>this will be a very merry Christmas indeed!</i></span></span><span style="color: #365899; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2000230093404068&set=a.163188917108204&type=3&eid=ARCTKdx0EJVGIsXOmKWnNhYByBWuDNzgYY6g_i2VjBTZDwc0n8j05ATWLH0CLYCytrsyekTE2PuTSc4n"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jump <a href="https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/FMVOP5uc" target="_blank">HERE</a> to download a copy of The Christmas Prince!!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Prince won't be free forever, so grab a copy now!</span></div>
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<br />Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-30836891862375144622018-02-26T11:10:00.000-08:002018-02-26T11:10:46.353-08:00Release Day! Forsaken by J.R. Gray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIS572uKw6EkDPJPXeaYJEsSWTMvLSvXCp6tkPHIwbhv91OvsXpC3xMVfvd2UlZ1BtHCkieEwv9Cp1JsrNeNM4v2nXuu9OULoI1paxZX4LnIJGtgj3PlGdrJWKMBHK_iuPVwXXotqCji0/s1600/forsaken+teaser+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIS572uKw6EkDPJPXeaYJEsSWTMvLSvXCp6tkPHIwbhv91OvsXpC3xMVfvd2UlZ1BtHCkieEwv9Cp1JsrNeNM4v2nXuu9OULoI1paxZX4LnIJGtgj3PlGdrJWKMBHK_iuPVwXXotqCji0/s320/forsaken+teaser+5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So this is exciting!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is the release day for Forsaken, the newest release from J.R. Gray. I had the great good fortune to read a pre-release copy, and I both thoroughly enjoyed it and think it's a compassionate handling of a potentially difficult topic. Titus grew up in a cult, and Gray never shies away from the difficulty inherent in that. I found the characters to be nuanced and believable, and am convinced that everyone needs an Angel in their life! If you're up for a romance with both depth and heart, check it out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Titus
had lived and breathed religion his entire life, tucked away from the rest of
the world in a compound in northern Wyoming. He’s destined to be the next
leader of the church, deemed so by the Prophet. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">God spoke and with His word He created. But God
made a mistake. Titus isn’t worthy. He was born sick and it’s solidified when
he rescues the most beautiful man he’s ever seen. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Torn between fidelity to his faith or his soul,
Titus must reconcile the two parts of himself before he’s discovered hiding
among the chosen.</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><a href="https://jrgraybooks.com/forsaken/" target="_blank">Gray's Website</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B2NTRTN" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">“Is this okay?” Angel asked. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">“Is what okay?” Titus had a hard time
getting words out. He had a hard time making his brain function with Angel’s
hands on him. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">Angel laughed and scooted his body
closer so their legs were pressed together. “Me touching you.” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">“Yes,” his voice was unsteady. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">“What about this?” Angel put his other
hand on the side of Titus’ neck. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">“</span><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">Sure.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">” Titus swallowed past the lump in his
throat, and was happy for the way he was sitting, because he was as hard as he’d
ever been in his entire life. Harder maybe. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">“What about this,” Angel whispered
over his lips and then brought them together. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">This wasn’t like back at his workshop.
Angel parted his lips, and used his tongue. Titus was left trying to keep up.
As soon as he got the hang of something Angel would change it. He’d done a
little necking with girls, but this was completely different. He hadn’t been
turned on while kissing those girls. It was more like something to do just to
try it, but this was heat and his entire body reacted. There wasn’t a part of
him that wasn’t flushed and on fire. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">Angel’s fingers slid around to the
back of his neck and tightened, keeping Titus close. He grabbed Angel’s bicep,
needing something to hold on to so he didn’t spin out of control. Angel seemed
to like it, groaning into his mouth. It spurred Titus on. He wrapped his other
arm around Angel’s back, desperate to feel more of him. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;">There was a fire demon inside him
demanding more and he wanted nothing but to listen. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When
not staying up all night writing, J.R. Gray can be found at the gym where it's
half</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> assumed he is a permanent resident to fulfill his
self-inflicted masochism. A dominant and a pilot, Gray finds it hard to be in
the passenger seat of any car. He frequently interrupts real life, including
normal sleep patterns and conversations, to jot down notes or plot bunnies.
Commas are the bane of his existence even though it's been fully acknowledged
they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder. If Gray wasn't
writing…well, that's not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt
Gray into an early grave, insanity or both. The idea of haunting has always
appealed to him. J.R. Gray is genderqueer and prefers he/him pronouns.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-76666785482296512252018-02-10T09:05:00.000-08:002018-02-10T09:05:42.392-08:00The Great M/M Romance Valentines Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPEh0Ndsk9Bia5L_D6OnP4cpsk2jUimaAF1gmYPcS-0qdI0mTsxclMvre1DYs67-yz9ecHF69c5GS3JrZQ8E0Z-KCrxuUoiWWLbB5c3gG65q_iUaXI0SWNVMB2NLLjivApIWmnd8gYXo/s1600/2018gayromvalentinesnarrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="723" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPEh0Ndsk9Bia5L_D6OnP4cpsk2jUimaAF1gmYPcS-0qdI0mTsxclMvre1DYs67-yz9ecHF69c5GS3JrZQ8E0Z-KCrxuUoiWWLbB5c3gG65q_iUaXI0SWNVMB2NLLjivApIWmnd8gYXo/s640/2018gayromvalentinesnarrow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy Valentines Day!!</h3>
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I'm blowing the dust off the blog because I'm excited about this event and want to share it everywhere. There are 20 M/M new stories by some exceptional m/m romance authors, and they're all FREE! So click on over to the main page, because it doesn't get much better than FREE!<br />
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Here ==> <a href="https://isobelstarling.wixsite.com/books/giveaway" target="_blank">M/M Romance Valentines Giveaway</a><br />
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I won't divulge how many (many!) of them I downloaded, but the thing I like is there really is something for everyone in this mix. Irene and I wrote a novella that's set in the same world as our other Hours of the Night books, but it features new characters and might well be the start of a spin-off series. Here's the cover and blurb for Haunted...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNKlp_N_Ohgp514mWOUfj7oc125r0JoH21-nysliy2OQGq9gtwcQhu2DFhws855yPqnKf6Uos9hqmRA0Ala3AGxiYQAe9Z8vThwK4b1dYYZtLCwYJpsRngQh1N0Y-AqPmqjWaieZBHz4/s1600/Haunted_400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNKlp_N_Ohgp514mWOUfj7oc125r0JoH21-nysliy2OQGq9gtwcQhu2DFhws855yPqnKf6Uos9hqmRA0Ala3AGxiYQAe9Z8vThwK4b1dYYZtLCwYJpsRngQh1N0Y-AqPmqjWaieZBHz4/s320/Haunted_400x600.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Noel Chandler had a good reason for leaving the L.A.P.D. for New Orleans, but when he walks into a burned out Garden District mansion, he discovers there are some things he can’t outrun. The spooks can find him anywhere.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">As the resident historian for the cable show </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Haunts and Hoaxes</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">, Professor Adam Morales keeps an open mind about the supernatural. Or that’s what he tells himself, until he meets a man who puts that principle to the test. Noel’s smart, sexy, and has killer cop instincts. One glance from his bedroom eyes has Adam ready to believe anything.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">But is Noel haunted, crazy, or just another hoax?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://Noel%20Chandler%20had%20a%20good%20reason%20for%20leaving%20the%20L.A.P.D.%20for%20New%20Orleans,%20but%20when%20he%20walks%20into%20a%20burned%20out%20Garden%20District%20mansion,%20he%20discovers%20there%20are%20some%20things%20he%20can%E2%80%99t%20outrun.%20The%20spooks%20can%20find%20him%20anywhere.%20%20As%20the%20resident%20historian%20for%20the%20cable%20show%20Haunts%20and%20Hoaxes,%20Professor%20Adam%20Morales%20keeps%20an%20open%20mind%20about%20the%20supernatural.%20Or%20that%E2%80%99s%20what%20he%20tells%20himself,%20until%20he%20meets%20a%20man%20who%20puts%20that%20principle%20to%20the%20test.%20Noel%E2%80%99s%20smart,%20sexy,%20and%20has%20killer%20cop%20instincts.%20One%20glance%20from%20his%20bedroom%20eyes%20has%20Adam%20ready%20to%20believe%20anything.%20%20But%20is%20Noel%20haunted,%20crazy,%20or%20just%20another%20hoax/?" target="_blank">Find Haunted on Goodreads</a></span></div>
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Haunted will be available on Amazon for $1.99 (+ KU if that's your jam) starting 2/19/18, so grab it now while it's FREE! Thanks very much! and Happy Valentines Day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6EZYaBPLlrjHoL-H4DJfYk7VFswDV6sa4AhvXyXf16hRWFf9HvsUDpzlR_SDRJ6_S8HzoPzP9GFw_cKJ_4xpeeKot51FqMFuMLSELzLKtUpfYl_JdetK8GrFgXmR1YtZDKUXJDHBG4A/s1600/Hauntedteaser1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6EZYaBPLlrjHoL-H4DJfYk7VFswDV6sa4AhvXyXf16hRWFf9HvsUDpzlR_SDRJ6_S8HzoPzP9GFw_cKJ_4xpeeKot51FqMFuMLSELzLKtUpfYl_JdetK8GrFgXmR1YtZDKUXJDHBG4A/s400/Hauntedteaser1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-4665770909548170752017-10-12T11:08:00.000-07:002017-10-14T21:00:37.282-07:00Nocturne! It's here....and here....and here....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRqPpPTBSmJ-_RjpseMQC_AE2s20ln5MPPGCBHEMSAAnBoHckv3NUMz6DsfG7dhGKUCqLvEWFgBucG6Q8F88J25UaBX6oJbX5ore8RqGs6cm8RSPvTEiKz1L_Ds8HeVfJZPkWmU4gevs/s1600/Nocturne_FBHeader1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="850" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRqPpPTBSmJ-_RjpseMQC_AE2s20ln5MPPGCBHEMSAAnBoHckv3NUMz6DsfG7dhGKUCqLvEWFgBucG6Q8F88J25UaBX6oJbX5ore8RqGs6cm8RSPvTEiKz1L_Ds8HeVfJZPkWmU4gevs/s640/Nocturne_FBHeader1.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Release Day!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Irene and I are busy blogging and tweeting and generally sharing the news about book 2 in our Hours of the Night series. This page will evolve as reviews and guests posts happen, so keep an eye on it, m'kay?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNre-yOZOaJP6-0IhXL6smIpQ_kzddPQvhu7puZ6PjvWpo31OLHUj8X_RFKLZ0UjCdTBxQBAViiH8ePJj9H9kupNkgq-BCMrOIcduXfHbug73bL95V38MxPyKgi3Yzo5AnDWr1Od-QCc4/s1600/Nocturne_teaser_bookcoverright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="640" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNre-yOZOaJP6-0IhXL6smIpQ_kzddPQvhu7puZ6PjvWpo31OLHUj8X_RFKLZ0UjCdTBxQBAViiH8ePJj9H9kupNkgq-BCMrOIcduXfHbug73bL95V38MxPyKgi3Yzo5AnDWr1Od-QCc4/s400/Nocturne_teaser_bookcoverright.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reviews</span></h4>
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<a href="http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/nocturne-hours-of-the-night-2-irene-preston-liv-rancourt/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Top Down Under </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://blog.kristenburns.com/book-review-nocturne-by-irene-preston-liv-rancourt/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kristen Burns/Metaphors and Moonlight</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/reviews-interviews-and-more/nocturne-by-irene-preston-and-liv-rancourt" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Magnolia Reviews </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-nocturne-by-irene-preston-and-liv-rancourt/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Novel Approach</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36188539-nocturne?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All reviews on Goodreads</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nocturne-Hours-Night-Book-2-ebook/dp/B075Q1SQST/ref=pd_sim_351_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PYKDSBGARAZHV32M23J9#customerReviews" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All reviews on Amazon</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Guest Posts</span></h4>
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<a href="http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/cover-reveal-exclusive-excerpt-and-giveaway-nocturne-by-irene-preston-and-liv-rancourt/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cover Reveal at The Novel Approach</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://lovebytesreviews.com/2017/10/05/blog-tour-guestpost-exclusive-excerpt-giveaway-irene-preston-liv-rancourt-nocturne/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love Bytes Reviews</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/reviews-interviews-and-more/interview-and-giveaway-with-liv-rancourt-irene-preston" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://fromtoptobottomreviews.com/2017/10/11/blog-tour-w-guest-post-nocturne-by-irene-preston-liv-rancourt/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From Top to Bottom Reviews</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://becausetwomenarebetterthanone.com/2017/10/12/guest-post-with-giveaway-nocturne-by-irene-preston-liv-rancourt/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because Two Men Are Better Than One</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://diversereader.blogspot.com/2017/10/promotional-post-nocturne-by-liv.html" target="_blank">Diverse Readers</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://queerscifi.com/announcement-nocturne-by-irene-preston-and-liv-rancourt/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://zipperrippers.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-spotlight-giveaway-nocturne-by.html" target="_blank">Zipper Rippers</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">J. Keswick</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254);"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's Mardi Gras, cher, but this year le bon temps kick off
with murder…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254);"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For generations, the White Monks have treated the vampire
Thaddeus Dupont as a weapon in their battle against demons. However, when a
prominent matron drops dead at a party, Thaddeus and his lover Sarasija are
asked to find her killer. Their investigation leads them to an old southern
family with connections everywhere: Louisiana politics, big business, the
Church, and an organization just as secret as the White Monks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254);"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, an esoteric text containing spells for
demon-summoning has disappeared, Thaddeus is losing control of <i>le monstre</i>, and Sara is troubled by
disturbing dreams. These nightmares could be a side-effect of dating a vampire,
or they could be a remnant of his brush with evil. As the nights wear on, Sara
fears they are a manifestation of something darker – a secret that could
destroy his relationship with Thaddeus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“You said you were hungry.” Thad’s tone hinted
at reproach. “There are no restaurants on this block and we have no need of” —a
hint of red touched his cheeks as he scanned the items in front of
them—“anything here.”<br />
<br />
Sara smothered a grin. He had crashed hard after the funeral, woken up well
after Thaddeus, and convinced the vampire to go out to eat. Thad had made it
clear their current focus was Berta, not the <i>Daemonum</i>. Feeding Sara, an
entirely Thad-approved activity, provided the excuse for a little detour. <br />
<br />
They were in the touristy voodoo shop in the French Quarter, not a place Thad
would normally bless with his patronage but the only lead Sara could think of
for tracking down Missy. Intent on killing time until the pale Goth chick at
the counter finished with the other customers, he hadn’t paid any attention to
the items in the display they were ostensibly browsing. He picked up one of the
bottles Thad was scowling at.<br />
<br />
“Are you kidding? This ointment promises to <i>attract the object of your
desire for hours of unbridled passion.</i> Who wouldn’t want that?” He blinked
at the vampire, trying to look innocent. “Where do you suppose we apply it?”<br />
<br />
He had meant to tease his boyfriend, who
had an adorable prudish streak sometimes. Instead, he got the vampire.<br />
<br />
Thad’s eyes turned stormy, then black. Sara felt himself falling into the abyss
as the vampire’s emotions rushed through their bond. Lust. Fury. And threaded
through all of it, <i>à moi p—</i> <br />
<br />
The connection closed so abruptly Sara almost fell over from the psychic jolt.<br />
<br />
“And who do you intend to attract with this vile potion?” Thaddeus looked calm,
but his voice came out low and deep and still carried an echo of vampiric
reverb.<br />
<br />
Sara stared at him. “You, idiot.”<br />
<br />
The vampire stared back, unappeased. “Then is it the <i>hours</i> or<i>
unbridled</i> aspect you find lacking?”<br />
<br />
<i>Unbridled</i>. Sara swallowed hard. Saturday morning had been pretty
unbridled. And hot. And he did <i>not</i> need to think about that in public.<br />
<br />
He swallowed again and tried to suppress the memory of Thad’s hands spreading
him open, his tongue…<br />
<br />
“We’re good,” he croaked. “You’re right. We don’t need any of this stuff.”<br />
<br />
Thad gave him a predatory smile that did nothing to cool down the heat between
them until Sara caught the tiniest flash of fang. Thaddeus?<br />
<br />
<i>Okay. Important note to self. No taunting
the vampire in public.</i> Thad looked one step away from pouncing on him and
dragging him off to…<i>not helping.</i><br />
<br />
Sara tried to think about something, anything else. </span></span></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today Nocturne's still $2.99, but it'll be jumping up to the regular price of $4.99 soon!</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2feCpxs"><b>Amazon</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nocturne-irene-preston/1127125674?ean=9780996809962"><b>B&N</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/nocturne/id1287181654?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4"><b>iBooks</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/nocturne-61"><b>Kobo</b></a><b> | </b><b><a href="https://www.books2read.com/nocturnebook/" target="_blank">More Stores</a></b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vespers & Bonfire are still only 0.99, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">but they'll be regular price soon!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vespers</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVWXJE6/"><b>Amazon</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-vespers-2085538-145.html"><b>ARe</b></a><b> | </b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vespers-irene-preston/1124266419"><b>B&N</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/vespers/id1140697115"><b>iBooks</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/vespers-6"><b>Kobo</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://books2read.com/vespers"><b>More Stores</b></a></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bonfire</span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bonfire-Hours-Night-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01LZQZ3T5/"><b>Amazon</b></a><b> | </b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bonfire-irene-preston/1124588444?"><b>B&N</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bonfire/id1153218668?"><b>iBooks</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/bonfire-5"><b>Kobo</b></a><b> | </b><b><a href="https://books2read.com/bonfire">More Stores</a></b></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And if you want to keep up on all things Hours of the Nights, join us over at After Hours with Liv and Irene, our Facebook readers group!</span></div>
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Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-25478061616843215172017-09-26T18:12:00.000-07:002017-09-28T11:30:57.645-07:00The Cover Can Be Revealed!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59LtHERUGW2cZyYIggxPR8hNYQUSoPK8mjUhhcQKcHiha2vC8x4yqcD3mhjy_OQEkD63Hp9wC_jfuUdIDTU9rWbH29YTLJLlTR1bTb1WyrLmp0RFnLBKJ0hy2TaaMeVGtfajr04-iX-8/s1600/Nocturne_FBHeader1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="850" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59LtHERUGW2cZyYIggxPR8hNYQUSoPK8mjUhhcQKcHiha2vC8x4yqcD3mhjy_OQEkD63Hp9wC_jfuUdIDTU9rWbH29YTLJLlTR1bTb1WyrLmp0RFnLBKJ0hy2TaaMeVGtfajr04-iX-8/s640/Nocturne_FBHeader1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This has been a long time coming! Irene and I have been sitting on the cover of Nocturne for close to six months now, and we're both so excited to have it out in the wild! I love how it's distinct from Vespers, but still has the same feel. Our cover artist, Kanaxa, really did an amazing job!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But you know what they say....a picture's worth more than any words I could come up with. Scroll down so you can see for yourself!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Isn't it pretty? </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now keep scrolling, because there are buy links and giveaways and a screamin' sale price on Vespers and Bonfire. I haven't been blogging much lately - too busy writing! - so thank you for visiting. If you were a fan of the earlier books in The Hours of the Night, I hope you enjoy the newest installment in the series. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b><i><span style="background: #fefefe;">It's Mardi Gras, cher, but this year le bon temps kick off
with murder…</span></i></b></span></h4>
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<span style="background: #fefefe; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For generations, the White Monks have treated the vampire
Thaddeus Dupont as a weapon in their battle against demons. However, when a
prominent matron drops dead at a party, Thaddeus and his lover Sarasija are
asked to find her killer. Their investigation leads them to an old southern
family with connections everywhere: Louisiana politics, big business, the
Church, and an organization just as secret as the White Monks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #fefefe; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, an esoteric text containing spells for
demon-summoning has disappeared, Thaddeus is losing control of <i>le monstre</i>, and Sara is troubled by
disturbing dreams. These nightmares could be a side-effect of dating a vampire,
or they could be a remnant of his brush with evil. As the nights wear on, Sara
fears they are a manifestation of something darker – a secret that could
destroy his relationship with Thaddeus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sale price $2.99</span></h2>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regular price $4.99</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2feCpxs"><b>Amazon</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nocturne-irene-preston/1127125674?ean=9780996809962"><b>BandN</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/nocturne/id1287181654?mt=11"><b>iBooks</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/nocturne-61"><b>Kobo</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.books2read.com/nocturnebook/"><b>More Stores</b></a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“You said you were hungry.” Thad’s tone hinted at
reproach. “There are no restaurants on this block and we have no need of” —a
hint of red touched his cheeks as he scanned the items in front of
them—“anything here.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sara smothered a grin. He had crashed hard after the funeral, woken up well
after Thaddeus, and convinced the vampire to go out to eat. Thad had made it
clear their current focus was Berta, not the </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Daemonum</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. Feeding Sara, an
entirely Thad-approved activity, provided the excuse for a little detour. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">They were in the touristy voodoo shop in the French Quarter, not a place Thad
would normally bless with his patronage but the only lead Sara could think of
for tracking down Missy. Intent on killing time until the pale Goth chick at
the counter finished with the other customers, he hadn’t paid any attention to
the items in the display they were ostensibly browsing. He picked up one of the
bottles Thad was scowling at.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Are you kidding? This ointment promises to </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">attract the object of your
desire for hours of unbridled passion.</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Who wouldn’t want that?” He blinked
at the vampire, trying to look innocent. “Where do you suppose we apply it?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He had meant to tease his boyfriend, who
had an adorable prudish streak sometimes. Instead, he got the vampire.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thad’s eyes turned stormy, then black. Sara felt himself falling into the abyss
as the vampire’s emotions rushed through their bond. Lust. Fury. And threaded
through all of it, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">à moi p—</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The connection closed so abruptly Sara almost fell over from the psychic jolt.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“And who do you intend to attract with this vile potion?” Thaddeus looked calm,
but his voice came out low and deep and still carried an echo of vampiric
reverb.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sara stared at him. “You, idiot.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The vampire stared back, unappeased. “Then is it the </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">hours</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> or</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">
unbridled</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> aspect you find lacking?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"></i><br /></span>
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<i style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Unbridled</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. Sara swallowed hard. Saturday morning had been pretty
unbridled. And hot. And he did </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">not</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> need to think about that in public.</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He swallowed again and tried to suppress the memory of Thad’s hands spreading
him open, his tongue…</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“We’re good,” he croaked. “You’re right. We don’t need any of this stuff.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thad gave him a predatory smile that did nothing to cool down the heat between
them until Sara caught the tiniest flash of fang. Thaddeus?</span></span></div>
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<i style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Okay. Important note to self. No taunting
the vampire in public.</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Thad looked one step away from pouncing on him and
dragging him off to…</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">not helping.</i></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sara tried to think about something, anything else. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The celebration goes on! Irene and I put both Vespers and Bonfire on sale. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regular price $3.99</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVWXJE6/"><b>Amazon</b></a><b> | </b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vespers-irene-preston/1124266419"><b>BandN</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/vespers/id1140697115"><b>iBooks</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/vespers-6"><b>Kobo</b></a><b> | </b><b><a href="https://books2read.com/vespers">More Stores</a></b></span></h3>
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~*~</h3>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bonfire-Hours-Night-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01LZQZ3T5/"><b>Amazon</b></a><b> | </b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bonfire-irene-preston/1124588444?"><b>BandN</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bonfire/id1153218668?"><b>iBooks</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/bonfire-5"><b>Kobo</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://books2read.com/bonfire"><b>More Stores</b></a></span></h3>
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Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-36431850302438825932017-09-19T08:05:00.001-07:002017-09-19T08:13:22.265-07:00Nocturne Preorder!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0Lv44jHRRG9Zool545OvOx_cuObgm9EHOIa_P_bpEBZ0ysdLwZhNVYFvljPPHm2vbK1ZdliAKqKT0v3F6ELYUuL4QXUcGos56neFUR1XcwiqPSdW5CnQYV51t5FUgoJh5Zt6DxXbc1A/s1600/Nocturne_FBHeader3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="850" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0Lv44jHRRG9Zool545OvOx_cuObgm9EHOIa_P_bpEBZ0ysdLwZhNVYFvljPPHm2vbK1ZdliAKqKT0v3F6ELYUuL4QXUcGos56neFUR1XcwiqPSdW5CnQYV51t5FUgoJh5Zt6DxXbc1A/s640/Nocturne_FBHeader3.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our cover reveal's not until 9/25/17, over on <a href="http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/" target="_blank">The Novel Approach Reviews</a>, but the buy links are up and running. It's time to spread the word!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span id="freeText5568329161186737660" style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>It's Mardi Gras, cher, but this year <i>le bon temps</i> kick off with murder…</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">For generations, the White Monks have treated the vampire Thaddeus Dupont as a weapon in their battle against demons. However, when a prominent matron drops dead at a party, Thaddeus and his lover Sarasija are asked to find her killer. Their investigation leads them to an old southern family with connections everywhere: Louisiana politics, big business, the Church, and an organization just as secret as the White Monks. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2feCpxs" target="_blank">Amazon</a> Barnes and Noble <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/nocturne-61" target="_blank">Kobo</a> iTunes <a href="https://www.books2read.com/links/ubl/e/31MY1r/1ee8edabfde79b9249bc03d82a8adaa0f09f5100" target="_blank">More Stores</a></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I'll update the links as more stores come on-line</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Also, Vespers and Bonfire will be on sale for $0.99 starting 9/25/17.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><a href="http://books2read.com/u/b6rKYZ" target="_blank">Vespers </a> <a href="http://books2read.com/u/mKJyPy" target="_blank">Bonfire</a></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Click the links to find all the ebook sellers carrying the first books in the Hours of the Night</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~*~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the hardest parts of writing this book was keeping the cover art a secret. I can't wait to share the post when the cover reveal goes live! In the meantime, mark your calendars....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Also, if you're the Facebook-group-joining type, Irene and I started a new group for people who've read and enjoyed our Hours of the Night series. It's called After Hours with Liv & Irene, and you can find it here...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/LivAndIrene/" target="_blank">After Hours with Liv & Irene</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Best, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Liv</span></div>
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<br />Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-49623632265021611642017-06-15T13:04:00.001-07:002017-06-15T13:05:13.520-07:00Book Release: Aqua Follies!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Aqua Follies</b> releases today, and I couldn't be happier. This has been a labor of love, and I'm so excited to get it into the hands of readers!</div>
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To celebrate, I thought I'd make a post that focuses on the <i>real</i> Aqua Follies, a variety show on water that was part of Seattle's Seafair celebration from 1950 until about 1962. The Aqua Follies had water ballet and dancers, a live band, clowns, divers, and guest performers who regularly sold out the 5000+ seats of the Green Lake aqua theater. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the 1962 Seattle Times</td></tr>
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Seafair lasts a couple of weeks, from late July into early August, and culminates with hydroplane races out on Lake Washington. Over the years Seattle residents have done just about everything to celebrate. Recently I was nosing around Amazon and found a Seafair Cook Book put together by the women of St Andrews on the Lake Episcopal Church in 1951. According to my friend, historian <a href="http://paulabecker.org/" target="_blank">Paula Becker</a> (who pointed me at the Aqua Follies in the first place), the original St Andrews was sacrificed to the construction of Interstate 5, but the congregation lives on in a new church about 10 blocks north of the original.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice they've got Mount Rainier on the cover and not the Space Needle - <br />
because the Space Needle wasn't built till 1962.</td></tr>
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The recipes are pretty amazing. Many require the use of gelatin, and more than a few call for <i>a handful </i>of this or <i>a little</i> of that. Scanning the index, I saw a section of "cocktail" recipes and got all excited (because '50s + cocktails!), but they turned out to need shrimp and avocado, not bourbon. Oh well. There's a separate chapter for recipes contributed by men, one for holiday recipes, one for historic, and one for foreign recipes. Fun stuff!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could bring Seafair Cream Puffs to your next party!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or maybe you'd prefer Raisin Delight or Mystery Pudding? </td></tr>
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So next time you're planning a trip to Seattle, make it during Seafair. There's the hydros and the Blue Angels, a Milk Carton Derby and pirates. <i>PIRATES! </i>It's a lot of fun, and the weather almost always cooperates. And if you don't have time for an actual vacation, check out <b>Aqua Follies</b>. You can have a vacation-by-kindle! (Make sure you get to the end of this post to enter the giveaway <a href="http://irenepreston.com/" target="_blank">Irene Preston</a> and I are running to celebrate <b>Aqua Follies</b>' release!)</div>
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The 1950s. Postwar exuberance. Conformity. Rock and roll.<br /> <o:p> </o:p>Homophobia.<br /><o:p> </o:p></h3>
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Russell tells himself he’ll marry Susie because it’s the
right thing to do. His summer job coaching her water ballet team will give him
plenty of opportunity to give her a ring. But on the team’s trip to the annual
Aqua Follies, the joyful glide of a trumpet player’s solo hits Russell like a
torpedo, blowing apart his carefully constructed plans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the orchestra pit, Skip watches Poseidon’s younger
brother stalk along the pool deck. It never hurts to smile at a man, because
sometimes good things can come of it. Once the last note has been played, Skip
gives it a shot. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The tenuous connection forged by a simple smile leads to
events that dismantle both their lives. Has the damage been done, or can they
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<br /><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Follies-Liv-Rancourt-ebook/dp/B071G1SQTW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496771481&sr=8-1&keywords=aqua+follies">Amazon</a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aqua-follies-liv-rancourt/1126456671">B&N</a><b> | </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/aqua-follies/id1245195345?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4">iBooks</a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/aqua-follies">Kobo</a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.books2read.com/u/baPeM6">More Stores</a></h4>
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<br />Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-58193571987121830322017-06-08T02:30:00.000-07:002017-07-07T07:03:23.642-07:00Aqua Follies! It's here...and here....and here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You might have heard me mention the fact that <i>AQUA FOLLIES</i> IS COMING 6/15/17! Er... and if you haven't before, consider yourself warned. I love the world that this story is set in, because the 1950s were such a complicated time. It was not for the faint of heart, the unconventional, or, you know, the gay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The thing is, though, when you dig beneath any stereotype you find all kinds of different attitudes. I think there's evidence that not even the '50s forced conformity turned everyone into a cookie cutter. There have always been times and places where society was more tolerant, and while no one would ever accuse the '50s of being open-minded, from the 1920s until the '70s at least, the seedy red-light district south of Yesler Way in Seattle hosted a number of same-sex bars, coffee shops, and night clubs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As long as the management paid the cops their stipend, they didn't get harassed...too much.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The world Skip and Russell live in is filled with friendship and music, with party lines and dungarees, and with secrets and fear. I hope you'll check out <i>Aqua Follies</i> soon. The $0.99 preorder price won't last for much longer!</span></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The 1950s. Postwar exuberance. Conformity. Rock and roll.<br /> <o:p> </o:p>Homophobia.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Russell tells himself he’ll marry Susie because it’s the
right thing to do. His summer job coaching her water ballet team will give him
plenty of opportunity to give her a ring. But on the team’s trip to the annual
Aqua Follies, the joyful glide of a trumpet player’s solo hits Russell like a
torpedo, blowing apart his carefully constructed plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From the orchestra pit, Skip watches Poseidon’s younger
brother stalk along the pool deck. It never hurts to smile at a man, because
sometimes good things can come of it. Once the last note has been played, Skip
gives it a shot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The tenuous connection forged by a simple smile leads to
events that dismantle both their lives. Has the damage been done, or can they
pick up the pieces together?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Follies-Liv-Rancourt-ebook/dp/B071G1SQTW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496771481&sr=8-1&keywords=aqua+follies" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aqua-follies-liv-rancourt/1126456671?ean=2940154678251" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> - <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/aqua-follies" target="_blank">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/aqua-follies/id1245195345?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iBooks</a> - <a href="https://www.books2read.com/u/baPeM6" target="_blank">More Stores</a></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aunt Maude patted the director’s shoulder and strode downstage, mistress of
all she saw. “Hop out, girls.” She clapped her hands briskly. “Grab towels if
you need them. We’ll go through the last few numbers and go home.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Right away, Susie scuttled over to Russell. “After all this, I’ll need a
shot of whiskey to take the chill off.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Me too.” Russell smirked to temper the truth in his words. “Go get your
robe.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Nah, you’ll keep me warm enough.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He took pity on her shivering and draped an arm over her shoulders. She
tucked herself in close, ensuring he’d be left with soggy spots on his sports
shirt and khaki slacks, but he didn’t push her away.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He and Susie made a good team, and for the seven thousandth time, he wished
the press of her curves put more heat in his veins.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No such luck.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Thanks, lamb chop.” Her rubber nose clip gave her voice a nasal hum, and
she trembled in the cool summer air. “Can we sneak out later?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Sure, but if Aunt Maude catches us, we’ll both be on the train back home.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She faked kicking him in the shin. “I didn’t come all this way to worry
about going home. You and me are going to have fun.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He pressed a kiss on the top of her head. “Yes, dear.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Their last hurrah. They had two weeks in Seattle, then another run in
Detroit. At some point, Russell would give Susie the diamond ring he had tucked
in the bottom of his suitcase. He snugged her closer to his side. He’d start
his new job, they’d get hitched, he’d buy the house, and she’d give him babies.
More importantly, the wedding would give his parents something to be happy
about.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The feeling of dread wedged under his sternum had more to do with nerves
than anything else.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The director called for the Night at Club Aqua number and counted off a fast
tempo. His baton flashed in the floodlights blazing from the edge of the stage.
From the orchestra pit, the band hit the opening bars of “In the Mood.” Susie
took off, diving into action with the other Aqua Dears. They spun through the
water in a synchronized display, while the dancing half of their traveling
troupe, the Aqua Darlings, took the stage dressed in sparkling blue skirts,
white blouses, and low-heeled black shoes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The big band, a dozen musicians playing brass and strings and percussion,
romped through the verses twice, their heads silhouetted in the stage lights.
Then a lone musician stood, rising into the glare like Gary Cooper on the
screen at a drive-in movie. He was tall and lean and handsome, with a curled
pompadour and a five-o’clock shadow. Curiosity pinned Russell in place. Then
the young man put a trumpet to his lips, and Russell had to close his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The music rang out over the lake and bounced off the rooftops in the
surrounding neighborhood. The tone was cool, but the solo was hot, hitting
Russell with the force of a pickax. The horn’s voice turned his insides to
jelly, but the man—from the swoop of his hair to the curve of his bicep—swapped
that jelly for lava.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He tried to tell himself his damp clothes caused the shivers chasing over
his skin, but didn’t come close to believing it. He dug his fingertips into the
bands of muscle running up the back of his own neck and dragged his gaze back
to the swimmers, breathing slow and deep to force the flush out of his face.
He’d just been surprised by the man, and exhausted from travel. He’d be fine.
Everything was okay.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK2"></a>I
write romance: m/f, m/m, and v/h, where the h is for human and the v is for
vampire … or sometimes demon … I lean more towards funny than angst. When I’m
not writing I take care of tiny premature babies or teenagers, depending on
whether I’m at work or at home. My husband is a soul of patience, my dog’s
cuteness is legendary, and we share the homestead with three ferrets. Who steal
things. Because they’re brats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can
be found on-line at all hours of the day and night at my website (<a href="file:///C:/Users/amyca/OneDrive/www.livrancourt.com">www.livrancourt.com</a>) & blog (<a href="http://www.liv-rancourt.blogspot.com/">www.liv-rancourt.blogspot.com</a>), on Facebook (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/liv.rancourt" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">www.facebook.com/liv.rancourt</span></a>), or on Twitter (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/LivRancourt" target="_blank"><span style="color: #234786;">www.twitter.com/LivRancourt</span></a>). For sneak peeks and
previews and other assorted freebies, go <a href="https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w6h6n3">HERE</a> to sign up for my
mailing list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Come
find me. We’ll have fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-1640995606007061662017-05-23T07:34:00.000-07:002017-05-23T07:34:12.952-07:00New Releases from Lynn Burke!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>So my friend Lynn had two books release in the last few days, so this blog post is double the fun! There's pretty pictures and excerpts and a rafflecopter giveaway down at the bottom...</i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Third
Wheel</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elite
Escorts #1</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By Lynn
Burke</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Publisher:
Evernight Publishing</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Art
Work: Jay Aheer, Simply Defined Art</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Release Date: May 18, 2017</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Keywords: Erotic, Romance, Contemporary, BDSM, single parent, stalking</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Warning: Multiple Partners, Anal Play, Anal Sex, Spanking</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Carpenter by day, man whore extraordinaire by night, Reid Sullivan
lives every man’s dream. But, Elite Escort’s hottest third wheel longs for
something more than casual sex with clients.</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jessica Lindy's testimony helped put her ex-husband behind bars,
but she can't escape his vows of revenge. A jaded single mom, she guards her
heart and daughter’s life against any man.</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One fateful night with
Reid, the temptation for Jessica to allow another man into their lives becomes
too hard to resist. But when her past collides with the present, lives--and
love--will be lost unless Jessica learns how to lower her defenses. Can the
professional escort convince the wary young mom that he can be a different sort
of third wheel--the one she can trust? </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Purchase Links:</u></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Evernight Publishing: <a href="http://www.evernightpublishing.com/third-wheel-by-lynn-burke/">http://www.evernightpublishing.com/third-wheel-by-lynn-burke/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Third-Wheel-Elite-Escorts-Book-ebook/dp/B071F9S43Q">https://www.amazon.com/Third-Wheel-Elite-Escorts-Book-ebook/dp/B071F9S43Q</a></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Excerpt:</u></span></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Go
into the bedroom and take your clothes off,” he said, stepping back, hands
releasing their hold on me. “There are towels in the adjoining bathroom. Wrap
one around yourself and get comfy on that big ass bed, belly down.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Uh
… oh yeah. Massage. Right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unable
to find my voice, I nodded and tried to walk away. Damn heels near sent me
sprawling on the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Here.
Let me.” Reid dropped to his knees and lifted one of my feet to unbuckle the
black heels Christine had insisted on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
grabbed hold of his shoulder to keep from falling over, my gaze locked on the
dark head inches away from my throbbing clit. Thoughts of him lifting my
dress’s hem with his teeth brought a moan to my throat, but I bit down on the
inside of my lip to keep from letting it out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">His
large hand slid up my calf and back down before making short work of the clasp.
My foot slid free, and he ran his hand up my other leg, catching my breath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Get a grip, Jessica.</i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
The barest touch on my skin—hotter than any sex I could remember. My body
craved more. One little lick, one little pinch on my clit, and I’d be screaming
my release for the world to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Go
on,” Reid said, standing and stepping back, my heels dangling from his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With
another thoughtless, dumb nod, I managed to make my feet move. I eyed the
massive bed while making my way across the bedroom to the open bathroom door.
Images of Reid’s ass clenching with each thrust into my writhing body beneath
his flashed across my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“G-good
God,” I whispered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hands
shaking, I all but ripped off my tight dress and restricting bra, but paused to
consider my panties. A full body massage…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another
few seconds of indecision and I slid the
soaked bit of silk down my legs. Just in case he wanted to knead my ass cheeks.
And, nothing more than that, I told myself while wrapping a white fluffy towel
around me. A peek into the bedroom revealed it empty, so I scooted to the bed,
pulled back the comforter and top sheet, and lay face down a little ways from the edge, eyes clenched
shut, pulse pounding through every cell of my body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Closer
than a hair to hyperventilation, I focused on slowing my breathing. Relaxed my
muscles as soft instrumental music floated through the closed door. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Jessica?”
Reid’s low voice raised what little hair I had on my body. “Can I come in?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I
squeaked a reply but had to clear my
throat and try again. “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes. Please come … I
mean, come in. Touch me. Make me come.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> ~~~oOo~~~</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By </span><a href="http://www.authorlynnburke.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lynn Burke</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Publisher: </span><a href="http://www.roanepublishing.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roane Publishing</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Release Date: May 22, 2017</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-98be333b-cee6-beed-43a0-dc965b26de24" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keywords: Erotic, Romance, BDSM, Novella, Series, Bondage</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jade Matthews may be young, but she knows what she wants in a man--someone mature and kinky, a man who shares her deepest desires to have her pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen and submissively compliant in the bedroom.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Archer Brennan aches to unleash his dark side on the too-young grocery bagger, with her pert pony tail and glossy lips that makes him yearn for a taste. With an ex-wife and a messy divorce threatening to destroy his pursuit of happiness, he binds himself to one rule -- hands-off Jade's tight body until his divorce settlement is final.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A submissive must obey her Dom, but some rules were meant to be broken, and when one misstep threatens the dominant lawyer's life, will Jade defy Archer's hands-off decree or lose the only man capable of fulfilling all of her dreams?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>~~~oOo~~~</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>EXCERPT:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I jerked off after my late lunch, thinking I’d be more relaxed and
in control once Jade arrived for my…little test. No such damn luck. Nancy rang
to let me know Jade had arrived and I instantly went hard. I wanted to tell
Nancy to just send her on in, but the gentleman in me wouldn’t allow such an
action, hard-on or not.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Standing, I buttoned my suit coat to hide the bulge in my pants
and headed for the office door. When I pulled it open, our gazes collided and
my attention slid down her neck to where her pulse thrummed. Satisfaction
coursed through me.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“Jade,” I smiled, knowing the lust simmering inside of me shone in
my eyes. “Come on in.” I stepped back, gesturing her past me and breathing in
the scent of snickerdoodles. My hand moved without thought to rest on her lower
back as she walked into my office. Her breath caught, and a quick glance up
into my face had me jerking my hand away.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Fuck. Can’t touch.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I cleared my throat and shut the door behind her. “You look
amazing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Pink tinged her cheeks. “Thank you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“Why don’t you have a seat on the couch today?” I motioned toward
the loveseat beneath my office’s lone window with its upward slanting blinds
for privacy.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I sat in my office chair but swiveled to my right to face her.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Jade perched on the couch’s edge, knees together and hands folded
on her lap.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I took my time drinking in the sight of her—barely there makeup,
hair caressing her shoulders, naked lips, and that dress.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Goddamn, she’d never looked better. The color of her name, the
dress wrapped snug around her, the cleavage of her pert breasts barely
concealed by the deep V-neck. Stiff nipples, bare legs, and strappy tan
heels…and if she followed my thoughts for our meeting, no panties.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">My cock strained, hands shook.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Get a grip, man. You’re thirty-five years old, for Christ’s sake,
not some teenage jerkoff who can’t control his shit.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“How am I supposed to keep my hands off you?” I murmured, tearing
my attention from the darkness between her legs.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Her blush deepened as she shrugged.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I forced myself to settle in my chair. “Sit back, darling. Relax.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">She eased backward into the couch, but tension hitched her
shoulders high.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I wanted the test I had in mind to reveal what I hoped it would,
but being strung tight would hinder her response to me. “How was your week?”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“Long and boring, same as last week.” She sucked in her lower lip
and released it, sending another jolt of lust straight to my cock. “I’ll admit,
my nervousness over today probably made it worse.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“What are you nervous about?”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“The meaning of your note. Your plan.” Her voice escaped as a
whisper, and she swallowed. “Wondering if you’ll finally touch me beyond a mere
brush of fingers.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">My hand flexed at the thought as my heart picked up pace. “More
than anything, I want that exact thing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">We stared at each other for a few long seconds, the sexual tension
thick between us.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I needed to wait until Nancy left. “All in good time,” I finally
said, needing to clear my throat. “For now, talk to me. Tell me about your
hobbies. What you like to do for fun.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Jade heaved a deep breath, her breasts rising and drawing my focus
downward. Pebbled and begging for my teeth, her nipples pressed tight against
the green material covering them.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“Talk to me, Jade,” I encouraged, returning my gaze to her face
with a slight smirk which she returned.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">A half hour flew by as we chatted, and the inner office ring of my
phone startled me. I picked up. “Yes, Nancy?”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“If you don’t mind, I’m going to head out early for the day.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“That’s fine. I’ll finish up with Miss Matthews here in a few
minutes. Would you mind locking the front door on your way out?” I asked as
always whenever she left before me.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">She agreed and I hung up, turning back to Jade. Her brow furrowed,
she played with the ties of her wrap dress.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“Jade.” She glanced up. “Close your eyes for me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">She obeyed without hesitation, her brow smoothing, and my chest
swelled with the trust she showed me.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m going to tell you a story, and I want you to imagine it in
your mind. Can you do that for me?”</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Her plump lower lip disappeared inside her mouth again as she
nodded.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The sound of the front door closing filtered through the blood
rushing between my ears.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<i style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Time to play.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>~~~oOo~~~</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIv14Y-UxdwEzE4eFP2WkynhS1R2Ldm8bFb1rgWoza6kX7GUoXza9GVl_6srIDkdXiPFytiYsuPUSupy5_mgsw82MeOfgS9u-o5XJ3S-_zl2JDCMS7svP-swQz1dSVFdsCfALSXqm7cJz/s1600/9477+with+logo+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIv14Y-UxdwEzE4eFP2WkynhS1R2Ldm8bFb1rgWoza6kX7GUoXza9GVl_6srIDkdXiPFytiYsuPUSupy5_mgsw82MeOfgS9u-o5XJ3S-_zl2JDCMS7svP-swQz1dSVFdsCfALSXqm7cJz/s200/9477+with+logo+-+Copy.jpg" width="136" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-98be333b-cee9-3f3d-0be2-76e2f23b4936"></span><br /></span>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-98be333b-cee9-3f3d-0be2-76e2f23b4936"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lynn Burke is a full time mother, voracious gardener, and scribbler of spicy romance stories. A country bumpkin turned Bay Stater, she enjoys her chowdah and Dunkin Donuts when not trying to escape the reality of city life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.authorlynnburke.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.authorlynnburke.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blog: </span><a href="http://authorlynnburke.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://authorlynnburke.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Author-Lynn-Burke-555282497937461/?ref=hl"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://www.facebook.com/Author-Lynn-Burke-555282497937461/?ref=hl</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorLynnBurke"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://twitter.com/AuthorLynnBurke</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13130238.Lynn_Burke"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13130238.Lynn_Burke</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Amazon: </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Burke/e/B00TGC9SJW">https://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Burke/e/B00TGC9SJW</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>~~~oOo~~~</b></span></span></div>
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Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-10668947571943999182017-05-18T07:45:00.001-07:002017-05-18T07:45:23.469-07:00New Release: Fated Desires by Becky Flade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while since I had an author interview, and this is a fun one. Becky and I have been friends since we both started publishing with Crimson Romance. She's just a little bit cray (in the *best* possible way!), and I so hope you enjoy it!<br />
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<b>LR:</b> What’s the most compelling thing about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fated-Desires-Becky-Flade-ebook/dp/B071NFHZ4W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1494781643&sr=1-1&keywords=becky+flade">Fated
Desires</a>, the thing that’s kept your butt in the chair through hours of
writing and revising?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>BF:</b> Fated Desires was,
to date, the hardest book to write. Which was totally Jenna’s fault. I often
didn’t like her, even though I understood her. And she was going through the
hardest time. I know that’s a big claim to make considering what both Maggie
and Henley were dealing with in their respective stories, but for Jenna,
there’s no bad guy, no stalker, no crazy ex-lover or former patient. Nope, my
girl Jenna had to deal with her fractured sense of self and a young child whom
was acting-out. It made this one an emotional and, I hope, compelling read.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>LR: </b>I bet it is! Now,<b> </b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fated-Desires-Becky-Flade-ebook/dp/B071NFHZ4W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1494781643&sr=1-1&keywords=becky+flade">Fated
Desires</a> is the third book in a series, right? How do you keep track of
characters from one book to the next? Do the books share characters &/or
themes?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>BF: </b>Yep, Fated Desires
is the third book in what I loosely call the Trappers’ Cove series. Honestly, I
keep my Kindle near my computer so I can spot check facts and guarantee a
certain degree of continuity. Continuity errors have nearly ruined the X-men
movies for me. Ha! Maggie and Aidan, the lovers from Fated Souls, are in every
book. They are the glue that holds the series together. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>LR:</b> Cool. I love Maggie and Aidan! Changing direction a little, which book or author has influenced you the most? What
is it about their work that grabs you?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>BF:</b> I’d have say Nora
Roberts has probably influenced me the most. I read the bodice rippers back in
the day and while I love myself a good hero, I never really connected with the
heroines. Nora was probably the first author I can remember who wrote heroines
I could respect. Strong and flawed women that gave as good as they got. That I
could see myself reflected in (I may not be a hero, per se, but I’m definitely
not a DID nor shrinking violet).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>LR: </b>I know you must get asked this a lot, but how do you find
time to write when you’ve got a day job and family?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>BF:</b> I drink way too
much coffee and get not nearly enough sleep. It is not easy. There are times I
have to walk away from the computer and do the mom/wife thing. In the
beginning, that was every time I had to choose between them and my writing.
Then I taught myself it’s okay to say, “I’m doing this right now.” And I lean,
a lot, on my husband. He cooks way more than he thinks he should have to. Ha! <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>LR:</b> Ha! Same with my husband. I swear we wouldn't eat if he couldn't find his way around the kitchen. Now, next question...what’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you
a closet yoga fiend? Could you macramé a plant hanger if you had to? Do you
secretly want to appear on <i>America’s Got
Talent</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>BF: </b>The obvious answer
is reading. I’ve never met a writer who isn’t a voracious reader and who am I
to buck a trend? But I’m guessing you weren’t asking about the obvious. I love
to crochet: blankets, hats, scarves, socks, slippers, pillow covers, even
amigurumi. I bought Nuance a while back so I could write and crochet simultaneously
but my poor beleaguered laptop doesn’t have enough memory to support the
software. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>LR:</b> (*raises crochet hook in solidarity*) What’s next on your writing horizon? Another <i>Fated </i>story? Or are you traveling back
to the world of hot, sexy espionage?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>BF:</b> That is a harder
question to answer than you might think. I’ve already got a rough start to the
4<sup>th</sup> books in both series and I have to choose which one to do first!
Plus I have a tentative release date in October with Tirgearr Publishing, the
edits on which I’ve yet to receive. And so many other story ideas I want to
explore. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>LR:</b> Do you have any writerly advice for my readers, maybe
something you wish you had known early on in the game?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>BF:</b> You can’t take it
personally. That’s way easier said than done. Between rejections, edits,
reviews, sweet mother, you have to develop a hide or you’re going to quit
before you even get started. The first time a manuscript came back full of
deletions, corrections, suggestions – I cried for about five minutes, then I
sucked it up and got to work.</div>
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Great advice, and great interview, Becky. Thanks so much for being on my blog today. </div>
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~*~ </div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Fated
Desires<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">by Becky Flade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jenna Gavin is searching for a fresh start and, more importantly, for
balance. Her heart, and perhaps the hands of fate, have led her and her son to
Trappers' Cove, Minnesota. Settling in the small, quirky town, she's not in the
market for a casual relationship but finds herself in one with the young
widower next door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Former shortstop, Gabriel Foxx, is drawn to his difficult new neighbor.
The more the prickly divorcee tries to keep him at arm's length, the more
determined he is to break down her walls. He can't avoid the passion Jenna
inspires and his friendship with Finn has him yearning for family, but Gabe
won't allow himself to feel more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When friendship grows complicated by stronger emotions and mutual desire
just isn't enough, will love be worth the risk?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Enjoy the following excerpt from</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <b>Fated
Desires:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">She had
drifted closer to him. Or him to her. Jenna couldn’t be sure. But it would take
only a shift of balance to touch her body to his. Life was about balance. And
the shifting of worlds. In the space of a day her world had changed for better
and for worse. She’d spent the previous nine years trying to find her balance
again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jenna
felt the familiar kick of desire. She’d never understood the girls who spoke of
butterflies and stirrings. For her it was more akin to a donkey
kick—pleasurable, sure, like the first jolt of caffeine in the morning and as
sure and swift and strong. Her pulse sped up and she knew the vein in her neck
would visibly pulse; it did when she was angry and when she was aroused. Gabe
was sure to notice it. As she noticed his heart pounding against her palm in a
rhythm she found seductive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">She
raised her gaze from the back of her hand. His mouth was aligned with her own.
She hadn’t realized how close in height they were. All she had to do was…shift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“This is
the longest conversation we’ve had.” Her voice was husky; she heard it, knew he
would. He shifted, imperceptibly but she sensed it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Maybe
this,” his voice was husky too, “is why.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">She
thought she knew what he meant. The tension between them was awareness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“The day
we met I wanted to get close enough to see what color your eyes were. They’re
gray. Like storm clouds. Perfect.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jenna
could feel his breath on the flesh of her lips and her nipples tightened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Mom!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Finn’s
shout was punctuated by his feet drumming down the stairs. Gabe brushed his
lips over the curve of her cheek, his eyes conveying amused regret, and slipped
out the back door, barely making a sound. Jenna grabbed the counter and
breathed. She needed to settle herself before her son found his way to the
kitchen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">See</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <b>Fated
Desires</b> on Pinterest </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/BeckyFlade/fated-desires/"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">https://www.pinterest.com/BeckyFlade/fated-desires/</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and on YouTube<b> </b></span><a href="https://youtu.be/_VD2F-RQzHA"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">https://youtu.be/_VD2F-RQzHA</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Goodreads<b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35102061-fated-desires"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35102061-fated-desires</span></b></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">About
the Author:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Home is
where the heart is and I make mine with my very own knight in slightly
tarnished armor in southeastern Pennsylvania. When I’m not busy living my own
happily ever after, I’m writing about someone else’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-68618549470675328362017-05-17T11:09:00.002-07:002017-05-17T11:30:41.977-07:00Dates to Remember - Aqua Follies!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, this is happening...</div>
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After some three years of writing and research and editing, <i>Aqua Follies</i> is coming to a bookstore near you! I'm so excited to finally be able to share the fantastic cover art. <a href="http://kanaxa.com/" target="_blank">Kanaxa</a> get credit for the art (and it *is* art!). I told her I loved her ability to create both a strong graphic image and make it sensual at the same time. I think she really nailed it with this one!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See what I mean? So cool!</td></tr>
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The
1950s. Postwar exuberance. Conformity. Rock and roll. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Homophobia.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Russell tells himself he’ll marry Susie because it’s the
right thing to do. His summer job coaching her water ballet team will give him
plenty of opportunity to give her a ring. But on the team’s trip to the annual
Aqua Follies, the joyful glide of a trumpet player’s solo hits Russell like a
torpedo, blowing apart his carefully constructed plans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the orchestra pit, Skip watches Poseidon’s younger
brother stalk along the pool deck. It never hurts to smile at a man, because
good things might happen. Once the last note has been played, Skip gives it a
shot. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The tenuous connection forged by a simple smile leads to
events that dismantle both their lives. Has the damage been done, or can they
pick up the pieces together?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Mark Your Calendar!!</h3>
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I don't have buy links yet, but if you want to add <i>Aqua Follies</i> to your Goodreads shelf, click <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34729900-aqua-follies?from_search=true" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Also, if you are the Netgalley type, jump <a href="https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book/114205" target="_blank">HERE</a> to request a copy for review. If Netgalley's not your thing but you're interested in a review copy, PM me and I'll get you one. Now, dates..</div>
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6/8/17 $0.99 pre-order starts!</div>
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6/15/17 release day!</div>
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The regular price is $3.99, so keep an eye out for the preorder special.</div>
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Finally, make sure you enter the giveaway my writing partner Irene Preston and I are running for a $10 gift card! Thanks very much, and happy reading! </div>
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Best, </div>
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Liv</div>
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Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-24385148310043153572017-04-04T06:37:00.000-07:002017-04-04T06:37:28.679-07:00Happy Release Day - Taming the Tango Champion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">There’s passion on the Dance Floor</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">On return from a trip around the world, TV
presenter, Ava Whittaker, has a baby by Matthias de Romero, Argentine Tango
champion, hacienda owner, and the man she loves. The problem? He doesn't know.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">Fast forward two years, and Ava reluctantly
agrees to be a contestant on a new dance show on TV, but to her shock, Matthias
– the man she never expected to see again – is one of the judges.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">Matthias de Romero is leaving his beloved
stallions in Argentina to assuage his pride. Two years previously, the one
woman he thought he could care for walked out on him after just one glorious
night. He arrives in London ready for revenge.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">Will Ava’s secret cause their intense feelings
to burn out, or fan further the flames of love? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Ava, wait until you hear what I’ve got
for you… The pilot of a new dance show, <i>To Dance or Not to Dance</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ava Whittaker choked on her cup of tea,
dropping the phone in her fluster. Her agent must have gone mad if she thought
this <i>totally </i>preposterous idea was anything but. She picked the phone
back up and caught it between her ear and shoulder to clear away the lunch
dishes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Absolutely
not. Sorry, Caroline, I don’t dance.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what does she do? What would you do? Ava is a single mum
on maternity leave from her job as breakfast television presenter…she has been
out of the spot light for nearly three years, travelling for the first and
oh…guess you need to buy the book to see what happens. Then again, my favourite
passage might give you a hint: <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “Ah,
good.” Daniel raised his voice and held his hand up to beckon someone over.
“Matt managed to make it. We're over here, Matt.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ava shook, the bubbly in her glass held
halfway to her mouth mimicking the tremors running through her. <i>For pity’s
sake, get a grip</i>. A tingling sensation accosted the base of her spine.
Matthias had no reason to be in London to judge a dancing competition. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">But
he was a dancer… </span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She grimaced to herself, making a
mental note to get out more. Jeez, the first time she left the house and look
what happened, imagining every man was Matthias. Perhaps her ability to
socialise had been stunted from the time spent in the safety of her own home.
Maybe her brain was a stuck record. Oh, who knew… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ava stepped back from the circle to
allow space for the newcomer, and maintained a tighter grip on her shaking
glass. Her heart hammered as though someone had put it on loudspeaker. Keeping
her eyes downcast, she felt a presence loom closer. Apprehension squeezed her
heart. She drew a shuddering breath, a breath which told her all she needed to
know. The tantalising smell of dark amber and spices sent her nerves sky-high.
Daunted, she closed her eyes to the flickering images of her and Matthias in
the firelight, until she summoned the courage to open and take him in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wide shoulders encased in a white silk
shirt, opened at the neck. The sleeves, rolled to his biceps, enhanced the
muscles defined beneath the sheer material. Black, fine wool trousers hugged a
tapered waist, and while the light silk of his shirt did nothing to disguise
the six-pack, the thin fabric of his trousers showcased the powerful thighs
honed by years of breaking horses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shivers raced up and down her body, and
she fought against leaning closer to him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first time she met him, she’d been
in a heap at his feet, having just fallen off a horse on his ranch. Her
weakened legs now threatened to put her in the same position once more.
Swallowing hard, she summoned her courage and raised her chin. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glacier eyes met hers. The gold flecks
hadn’t been imagined, but the temper crackling from the steady green gaze made
her jump, spilling champagne. The last time she’d looked into his eyes, they
had held nothing but passion; she had been the most beautiful girl in the
world. That memory slipped away shyly under a new contemptuous glare. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matthias de Romero was in town.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XC4VKRD?tag=geolinker-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></h3>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
is a lot of me in Ava, I travelled the world on my own but no, didn’t make
passionate love with a hot Argentine rancher deep in the Andes. But falling in
love when I travelled was something I was so conscious not to do—for the very
reason that Ava leaves in the first place. Love across continents is no easy
thing, and I would’ve done the same as she. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can generally find Cait when
she’s not in her writing cave or hanging around her favourite spots in nature somewhere
on the internet:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://caitosullivan.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cait’s Place (blog)<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/personalcait"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Facebook<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CaitOSullivanAuthor/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Facebook Author Page <o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6853028.Cait_O_Sullivan"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goodreads<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cait_osullivan_author/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instagram<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/amyca/Downloads/@romanticait"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twitter<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://mybook.to/TangoChampion"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buy link for Tango<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-53178660151567129372017-04-03T02:30:00.000-07:002017-04-03T03:09:36.915-07:00The Lighthouse Keeper by Cynthia Ellingsen<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong>Book Title:</strong> The Lighthouse Keeper
<strong>Author:</strong> Cynthia Ellingsen
<strong>Genre:</strong> Contemporary Women's Fiction
<strong>Release Date:</strong> April 4, 2017
<strong>Hosted by:</strong> Book Enthusiast Promotions</div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dawn Conners’s parents are famous for finding historic treasures, but she has a knack for losing things—her job, her boyfriend, and now, her reputation. Thanks to a mud-slinging exposé, Dawn’s late great-grandfather is assumed guilty of stealing silver from a century-old shipwreck. Hoping to clear his name, Dawn returns to Starlight Cove, her idyllic hometown on Lake Michigan, where the doomed vessel sleeps beneath the beam of a ramshackle lighthouse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Her plan: remodel and sell the lighthouse while untangling the perplexing family mystery. Neither task is easy, especially once her well-meaning parents and the quirky locals—including nautical researcher and Starlight Cove’s most eligible bachelor, Kip Whittaker—get involved. Despite their attraction, Dawn is reluctant to trust Kip, or any of the close-knit townsfolk. But as she pieces together the truth, Dawn’s once-shuttered heart opens up. And if she’s willing, the lighthouse might guide her to a place she never expected to find, where the past entwines with a bright new beginning.</span>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">“Dawn Conners?” a voice called.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I snapped out of my reverie and stared.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">A gorgeous guy in his midthirties dragged a rickety rowboat through the water. His dark hair was windblown, cheeks rough with stubble, and his navy T-shirt clung to a strong upper body. He flashed me a smile I felt all the way down to my toes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">“Are you Dawn?” he called.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">“Yes,” I said, smoothing my hair.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Who on earth was </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">he</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">I watched as he tossed a bowline knot over a metal pole and cinched it with a firm tug. The rope went taut, along with his upper arms. Then he jogged across the sand and came to a halt next to the boardwalk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Midnight-blue eyes surveyed my fitted linen dress, bare legs, and low pumps. In a voice much too husky for polite conversation, he said, “You always wear high heels to the beach?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I flushed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Even though Libby liked to say that my fitted dresses and pinned-up hair made me look like a candidate for public office, I didn’t expect to hear it from a stranger.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">“Depends on the day,” I shot back. “Do you always look like you just rolled out of bed?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">He grinned. “You’re already thinking about me in bed?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">“I have an appointment with Kipling Whittaker,” I said. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to—”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">“You can call me Kip.”</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arrgh.</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> I couldn’t believe this.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The fact that my mother had led me to believe that this guy was a gentleman of a certain age meant she was up to one thing: matchmaking. In her mind, I came to Starlight Cove for a fun, relaxing summer vacation. That assessment could not be further from the truth. The last thing I wanted to do was waste time flirting with some rumple-haired playboy.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Especially one named Kip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Cynthia Ellingsen lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and is the author of two previous novels: The Whole Package and Marriage Matters. She loves connecting with readers through her website, Facebook, and Twitter. Visit her at </span><a href="http://www.cynthiaellingsen.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">www.cynthiaellingsen.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span>
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Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-13594418853101161782017-03-18T01:30:00.000-07:002017-03-18T21:11:46.338-07:00#MySexySaturday Sexy Saves the Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sexy saves the day! What a great theme! I hope you check out all the blogs this weekend, because there'll be all kinds of heroic action. The list is at the bottom of this post, so check 'em out, okay?<br />
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Today's 7-paragraph snippet is from<a href="http://www.livrancourt.com/upcoming-releases.html" target="_blank"> Aqua Follies</a>, my historic m/m romance that'll be published in June. Russell and Skip are both pretty sexy, and in this bit, the gang's gone out to hear a band play but the cops break up the party. Russell's college degree pulls Skip out of the fire...<br />
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(Murphy is a cop, and he & Skip have history. This snippet is from Skip's POV.)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Murphy flashed the light around the
car again. Skip kept his gaze out the passenger window. The light passed him,
then came back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 27pt;">“Oh, this is good,” Murphy laughed.
“Mr., um…” Murphy took another glance at the license, “Mr. Haunreiter, what are
you doing with a pervert like Skip Johansen?” Another laugh, meaner, nastier.
“And who you got back here? Are you two lezzies?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Russell.” Another plaintive cry
came from the girl in the back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Excuse me, Officer, but as Mr.
Johansen’s legal counsel,” Russell spoke with more poise than Skip could ever hope
for, “may I remind you slander is a crime, and unless you want to charge us
with anything, I suggest you go back to your car and let us go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Murphy’s look of surprised dismay
made Skip’s lips twitch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You really a lawyer?” Murphy
clearly didn’t believe what he’d heard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Russell met his gaze squarely. “Yes
sir.”</span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 36px;">(He's not, but he will be when the summer's over and he gets a job....lol.)</span><br />
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The 1950s. Postwar exuberance. Conformity. Rock and roll.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Homophobia.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Russell tells himself he’ll marry Susie because it’s the right thing to do. His summer job coaching her water ballet team will give him plenty of opportunity to give her a ring. But on the team’s trip to the annual Aqua Follies, the joyful glide of a trumpet player’s solo hits Russell like a torpedo, blowing apart his carefully constructed plans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the orchestra pit, Skip watches Poseidon’s younger brother stalk along the pool deck. It never hurts to smile at a man, because good things might happen, but the timing has to be right. Once the last note has been played, Skip gives it a shot.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The tenuous connection forged by a simple smile leads to events that dismantle both their lives. Has the damage been done, or can they pick up the pieces together?<br />
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~*~</div>
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That's all for this week. Thanks for checking out my post, and keep your eye on my blog, because the cover reveal and other details are coming right up. Me and my writing partner Irene Preston have a giveaway for a $10 gift card. We're choosing a winner 5/1/17 and you may as well enter, because somebody's gotta win.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;">Finally, don’t forget to check out </span><a href="http://www.mss-authorcentral.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #531d99; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #409913; font-size: 13pt;">Author Central</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;"> where we’ll be sharing even more from our authors besides Saturday’s snippets. </span><!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=275725" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-23777128696198712512017-03-11T02:30:00.000-08:002017-03-11T02:30:00.317-08:00#MySexySaturday My Sexy Warrior<br />
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Hey, so I'm happy to be back with a #MySexySaturday post. TBH I went through a fairly long stretch where I wasn't feeling the sexy, but I'm better now. I've been busy, too. I spent a chunk of this week reworking my website. (Jump <a href="http://www.livrancourt.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see it.) For the first time in years my blog is integrated with my website, and it makes me so happy.<br />
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An author's life is wild, y'all.<br />
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Irene and I are hard at work on the next novel in our Hours of the Night series. We haven't settled on a title yet, but hopefully it'll come clear soon. This is the fun part, where we're tossing scenes back and forth and the only pressure is how many words you can write in an hour. (The editing part might be slightly less fun, but that won't happen for a couple months.)<br />
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And finally, I've made a decision about one of my favorite projects ever. Aqua Follies is an m/m romance set in 1955 Seattle. I'm pretty sure I've teased it before in one of these Sexy Saturday posts, but expect to see more between now and the publication date in June. I'm tremendously excited to be working with a great editor, and to have control over cover art and promotion.<br />
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A mid-century romance might not exactly relate to the warrior theme, but I did find one scene that fits. We're in Skip's point of view here. He's got a crush on Russell, and the gang has gone out to see a rock n' roll show. Skip and Russell are in the parking lot, sneaking a sip from Skip's flask when they hear Russell's cousin cry for help. She's been dancing with the wrong boy...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">With a click, Ryker opened a switchblade. “Funny how this
extends my reach.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Swinging
the branch, Skip took a step forward. The college boys all shifted back, even
the one facing off with Russell. Skip might be slender and a little light in
his boots, but anyone who grew up in Pioneer Square knew how to fight. He and
Ryker moved into position on either side of Russell, and the college boys
backed off.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We
were just playing anyway.” One of them laughed like it was all a joke.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Didn’t
sound like that to me,” Russell said. “I think you should apologize to my
cousin.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Your
cousin’s a slut.” </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Skip
wasn’t sure which one said it, but before anyone could respond, Russell took
three big steps forward and put his fist into the middle guy’s belly. The boy
dropped to his knees, and Russell stood over him. “Anyone else?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
other two beat feet, which didn’t surprise Skip. These candyass college boys were
all show and no go. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Susie ran up to Annette, with
Russell right behind her. “I’m going to get the car,” Skip said to Ryker. “We gotta
cut out.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~*~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks for checking out my little teaser! I don't have the cover art yet, but my Pinterest inspiration board will give you a visual. Also, make sure you drop by the other #MySexySaturday posts. There's a lot of fun stuff!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedBoard" data-pin-scale-height="240" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="https://www.pinterest.com/livrancourt/aqua-darlings/"><script async="" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></a></span></div>
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<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=275724" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Liv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.com8