Electronic Beeps!

​This was the week of electronic beeps.
 
First was my fridge. We lost electricity for a few hours when the neighborhood transformer did its occasional fritz thing. You hear sizzling and then the lights go out. Well, when we woke up the next morning all was well, except the fridge. Every time I open the door it beeps like when we walk away and leave a door ajar.  Annoying as heck. And I have no clue how to stop it – or if I want to pay for a repairmen to come fix it.
 
Apparently, fate doesn’t want to leave it at that. Next I hear an odd hum coming from my oven. What the heck? Apparently it started when my husband tried to reset the clock.  Now we have no time displaying and the option of leaving it in self clean mode (the hum) OR – yep – let it beep every fifteen seconds.  We can not figure out how to turn the dumb beep off – we tried. Believe me we tried. Finally we did the only sensible thing. Turned off the breaker.  Why not? I don’t cook. We all know that. No Secret. Though I will need it to cook for Thanksgiving so we’re going to have to figure it out soon.  The plan is to turn the breaker back on tomorrow morning (I had too much going on today) and if it doesn’t reset and still beeps- call in the repairman for both beeping appliances!
 
On the bright side – edits for Just One Shot are finished and the manuscript is with the proofers.  It took EIGHT passes with the editor but we think we whipped that sucker into shape.   Have you preordered yet? Just for fun – here’s a little snippet.

     "Hi Mum. You're on speaker." Siobhan’s eyes lit up.
     Though he tried his best to be discreet, Jack couldn't help but watch her.
    "Hello to everyone.” A chorus of hello, hi, and good morning echoed around the room. “Tell me, girl, how was the wedding yesterday?” Her mother’s musical lilt came through the phone.
     A wide grin on her face, Siobhan leaned back in her seat and began recounting the events in more detail than before. With each story of the night, Siobhan’s enthusiasm grew. Practically bouncing in her chair, her smile bloomed and her eyes sparkled. Her love for her mother seemed to energize her every sentence. The same could be said for her mother. Jack didn't listen to the words, but the tone. In every question her mother asked, the pride in her voice couldn’t be missed.
     The delight in Siobhan's voice and her sweet relationship with her mother washed over him. She looked downright adorable. Though he was pretty sure Siobhan would give him an earful if she heard him think that. Grown up or not, her smile was infectious. No way could he watch her excitement and not smile back.
      When the call was over, Siobhan gave a wistful sigh before digging back into her food.
     “Your mother sounds good.” The Governor sipped his coffee with one hand and scratched behind Moon’s ears with the other. Honey’s littermate leaned into the Governor’s leg. Those two dogs were as lucky as the rest of the Baron clan.
      “I worry about her all alone sometimes, but it’s good to hear all is well.”
     And wasn’t that the icing on the cake. Not only did the kid like her mother, she worried about her too.
      "Governor?” Siobhan wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “I was planning to hit the mall today. There are a few things I need to pick up at the camera store. Since I don’t have my car, may I borrow one of the other ones?"
      "I can take you." The words slipped out before Jack had time to think better of it.
     Eyes wide, Siobhan's gaze raced back to his. “You don't need to go out of your way again."
    The way Mitch and the Governor’s attention had whipped around to him, he almost thought twice about his offer, but instead, his mouth kicked into gear before his brain could stop him. "I need to stop at the mall also. Today is as good as any.”
     "Are you sure you don't mind?"
     His gaze casually took in the additional sets of eyes staring him. What the heck, it was just a ride to the mall, he wasn’t asking for the kid’s hand in marriage. “I’m sure.”
    “Then I guess I don't need a car after all." Siobhan pushed to her feet. “Give me two minutes to grab my purse and I'll meet you at the front door."
      Containing the urge to smile back as brightly as she was, Jack nodded.
     Siobhan bounced out of the room, her absence leaving a vacuum. He dared to look at the others at the table. He couldn’t swear to it, but he thought he saw a glimmer of suspicion in Mitch’s gaze. Same with the Governor. Shaking his imagination clear, he stood. He had to be reading into their expressions. Siobhan was just a kid and he was just helping out a friend’s little sister. Walking to the other end of the table, he kissed Lila again. "Thank you for your hospitality."
      "Thank you for rescuing our girl." The older woman smiled up at him again.
     “My pleasure.” Nodding at the Governor, he turned, noticing Mitch was no longer seated. He found Siobhan's brother at the front door, a stern expression directed at him. Jack stopped a few feet from him.
     "Our baby sister thinks she’s all grown up.”
     Jack nodded.
    “Just so we’re clear.”
    Again, he bobbed his head. He knew better than anyone that not all that long ago he was partying hardy with Kyle and the others while Siobhan was still in pigtails and braces. So why had he not let her use one of the other ranch cars?
 
Did I ever mention the inspiration for this book? Every time I heard the song My Girl by Dylan Scott on the radio, I would think of Siobhan.  I actually incorporated much of the song’s lyrics into the scenes.  I hope y’all love it as much as I do!

And now I’m on to Mitch’s book.  I have big ideas for that one and hope I can pull it off.