Happy Birthday and New Release to ME!
It's my birthday so we're changing things up today with
a little reminsecing about one of my favorite series:
Gilda Wright Mysteries
launching a NEW BOOK and giving away a FREE BOOK!!
Dead Without Remorse
Chapter One
Gilda fanned her face, glad she’d pulled her shoulder-length hair into a ponytail and melted onto a lawn chair. Sweat trickled from every pore as she groaned. “This weather is unbelievable, especially for mid-September.”
“Hey, I’ll take it. Summer could last another six months as
far as I’m concerned.” Marion Yearly, her best friend of many years, handed her
a tall glass and a straw across the round mosaic-tiled table. “Here, this’ll
help. My famous Lemonade Margarita. Drink it slow, it’s loaded with…”
Too thirsty to heed her warning, Gilda sucked back nearly
half a glass of the cold, tangy mixture before an odd taste hit the back of her
throat. She scrunched up her face. “What’s in this?”
“I tried to warn you about the tequila.” Marion curled her
shoulder-length dark hair over her ears before she topped up Gilda’s glass then
raised her own. “Cheers to both of us finally getting an afternoon off to hang
out together. Well, aside from karate class this morning.”
“Amen.” Gilda tapped her glass against Marion’s before she
sat back. Her best idea of the day so far was to pull on a bikini beneath her shorts
and tank top after class.
Maybe she could convince Marion to join her for a dip in
Lake Erie later. Considering the sweltering heat, it wouldn’t take much effort,
especially after some spiked lemonade.
Her best friend’s backyard resembled a small-town version of
the Garden of Eden. Fruit trees, a wide variety of flowers, thick shrubs, and
plenty of shade. Gilda felt like she’d gone to paradise without having to board
a plane.
Marion slid on her sunglasses before she sat back and
breathed out a happy sigh. “How’d you manage to get the rest of the day off
anyway? I thought Mick wanted you to work all day and night to get ready for
Sandstone Cove’s birthday bash next weekend.”
“That’s what he said, but—”
“Aren’t we supposed to be doing some big demo on the beach
and distributing some handouts?” she cut Gilda off.
“Yup, but we’ve worked out most of the details and the
flyers are at the printers. Besides, I’ve put in well over my usual hours in
the past few weeks. I needed a day off before I strangled someone.”
Marion grinned. “Kane. I heard you two snarl at each other
in class.”
“He’s had it coming all week. At least, Kane’s teaching
classes tonight, so Mick and I can be alone. Between the new school and the
celebration, it’s been weeks since we’ve had time together.”
When she’d first started to work for Sensei Mick Williams at
Yoshida Martial Arts, she was ill prepared for what lay ahead, or for falling
head over heels for her boss. Her original motivation was to hide from the
world behind a desk. To rebuild her shattered self-confidence and ego after a
very public breakup with a local police detective.
“Did I tell you how jealous I am you work with the hottest
hunks in town? You know that’s the only reason I take classes, right?” Marion
adjusted the straps of her yellow tank top before she closed her eyes and
settled back with a dreamy smile.
Not only did Gilda know. So did the hunks in question.
Marion had a massive crush on Razi Mauli, one of the instructors. He seemed to
take her attention in stride. Sometimes, he seemed to enjoy it enough to flirt
a bit in return.
“That and you like to watch them grapple in tight shorts.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Marion grinned.
Gilda gazed around the garden. “Do you realize it’s been
three months already since Mick shut down the Yoshida school?”
Then he and Razi built Phoenix Martial Arts. Despite the
glitch of a murdered referee during their grand opening, membership had soared.
Gilda shuddered at the memory of stumbling across yet another body. She never
wanted that experience again. Ever.
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