Friday 15 April 2011

M = Wendy's Blogaversary Blogfest!


Neat this, having a blogfest within the A-Z Challenge!
Good for Wendy Tyler Ryan for celebrating her blog anniversary on April 15th.

For this blogfest we have to write a short piece, take it from existing novel, or from WIP. The "challenge" to include the following words: mist(y), mambo, moon, musk(y), mongrel, myth.


Mine is from a romance novel written 2010, set in the Bahamas.
Brief: in this the MC is with her boss, though not a boss as we tend to think of a boss. Tara has undertaken a PA job that requires compassion, friendship and awareness to Darrell's illness. I dare not reveal more or the plot will out itself. They have become close, but not close enough in Tara's case for a romance to develop in the time he has left, unless . . . As it is, she's still in love with another (the real story) and Darrell's a renowned womaniser with mistress galore notched to his belt.





Three drinks downed, a plate of lobster and salad decimated along with fresh fruit and cheese nibbles, the Friday night fire dance routine stole their attention; the dancers light-footing it centre stage to rhythmic mambo.

Darrell said, ‘Hadn’t we better make a move?’ He glanced at his watch. ‘It’s quite a walk back ’ His gaze returned to the masked fire dancer on the dance floor; two scantily clad girls tantalising the young man with their voluptuous bodies. ‘Hell, that’s a sexy number,’ he remarked, whilst pushing back his chair, the bill already accounted for.


‘A bit risqué if you ask me, and you’re right, we should be going.’ She too rose from her seat, turned and strolled away from their table. ‘Shall we take the cliff path or the road?’

‘The cliff path,’ he said, sounding a tad distracted.

As she ascended the steps leading to the main coastal path, she sensed him hanging back. Casting a quick glance over her shoulder, she said, ‘Come on slow coach.’

‘Give me a break,’ he said, a big grin. ‘I’m enjoying the view.’

‘View? It’s almost dark and it’s a view you could paint blindfolded.’

‘Not the view I’m looking at,’ he said, tilting his head to one side. ‘What I’d give to run my hand up just one.’

‘Run your hand up what exactly?’ she asked, looking around to see what had caught his eye and incited wont to touch.

‘Your legs, what else?’

She sensed a flush to her cheeks, for she hadn’t expected that from him. ‘Mongrel. You’ll have to catch me first.’ His laughter echoed, as she paused to slip stiletto-heeled sandals from her feet. In a flash she turned and headed up a slight incline, making sure to keep a good few paces ahead. The long winding path from the beachside bar soon became narrow and evening seriously fallen to night, the tropical canopy so dense a rising moon had little impact in lighting their way. Sense of chill rippled down her spine. Dampness in the air prevailed: a sea mist, perhaps, drifting in with the tide, hence salty brine on the ether.

The high walls of the villa loomed and she hurried onward until sharp stones encountered near the gateway. She paused to re-don her sandals. ‘I wouldn’t have worn stilettos if I’d known you’d intended we walk back to the villa,’ she muttered, more to herself than to Darrell.

Darrell, following in her wake, called after her, ‘What’s the rush?’

She stopped in her tracks, turned and waited for him to catch up. She caught hold of his hand, a moment of compassion. ‘Sorry. It was terribly remiss of me to dash off and set such a testing pace. It’s just that it was . . .’

‘All rather arousing back there in the bar,’ he said, sounding amused. ‘Not surprising really. To be quite honest, what with those girls prancing around half-naked and your cleavage I very nearly had a hard problem, hence my wishing to leave. I feel as randy as hell, and if I kissed you now you’d probably slap my face. So I’ll just let you know that I would if I thought I could get away with it.’

‘Is that what you want, just a kiss?’ She reached up and kissed his cheek. ‘So kiss me.’

Heady scent of tropical flowers she likened to musky incense, and as Darrell’s mouth took possession of hers it was akin to being kissed by a boy on his first date. She couldn’t believe this of a man renowned as a womanizer. It barely lasted a few seconds, and he stepped back like a scalded cat. ‘You taste divine,’ he said squeezing her hand, clearly something else on his mind. ‘What I really want would be asking too much of you.’

Aware of his arousal as he’d drawn her close against him, she said, ‘Tell me then, because I can’t mind read, and . . .’ Sudden conscious of a bell ringing, a bell never heard before she lost momentum. ‘Sorry, but say what you’re thinking, or you’ll never know whether I might have said yes.’

He clasped her hand tighter, and they strolled on and into the lush garden of Tamlin Villa. ‘Tara as much as I want you, in a physical sense, there’s the matter of age difference and the fact that you don’t love me.’

About to say age immaterial, and in no way looking to a relationship with anyone for the time being, to imply otherwise would be downright mean. ‘It’s not that I don’t . . . Oh Hell, that damn bell is so distracting.‘

He squeezed her hand. ‘What bell?’

‘Can’t you hear it? It’s out near the point. Sounds as though it’s coming from Buccaneers Retreat.’

‘I can’t hear a thing, but I believe you.’

‘What?’

‘You say you hear it, I believe you. Other people have said they’ve heard it and I never believed them. I thought them . . . well, just taking the mick.’

‘How can you not hear it, Darrell?’

‘There’s no bell at Buccaneers Retreat, Tara. It doesn’t exist. People claim it’s a ghost' ship bell. The bell of a pirate ship sunk off the headland by an English buccaneer, the man who built Buccaneers Retreat.’

‘That bell is real, it can’t be . . .’

Myth, fable, legend, whatever? The worst part about it . . . when heard it usually hails bad tidings for the island or someone on it.’

She shivered, the sea mist now ghostlike, creeping through the garden toward them as if by stealth of a predator and intent on cloaking their very existence.

Hope you enjoyed! ;)

To see entries by other participants go here


30 comments:

Wendy Tyler Ryan said...

Something is definitely afoot! Nice canter and pacing. These two are in soooo much trouble I fear.

Thanks for joining the fest.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

That was quick: I was still amending bits I'd cocked up while copy-pasting. Mistakes never seem to show up until one posts to the blog. Bummer! ;)

best
F

Paula Martin said...

Great excerpt, Francine - you brought all the 'm' words in so naturally. Well done!

Heather M. Gardner said...

But 'bad tidings' make for a great story!
This was great!
Thanks for sharing.
HMG

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Paula,

Thanks for stopping by. Strange as it may seem, some of the words already existed! Cheap shot slotting in the others as replacement words. ;)

Heather,

Thanks for coming by to comment. Absolutely, nothing like a bit of suspense! ;)

best
F

Ju Dimello said...

Tell me you have the rest somewhere!!!!!

Absolutely fab and you left me wanting more! I wouldn't mind having a sneak peek if you want someone to read over the "full" when done ;) hehe

Summer Ross said...

Had a very fun start and now I'm very curious why she can hear a bell and what horribleness lay in wait...Thanks for posting!

MJ said...

Great job!

Michael Di Gesu said...

You set a fantastic scene. The build up was natural and the dialogue believable.

I love the doom at the end. Well written, Francine.

Francine Howarth said...

Thanks Ju, Summer, MJ and Michael for stopping by to comment: and all your kind words. ;)

best
F

Unknown said...

Ok, you hooked me so now I am an addict. Whats next? I know you know so spill it :)

Marsha A. Moore said...

Lovely setting and great dialog!I'm left hanging...the encroaching sea mist, coming on like a predator.

Dani said...

Another crazy A-Z Challenge Fool - hi!

Blog Book Tours

Author Joshua Hoyt said...

Great job on this piece. Good use of the words.

nutschell said...

great use of the m words! now I'm hooked. :)
nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

J.L. Campbell said...

Yep, you did get a feel of foreboding in at the end. I like the characters too.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Siv, Marsha and Dani,

Thanks ever so for dropping by. Nice to meet you all, and I'll be over to yours shortly if not already having shown my face! ;)

best
F

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Josh and Nutschell,

Nice to meet you both, and thanks ever so for the comments.

J.L.,

I loved these characters, too: lots of lovely banter between them a great friendship, but sadness is yet to come.

best
F

Tyrean Martinson said...

Intriguing - great pacing, details and banter!
http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/

PK HREZO said...

Lovely work here, Francine! And I love that pic! :)

Sarah Allen said...

Great work :) It got me very excited. Thank you for sharing!

Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)

Ellie Garratt said...

I'm hooked and hope to read more one day!

Ellie Garratt

RosieC said...

Nice entry.I really enjoyed it and your style. :)

Rosie
East for Green Eyes

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Tyrean, P.K, Sarah, Ellie and Rosie,

Thanks for stopping by to comment! It's much appreciated. ;)

best
F

Denise Covey said...

Hi Francine. You've seamlessly Md, great work. Enjoyed it. Now, where haven't you set a novel? Oh, that's right, Oz? How about one of those sizzling outback novels, just horses, horizons, waterholes and fences to mend...


Denise<3

L'Aussies Travel A-Z Challenge O is for Outback

Nigel G Mitchell said...

Nicely written. Makes me interested in reading more.
http://geektwins.blogspot.com

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Denise,

I wish - broken down fences I'm well familiar with, so too barbed wire! ;)

Hi Monkey Migraine,

Thanks for stopping by to comment. ;)

best
F

Alison Pearce Stevens said...

Francine, that was fun! I certainly want to read on. :)
Alison

Anonymous said...

Ooh I like this :O)

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Alison,
Glad you liked it! ;


Hi Madeleine,
Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great Easter!

best
F