Funk-N-Fiction

In today’s flash, we’re getting a sneak peek into an upcoming story by Gini Koch & Bebe Bayliss, Something Wicked!! (And check after the excerpt for an awesome contest!!)

Something Wicked (Excerpt)
by Gini Koch & Bebe Bayliss

Even though Samantha was in a full-on sprint, Dighton was right on her heels – she could hear him, feel his breath. He didn’t sound winded.

“Stop running,” he ordered, with a lot of authority.

She didn’t. She’d gotten really good at ignoring authority figures and people pretending to be authority figures.

She reached the jetty and scrambled up the rocks. No one on the beach side was going to be of any assistance, but if she could get to the top of the jetty, she could be seen, and so could he.

He grabbed her ankle. She kicked and kept on going. “Leave me alone, you perv!”

“I’m not trying to hurt you.” He caught her calf. “Stop running and stop climbing.” He had a strong grip and the jetty rocks were sharp.

All of a sudden, Clella’s wanting them to take the self-defense class sounded like a brilliant plan. Samantha wished she’d had it last week, however. With no official training and the tank very far away, she went for what had worked in the past. Faking it.

Samantha sagged against the rocks. “Fine. You win.” She turned her shoulders towards him but kept her feet and hips where they were.

“Good. Look, I don’t want to hurt you and I didn’t mean to scare you.” Dighton still had a hold of her leg. “Now, if I let go, are you going to behave?”

“Sure. What do you want?”

“Your name. For starters.”

He shifted so his body was over, but not touching, hers. One hand was near her head, one knee braced against the rocks. She got the impression this was to keep her from escaping. He let go of her leg and put his other hand near her shoulder.

He didn’t look threatening – this close, breathing hard, hair tousled and eyes flashing, he looked incredibly sexy, like they were in the middle of wild lovemaking. However, handsome and sexy or not, he’d chased her with intent to capture and that didn’t mean friendly.

“I’m not giving you my name or any other information. If this is how you ‘make friends’ with someone, it’s clear why you’re surfing alone.” She looked towards the beach. “Hey, what happened to your board?”

He started to turn then stopped himself and grinned. “Nice try. Name. Now.”

Samantha slid her hand into her sweat jacket pocket, doing her best not to jingle her keys or rustle the paper she’d found. “I like to keep an air of mystery.” There it was. Her phone. The new flip phone she’d gotten for herself as a graduation present because she liked the idea of minimalization and nostalgia with some modern niceties. The phone she didn’t have to unlock or do anything fancy with to use, with the ringer set on high so she’d hear if anyone called while she was jogging. Samantha had never been so pleased with a purchase in her life as she was with this phone at this moment. She hit the auto dial for Bebe, waited five seconds, then hung up. “I’m not going to tell you, so learn to live with disappointment.”

“I want to know what you were doing around the lighthouse, Hot Stuff. Why are you snooping around?”

She got ready. “What’s it matter to you? Worried I’m going to ruin your next drug deal?”

His eyes narrowed as her phone rang and the air was split with the sounds of Sammy Hagar screaming, “I can’t drive fifty-five!”

Dighton jumped and Samantha took off. She scrambled up the remaining rocks, reached the top of the jetty, and kept on going. She knew he was still behind her, but now the playing field wasn’t even. She jumped over the right places, dodged the slicker areas. She’d been chased on the jetty before. She’d never been caught, at least, not if she hadn’t wanted to be.

“Whoa!” Dighton shouted. Samantha was pretty sure he wasn’t shouting at her. She jumped over a slick patch and risked a look. He was having balance problems. He was also recovering. She faced forward and ran on. Her phone stopped ringing.

She reached the boardwalk, turned right, and kept on going. There was someone ahead of her and she aimed for them. She didn’t hear Dighton anymore, but that meant nothing. She looked over her shoulder, ready to scream for help if need be.

But he was gone.

She turned back just in time to slam into the person she’d been heading towards. Either he’d been expecting it or was really strong, or both, because he caught her. He staggered a little and her speed spun them around, but he wrapped his arms around her and kept his balance and hers.

They came to a stop. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” She looked up from his chest into bright blue eyes, lighter than Dighton’s. He was very handsome in a different way from Dighton – his face was more angular, cheekbones more pronounced, higher forehead. She reminded herself that handsome, as Dighton had just proved, didn’t mean good.

The man smiled. “I’m fine. You are unhurt?” He had an accent, but she couldn’t place it.

“Yes. I’m sorry. Someone was chasing me…” She looked over his shoulder. Still no one on the jetty. He turned and she could see the boardwalk behind him. No one there. “I guess he saw you and decided it wasn’t worth it.”

“Your friend?”

“He’s not my friend, the guy who was chasing me. I’m not sure what he was, if he was just a jerk or a potential rapist.” She took another look at the man holding her. He looked older than Dighton, probably somewhere in his forties. His hair was neatly trimmed, light brown flecked with silver, combed straight back.

“He was trying to hurt you?” At this the man’s eyes narrowed, and he looked angry and protective.

“I don’t know,” she said truthfully.

He shook his head. “What a country. You’re alone here?”

“Here, in this spot, yes. But my grandmothers are somewhere in the marina.”

“Ah! The older ladies dressed in similar uniforms?”

“Well, they’re all in sweatsuits, if that’s what you mean.”

He nodded. “They headed towards the shops.”

“I figured.” Two things dawned on her. He was in a suit and his arms were still around her. “Why are you wearing suit at the marina?” she asked before she could stop herself. She shoved against him gently – rescue or not, it felt a little early to be cuddling. “I’m steady, thank you.”

He chuckled as he let her out of his arms. “Let me remember my manners.” He gave her a short bow. “My name is Viktor Fedorov. I’m visiting your country from Russia.”

That explained the accent. “Samantha Greene. Pleased to meet you.” She put out her hand.

Viktor took it, turned it, and brought the back of her hand to his lips. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Samantha managed not to giggle or swoon, and she also managed to prevent herself from sharing that this was the first time anyone had kissed her hand. He was definitely different than Dighton – older, a little smaller, more civilized, suave, debonair, not calling her Hot Stuff, not annoying her within the first thirty seconds of the acquaintance. “Welcome to America.”

He smiled. “Thank you, but I’ve been here before. As for the suit, I had a meeting with my patron and felt it was appropriate to show respect.”

“Your patron?”

He nodded, as he put her arm through his and began to escort her towards the shopping area. They were strolling, but Samantha decided she’d gotten enough exercise already. “I’m an oboist. My musical patron gave me the opportunity to come here and play with your orchestra.”

“Santa Paloma doesn’t have an orchestra.”

“True. San Diego does. However, my patron docked here, so here it is I have come to say thank you. My guest musician status begins in a week and I wanted to see some of California before I became too busy.”

“Have you enjoyed it so far?”

“Yes. Wonderful weather.”

She laughed. “It’s been raining a lot.”

“No snow, no sleet, no bitter cold. It’s very nice here. I’ll be sorry to go once my business is concluded.”

“How long will you be playing with the orchestra?”

“I’m unsure. That depends on my patron.”

“Ah. Hence the need to impress?”

Viktor smiled again. “One reason, yes. My patron is considering supporting me for a full stay with the orchestra in the next season. If they wish to keep me, that is.”

“Here’s hoping.” Samantha wondered if she sounded too forward to him, but before she could worry about it her phone rang again. Viktor stopped walking and she grabbed it quickly, with Hagar in mid-shriek. “Hi Bebe.”

“Sammie, did you call me?”

“I did. Tell you why later, but thank you for calling me back earlier, it was a big help.”

“Happy to, and I’ll expect the explanation. Where are you?”

“Heading towards the shops.”

“You ready for breakfast?”

Samantha looked at Viktor out of the corner of her eye. “Not sure yet.”

“Okay, why don’t you meet us in front of Grinder’s then?”

“Hoping to change the vote?”

Bebe laughed. “No luck there, I’m sure. I just think we’ll be done here shortly and that’s where we agreed to meet up with Nancy and Clella. Oops, have to go, see you in a bit,” she added before Samantha could ask why they weren’t all together.

“Bye,” she said to the dial tone. She put her phone away and looked up at Viktor. “Sorry about that.”

“Am I keeping you?”

“Oh no,” she said quickly. “That was one of my grandmothers’ friends, telling me where to catch up with them. Later.”

He nodded. “May I escort you there? In case the man who was chasing you decides to try again.”

“I’d appreciate that very much.” After all, if Dighton was watching, hopefully seeing her here with Viktor would make him think she and Viktor were a couple, and therefore he’d leave her alone. Besides, Viktor was older and charming but not too old. Michael would probably consider him within her “appropriate age range,” too. Of course, so was Dighton, but charm was definitely winning over smarm.

Viktor smiled widely and his eyes twinkled. “Good. Because I will enjoy it very much.” He looked around. “Would you like to visit my patron’s boat? If you have the time. It’s quite beautiful and they’re most hospitable.”

“I’d love to. And I’m sure I can take the time. If I’m dressed alright.”

“You are a vision of loveliness. I’m very glad the other man chased you into my arms,” Viktor said with a wink.

Samantha couldn’t help it – she giggled. “Me, too.”

Gini & Bebe will be giving away one (1) ebook copy of SOMETHING WICKED to the person who they feel best answers this question in the comments:

What is the best “wicked” thing a good romantic partner can do?

Contest starts today, and goes through midnight (Pacific US time) on November 3rd. Our winners will be chosen from all eligible entries on November 4th and notified, and then announced in our wrap-up post.

Good luck & Happy Reading!!