Authors: Claire Gillian

The P.U.R.E. (34 page)

Well, that’s all the hot news from the big D. I guess I’ll see you the next time you visit your family or the next time I get out to Quantico. Take care, my friend.

I dropped the page and moved to where Jon sat to do a bit of crowing. “I was right, Mista G-Man. You lost our bet.”

“What bet?” he asked trying to hide his grin.

“Nice try, but you don’t do dumb well.” I plopped down in his lap and put my arms around his neck. “Hand ’em over.” I held out my palm for my winner’s booty.

He sighed and reached behind him on our breakfast bar. Keys in hand, he paused. “No speeding. You’ll obey all the rules of the road, and park far away from all the other cars so you don’t get any dings in her.”

I batted my eyelashes. “Of course.” He dropped the keys in my hand. “Mine are on the key hook. Chrissy and I are going shopping first. She told me she thought the recently promoted supervisor at Lieberman Forensic Consultants needed a new suit, and I have to say, I agree with her. Wanna come?”

“Yes.” Jon pushed me off his lap, grabbed my hand and tugged me behind him into our bedroom.

“Not quite what I meant.” I smiled and tossed the keys to the floor in our wake. “I gather this will be a complete debriefing.” I snickered and sent a psychic apology to Chrissy for the delay in our girls’ afternoon out.

I was sure she understood.

Acknowledgements

Huge thanks to my wonderful beta readers: Julie S, Gary S, Sally G, Katy J, and especially Aimee L, who encouraged me to get this “out there”.

Thanks to the one, unknown Daphne Du Maurier judge who gave me high marks on this story, not enough for a win, but enough to earn my gratitude and make me think, “maybe …”

Absolute Write, Scribophile and The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pens earn my undying gratitude for cutting through the arrogance of my ignorance to make me a better writer.

Encouragement from any source is like a drop of rain upon a parched desert. Thanks to all the many others who rained on me when I needed it, and even when I foolishly thought I didn’t.

Claire Gillian

Claire Gillian is a number-crunching executive by profession, an after hours writer by passion, and a darkly romantic curmudgeon.

Published in short stories and anthologies, The P.U.R.E. marks Claire’s official, and debut, transition to the publication of her work in novel form.

While Claire’s writing spans all ages and subject matters, she’s happiest penning romance drenched in humor with a dash of intrigue and loads of spice.

Claire lives in the boggy Pacific NW with her husband and two teenaged sons.