Jaime Rush's Blog - Posts Tagged "urban-fantasy"
How release day is like having a baby
After many months, the kid has finally come out � both joy and relief!
We love to hear how beautiful and brilliant our baby is.
We want to show pictures and good reviews to everyone ad nauseum.
It's our publicist shouting, "Push! Push!" instead of a doctor. (No, not really!)
Holding our baby in our hand � priceless. ::SIGH::
We love to hear how beautiful and brilliant our baby is.
We want to show pictures and good reviews to everyone ad nauseum.
It's our publicist shouting, "Push! Push!" instead of a doctor. (No, not really!)
Holding our baby in our hand � priceless. ::SIGH::
Random Lines from Beyond the Darkness
I know cats hate being wet." Petra gave him a smile to let him know she wasn't being mean.
Cheveyo raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you, now?"
"And they love their chin scratched." She crooked her fingers.
"They also mount females from behind."
She narrowed her eyes at him. So much for light flirting.
Cheveyo raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you, now?"
"And they love their chin scratched." She crooked her fingers.
"They also mount females from behind."
She narrowed her eyes at him. So much for light flirting.
Sneak Peek of Beyond the Darkness
She fished out the little foil-wrapped Dove chocolates she kept in her purse and tossed one in her mouth as she backed out of the spot. Back at the Center, she parked in the lot but remained in her car.
"You'd better not pretend you're not there," she muttered, closing her eyes and reaching out to Cheveyo. He had come to her, but she'd never gone to him. If they shared a connection, she should be able to talk to him, too.
She thought of his face, surprised at how easily she could conjure it in full detail, his thick, arched eyebrows, the curve of his mouth, his blue-gray eyes ablaze with a fierce protectiveness that squeezed her chest. Her heartbeat stepped up, a heavy, sensuous thudding that seemed to pump honey through her veins.
𱹱�
The connection was like two train cars locking onto each other. She felt him first. Then scenes flashed into her mind: a boy with blue-gray eyes and thick eyelashes staring pensively into the night sky; a dark alley, something moving in the shadows, and the flash of light on metal. The smell of blood. That same boy screaming in fear. Her body shuddered at those images.
The images went dark, and she saw him as he might appear in a dream, hazy and in a void. "Petra?"
She could hardly breathe. "Our connection goes both ways. I can reach you, too."
He didn't look particularly thrilled by that. "I heard you � felt you calling me."
"I need to see you. Not in a need to see you way. I mean � I'm in trouble."
"What's going on? I haven't gotten any visions."
"I don't mean to sound all conspiracy-ish, but I have to tell you in person. And as soon as possible."
"Petra, unless this is life and death, now is not a good time."
She gripped the bottom of her steering wheel, quelling her irritation, and the hurt that he would put her off. Was he with someone? Was she not important to him after all? "It's life and death. I wouldn't bother you otherwise." Okay, that had come out just a tiny bit snippy.
"All right. I'll meet you in an hour."
She gave him a location near the warehouse Pope had put in her mind. "See you soon."
She pulled out, feeling the loss of the connection tingle through her. Take a deep breath. It was only Cheveyo. No big deal. She called the number Pope had given her. "We're on, in an hour."
She went into the Center and spent twenty minutes hunting for makeup deals on eBay. Sometimes she could find brand-name product for a great price. Only Cheveyo could distract her from the joy of bargain hunting. She put in two bids and logged out of her account. A few minutes later, she walked out to the parking lot.
As she reached for her door handle, a man standing by his car two spaces away caught her eye. She'd seen him earlier that day in downtown Annapolis. A normal person might think it was a coincidence and nothing more, given that he was nice looking, dressed in business attire. After everything she'd been through, she'd developed a healthy respect for her sixth sense, and it was telling her something wasn't right. Their gazes met, and she held his for a moment, letting him know that if he had any devious thoughts, she was onto him.
He gave her a nod before getting into his car. She dropped into her seat and locked the doors, but waited until he'd backed out of his spot and left the lot.
Paranoid? Maybe. Deservedly so. She took the rear entrance out of the lot.
She pulled into the gas station and waited in her car for Cheveyo. She had a full five minutes left to wait. "Breathe." Her nerves felt like an army of ants marching inside her stomach. "Look, there's no point in getting excited or anything. He only came because you fudged the truth. So seeing him means � nothing."
Still, she couldn't help but braid her hair, loosen it, and braid it again. The silky strands sliding around her fingers was comforting, even more so than cracking her knuckles had been. And she didn't have to see people grimace or hear lectures about developing arthritis later in life.
She glanced in the mirror, using her nail to scrape away a slight overlap in her lipstick. The only reason she'd taken the time to pretty up was because she wanted him to see what he was missing. Not that she went anywhere, even to the store, without going through her routine.
"So there, buddy. Too late now. I've got a date with a nice, normal guy tonight, to go along with my nice, normal life, which I love. Besides, who needs a guy that turns into a cat? Probably get cat hairs all over the furniture--"
A shadow fell across her lap, and she jumped. Cheveyo leaned sideways in front of her windshield, his hand braced on the hood. Her heart jumped, too, because that's what looking into his smoky blue-gray eyes did to her. How had she missed hearing him ride up?
She pushed the door open and got out, cringing at the breathless quality of her voice when she said, "Hi." Not helping at all were the high heels she was wobbling on.
Really not helping was how damned gorgeous he looked, his wavy dark hair tied back with a leather strap that matched the black bomber jacket he wore. It was unzipped, and beneath, a dark red shirt was unbuttoned enough to reveal a sprinkling of dark hair and a silver charm on a chain at his neck. Oh, geez, she hoped she didn't look gooey and dewy.
He glanced in her car, his eyebrow arched. "Who were you talking to?"
"Uh � no one. The car. I was muttering to my car. It's temperamental sometimes."
He looked tense, his gaze shifting to his surroundings before returning to her. She'd seen that particular type of awareness before, when they were being hunted. Or maybe he suspected she was going to spring the Rogues on him, as adamant as he was that they not meet. Or spring herself on him. Fat chance.
His gaze softened as it swept over her, but it sharpened again, all business. "What's going on?"
She nodded toward the warehouses half a block away. The transportation company that had used these waterfront metal buildings had gone out of business, leaving the area abandoned. A sign had been promising an upscale shopping revitalization, but the economy had probably put that on hold.
"Follow me over there."
He arched his eyebrow again, this time aiming his puzzled look at her. Then he shrugged and walked over to his black Harley. He had a smooth, powerful gait, efficient but not hurried. She was reminded of those wildlife shows where a lion walks his territory. In one move he got onto the bike and started it. When he looked at her, she realized she'd been too busy looking at him and not getting her car started.
He fell in behind her as she pulled through the tall fence that was opened just enough to let a car pass through. Otherwise NO TRESPASSING signs made anyone think twice about entering. The artist's rendering for the future shopping area had faded beneath the graffiti.
She parked, and he pulled up beside her and dismounted. His black boots scraped on the faded asphalt as he walked beside her toward the door of the building she remembered. He smelled of fresh air and a smoky fragrance that wasn't tobacco. She remembered the images of the boy she'd seen, but the most vivid memories where when he'd held her in his arms and coaxed her back from death, whispering Babe in her ears, emotion in his voice when he�
"Why don't you look like you're in a life and death situation?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"What do you mean? Oh, because I'm not freaking out?" He knew her well, which drove her crazy. Babe, I know a lot, he'd told her once, a ghost of a smile on his face.
"Yeah."
She took a breath at the door, not quite meeting his face. "Come in, and I'll explain everything."
She opened the door and stepped inside. His gaze scanned the interior of the large, empty building. Empty. Great, where was Pope?
She turned to Cheveyo. "Because it's not exactly my life and death."
"You'd better not pretend you're not there," she muttered, closing her eyes and reaching out to Cheveyo. He had come to her, but she'd never gone to him. If they shared a connection, she should be able to talk to him, too.
She thought of his face, surprised at how easily she could conjure it in full detail, his thick, arched eyebrows, the curve of his mouth, his blue-gray eyes ablaze with a fierce protectiveness that squeezed her chest. Her heartbeat stepped up, a heavy, sensuous thudding that seemed to pump honey through her veins.
𱹱�
The connection was like two train cars locking onto each other. She felt him first. Then scenes flashed into her mind: a boy with blue-gray eyes and thick eyelashes staring pensively into the night sky; a dark alley, something moving in the shadows, and the flash of light on metal. The smell of blood. That same boy screaming in fear. Her body shuddered at those images.
The images went dark, and she saw him as he might appear in a dream, hazy and in a void. "Petra?"
She could hardly breathe. "Our connection goes both ways. I can reach you, too."
He didn't look particularly thrilled by that. "I heard you � felt you calling me."
"I need to see you. Not in a need to see you way. I mean � I'm in trouble."
"What's going on? I haven't gotten any visions."
"I don't mean to sound all conspiracy-ish, but I have to tell you in person. And as soon as possible."
"Petra, unless this is life and death, now is not a good time."
She gripped the bottom of her steering wheel, quelling her irritation, and the hurt that he would put her off. Was he with someone? Was she not important to him after all? "It's life and death. I wouldn't bother you otherwise." Okay, that had come out just a tiny bit snippy.
"All right. I'll meet you in an hour."
She gave him a location near the warehouse Pope had put in her mind. "See you soon."
She pulled out, feeling the loss of the connection tingle through her. Take a deep breath. It was only Cheveyo. No big deal. She called the number Pope had given her. "We're on, in an hour."
She went into the Center and spent twenty minutes hunting for makeup deals on eBay. Sometimes she could find brand-name product for a great price. Only Cheveyo could distract her from the joy of bargain hunting. She put in two bids and logged out of her account. A few minutes later, she walked out to the parking lot.
As she reached for her door handle, a man standing by his car two spaces away caught her eye. She'd seen him earlier that day in downtown Annapolis. A normal person might think it was a coincidence and nothing more, given that he was nice looking, dressed in business attire. After everything she'd been through, she'd developed a healthy respect for her sixth sense, and it was telling her something wasn't right. Their gazes met, and she held his for a moment, letting him know that if he had any devious thoughts, she was onto him.
He gave her a nod before getting into his car. She dropped into her seat and locked the doors, but waited until he'd backed out of his spot and left the lot.
Paranoid? Maybe. Deservedly so. She took the rear entrance out of the lot.
She pulled into the gas station and waited in her car for Cheveyo. She had a full five minutes left to wait. "Breathe." Her nerves felt like an army of ants marching inside her stomach. "Look, there's no point in getting excited or anything. He only came because you fudged the truth. So seeing him means � nothing."
Still, she couldn't help but braid her hair, loosen it, and braid it again. The silky strands sliding around her fingers was comforting, even more so than cracking her knuckles had been. And she didn't have to see people grimace or hear lectures about developing arthritis later in life.
She glanced in the mirror, using her nail to scrape away a slight overlap in her lipstick. The only reason she'd taken the time to pretty up was because she wanted him to see what he was missing. Not that she went anywhere, even to the store, without going through her routine.
"So there, buddy. Too late now. I've got a date with a nice, normal guy tonight, to go along with my nice, normal life, which I love. Besides, who needs a guy that turns into a cat? Probably get cat hairs all over the furniture--"
A shadow fell across her lap, and she jumped. Cheveyo leaned sideways in front of her windshield, his hand braced on the hood. Her heart jumped, too, because that's what looking into his smoky blue-gray eyes did to her. How had she missed hearing him ride up?
She pushed the door open and got out, cringing at the breathless quality of her voice when she said, "Hi." Not helping at all were the high heels she was wobbling on.
Really not helping was how damned gorgeous he looked, his wavy dark hair tied back with a leather strap that matched the black bomber jacket he wore. It was unzipped, and beneath, a dark red shirt was unbuttoned enough to reveal a sprinkling of dark hair and a silver charm on a chain at his neck. Oh, geez, she hoped she didn't look gooey and dewy.
He glanced in her car, his eyebrow arched. "Who were you talking to?"
"Uh � no one. The car. I was muttering to my car. It's temperamental sometimes."
He looked tense, his gaze shifting to his surroundings before returning to her. She'd seen that particular type of awareness before, when they were being hunted. Or maybe he suspected she was going to spring the Rogues on him, as adamant as he was that they not meet. Or spring herself on him. Fat chance.
His gaze softened as it swept over her, but it sharpened again, all business. "What's going on?"
She nodded toward the warehouses half a block away. The transportation company that had used these waterfront metal buildings had gone out of business, leaving the area abandoned. A sign had been promising an upscale shopping revitalization, but the economy had probably put that on hold.
"Follow me over there."
He arched his eyebrow again, this time aiming his puzzled look at her. Then he shrugged and walked over to his black Harley. He had a smooth, powerful gait, efficient but not hurried. She was reminded of those wildlife shows where a lion walks his territory. In one move he got onto the bike and started it. When he looked at her, she realized she'd been too busy looking at him and not getting her car started.
He fell in behind her as she pulled through the tall fence that was opened just enough to let a car pass through. Otherwise NO TRESPASSING signs made anyone think twice about entering. The artist's rendering for the future shopping area had faded beneath the graffiti.
She parked, and he pulled up beside her and dismounted. His black boots scraped on the faded asphalt as he walked beside her toward the door of the building she remembered. He smelled of fresh air and a smoky fragrance that wasn't tobacco. She remembered the images of the boy she'd seen, but the most vivid memories where when he'd held her in his arms and coaxed her back from death, whispering Babe in her ears, emotion in his voice when he�
"Why don't you look like you're in a life and death situation?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"What do you mean? Oh, because I'm not freaking out?" He knew her well, which drove her crazy. Babe, I know a lot, he'd told her once, a ghost of a smile on his face.
"Yeah."
She took a breath at the door, not quite meeting his face. "Come in, and I'll explain everything."
She opened the door and stepped inside. His gaze scanned the interior of the large, empty building. Empty. Great, where was Pope?
She turned to Cheveyo. "Because it's not exactly my life and death."
Randomness: BEYOND THE DARKNESS
She'd tried to engage him by reading aloud articles about what guys were really thinking in certain situations. Thankfully not the 'How to achieve ultimate orgasms' story promised in bold print on the cover.
"Here's a quiz. I love quizzes. Is your guy a keeper?" She eyed him playfully, raising her eyebrow. "Does he listen to you? Always, sometimes, or never. Do you listen?"
He ignored her.
"That'll be a never." She circled it. "Has he introduced you to his mother?" She tilted her head, studying him. "He hasn't even talked about his mother. Another never."
Honestly, he didn't know whether to be amused or annoyed. Annoyed was better, because he was no keeper. Her bored sighs sounded like the soft, breathy exhalations she'd utter if he were running his tongue along the inside of her thigh.
"How often does your guy turn into a scary, wild animal?"
"Here's a quiz. I love quizzes. Is your guy a keeper?" She eyed him playfully, raising her eyebrow. "Does he listen to you? Always, sometimes, or never. Do you listen?"
He ignored her.
"That'll be a never." She circled it. "Has he introduced you to his mother?" She tilted her head, studying him. "He hasn't even talked about his mother. Another never."
Honestly, he didn't know whether to be amused or annoyed. Annoyed was better, because he was no keeper. Her bored sighs sounded like the soft, breathy exhalations she'd utter if he were running his tongue along the inside of her thigh.
"How often does your guy turn into a scary, wild animal?"
Snippet of Beyond the Darkness
She'd tried to engage him by reading aloud articles about what guys were really thinking in certain situations. Thankfully not the 'How to achieve ultimate orgasms' story promised in bold print on the cover. "Here's a quiz. I love quizzes. Is your guy a keeper?" She eyed him playfully, raising her eyebrow. "Does he listen to you? Always, sometimes, or never. Do you listen?"
He ignored her.
"That'll be a never." She circled it. "Has he introduced you to his mother?" She tilted her head, studying him. "He hasn't even talked about his mother. Another never."
Honestly, he didn't know whether to be amused or annoyed. Annoyed was better, because he was no keeper. Her bored sighs sounded like the soft, breathy exhalations she'd utter if he were running his tongue along the inside of her thigh.
"How often does your guy turn into a scary, wild animal?"
"Why don't you do the quiz for the boyfriend?" He hoped she hadn't heard the sharpness in his voice.
She lowered her chin, looking at him from beneath her eyelashes. "Because that was our first date, and since we'd only gotten about twenty minutes into it before I was hauled away, I can hardly judge him. You're all I have to work with."
He ignored her.
"That'll be a never." She circled it. "Has he introduced you to his mother?" She tilted her head, studying him. "He hasn't even talked about his mother. Another never."
Honestly, he didn't know whether to be amused or annoyed. Annoyed was better, because he was no keeper. Her bored sighs sounded like the soft, breathy exhalations she'd utter if he were running his tongue along the inside of her thigh.
"How often does your guy turn into a scary, wild animal?"
"Why don't you do the quiz for the boyfriend?" He hoped she hadn't heard the sharpness in his voice.
She lowered her chin, looking at him from beneath her eyelashes. "Because that was our first date, and since we'd only gotten about twenty minutes into it before I was hauled away, I can hardly judge him. You're all I have to work with."
Random Lines from TURN TO DARKNESS
“I’m not afraid of you. Of your beast, I mean.� Though she was, a little.
“It’s not my beast that’s so troublesome, in and of itself. It’s the fiercely protective, insanely jealous part."
“It’s not my beast that’s so troublesome, in and of itself. It’s the fiercely protective, insanely jealous part."
Random Lines from TURN TO DARKNESS
"You got under my skin," Greer said.
“Just because you saw me naked. Come on, I’m not that gorgeous. Besides, you see naked women all the time.�
“Shea, don’t you get it? It’s not that I saw you naked. It’s that I saw you naked.�
She crossed her arms over her chest. “That makes no sense.�
“You, Shea. A girl I care about, who I know is sweet and strong and a little bit mysterious.�
“I’m not sweet, okay. And now you know why I keep to myself, so I’m not mysterious.�
“I don’t know everything.� He gave her a challenging look. “But I will.�
“Just because you saw me naked. Come on, I’m not that gorgeous. Besides, you see naked women all the time.�
“Shea, don’t you get it? It’s not that I saw you naked. It’s that I saw you naked.�
She crossed her arms over her chest. “That makes no sense.�
“You, Shea. A girl I care about, who I know is sweet and strong and a little bit mysterious.�
“I’m not sweet, okay. And now you know why I keep to myself, so I’m not mysterious.�
“I don’t know everything.� He gave her a challenging look. “But I will.�
RANDOM LINES FROM DRAGON AWAKENED
"I’m magnificent. Yeah." She couldn't help glance down at herself. "Fine, how do I get � what'd you call it? Activated?" Let's play along, see what he says.
"Now that you are well beyond the age of initiation, only I can open your eyes and awaken your powers."
Did his arrogance know no bounds? Dumb question, Ruby. "What do I have to give you for that?"
"You assume there's a price?"
"There's always a price." She could see that he had one, too.
He walked closer, too close. Again, breaching boundaries. She wouldn't move away. If only she didn't have to look up at him. His heat reached out to her, beckoning her. She stiffened her stance. The dragon tattoo eyed her from the left pectoral muscle of his chest, but no, she did not see it move.
He waited until she drew her gaze from it back to his face. "The price is that once you see, you can never go back to being blind. Once you know, you can never forget. Once you experience your true nature, you can never ignore it."
"Ignore what?"
He released a breath. "We'd better start with the small stuff."
"Now that you are well beyond the age of initiation, only I can open your eyes and awaken your powers."
Did his arrogance know no bounds? Dumb question, Ruby. "What do I have to give you for that?"
"You assume there's a price?"
"There's always a price." She could see that he had one, too.
He walked closer, too close. Again, breaching boundaries. She wouldn't move away. If only she didn't have to look up at him. His heat reached out to her, beckoning her. She stiffened her stance. The dragon tattoo eyed her from the left pectoral muscle of his chest, but no, she did not see it move.
He waited until she drew her gaze from it back to his face. "The price is that once you see, you can never go back to being blind. Once you know, you can never forget. Once you experience your true nature, you can never ignore it."
"Ignore what?"
He released a breath. "We'd better start with the small stuff."
Yin Yang novellas
DRAGON RISING (novella, The Hidden) Clues left by her missing father lead Lyra to a gorgeous, mysterious Caido, a descendent of fallen angels. When she discovers that his brother is also missing, she's determined not to let the exasperating man shut her out.
The last thing Archer needs is an emotional Dragon at his side, especially one whose heat reaches beyond the icy walls he, and all Caidos, erect for good reason. Working together? Smart. Falling in love? Foolish � and inescapable.
~ Posted at Booklovin� Mamas Blog~
DRAGON RISING completes the yin/yang novella duo that started with DRAGON MINE. I liked the idea and the challenge of coming up with stories that stood alone, yet connected as well. I started with twin brother/sister duo Kirin and Lyra, Dragon shifters who have one problem: finding their missing father. But I wanted them each to take their own direction, and find their own romance in the process. I admit it was a bit of a risk, because I wondered if readers would dislike not knowing the answer to all the story questions by the end of the first novella. It was also a challenge, because I had to wrap up their romance fully, solve at least one plot thread, while still leaving something for Lyra to figure out in her story. The intention was that both stories would be published close together so readers would get their answers quickly.
Unfortunately, as happens in the publishing world, the novellas actually got moved two months farther apart. And for a while, DRAGON RISING wasn’t listed anywhere, so readers thought they would have to wait until the first full book of the Hidden, out in December, to find out the resolution of the story. But I’m excited to announce that they will find out on October 1st. Lyra will end up solving the final mystery of her father’s disappearance, along with a few threads started in the first novella. Everything will be wrapped up, except for one small thread that will lead to the arc in the three back-to-back books beginning with DRAGON AWAKENED. And having read these novellas, you will have that bit of insider “ahah� when you read ANGEL SEDUCED.
Did I make myself crazy with these interconnected plots? Yes. Yes, I did. But rest assured, dear reader, that each of the three books coming out this winter all stand alone. Because you’ve read this blog, you’ll know that they do share a overreaching arc. The only crazy-making going on was me in the background with my charts and timelines having to make it all work out.
The last thing Archer needs is an emotional Dragon at his side, especially one whose heat reaches beyond the icy walls he, and all Caidos, erect for good reason. Working together? Smart. Falling in love? Foolish � and inescapable.
~ Posted at Booklovin� Mamas Blog~
DRAGON RISING completes the yin/yang novella duo that started with DRAGON MINE. I liked the idea and the challenge of coming up with stories that stood alone, yet connected as well. I started with twin brother/sister duo Kirin and Lyra, Dragon shifters who have one problem: finding their missing father. But I wanted them each to take their own direction, and find their own romance in the process. I admit it was a bit of a risk, because I wondered if readers would dislike not knowing the answer to all the story questions by the end of the first novella. It was also a challenge, because I had to wrap up their romance fully, solve at least one plot thread, while still leaving something for Lyra to figure out in her story. The intention was that both stories would be published close together so readers would get their answers quickly.
Unfortunately, as happens in the publishing world, the novellas actually got moved two months farther apart. And for a while, DRAGON RISING wasn’t listed anywhere, so readers thought they would have to wait until the first full book of the Hidden, out in December, to find out the resolution of the story. But I’m excited to announce that they will find out on October 1st. Lyra will end up solving the final mystery of her father’s disappearance, along with a few threads started in the first novella. Everything will be wrapped up, except for one small thread that will lead to the arc in the three back-to-back books beginning with DRAGON AWAKENED. And having read these novellas, you will have that bit of insider “ahah� when you read ANGEL SEDUCED.
Did I make myself crazy with these interconnected plots? Yes. Yes, I did. But rest assured, dear reader, that each of the three books coming out this winter all stand alone. Because you’ve read this blog, you’ll know that they do share a overreaching arc. The only crazy-making going on was me in the background with my charts and timelines having to make it all work out.
Snippet - DRAGON AWAKENED
Ruby tried to kick him in the groin. Another dumb idea, considering what she'd seen him do, what he did for a living.
He didn't hurt her, at least, not much anyway. He did, however, pin her against the door, his thigh pressing the offending leg tight. "That is not a wise thing to do."
She lifted her chin. "Afraid I'll hurt you?"
"Once my instincts are triggered, it's hard to stop. I'm sure I'll hurt you. As of right now, I do not wish to do that. That may change as days go by."
"Days? What are you going to do, keep me hostage?"
He let her question hang for an agonizing moment, as though he were considering it. God, had she given him ideas? He said,
"Not entirely."
He didn't hurt her, at least, not much anyway. He did, however, pin her against the door, his thigh pressing the offending leg tight. "That is not a wise thing to do."
She lifted her chin. "Afraid I'll hurt you?"
"Once my instincts are triggered, it's hard to stop. I'm sure I'll hurt you. As of right now, I do not wish to do that. That may change as days go by."
"Days? What are you going to do, keep me hostage?"
He let her question hang for an agonizing moment, as though he were considering it. God, had she given him ideas? He said,
"Not entirely."
