Lotsimina Hannon takes on the corporate world and wins...but can she beat the odds against a killer?
Embracing her early retirement, Lotsi sets out on her new life with an aging motor home and a hot new motorcycle. First stop, Las Vegas! Bright lights and dazzling shows seem exciting, until she meets the sexiest man she’s ever seen at the RV Park’s hot tub. Fireworks? At her age? Oh, yeah! Trenton Wallace sets Lotsi ablaze, and he is determined to fan the flames.
While Lotsi struggles with her desires and her inner demons, she revels in the RV lifestyle. Going new places, seeing new things. Lotsi enjoys friends old and new among the RVers and the local Red Hot Ladies Club. Retirement rocks, but Trent...Trent makes her burn. Who knew she’d love playing with fire.
Then she discovers a devastating murder, and the sexy fun becomes a fight for survival as the killer targets Lotsi. Embroiled in a series of adventures, Lotsi eludes the killer but can’t escape Trent. Then Trent is kidnapped, and Lotsi takes on the killer in a high-stakes gamble where their lives and their blazing passion rest on an illusion of smoke and mirrors.
Excerpt from Some Like It Red Hot by Robin Merrill
Trent stilled in my arms. My body registered his quiet. One beat, two beats. I went on alert. Oh, god, what had I done?
He moved back enough to read my eyes. “Not good at....”
“At...at this, the sex thing. I never got it right. For me, that is.” I rushed to assure him. How do I get in these horrible conversations with him? “I know a woman is responsible for her own or-orgasms, so I know it’s my problem. I just concentrated on satisfying my partner...oh my god. Shut up, shut up, shut up.”
Scalded by mortification and frozen by shame, I tried to climb over Trent, frantic to get away. Momentum carried me over the top, but his arms grabbed hold of me and we tumbled to the floor together.
Struggling to control the sobs breaking free, I waged a savage battle, feet, hands, elbows, twisting and shoving to get away. Terror drove me. This was all his fault anyway—destroying my barriers. What the hell! Did he think walls protected in only one direction? I couldn't allow him—couldn't allow anyone—to see what threatened to erupt from that hated abyss.
Trent’s voice began to filter in. “Shhhh. I’ve got you. You’re okay. Let go, love. I’ve got you now. Lotsimina, listen to me. Let it come out, baby. I’ve got you.”
I let go. Wrenching crying jags aren’t easy to endure. Once released, they had control, not me. I suppose that’s why I’ve never allowed them to start around anyone. Vulnerability is complete, the body defenseless, emotions wide open.
When the jag tapered off and reason returned, his hands were doing incredibly soothing things on my back, under my shirt. Tiny soft strokes, whispers of contact. His lips pressed slow kisses where he could touch, simple kisses to comfort.
I knew I was a mess. I used my shirttail as best I could. It was hard to meet his eyes when I drew back, but I saw only concern and warmth.
“Poor baby,” he said, drying off my cheek with his hand. “You look exhausted.”
Shrugging, I acknowledged the lethargic haze that weighted me down. I couldn't begin to process what had happened.
His lips curved, then widened, and then a throaty chuckle gushed out. I saw a gleam in his eyes and braced myself.
“So. We’ve got some retraining to do.”
Coffee Break," by Robin Merrill, short story in Map of Murder, mystery anthology.
• As reviewed by Front Street Reviews: "A mailroom clerk dreams of doing an important job in Robin Merrill's Coffee Break. While it is the shortest piece included it is concisely well done, with not a word wasted. It will be interesting to keep an eye on the bright future of this author."
• Map for Murder, Winner of the 2007 National Indie Excellence Award, Short Story Fiction.
Christina Hensley desperately needs help. Her boyfriend is after the gold. That is, the gold bullion in The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Why hasn't anyone answered her letter?
To purchase "Coffee Break" in Map of Murder, click Red Coyote Press logo to the right or link at www.redcoyotepress.com.
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"Fast Pace," by Robin Merrill, short story in Medley of Murder, mystery anthology by various writers.
Kathy Bar tell witnesses a drug deal outside her gym while she's speeding along on her treadmill. Later, when her friend undercover cop Mark is killed, her heightened emotions spur fellow club regular Rick Elliot into approaching her. They've watched each other for some time, but never met. Kathy's chance meeting with the drug dealer leads her to look for the killer on her own. Now Rick is her only hope, but will he be fast enough to save her?
To purchase "Fast Pace" in Medley of Murder, click Red Coyote Press logo to the right or link at www.redcoyotepress.com.
Note: You will open a separate browser window. You may return to this site at any time.
Special Agent Brett Hughes is discovering new things, too. He’s never had pre cog dreams about someone he loves before. Knowing he hasn’t met her yet doesn’t make her nightly death easier. Where is she? Even the sexy mental link doesn’t help him find her. That takes an FBI Yellow Alert. He sets up a cover to work in her office, and discovers her secrets. And that’s when he learns that caring too much could make stopping murder impossible.