I’ve decided to change up these weekly snippets and go through my backlist, sharing the first meeting between the two main characters in each book. It’s always fun for me to revisit the books and I hope it will be for you too! Or if you’ve never happened to read a certain book, maybe I can entice you into giving it a try.
VS: I enjoy writing scifi medical romances and I wrote this one during the early COVID epidemic because my Muse wasn’t in the mood to write anything else while the situation was going on around me. There’s only one doctor on this colony planet…
The snippet:
A groundcar slid up beside her, powerful engine thrumming as it idled, and Saffia startled as the window slid aside. Adrenaline rising, she tried to think where she’d bolt to if the driver had less than neighborly motives for accosting her. She might be able to lose a pursuer in the underbrush and trees off to her right but she was afraid she’d get lost as well.
“Didn’t anyone warn you not to go hiking alone at night?”
The voice belonged to Micah, the ranger and the next moment she saw his concerned face in the light from the car’s instrument panel. He leaned across the seat to stare at her, eyebrows raised. “It’s not safe.”
“The colony has a low crime rate,” she said, hating to sound defensive over what she understood too late wasn’t a wise choice. She’d been regretting not asking any of her acquaintances for a ride home for the last fifteen minutes. “No one said anything to me otherwise.”
He laughed and the door swung open. “The wildlife wouldn’t consider it a crime to dine on a wandering human, trust me. Get in, doctor, and I’ll drop you off at your place, safe and sound.”
Saffia studied the undergrowth, terrified she’d see something looking back at her. The dark night suddenly seemed even more menacing and every sound full of deadly import. “Wildlife?” Hating the telltale squeak of fear in her voice, she slid into the passenger seat, grateful for the warmth of the vehicle’s cabin.
Micah extended his hand. “I’m Chief Ranger Navonn. I’ve seen you around but we haven’t been introduced.”
“I—yes, I’ve seen you at the diner sometimes, in the mornings. And you were talking to Mrs. Dagerty earlier tonight. I’m Dr. Saffia Mandell. But I guess you know that.” She wasn’t used to feeling flustered or at a loss. His hand was much larger than hers, warm and strong and she found herself staring at his fingers. She was always attracted to a strong man’s well-shaped hand, maybe because she was a doctor and the hands were so important in her work. As they finished the social gesture and he set his hand on the groundcar’s controls, she said, “This is very kind of you. I hope it won’t be too far out of your way.”
“Not a problem. Better than having to track down an apex predator with a newly acquired taste for humans tomorrow.”
Calinurran humor? Not a fan. Annoyance pricking at her caused her to respond sharply. “Oh come on, how much danger could I have been in? I was told the bigger wild animals don’t wander into town.”
“They’ve been known to explore at this time of the year. Coming out of hibernation, cubs being born, all their hormones jumping. The grizvals prefer an easy meal to chasing mountain halin or antlered pradeek. Some people hereabouts still aren’t careful enough about their refuse, especially the fisherfolk. There have been tracks spotted on the edge of town recently.” He shot her a glance. “Please promise me you won’t go walking alone in the late afternoon, much less after dark, at least not in the areas adjacent to the forest.”
“No problem. Now you’ve warned me, I’ll be extra careful.” She rubbed her arms, visualizing herself facing a grizval, which could stand 12’ tall on its hind legs and had paws the size of platters, all fully clawed. “Why didn’t anyone at the park say something to me about it?”
“I’m guessing they all assumed you drove.” Like a sensible person, was the unspoken rest of the ranger’s sentence.
“I like walking. I’m from an Inner Sectors world where we don’t have much in the way of wilderness. It’s a newly discovered habit of mine.” And why do I care what this man thinks? I don’t have to justify myself to him. Saffia took a deep breath, trying to regain her self-control because being this close to Micah Navonn was seriously impairing her normal calm façade.
“Walk in town. Or get someone to go with you who knows the country.” He drove in silence for a minute. “This must be quite a change for you then. Are you settling in okay? It’s been what, five months since you arrived?”
“And two weeks, three days,” she said with a smile. “But who’s counting?”
“You are, to hear the town gossips tell it. Word is you’re counting the days until you can lift off. Is living here so unappealing in your opinion?” One eyebrow raised, he checked for her reaction.
Not wishing to insult him, she gave the answer she’d been smoothly uttering at least ten times a day since she arrived. “No of course not. The people are nice and the planet is beautiful, what I’ve seen so far. The work is different than what I was used to in a big hospital but not overwhelming.” She shrugged. “I’m an Inner Sectors girl and that’s where I expected to be practicing. The Sectors Medical Service said I was needed here and when you want SMS to erase five years of crushing medical school debt, you salute and go where they send you.”
“I was in the military for ten years so I hear you.”
Exchanging a grin with him, Saffia relaxed until the road took a gentle curve and she pointed to her dwelling. “My house is up here on the right.” Her snug cottage, lights ablaze, lay just ahead. She was sorry to have the drive be over so quickly, now she was finally talking to the previously aloof ranger.
He pulled up in front of the steps smoothly and came to open her door, which was an old fashioned touch she hadn’t expected but found rather charming. “Thank you again for the ride.” Saffia was conscious of how tall and well-built he was, and he smelled yummy, subtle male musk scented with the clean forest evergreen tang. She took a deep breath and resisted the urge to invite him in for a cup of coffee. Too soon. Don’t want any misinterpretations. She offered her hand again, which seemed to amuse him but he shook perfunctorily.
“I’ll wait to see you safely inside,” he said, leaning on the groundcar.
Rather than protest, she climbed the three shallow stairs, unlocked the portal and went inside, making sure to wave to him as the door shut. Micah gave her a snappy salute and a moment later he drove away.
Knees a bit weak, Saffia leaned against the wall. “The ice has been broken,” she said out loud. A bit dreamily she wandered down the hall toward the kitchen, to make herself a cup of coffee and think about her first real encounter with the ranger.
COLONY UNDER SIEGE: INTERSTELLAR PLAGUE
Newly graduated from a prestigious interstellar medical school, Dr. Saffia Mandell has been assigned to the Haven Two colony on the galaxy’s outer rim as the only doctor for some 2000 human residents. She’s counting the days until her five years there is up, trying to adjust to rural living after life in the crowded Inner Sectors and fighting her attraction to Chief Ranger Micah Navonn. She’s dreading the upcoming tourist season when the rich and pampered will descend on the planet for the scenic wonders and novel sports opportunities and no doubt inundate her little clinic but the colony depends on the seasonal income to survive.
As the senior official for his people, the Calinurra, the indigenous inhabitants of Haven Two, Micah enforces the treaty, regulates the tourist permits, patrols the forests and resists his fascination with Dr. Mandell. He never expected to be involved with a human woman and doesn’t want to believe in the concept of a fated mate. He wants to keep his life simple and isn’t ready for any long term commitment. Besides Saffia keeps proclaiming she’ll be leaving when her appointment is up in four and a half years so why should he risk his heart?
Then a ship arrives unexpectedly carrying a very ill little girl and soon the deadly virus is spreading through Haven Two. The colony authorities are desperate to cover up the problem to preserve the all-important tourist season and Saffia and Micah have to work together to battle the outbreak, the local administration and their undeniable feelings for each other.
Can the colony survive? And will Micah and Saffia be able to move past their fears about entanglements to act on the mutual attraction?
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