#SnippetSunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – March 1, 2015

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been privileged enough to have been accepted into.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

This week’s snippet features more from the first time Jake and Marisa meet. They’re on the beach, there’s a tattoo involved, beer has been consumed, and Jake is beginning to wonder what’s really happening…

Waves crashed in with a satisfying whoosh and roar. The wind brought a fine salt spray all the way up to our spot. Dirty white gulls swooped down and nipped at the seaweed and shattered shellfish piled up at the shoreline.

She shook the hair out of her face, giving me my first clear look at the freckles that dotted her cheeks. Her nose hooked a little to the left, though not like it had been broken and set that way.

She caught me looking and favored me with another one of those smiles.

Either she bleached her teeth or I was wrong about the pack-a-day habit.

I responded with the standard involuntary idiot grin.

“My name’s Marisa,” she said.

“Jake.”

“Jake. Really?”

“Why not?”

She took a healthy swig of beer.

“You don’t meet many guys named Jake anymore.”

“I’m old, Marisa.” Saying her name felt pretty good. “Jake’s all I’ve got.”

“Jake suits you,” she said. She finished her beer. “And you’re not that old.”

She dropped her empty back into the pail.

“Thanks,” I muttered. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said about me in months.”

Thanks, as always, for stopping by, and thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.