MOV2-TUS

The Unyielding Spartan

text offensive. Read at your own discretion.

copyright 2007
Unedited Excerpt

The unknown is ever imagined
– Greek Proverb

Chapter One
“Give it back.”
The three simple words were said calmly, like a mother coaxing a stubborn child into obedience. Casey wasn’t
fooled. She knew the composed request belied her friend and business partner’s true feelings. Two decades of
experience with Vicki Lin made her savvy regarding her friend’s moods. This was only the quiet before the
storm. And as much as she hated the idea of contending with the infamous temper she wasn’t willing to budge.
Vicki had to see reason.
“Not until you can be rational. It’s obvious your obsession with this damned book is clouding your judgment.”
The topic of discussion was now firmly clasped behind Casey’s back, requiring both of her hands to keep it
steady.
“If you don’t want to acknowledge what you witnessed with your own eyes than fine by me. I’m done trying to
change your mind.”
“We didn’t see anything. Sierra is getting back at us for hiring a male escort for her birthday is all. Frankly, she’s
taking this prank way too far, and you should know better than to be gullible enough to get sucked in.”
Honeymoon or not Casey was ready to give Sierra and Giric a call to rip them both a new one for the state they’d
left Vicki in before traipsing off to Scotland. Maybe paying a professional to give their friend a few well-deserved
orgasms had been unorthodox, but Sierra’s retaliation was going beyond funny to downright worrisome. Worse,
she couldn’t believe Vicki was falling for the madness.
Sure, she could be a bit eccentric but ultimately she was a pragmatist. She approached everything in life from a
practical perspective. Even the rent-a-cock they’d gotten for their friend fell in line with Vicki’s practical train of
thought. Her reasoning was simple, who better to get the job done then a professional? She’d even kept her
temper in check and applied logic when her ex-husband announced that he was leaving for his male barber.
Although she was broken hearted she’d taken it in stride proceeding with the most amicable divorce and
visitation decree the world would probably ever see. She’d rationalized herself through any hurt and self-pity
most would experience at the dissolution of a nine year marriage. Instead wishing her ex and his new partner all
the best. Yet she couldn’t seem to understand that ancient Highlander men didn’t just materialize out of books,
marry one of your best friends and go happily into the sunset.
“He popped out of that book after she read it,” Vicki maintained.
“They’re yanking your chain. We hired the guy remember?”
Vicki shook her head in denial, “I told you the agency said our escort called in sick.”
“They were obviously wrong.”
“What about Naz? She said she got a funky vibe from the book too?”
“Naz gets weird feelings from everything and with her mother on her case again about settling down the poor
thing is looking for signs and symbols in everything. Look, I’m holding it and nothing is happening.”
“That’s because you don’t have a romantic bone in your body.”
Ouch!
“I’m going to pretend like you didn’t just say that.”
“Pretend all you want, I could call your last two boyfriends to get a consensus.”
Okay, so maybe she was a bit gun shy when it came to commitments. Was that so wrong? What was the
alternative? Not that she were passing judgment but Vicki had fallen for and married the first guy to show her
kindness only to have him leave her for another man, Naz had a penchant for falling for very successful and
controlling creeps because her mother wanted her to marry a man of the right status. Or worse she could end
up like Sierra and marry a male escort because the man knew how make her toes curl. The bottom line was too
many women coveted the whole fairy tale romance complete with a happily ever after scenario. What did they get
for their delusions? Heartache (well, except for Sierra who didn’t really count because she was still in the doe
eyed, orgasmic phase of her marriage). Casey doubted that would last for too long, those things never did.
Although young, Casey could remember her own mother’s never ending pain over a man who wanted nothing
more from her than to be a bed buddy. She refused to condemn herself that way. As selfish as it sounded she
only dealt with men on her terms, and if they didn’t like it they could bugger off. So far her life had turned out
quite well. A nice little remodeled cottage in Beaverton complete with two acres of land, a successful practice
with one of her best friends, enough money socked away to enjoy her advanced years comfortably, three women
who were more like sisters than friends, and an occasional partner when the mood struck. She’d only had one
nagging void in her life and it damned sure had nothing to do with finding the love of her life. Sure she enjoyed a
good roll in the hay with a competent, enthusiastic lover but it was just sex not an obsession, which brought her
back to the topic at hand.
“Call who you like, I’m sure they’d all say they were happy with me.”
“Yeah until their poor hearts got trampled. Look I don’t pass judgment on how you go about your relationships
so don’t do it with me.”
Disbelieving eyes stared back at her friend as a real concern began to manifest. “What relationship? You’re
fixated on some dream man magically appearing from a book.” Vicki let loose an exasperated sigh.
“Okay, why don’t I keep it for a day or two, give you a chance to distance yourself.” When Vicki would have
protested she hurried on. “By your own admission you haven’t felt so much as a twinge from this thing and you’
ve had it for well over a month. Who knows, maybe the time away will kick start it into action.” She felt foolish
making the statement, but at least it would give her enough time to try and reach Sierra again to straighten out
this mess.
“I know you’re just placating me,” Vicki arched a brow at her.
“Me? Never.”

...where fantasy and reality merge.