Peter loved Kate with all his being, but that didn't mean he'd tolerate an ultimatum from her.
Welcome to another offering for Frisky Friday, where we hope you're getting as excited about the weekend as we are.My submission for this week is from my 5th book, and newest release, Acting Lessons.
He was a strict and demanding college professor turned professional director who excelled at giving acting lessons. She was his shy and uncertain former student who became a professional actress under his tutelage. They fell in love, married, and won two Tony Awards before tragedy struck and a simple kiss ripped them apart.
After a six month separation, Peter Thorton decides to take matters into his own hands by making his famous wife, Kate, an offer she wouldn't refuse. Plainly put, he wants her back and he intends to do whatever is necessary to achieve his goal, even if it means giving his stubborn, willful leading lady a daily reminder over his knee that she promised to obey him.
In this scene, which occurs at the beginning of Chapter Four, Peter Thorton is attempting to get his wife ready for a trip to a college camp ground in upper New York, where they will appear together in a summer stock production of "Kiss Me Kate." Kate has agreed to help Peter teach the drama students who have auditioned and been selected personally by him for the course he is teaching. Kate isn't sure she can trust Peter with her heart again, since she believes he's been unfaithful to her, but she's never stopped loving him. And though Domestic Discipline originally played a part in their marriage, their last two years together had them living like polite strangers sharing the same house. Though things are far from perfect between them now, they are temporarily reconciled, which gives Peter great hope for the summer before them.
The
next morning, Peter rallied the troops before dawn. Kate groaned in protest, but the smack he
gave her for wasting time got her up and moving far more quickly than she would
have otherwise. Even so, she wasn't
getting ready fast enough for him, so he took charge, as usual.
Efficiency
personified, Peter gave Kate her shot, wrapped her knee, helped her dress, and
had her seated at the dining room table before she had opened her eyes.
"I
want to make as few stops as possible, darling, so eat a good breakfast while I
check my e-mail and attend to any last-minute details before we leave." Placing a quick kiss on the top of her hair,
he strode out of the room.
Kate
cradled her pounding head in her hands.
Being married to an energetic whirlwind was not only exhausting, it
caused headaches.
"Cheer
up, chica," Consuelo
soothed. "At least Mr. Peter is in
a more agreeable mood this morning."
Kate
sighed. He certainly hadn't been in an
agreeable mood when she'd returned from her shopping trip and meeting
yesterday.
He'd
met her at the door, took note of her new hairstyle and packages, and crossed
his arms. He'd let her leave without an
argument, but he hadn't been pleased about it.
Kate met with her former boyfriend yesterday, which Peter allowed with thinly disguised displeasure. Even so, Kate knew that his stretched tolerance was a huge step in the right direction.
If you're 18 or older, you can read the first three chapters at Acting Lessons
Buy the book directly from Blushing Books
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and wish you and yours a very Frisky Friday.
Great snippet Kathryn. Wow, he is so efficient and organised!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Roz