Relationship Advice: Winona, Final Mend

 

 

Winona’s Relationship Advice:

Know who you are and what you want, but don’t be afraid to change and grow. Don’t be so set in your ways that you miss out on the best parts of yourself.

 

Naomi Fisher, from Fatal Snag

Naomi strives for perfection. She wants her fridge organized by height and color and tends to be way-too controlling when it comes to what disrupts her life.

Is it any wonder why Chayton disrupts her life?

She has a few issues, but that’s what I loved about creating her character. She went through a traumatic experience in her younger days because she had no control over the situation, and that experience made her largely who she is today. And yet she is optimistic and fun-loving, good-humored and intellectual. Sometimes irresponsible, self-absorbed, tactless, blunt, and superficial. Her biggest goal? To take a break and get away from the cattiness of her job as a fashionista.

Naomi’s Relationship Advice:

Don’t be afraid to be charmed or pursued. But don’t ever let an intense relationship turn vicious, in any way. If you’re going to fight, fight nice. Don’t say anything in anger you’ll regret later.

Chayton Chambers, from Fatal Snag

 

Characters are like children to authors. We probably aren’t supposed to pick favorites. And I usually don’t. Every character I am creating at the moment becomes my favorite at the time.

But if I absolutely had no choice but to pick a favorite, Chayton would be at the top of that list.

Chayton Clark Chambers stands for calm, cool, and collected. Not callous, critical, and careless. He respects women and has many women friends, including affable ex-relationships, so he doesn’t understand why this burning fervor for Naomi leaves him with such bitterness. She considers him a damn bartender. Never mind the fact he owns a frigging bar, the coffee shop down the street, and half the ski shops in town. His brother asks him to play nice to the haughty wardrobe stylist, but her sultry glances and pouty lips make her kisses impossible to resist.

Chayton is broody. He isn’t violent but does get jealous, especially when Naomi’s ex comes to town looking to rekindle their relationship. He doesn’t give his heart away easily, but when he does he does so 110%.

Chayton was left on his father’s doorstep when he was baby, and the only link to his mother was a portrait of her. He grew up with bitterness and abandonment issues, but the only mother he ever knew as his mother taught him about unconditional love. She gave him a jar and told him each time he felt unloved or abandoned, to drop a quarter into that jar. He now has many. He and his brother, Garret, grew up together and were very close.

Chayton is an extremist. He loves ice-climbing, Jeeping, 4-wheeling, hunting, heli-skiing, and extreme sports. He owns a bar called Air Dog, along with other businesses in town such as a ski shop. His parents are dead and, although he inherited money, he learned to invest a long time ago, so he is well off enough not to have to worry about finances.

He never thought to be ready to commit to a relationship until Naomi enters the picture. He met her in his brother’s story, Burn on the Western Slope. They became friends, but Naomi left without saying goodbye after he had gone on a day-trip with his brother to go ice-climbing and got injured. So when she returns to Tanyon to help his brother and her cousin plan a wedding, he is bitter about her. And some of his abandonment issues arise.

At the end of Chapter One, this is what he thinks of Naomi:

He was a rugged, outdoor man who owned a bar and liked to jump out of airplanes. She was a classy, sophisticated girl who dressed celebrities for a living and liked to ski down the black slopes of hell just as much as he did.

Maybe that’s why he was so attracted to her.

But hey, all of my books have happy endings, which means Chayton has a happy ending. Here is his relationship advice for having a happy ending with the person you love.

 

Chayton’s Relationship Advice:

Get over yourself. Seriously. It is the only way to have a good relationship. While charm is good and fun, sometimes that charm is overcompensated because of cockiness and fear. I know this from experience.

 

Romance, and Weddings

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Goodreads had a list of fictional weddings that make them swoon, and it made me think of Garret and Reagan’s wedding!

FS-flyer

We first meet Garret and Rayma in Burn on the Western Slope, but in the second (standalone) novel, Chayton and Naomi now get their chance (if they can ever stop arguing), and we celebrate Garret and Reagan’s wedding. I had such a fun time with this scene. Here’s an excerpt from Fatal Snag, where Naomi is walking down the aisle as her cousin’s bridesmaid, and has a hard time keeping her feet from going Chayton’s direction.

Excerpt:

The music began and the wedding planner’s nod indicated time for Naomi to step through the door. She gripped her flowers, letting the infusion of tulips, freesia, and dahlias steady her.

She paused at the entrance as the flash from the photographer’s camera caught what she hoped was a stunning smile, then stepped down the aisle, her dress gliding behind her. Glancing at Garret, she smiled. Her eyes trailed to Chayton. Her heart dropped. She nearly lost her footing and hoped no one noticed her wavering walk. Breathing deeply, she tried not to focus on him or think about how much she wished this was her wedding and she walked down the aisle toward him, her groom.

God, what was she thinking? How could she be so stupid? Her, marry Chayton?

Afraid she would veer his direction, she focused her attention opposite him, where she would stand.

She’d never seen a more gorgeous male. The black tux Chayton wore accentuated everything sexy about him, including his broad shoulders and lean, muscular frame. His thick hair, though combed immaculately, possessed that wild, disheveled look she loved.

She stepped past Garret and stood on the other side of him, facing the crowd of onlookers who waited for Reagan to emerge.

Underneath her skin, she buzzed with an underlying energy of excitement, nervousness, and longing. Reagan didn’t have to hide the fact she loved Garret with all her heart, and Garret returned her love tenfold. It was obvious every time he looked at her. Chayton’s mere presence made Naomi feel out of place. She wanted to be wrapped in his arms. She wanted to scream out her feelings for him in public so everyone would know. And she longed for him to share those feelings.

No, no, no. She couldn’t let it happen. Her feelings were just desire. Lust made her heart tremble so. Not love. No, no.

Yes, yes. Love wrapped itself tightly around her, stifling her breath, quickening her pulse. She glanced at Chayton, but he watched the door, his jaw clenched. The music introducing Naomi stopped. The wedding march started. Everyone stood in awe and respect when Reagan stepped through the door. Naomi forced herself to focus on Reagan, not Chayton.

Guests emitted ahs of delight. Although Naomi had been with her moments ago, she was still taken away by her cousin’s joy and beauty. Her wedding gown was made of silky satin, sequins beading the neckline, sheering into the straps and behind the back to cut into a V style. The long, flowing train fell to the floor in delicate softness, moving gracefully behind the bride as every sequin sparkled.

A tear escaped as Naomi watched Reagan glide down the aisle with her father. Her throat burned, her chest pounded and more tears bubbled deep in her chest, threatening to erupt in blubbers of weeping.

Months ago, when Reagan and her father had been kidnapped by a madman working for a jewel fencing mafia, Naomi was in California stressing over whether or not her cousin would live. Chayton had been involved in her rescue. This wedding was the happiest day of her life. The happiest of Naomi’s for it was a reminder of the importance of small things. She hoped to have a chance to talk to Chayton later, if he would listen.

Naomi faced the preacher as he asked who would give Reagan away. As her father gave his daughter to Garret, Naomi chanced a look at Chayton. Her heart flipped when he caught her gaze and gave her a small smile. He hadn’t smiled at her all day. She felt he’d given her a piece of him, and she treasured the precious gift.

Later, she hoped they would dance. Talk. Make love. Commemorate a new beginning.

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Fatal Snag