Pinups and Puppies

By R.L. Merrill

Marianne Cross has lived a life of structure and purpose for the past twenty-four years. Now reluctantly retired from the Air Force, her life is missing those two things that have always defined her. As she struggles to decide where her future lies, she finds peace and solitude flying her vintage airplane. When an opportunity with the organization Pawsitive Flight comes along, allowing her to combine flying with a purpose, she's interested in the possibilities—especially those concerning the owner of Goth Dog Rescue, Dinah Shaw. She's tough, beautiful, and she makes Marianne want things she hasn't allowed herself to want in a long time.

  

Flying rescue dogs to their furever homes may give Marianne new purpose, and even a home of her own in the process…if she's willing to risk her heart on a little fly-by-night romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.L. Merrill
• Release date: Jun 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393072195

R.L. Merrill

Author of Haunted and Teacher series, and winner of the Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese. “With a strong plot, an expertly crafted cast of supporting characters, and deep empathy, Merrill’s novel will keep readers hooked.” —Publishers Weekly review of Typhoon Toby. R.L. Merrill brings you stories of Hope, Love, and Rock 'n' Roll featuring quirky and relatable characters. Whether she’s writing about contemporary issues that affect us all or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, she loves creating compelling stories that will stay with readers long after. Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft and striving to find that perfect balance between real life and happily ever after. She writes LGBTQ romances for Dreamspinner Press, contributes paranormal hilarity to Robyn Peterman’s Magic and Mayhem Universe and works on various other projects that tickle her fancy or benefit a worthy cause. You can find her lurking on social media where she loves connecting with readers, educating America’s youth, raising two brilliant teenagers, trying desperately to get that back piece finished in the tattoo chair, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more Rock 'n' Romance.

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Copyright © 2019 Celie Bay Publications LLC

All rights reserved.

No part of this book shall be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any mean, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, photographic including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior written permission of the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.  

This work is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published By: Celie Bay Publications, LLC

Edited by: Kelli Collins, Edit Me This

Cover Design: R.L. Merrill

Dedication

To Smokey Young...

Your expertise and joie de vivre are much appreciated.

Thank you for your dedication to ensuring quality romantic fiction.

Blurb:

Marianne Cross has lived a life of structure and purpose for the past twenty-four years. Now reluctantly retired from the Air Force, her life is missing those two things that have always defined her. As she struggles to decide where her future lies, she finds peace and solitude flying her vintage airplane. When an opportunity with the organization Pawsitive Flight comes along, allowing her to combine flying with a purpose, she’s interested in the possibilities—especially those concerning the owner of Goth Dog Rescue, Dinah Shaw. She’s tough, beautiful, and she makes Marianne want things she hasn’t allowed herself to want in a long time.

Dinah Shaw is happy with her life’s mission, connecting needy pups with families that will love them. It’s hard but fulfilling work that completely satisfies her—until she meets Marianne Cross. Part of Dinah is more than ready to hop in the jump seat and show the shy pilot a good time, but the other part isn’t interested in another woman who’s just passing through, looking for Ms. Right-For-Now. She’s been there and done that. Until she discovers what she wants to do with her life, Marianne is a possible flight risk Dinah can’t afford to trust.

Flying rescue dogs to their furever homes may give Marianne new purpose, and even a home of her own in the process...if Dinah can risk her heart on a little fly-by-night romance.

COPYRIGHT 2019  CELIE Bay Publications LLC

Chapter One

The wheels of my Cessna touched down gently on the tarmac at Hayward Executive Airport and I sighed happily. I’ll never get tired of this... Flying on my terms, on my time schedule, in my own plane. There’s just something exhilarating about taking off from a small municipal airport, flipping the bird to The Man, and taking a break from the exhausting requirement of talking to people and telling them again, I’m fine.

Really, I was. Or so I’d told myself every day for the past five months as the career I’d worked for my entire adult life came to a premature end.

It hadn’t been my choice to retire from the Air Force at age forty-six, but moping around wasn’t going to change anything. I had feelers out for jobs, but nothing sounded interesting. I definitely didn’t want to fly people around anymore—too many memories—and I certainly didn’t want to teach people to fly. I needed to find a purpose, and find it fast, so my family would leave me alone and I could get on with my life.

I taxied around to the hangar I’d rented and found a visitor. I shook my head with a smile. I pulled the plane into the hangar and turned off the engine.

Aunty Em! Nell bounced on her toes while clutching her tablet to her chest.

I see giving you the codes and keys to get in was a mistake.

You’re just saying that because you’re a crotchety old lady.

Nell was an adorable, if a little pushy, nineteen-year-old college student. I was grateful to have her in my life. My brother had done well raising her to be a talented, outgoing, and persistent young woman. I’d just hoped for a little more time in solitude this afternoon before making conversation.

Not as old as your dad. Now, what brings you out to my, ahem, private lair?

I’d been thrilled to find this space. When Dad and I came to look at the plane, the owner said they’d be giving up their hangar as well, since they were moving to the desert for retirement. It was exactly what I needed so we were able to take over the rent.

When my retirement was made official two months ago, I’d returned to the Bay Area to live with my photographer brother Matt, his wickedly funny husband, Zack, and their daughter, and though I loved being with them after twenty-four years of living the nomadic military life, I needed a place to hide. The hangar was big enough for my new baby—Siouxsie, a 1950 Cessna 140A—and a workspace. Matt gave me one of the couches they’d recently replaced, and I bought a small fridge and microwave. All I needed to do was bring some of my art supplies out here and I’d be set. Well, that, and figure out what the hell to do now that I had no job.

I heard about this program today while I was at the shelter and I thought it would be perfect for you, now that you’ve got Siouxsie. Come look.

Nell plopped down on the sofa and booted up her tablet, her dark brown curls bouncing around her face. My supervisor got a call from a friend of hers that works at a shelter down near Visalia, and they were looking for someone to take this mom and her puppies before they have to put the mom down, and a local rescue volunteered. They don’t have room there. I would’ve offered to drive down to Visalia myself, but I’ve got finals tomorrow.

Nell turned her big brown eyes on me and proceeded to blink back manufactured tears,