#RustCity16 Hidden Treasures: Birthday Surprise by Elizabeth Harmon

EHarmon-Getting It Back.RustCity

HarmonE.200pxMy longtime readers should know by now that I love the mini-fiction events; a glimpse into the world, a story by a beloved side character, or an introduction to never before seen action – I love it all and can never get enough.

I’m hosting the first Rust City Book Convention here in the Metro Detroit area, and to help spotlight the authors attending, I’ve come up with a fabulous new feature series – Hidden Treasures. I’ve asked the #RustCity16 authors to write a story, featuring any or all of their characters as they discover a new bit of treasure – i.e. at a flea market, up in the attic, tomb-raiding, etc.

With that in mind, let’s see what hidden treasures Elizabeth Harmon’s characters from Getting It Back, the third Red Hot Russians novel, have discovered.
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Birthday Surprise

EHarmon-Getting It BackIt wasn’t until late afternoon, that Misha remembered today was Amy’s birthday.

The young skater he’d been working with and the skater’s formidable coach heard him swear in Russian and looked over.  Was everything all right?  Nyet.  Not at all.

Misha’s busyness had made forget his wife’s birthday, and putting work before Amy had almost caused him to lose her once.  It wasn’t a mistake he would repeat.  The coach wasn’t happy to cut their choreography session short, but Amy’s happiness mattered more.  The shops in Lake Shosha closed early, and he had only a short time to find the perfect gift.

In the antique shop where Amy loved to browse, a teenage boy sat at the counter, intent on his phone. Misha wished the owner were here.  She and Amy shared a love for old things that unfortunately, eluded him.  Though he liked the hidden treasures Amy discovered so easily, he had no eye for them. Everything just looked used up and worn out.

The way he’d been, before Amy’s love.

He sorted through the dishes.  Amy liked bowls, and had dozens in different sizes and colors. Those with flowers were too fussy.  Soldiers?  Definitely not.  And didn’t she already have several with farm scenes?  He moved onto the furniture, then tableclothes and napkins, but nothing seemed right.  He couldn’t show Amy how much he loved her with napkins!

Jewelry!  Wasn’t that the way to a woman’s heart? Everyone said so.  But as he gazed down at the necklaces, earrings, brooches and bracelets sparkling in the case, he couldn’t picture athletic, outdoorsy Amy wearing any of them.

The kid looked up. Closing time.

Misha glanced around once last time. Nothing here.

Outside in the growing dusk, he wondered where to look next. Clothes? Perfume?  But the only boutique was closed. As were the rest of the shops.

Now what?

He could drive twenty miles to the mall in Klin, but it wasn’t fair to leave Amy to feed Eli and put him to bed, while he took care of something he should have done already.  He arrived home to find his beautiful red-haired wife feeding squash puree to their hungry toddler. “Where have you been?”

Misha sighed. “Shopping for your birthday.  I should have started much earlier, and though I wanted to find the perfect hidden treasure to show how much I love you…I couldn’t.”

She set down the spoon.  “Misha…don’t you know that you, my beloved husband and the father of our son, are the best hidden treasure I could ask for?  And the fact you made yourself crazy looking for the perfect present to show that you love me…only proves how much you do.”

She kissed him long and hard, as his relief and desire surged. “Amy, I love you more than words can say. And here I was, worried about finding the perfect gift…when you didn’t even want one!”

Amy offered a sly look and sexy laugh. “I never said that.”
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Meet Elizabeth Harmon!

EHarmon-Pairing OffElizabeth Harmon loves to read and write romances with a dash of different.

A graduate of the University of Illinois, she has worked in advertising, community journalism and as a freelance magazine writer. She feels incredibly blessed to have a career that allows her to spend her days imagining “what if?” and a loving family that keeps her grounded in the real world. Her debut novel, Pairing Off is a 2016 RITA Award Finalist.

An adventurous cook, vintage home enthusiast, occasional actress, and entry-level figure skater, Elizabeth makes her home in the Midwest, where life is good, but the sports teams aren’t. She loves to hang out on her front porch, or at her favorite local establishments, enjoy good food and wine, and talk writing with anyone who will listen.

Contact Info: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | GoodReads | Amazon | BookLikes

Want to purchase Elizabeth’s novels?
Red Hot Russians

  1. Pairing Off
  2. Turning It On
  3. Getting It Back

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Don’t miss your chance to meet some amazing authors at Rust City Book Con next August! Come join us in our celebration of all things genre fiction in the Motor City! Registration is now open for #RustCity16!

Be sure to keep up with all things Rust City 2016, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook |Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Instagram | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

1 Comment

  1. Jackie,
    Thanks for hosting me today and for pushing me to try a new kind of writing. Flash fiction was a blast, and I definitely plan to write more. See you in August.

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