Sunday Snippet: The First One of 2026 and It’s a Real Snippet Edition

Hiya, Happy New Year, although if you’re like me and having a hard time with that concept, I totally get it. With the news and the condition of our country right now, does it feel like 2026 has a snowball’s chance in h-e-double hockey sticks of being happy? I dunno. I’m asking and honestly trying really hard not to think too hard about it right now. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m paying attention, listening to the news, trying to understand what’s happening. But I can’t make it my entire focus or I seriously will break down and be completely useless.

Useless isn’t going to work right now. I have a book deadline coming up, editing gigs to work on, and a new release at the end of the month. I have a cardiologist checkup coming up and a couple of other health issues to tend to–mine and Husband’s–and I need to meet with my RAGT26 partners to make some choices about the luncheon we’re sponsoring. (More about that later) I still have to take down the holiday decorations, put away gift-wrapping stuff, return some gifts that didn’t fit, and contact some folks about 2026 book signings. Compartmentalizing is the only way I will get through the dark days of winter. That and meditation and exercise.

Let’s talk, tell me how you’re coping this winter. We all have to stick together right now, so drop a comment below and let me know how you’re doing, okay?

Oh, and here’s the snippet I mentioned in the title of this post. A first-kiss scene from my upcoming release, The Cowboy’s Comeback. If you’re intrigued and interested in reading and reviewing an ARC e-book copy of this fun second-chance, enemies-to-lovers story, here’s a link to Tule Publishing’s BookSprout ARC campaign for this title. It’s totally free. Enjoy!

She squared her shoulders and stepped away from his reach. “I can’t imagine what you have to say that I’d want to hear, Bo.”

“How about I was wrong?” The words were so soft that she wasn’t even sure she’d heard him correctly.

She turned back to him. “I’m sorry?” She pushed her hat off, letting it rest on her back by the soft leather stampede strings. The wind ruffled her bangs and cooled her hot face.

He cleared his throat. “I was wrong,” he repeated. “I was wrong about everything. I was bullheaded and stupid to think that you’d have anything to do with Marco. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I destroyed what we had between us.”

If Cassie had been sitting on Pansy, she’d have fallen right off again. As it was, her knees turned watery and she reached for the horn on Pansy’s saddle to keep from buckling down to the coarse grass. Her heart pounded and her mouth went dry as dust. Was he serious? “You’re sorry?”

He closed his eyes and dropped his head back for second, and when he faced her again, his voice came out husky with emotion. “I’ve been thinking about us so much since I got up here. My mom would say finding you here is fate’s way of smacking me upside the head for being a stupid fool. I’ve spent five years shutting down my feelings. I thought I’d been betrayed by another woman I’d opened my heart to. I didn’t think that night. I just reacted and I destroyed us. I’m not asking for a second chance, Cass, but when I saw that snake in front of you, my only thought was I can’t let anything happen to her … be-because …” He took a deep breath. “Because I love you.”

Cassie was pretty sure he’d just broken the record for most words Bo Kennedy had ever spoken at one time. Bo didn’t make flowery speeches. He let his actions speak for him—bringing her favorite ice cream to her trailer back when they were together. Or massaging her feet after a day of events. Making sure her trailer tires were aired up properly even though she knew how to do that and checking the oil in her truck. Taking her to heaven and back again in her bed—or his—each night.

He’d told her he’d loved her back then, but words weren’t Bo’s way of showing his feelings. Yet here he was, declaring himself on the side of a windy hill in the middle of a damn cattle drive.

She stared off into the distance where the others were rounding the herd up to get it moving again. For some reason, Del was standing in the bed of Gus’s pickup. “Bo, I-I … What am I supposed to do now?” She raised both hands, palms out in a gesture of total befuddlement. She was confused and wary, still bitter and yet so aroused by his declaration that she wanted to throw herself into his arms. The attraction she thought she’d beaten over the last five years came at her like a freight train as he stood there in front of her looking abashed and so damn hot.

“Nothing.” He shrugged. “I just needed to tell you.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah.” The old taciturn Bo was back. Her man of few words. “And maybe do this, too …” He stepped closer, and with his eyes locked on hers tilted his head. He was a breath away, clearly waiting for her to show some kind of acquiescence … permission.

She tipped her face up, and against all her better judgment, allowed him to touch his lips to hers. A gentle kiss, slow, sweet, and tender. As if he cherished her. Longing wafted between them—a tangible thing she could reach out and touch.

When he lifted his lips from hers, it was as though the world had paused and neither of them knew quite what might happen next.

Gratitude for this week: A quiet NYE with Husband; mimosas; warmer temps mean walking outside this week instead of on the treadmill; movie night with our kids; breakfast with pal, Connie–so good to see her!

Stay well, stay safe (we’re in the thick of flu and covid season), speak out–call your congresspeople and tell them what you think; and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!