Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Hi, everyone. Technically, it’s still Saturday, and after all day of busy work, I remembered this post had been ready to go. I should change my topic to Occasional Short Snippet Saturday. This isn’t something I post each week. Here’s a snippet for my featured book this month.

Featuring one of my books in my website header is something I recently started. I don’t know where I got the idea, but it’s fun making the banners. If things work out like I hope they will, by December, I should have enough books to have filled 2019, with one left over, starting with Jase and Brenna in Heartbreak’s Reward.

Jase was introduced as Tristan’s oldest brother in the first book in the series. This is book two–his book.

Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight

Blurb:

Rancher Jase Carlson doesn’t understand the ache in the hollow of his chest since his ex-wife ripped his heart out. She doesn’t follow the court rules where his children are concerned, making him even more pissed off when she steals them away from him. Harboring a bad attitude, and dedicating his life to finding his kids, he wishes he wasn’t a gentleman when he comes to the aid of a quick-tempered, sexy blonde. He can’t allow her tight jeans and sweet smile to sway him, even after he’s coerced into spending time alone with her. Fighting the torturous battle going on within his own mind and body, he can either deal with it—or succumb to the woman who appears to be everything he didn’t know he needed.

In an attempt to save her rebellious teen sister from herself—as her guardian, Brenna Page leaves everything behind and moves to Canyon Junction, Arizona. When she unexpectedly meets a hot-headed cowboy with intense blue eyes and muscles to die for, the first thing she wants to do is get away. Since she can’t seem to shake him, Brenna wonders if that same grudge-filled cowboy is worth taking on. But still dealing with painful memories, a nightmare behind her eyes she can’t forget, and a sister who wants nothing to do with Arizona, the last thing she needs right now is a horse ranching cowboy interfering.

One wrong turn. Two broken families. Brought together by chance and need.

In this snippet, Jase is having dinner with Brenna Page. Though their relationship is fairly new, and he’s on the fence about getting involved, tonight his heart isn’t as broken as it has been. Modified slightly from the original:

She turned back to the sink. Jase stood behind her while reaching into the cabinet. Leaning into her wasn’t an accident. He placed his right hand on her shoulder and removed two plates and then bowls to set on the counter beside her. He lowered his other hand to her shoulder. She rested against him, and he dropped his hands to her waist. He closed his eyes to savor the sweet scent of her hair.

“Mmm, this is better’n food.”

“Uh huh.” Jase brushed hair away from one side of her neck, eyeing the rapid throb of her pulse beneath her fair skin. He closed his lips over the area, gingerly touching the tip of his tongue against it. The pump of her pulse against his mouth shot an arc of heat straight to… He cleared his throat.

Brenna stood straighter. Turning to face him, she pressed her palms against his chest. “I thought you were hungry?”

Jase tossed his head back and released a low groan. “I am hungry.” He lowered his eyes. “Uh, for lasagna. I love Italian food.” He turned around and sauntered to the window to look down at the parking lot to distract himself.

Hungry.

Yeah.

Okay.

Check out the other books on the series page HERE. Book Five is planned for this year. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Have a great weekend.

I hope it’s warmer where you are. We’ve had it all this week: Six inches of snow, freezing rain, sleet, ice, below zero double-digit wind chill temperatures, then up to forty degrees for almost a full day. Now, a new winter storm and below zero temps and -35 degree wind chills are on the way as I write this.

  🛷⛸☃❄

Thanks for reading.