Sunday Snippet: Covert Heart

What a week. Our weather went completely insane and we got a wild mix of rain and wind. We lost power on Friday afternoon and finally had it restored on Saturday after about eighteen hours. Thankfully, it didn't get super cold overnight.

Work projects are moving along. I finished up the memoir and have two new potential jobs. I'm still working on a proofread and have some final touches to put on a copy edit. I'm hoping to get to a developmental edit that I put on the back burner last month because it's a manuscript that will launch an amazing series.

Had a limited viewing week. I managed to get through a couple of my usual shows but didn't get through my whole slate. Too many things pulling my attention and focus.

Started with My Life Is Murder and thoroughly enjoyed the mystery. Always fun to see Will and the sibling relationship he has with Alexa. Per usual, Madison had some great scenes.

Caught most of an episode of Foyle's War. I'd forgotten he kind of got pulled into the spy scene. Really fun to see his interactions with Sam after her marriage. Kind of bummed they recast the guy who played her fiancé in the previous season.

Watched an episode of Return to Paradise and it's one I remembered. I love the quirky interactions Mackenzie has with everyone but I really, really love when she has to deal with her messy emotions. Watching her apologize to Glen almost physically hurt to observe. Very good moment between them.

Started an episode of Poirot but didn't get a chance to finish it before I crashed. I'll finish it up and start the round of shows again.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Covert Hearts, a novella puts a couple on the brink of their happy future in peril.

Here's the miniblurb:

An impossible task. A couple sworn to carry it out or die trying. One big test of the depth of their courage and love.

And a sneaky peek…

Rick McBride stood with his arms wrapped around Emma Wells and let the realization of what they were about to do wash slowly over him. They’d just had the conversation, and he promised to have her back.

And he would … regardless of whether he questioned the right to assassinate a government official or not.

An argument could be made that he’d once held a gun to the head of a superior, but he’d counter that his decision had been spur of the moment, enacted to keep his cover, and not likely to result in the actual shooting of said official.

But this … this action would be cold-blooded murder—order or not. And, of course, Emma would not refuse since the old man issued the orders. And the elder McBride knew it.

Why else would he dismiss Rick before giving Emma the assignment?

And leave it to Emma to try and give him an out. She knew this operation wouldn't sit well with him. And it didn't. Not one bit.

But he wouldn't accept her offer. He'd never let her go it alone on something like this.

Yet what did she do?

Thanked him.

That alone told Rick she had doubts, even if she pretended to be okay with the order.

And while his brain warred with itself, he drew her closer. The summit should be their salvation. Instead, it had become their curse. Every single official at the meeting would be armed … they'd made it a requirement. The uneasy truce they all agreed to didn't extend to any kind of trust. No one thought they'd achieve peace without everyone using their own weapons to discourage a coup attempt. But getting them all in one place had to bring them one step closer to a cease fire.

Dammit, he and Emma should be talking about the endless options they could have after a treaty had been signed … not standing together in an empty room holding on for dear life.

But they couldn't discuss future game plans … there were none. Neither would be coming back from this.

They’d never make it out alive.

Stepping back, his gaze slowly met Emma's. Her eyes held the same knowledge. And acceptance. She would give her life to end another.

And he would give his life so she could.

Wrapped in that understanding, Rick didn’t speak. Moving his hands forward, he cupped Emma's face. Her gaze didn’t waver from his as the moment stretched out between them.

Slowly moving his hands to rest on her shoulders, he took comfort in her palms resting on his hips. Neither spoke as their eyes held, saying things they’d never utter aloud. Not now.

This is it.

Emma's hands slid forward to undo the buckle of the holster he wore and removed it, heavy with its side arm. Still looking levelly at him, she didn’t blink when he followed suit. The sound of both weapons thudding softly to the floor created noise in the quiet space.

No turning back.

Rick's fingers trailed lightly up Emma's arm before settling on the topmost button of her blouse. He caught the gleam in her eye before she mimicked the motion. The breath hitched in his throat right before he slid the button loose from its slotted opening. The line between past and future crossed, right now became their only option to say all that needed said.

We’re gonna do this.

This one has been fun to dive into. The narrative is a little different, but I'm enjoying the way it's coming together.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye