Cougar-Cub romance
Feel the thrilling sensations provoked by Sharlene and Drake's Louisiana swamp ride.
Louisiana's lushness is the setting for my mainstream
contemporary interracial love story, BayouBabe99er. This romance story takes
place after the disastrous Gulf oil spill that threatens to eliminate the
communities scattered along the coast. What can a forty-four year-old laid-off
banker, and an oil company liaison closer to the age of her daughters than
hers, have in common? Desire! The desire—to right a wrong—and for each other.
BayouBabe99er
The
pirogue’s tiny motor pushed them deeper into the marsh bypassing masses of
water lilies hugging the perimeter. So far, their search for oil proved
fruitless. And that was a good thing because hoop nets dotted the outer area.
Those results met with Sharlene’s approval. Drake’s fascination with the swamp
was exhibited in the way his camera whirred at the press of the button.
Sharlene
left a flag at every turn.
“Almost
like Hansel and Gretel.”
He had
recovered, she realized by his teasing tone. “It’s picturesque, Drake. But
don’t let the idyllic setting lure you to carelessness. The denseness of this
swamp can swallow a body whole.” Drake swung and snapped numerous times,
capturing her against the natural backdrop.
They
traveled the narrow ways, sometimes losing sight of the sun through the
overhanging and binding branches. It reappeared lower on the horizon,
indicating the length of time spent on what turned out to be a wild goose
chase. Sharlene decided to pack it in and maneuvered the craft around the next
bend. One last search place came to mind.
“I’m glad
this was a waste of your time,” he said.
“Not a
complete waste. Allowed me to concentrate on something other than my pitiful
problems.” Honesty was her strong suit. Saying something personal like that to
a complete stranger was uncharacteristic.
Sitting
backward on his seat to face her, Drake’s stare held open curiosity. This event
brought to mind the last time he felt so emotionally connected. He faced the
heart-wrenching rawness rather than withdrawing psychologically as he’d always
done in the past.
Drake took
aim with the camera, zooming in for the perfect shot. Sharlene never altered
her expression. What she offered right then was a look into her inner soul.
That was a look the camera didn’t do justice.
A
spirit-connecting shiver rocked him.
Sharlene
devoted all of her energies to keeping her mind on the delicate operation and
off the feelings of infatuation warring inside of her. Her sensitivity
heightened. The stagnant water smell in places absent of sunlight drifted
passed her nose. Feathery wisps of wind touched her skin. Every stimulus around
her sharpened.
The sight
of dark, gooey slickness clinging to Cypress knees put her back in a serious
frame of mind. The shutter snaps ceased when Drake read her current expression.
Swinging forward, he immediately began logging the unfortunate sight. “Damn!”
“What’s
next?” Sharlene asked.
“A fight.”
She brought
them safely through the alternate route, noting the heavy coverage of oil ended
where the passage forked. They were chugging along on the return route when the
three-propeller trolling motor clogged in debris. Sharlene saw an unwelcomed
sight when she looked up ahead. “Oh, no!”
He whipped
her way.
“Water
lilies.”
He looked
away. “Yeah. So?”
The motor
resisted her efforts at clearing the strangling vines from its blades. “We’re
stuck.”
“No, we’re
not.” Drake sounded confident. “We have the pole.”
She
exclaimed with a smile, “The pole!” Wrangling it from under the seat with a
little too much enthusiasm courted disaster. The end hit the under-seat,
Sharlene lost her grip, and the life-saving stick slipped into the murky water.
“No-o-o!” she cried, peering over the side.
“Well,” he
said to reduce her ire, “I can clear a path by hand.”
“Are you
out of your mind?”
“You have a
better idea?”
“Hopefully,
there are other fools out today besides us.”
“Have you
seen anyone else all day?”
He had a point.
“No.”
“Then we
don’t have a choice.”
Sharlene
noticed a defiant look in his black eyes. She gave a stern warning with a hand
on his shoulder. “This place is called Alligator Bayou.” She ordered him to
reconsider. “We wait, Drake. There’s no other choice.”
* * * *
Drake
gulped because a log in the lilies submerged right on cue. “I’m sorry,
Sharlene. To have gotten you in this mess.”
“Like you
twisted my arm.”
“I should
have resisted.” I was too tempted by just being in your company.
“Uncle
Moot’ll find us.”
Looking at
the marshy jungle inspired little hope in him. “How can he?” She had the gall
to laugh a throaty vibration that closed her eyes in enjoyment. She was the
only one basking in the moment. Nevertheless, he soaked up all the charm she
exuded, even in those uncertain moments.
“He knows
these swamps like every line in his face.” When he seemed doubtful, she added,
“Plus the breadcrumbs will help.”
His
skeptical look caused another laugh to puncture the deathly quiet, scattering
the birds from the trees. Drake followed their flight, a smile of his own
slipping across his face. “You do that so easily.”
“What?”
“Laugh.”
“Hmmm.
Sometimes that’s all you have left.”
They lapsed
into silence. Drake fiddled with his camera for lack of anything better to do.
“Can I
see?” Sharlene broke the silence, rocking the boat as she shifted to get
closer.
“Sure.” He
handed her the camera after toggling the dial to slideshow.
“You have a
good eye. The pictures of the swamp are magnificent,” she complimented. Her
thumb continued to hit the back button until one of her popped up. “I hate
taking pictures. But I guess this one’ll do.” She turned the screen to him.
“I’ll say.”
Taking the camera back, he scrolled to another. “Now, this one deserves a
frame.”
She
hesitated when he handed it for her to see. Sharlene made a face. “Ummm.”
“You know
you like it,” he teased. She rewarded him with her fabulous grin. “Told you.”
Buy now! BayouBabe99er
Mickie Sherwood
~~Sweet,
spicy romance – a heartbeat away~~
www.blurbsinbloom.com
Sweet-to-sensual mainstream romance blurbs compiled just for you! Open for
submissions.
www.Twitter.com/MickieSherwood
No comments:
Post a Comment