Showers of Love - Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker + BayouBabe99er

Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker

Mainstream African-American Romance
$3.50

 

Blurb:

Widow Veronica Torres needs something desperately—invisibility. Escaping the clutches of her conniving brother-in-law and traveling incognito in the RV she traded for online sets her on a collision course with her new destiny, and a barreling fiery-red 18-wheeler.

Trucker Mike Masterson steams at the close call. First, he nearly sideswipes her. Now, she ends up at the same rest stop with mechanical trouble. Maybe, she deserves to sweat it out in the June heat since she has the attention span the size of a pea. But, the child in her company deserves better. What else can Mike do besides cart them to his garage for repairs?

Will their burgeoning relationship ignite more fireworks than the upcoming Fourth of July celebration? Or will the sparks of six nights and seven days of summertime sizzle—fizzle to an end? 

Scene:

Mike has tremendous difficulty keeping Veronica off his mind.

After a long, satisfying shower, now he sat on a stool—shirtless, in his pajama bottoms—at the kitchen island in near darkness, sipping from his coffee mug, puffing on the nicotine fixer, and whiling away the time. Mike left his perch to stand at the sliding doors. He cracked it a touch to hear the roar of the waves. The rushing water lured him out onto the patio. He lounged under the silvery moon with a shoulder against the brick wall.

“Can’t sleep either?”

Veronica’s question caught him by surprise. Her voice was husky with sleep. Mike’s eyes found her stretched out on the padded recliner on her private terrace. He slowly put down his coffee and fake cigarette. The fight within raged. In the end, he took the walk to Veronica under the hypnotic spell of the ocean’s drumming waves and a huge lovers’ moon.

Mike never uttered a word.

He had one sure way to let her know what had brought on his insomnia. Mike squeezed into the one-person recliner, forcing Veronica onto her side. He slid his arm under her neck, which lay her head on his shoulder. He crushed her to him with one hand while controlling the angle of her head with the other. He stared into her dreamy eyes, trying to decipher any rejection to his actions.

The rapid increase of every breath she took stoked his fire.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He touched his lips to hers in a demonstrative smack. “Did fate arrange for us to turn up out here at the same time?” He teased her mouth with his tongue and gained entrance. “Just say stop,” he mumbled against her lips, “and I will.”

Veronica panted and moaned her consent.

Mike sought to alleviate a bruising ache with his deep-throated kiss. He enjoyed the way Veronica reciprocated, especially the leg she currently draped across his. He explored her trembling body to his delight. All at once, she halted his travels.

Mike groaned and disengaged.

“Not here,” Veronica gasped. Her grip on his hand was tight. “Sam might wake up.”

His mind struggled with coherency. Mike shoved to his feet, pulling her up with him. He started her back inside, linked to her with a handhold.

           “Meet me in the family room.”
http://www.bookstrand.com/cutie-and-the-cowboy-trucker

BayouBabe99er

Mainstream Interracial Romance
$2.99

Blurb:

How many things can go wrong at one time?

That question plagues feisty divorcée Sharlene Mouton. The banking department she heads takes a trip overseas. She pounds the pavement—and the keyboard—with resumes for ninety-nine weeks. Going home to regroup lands her in the middle of an ecological disaster that threatens her rural Louisiana community. What else can happen? How about repeated run-ins with suave Drake Cormier, the oil company’s liaison officer.

Jobless, yet, not hopeless. Oil spill fiasco. Mouton-Cormier feud. Suitor not much older than her daughters.

Sharlene now wonders—how many wrongs make a right?

Scene:

Sharlene accepts a ride from Drake after her old truck breaks down in a torrential Louisiana thunderstorm. A misstep throws them down to the muddy, saturated ground.

 

His head peeped out at Sharlene, who now wore a cinched robe that did little to disguise her curvaceous, mature figure. Their eyes locked. Drake dropped his bundle at her feet. His rapid retreat put him in reach of the shower faucets.

When she heard the water running, Sharlene thought it best to put distance between them. The storm’s tempest was evident from her vantage in front of the window. Tree limbs bowed under the gale force winds. The howling sound invaded her space. Yet it wasn’t enough to eclipse the beating water from Drake’s shower.

Sharlene’s mind wandered where it didn’t belong. She absently walked over to retrieve his soiled clothes. The washer cranked up, the gush of cold water adding to the already noisy background. Maybe doing something with her hands would occupy her mind. So she moved on to the kitchen sink, turned on the cold water, washed her hands, and let it run while she emptied the coffee basket. She was in the process of rinsing the pot when the yowl went up in the bathroom.

She slapped the faucet off.

"What happened?" she screamed in alarm while rushing to Drake’s aid. Sharlene burst into the bathroom without knocking precisely the moment he slung the shower curtain aside.

Drake charged out in all his glory, visibly shaken and as red as a lobster on his right shoulder. "You tell me." He winced while grabbing at his injured arm.

"I don’t know." Sharlene had a difficult time keeping her eyes on his face and not his bare, bronzed body. Coming to her senses, she grabbed the robe at the same time his wits returned.

Drake snatched the bath towel to shield his naked body. "If I didn’t know better"—he wrapped it as he spoke—"I’d say your uncle tried to boil me alive."

Sharlene liked his teasing tone of voice. It helped lighten the mood.

"That looks pretty painful." She stepped nearer to finger the area. "We’d better put a cool towel on that right away."

There was no way around it. Sharlene’s soft touch ignited Drake’s fire. He made the rash decision to pull her into his arms. His hand traveled up her back to control the tilt of her head. His fingers slid through the softness of her curls.

Sharlene participated fully in the all-consuming kiss. Then realization struck. She pushed off, surprised at his crushing hold before he let go. She was engulfed by his smoky stare. "I need a bath first." The very idea she uttered "first" spoke volumes.

http://www.bookstrand.com/BayouBabe99er

 

 

Mickie Sherwood's Men and the Hair of the Women They Love

It's a hair thang!

Men in a moment of weakness.

Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker

The self-confident action she took by throwing the covers back as he rooted in the doorway engrossed him. Mike eased out, but not before his eyes zoomed to the soft-looking long pajama outfit she wore. Her sleepy-eyed, mussed-hair vision cinched his heart. Combine that picture with the complementary color of the sleep set next to her silky skin, and fascination gripped him.

“Buddy!”

Sam’s yell snapped Mike out of his love-starved stupor. “Coming, bud.” He closed her bedroom door, sealing her in, plus his reawakened desires. “Meet us across the highway, Veronica.”

Buy: http://www.bookstrand.com/mickie-sherwood

 

 

BayouBabe99er

Drake gulped, sputtering water in his attempt to yell. “I’m sorry!” He hung on to the life preserver for dear life. He saw his chance as the boat slowed. Long pulls had him within grasping distance of the ladder, and he hauled his tired body onboard. All he could do was lie facedown in a puddle of his own making. Smooth—brown—shapely—legs came into his line of sight when he dared to look up. He allowed himself the luxury of scanning her anatomy at his leisure from the top of her short, curled, cayenne-pepper hair down to her snow-white deck shoes.

His eyes retraced their trek to land on hers.

“Are you finished?”

Her candid way of putting him in his place affected him. Yet, it was the dazzle in her sparkling brown eyes that captivated him. He knew better than to respond, for his sarcastic wit was well known in his circle. Instead, he devoted all of his energies to getting off the deck. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Buy: http://www.bookstrand.com/mickie-sherwood

Tell me. What's your man's weakness?

Mickie Sherwood

~~Sweet, spicy romance – a heartbeat away!~~

www.mickiesherwood.com/blog

www.twitter.com/MickieSherwood

Prelude to Pleasure: Ride Shotgun - Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker

Hi, all,

I'm Mickie Sherwood.

I'm a cruise-loving, people-watching, picture-snapping baby boomer with time on her hands. So, I write sweet and spicy relationship-based mainstream contemporary romantic love stories.

 

Climb on up in the cab and ride shotgun with cowboy trucker, Mike Masterson, as he catches his first glimpse of "cutie" Veronica Torres.

Blurb:

Widow Veronica Torres needs something desperately—invisibility. Escaping the clutches of her conniving brother-in-law and traveling incognito in the RV she traded for online sets her on a collision course with her new destiny, and a barreling fiery-red 18-wheeler. 

Trucker Mike Masterson steams at the close call. First, he nearly sideswipes her. Now, she ends up at the same rest stop with mechanical trouble. Maybe, she deserves to sweat it out in the June heat since she has the attention span the size of a pea. But, the child in her company deserves better. What else can Mike do besides cart them to his garage for repairs? 

Will their burgeoning relationship ignite more fireworks than the upcoming Fourth of July celebration? Or will the sparks of six nights and seven days of summertime sizzle—fizzle to an end?

 

 

 

Mike Masterson's Prelude to Pleasure

 

"My name is Mike Masterson." His baritone voice increased in volume to be heard over the thumping sound system. "But, you can call me Snake. That's my CB handle. I drive this 18-wheeler for a living." He thought for a second. "That's not quite true. I used to drive cross-country long haul for a living. That was before I had to stop to raise my kids."

Mike shook his head.

"Hmph..." he grunted, while shoving the shift into the next gear."...that's a story for another time."

He went silent, briefly glanced at the pinkish scars on his brown hands, repositioned in his seat, then, started his conversation, again. "I don't usually allow anyone to ride shotgun. Doing this gets my company a little publicity. So, here you are."

"I own a business with a small fleet of trucks that crisscross the U.S. Had a scheduling glitch this week that forced me to make this short hop." He diligently monitored the road as he talked. "Man, I miss this. Been doing it since after college. Couldn't stand being cooped up in an office."

He accelerated to the speed limit and stuck to it.

"This can be a dangerous business. Got to be on your P's and Q's at all times. There's always some irresponsible jerk on the road out to jam you up." Speed skater's glasses cut the glare as Mike checked his left and right outside mirrors. "Like the A-hole in that sports car eating up the road behind me."

He looked to his left, again.

"He can't pass," he grumbled. "But, what do you want to bet that he'll squeeze between that car in the left lane and my front bumper?"

The words hadn't cleared his mouth as the driver of the sports car did exactly what he predicted. Mike eased off the accelerator to make room in order to avoid a catastrophe."I've seen it too many times. And—usually—truckers get the blame."

He resumed his journey in silence. However, another incident instigated another observation.

"Look at that RV up ahead. That's the second time he's crossed the centerline. Probably texting."

It wasn't long before Mike gained on the motorhome. "Hell! He's like the tide, rolling back in my lane, again." He attempted to get by. "Can't brake or downshift. Might jackknife my flatbed."

Only one thing for him to do. Mike yanked on the chain over his head with his left hand. The quad-tone horn blasted a gaping hole in the atmosphere with an unmistakable warning.

"That did it. Look at that rascal haul-ass back to his lane." He was satisfied with the other driver's reaction. "Stay where you are, fellow."

Passing was sweet as pie. Mike spared a look as his fiery-red truck whizzed by.

"Damn! She looks scared to death."

He put the pedal to the medal, keeping tabs on the RV until it was a speck in the distance. The upcoming rest stop sign was a welcome sight because he had been on the road since before dawn. Taking the exit, he snaked his way up to the lot. Soon, he parked his rig, leaving the AC humming while he stepped into the sleep quarters to change from his sneakers to his reptile-skin cowboy boots, and snatched up his crushable Stetson.

It wasn't long before Mike relaxed with his newspaper spread out on a picnic table. He barely noticed when an RV crawled across the lot to park on the far side. The pages slowly flipped as he thumbed each one. He was too engrossed in his paper until a blur streaked by in the corner of his eye. Mike looked up just as a big red ball rolled across the green grass heading straight for a departing 18-wheeler.

A youngster, in blind pursuit, hightailed it after the ball.

Mike wasted no time, forgetting all about his fatigue. He leaped to his feet and was swiftly on the run for a man six feet four inches tall, his arms flagging overhead. He barely got there in time to avert the disaster by stopping the truck's progress. Fuming, he mentally scolded the negligent parents. The tot now held on to his ball. He let Mike hold his other hand to usher him and his dog along to safety.

Scanning the area gave him an idea where the child belonged.

"I've seen a lot of strange things in my travels. Never have I seen anything like that."

He paused to watch the woman's derriere as she crawled along the roof of the RV. She suddenly looked his way and their eyes locked. "Now, you look familiar," he said, thoughtfully. "And you're a cutie, too."

Her eyes zoomed to the child.

"Samuel!" Mike heard her scream.

She tackled the ladder with such fury the fasteners at the top popped loose from the RV. Quickly, Mike covered her son's eyes to shield him from the unsettling spectacle as the ladder bent perpendicular to the RV and she hurdled downward. Her unconcealed panic weighed heavily on Mike as she squeezed her eyes shut.

Yet, to his amazement, her collision with the hard earth never happened for the ladder held at that point. He made it over to her just about the same time she opened her eyes to discover her close proximity to the ground and thudded the rest of the way. By this time, he towered over her where she lay, gasping for breath, on the ground.

"Need help?" Mike couldn't help the chuckle at her acrobatics. His anger of minutes ago all but disappeared.

Her answer to him was a strident command. "Take your hands off my son!"

     "I'll take that as a "no", he intoned and stomped off, leaving the little boy in the care of his seemingly ungrateful mother as she struggled to her feet.

 

Check out Mike and Veronica. Read entire first chapter of

Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker.

 

 

Purchase: http://www.bookstrand.com/mickie-sherwood

 

Also available: BayouBabe99er

2013 Swirl Award Finalist/5 Stars B&N reader rating

 

 

Repost

Mickie Sherwood

~~Sweet, spicy romance – a heartbeat away!~~

www.mickiesherwood.com

www.twitter.com/MickieSherwood Follow me on Twitter.

A Big Strong Man Caring for a Sweet Little Tot

What woman doesn't love seeing a big, strong man with a child in his company? Some women experience a rush of satisfying emotions—from warmth and compassion to yearning and desire.

What about you?

Meet a big, strong man capable of shelving his rough and tumble persona to care for the little one of his love interest-to-be.

 

Mike Masterson is a tall, dark and ruggedly handsome cowboy trucker who owns an independent trucking company. He possesses all the tools necessary to come to Veronica's aid in Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker.

 

Enjoy his compassionate and touching interaction with little Sam.

 

Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker

...Veronica turned her attention to the world outside. The day remained bright even though the hour was late. “Don’t you think we need to get going? I know you’ve blown your schedule already because of us.”

“Don’t worry about that.” He rushed to alleviate her concern. “I’m going home.”

“Home,” she murmured under her breath. Her eyes strayed to Sam, who by this time had cleaned the ketchup from his plate with his pointer finger. “That’s enough, Sammy. Come on. We need to clean you up.”

“I’ll take him,” Mike volunteered. When she hesitated, he added, “You can see us going and coming.”

He noticed how she searched out her surroundings. Mike concluded Veronica realized she could police their activities from her current position when she moved to let Sam out.

“Hurry back.”

Mike knew without a doubt that order was for him. “We will.” He hustled Sam through the maze of tables with a protective hand on his shoulder.

The sight magnified Veronica’s loss as she watched them until they entered the bathroom. Her son would grow up minus the most important influence in a boy’s life—that of a father’s supervision—unlike Troy, who was practically grown when her husband died.

* * * *

Veronica revisited treasured memories of when her family was intact. Ramon was involved in every aspect of Troy’s life. He was eighteen when that dreadful diagnosis of lung cancer plunged his father’s health into a spiraling downslide. Ramon fought hard at living his life to the fullest, although immense discomfort racked his body.

Veronica pried herself out of the past at the prattle making its way over to her. Mike dwarfed Sam’s little animated body as he steered him toward her with a hand on top of his head. Her mind tunneled back in time, once more. Sam had been the best medicine for Ramon. Veronica could still see the amazement on Ramon’s face when she told him she was pregnant. He held on to life, until Sam was just about two, before quietly slipping away.

* * * *

The wrenching pain visible in Veronica’s eyes affected Mike. He had seen her morose look clearly from across the room. He wanted to know its cause, but realized her sharing wasn’t an option. Mike marched Sam back where he belonged and stood guard over the two.

“I peed on the wall.”

“You what?” Veronica’s voice charged the air.

“I urinated”—he corrected himself—“on the wall.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“I think you’re a bad influence on my son!”

“Veronica.” Mike spoke in a calm, slow manner. “You’re his mother. You can instruct him. But, this was something you couldn’t lead by example.” The instant she understood was obvious to him. “Sam used the urinal.”

Her ire diminished.

“Look. If we leave now, we’ll probably make it before the shops close,” he said. “We’re a couple hours out.”

Veronica slid out with the tickets and her hand in her purse.

“My treat,” Mike announced while reaching for the receipts.

“You’ve done more than enough.” She rejected his offer to pay. “My treat.”

“Thank you, Veronica.”

“No, Mike, thank you.” She walked away to approach the register.

They filed to the front, paid, and left the restaurant for the hike to the truck. Mike looked down at Veronica who stared at her out-of-commission RV chained to his flatbed. He read the displeasure on her face. “You’ll be on the road in no time, Veronica.”

“That can’t be soon enough, Mike.” She kept step with him. “The more miles I put between me and the Louisiana state line, the better.”

She looked down at Sam, who latched on to her hand, skipping along to keep up. Soon, he had Mike’s hand, too. “Watch this, Mama!” He used the bond to race up a step and swing between them.

The unexpected act jolted Veronica, nearly pulling her down if it hadn’t been for Mike’s strong grip on her upper arm. “Sammy!”

What was that, that flow of electricity when Mike touched her? Her eyes fused to his gleaming gold wedding band.

Mike merely cut his stride as he came to the rescue. Veronica’s alarm breezed right over Sam’s head as he continued his playful antics. “Leave him alone.” He grinned over at her. “My bud’s having a good time.”

Click here to read the thrilling first chapter!

  

Also available at Bookstrand Mainstream Romance:

BayouBabe99er

 

Mickie Sherwood

~~Sweet, spicy romance – a heartbeat away~~

www.mickiesherwood.com/blog

www.mickiesherwood.com

A Passion for Tasty Things

IR/AA Sensual Mainstream Romances by Mickie Sherwood 

Like so many of you, I have a ravenous passion for tasty things. Two of my novels fall into that category. BayouBabe99er has a 5 stars B&N reader rating. Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker is a #1 Bookstrand Mainstream Romance Bestseller. How tasty is that?

You can get a taste of my sweet, spicy relationship-based romances right here at Bookstrand. Choose your cup of tea - mainstream interracial or African-American romance. Why not choose both?

I have another taste to share with you. Sharlene, my heroine in BayouBabe99er, had a meal that sent her senses reeling back to her days growing up on the bayou. I wrote about that meal on my blog, including the recipe and how-to pictures.

 

Here's a snippet taken from BayouBabe99er.

 

 

BayouBabe99er Sample

Her eyes focused on something far away as she fought to extinguish the fire of loneliness. The aroma drifting in the air drew her into the present. Clyde handled two platters along with the same number of cold strawberry drinks. She couldn’t resist snatching a golden french fry just as the plates landed under their noses.

“Here ya go. Bon appétit.”

Uncle Moot waited until Clyde disappeared into the back then leaned down for a whiff. The all clear was simply the way he manhandled his po’boy.

The first bite of the catfish and potato salad sandwich threw Sharlene back to those glorious days as a kid growing up in the bayou. Flavors blended to caress her tongue. She chewed slowly to savor each mouthful while eagerly anticipating the next. One look across the table certified she wasn’t the only one enjoying the meal.

A swig of red soda set the whole thing off.

“Not bad as I remember,” Uncle Moot said, gulping down his last bite. “The fish was flaky, tho’ I tasted a lil’ oil.”

               She was practically finished, and all she tasted was goodness.

 

Sounds yummy, doesn't it? Go see what goes into creating such a delicious meal. I can't wait to read your answers to my questions.

 

 

Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker - AA - Sensual - Mature Heroine - Cowboy Trucker - July 4th

A #1 Bookstrand Mainstream Romance

A rash decision puts Veronica Torres in the path of cowboy trucker Mike Masterson's barreling fiery-red 18-wheeler. Is he just another speed bump in her congested life? Or—are their hearts destined to collide on the highway of love? Read the entire first chapter.

 

BayouBabe99er - IR - Sensual - Cougar-Cub - Secretive Blogger - Gulf Oil Spill

5 Stars B&N Reader Rating

Laid-off. Gulf oil spill. An attraction to the oil company's liaison, Drake Cormier, someone barely older than her daughters. Sharlene wonders what else can go wrong.  Read the entire first chapter.



 

Buy now! Smile later!

Now hop on over to Mickie's Mutterings and drool!

 

 

 

Mickie Sherwood

~~Sweet, spicy romance – a heartbeat away~~

www.mickiesherwood.com/blog

Cutie and the Cowboy Trucker AA Sensual Romance

Now sale priced on Kindle

 

A #1 Bookstrand Mainstream

African-American Sensual Love story

 

Word count: 51,182

Heat: Sensual

Price: $3.50

 

 

Story Excerpt

The trio marched to the truck stop and straight into the heavy aroma left over from fried foods. Kitchen noises pervaded as white stoneware filled with heaping portions of food slapped against the shiny steel pickup window. They moved on through the restaurant to a vacant booth near the plate glass window. Veronica and Sam took one side. Mike had the other side all to himself.

"I want fries." Sam's face turned up to Veronica.

"Samuel?"

"Please, Mama."

Veronica allowed him hamburgers and fries on occasion. Those big, pleading eyes zapped her. Today seemed to be one of those days. "Okay," she said with a smile. "We'll both have fries."

Veronica's head jerked up when Mike grunted, and her eyes caught his. He was obviously amused about something.

"What's funny?"

"It's been a long time since I had such a telling conversation. Although my children are no longer teenagers, I have one who's still a master manipulator."

"A child expressing his hunger brings back memories?" She pursued the topic because she really wanted to understand the motive for his laughter.

He chuckled again. "Lots of them. There's not a parent alive that hasn't buckled even before the onset of such a debate."

"I didn't buckle on anything," she announced, a bit offended. Veronica looked down at Sam, who looked from her to Mike in earnest interest.

"You're right. You didn't buckle."

"What does that condescending crack mean?"

"Veronica, honestly. I only meant, as a parent, one recognizes when and when not to make an issue. That's all." He examined her in silence. "I didn't intend to offend you."

Veronica intentionally took note of his mannerisms as he sought to do damage control. Although his cool expression locked in place, she sensed the immense interest in his bedroom eyes the longer he stared at her. He was minus his hat and glasses, which permitted her uninhibited inspection. Mike wore his hair cut close to the scalp. That emphasized his strong brow and the allure of his eyes, so soft and tawny brown. He had a tiny healed scar on the end of one nostril. Below that was his peppered mustache, glinting with a touch of silver and trimmed to perfection above tasty-looking lips.

Her perusal didn't stop there.

His stout neck balanced on wide shoulders that conformed to a broad chest. Since he was seated, her imagination filled in the gaps of the rest of his description. She recalled his long legs from her position on the ground, and his, evidently, excellent physical condition by the trapeze act he'd performed to get her carry-on. Before her sat a man she guessed to be in his midforties, who happened to be one outstanding treat for a woman to behold. Creamy chocolate had nothing on him.

 Buy: http://www.bookstrand.com/cutie-and-the-cowboy-trucker

 

Mickie Sherwood

~~Sweet, spicy romance – a heartbeat away~~

Mickie's Mutterings