Loss…life…love.
What a difference a year makes!
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Erika Washington's contract with her childhood best friend covers all
possibilities about her pregnancy. But, one unpredictable event redirects her
future. As a donor-surrogate, what does one do when fate changes the plan and
claims the lives of the intended parents? If you're selfless, strong-willed
Erika Washington, you mount a defense to keep your baby.
Entrepreneur
Booker Templet, owner of Templet's Tasty Tails, secretly agrees to help his
first cousin. However, unfortunate circumstances change the course of his life.
After he learns the identity of the other donor, Booker plans to be a part of
his child's life. No matter what.
Will Erika and
Booker battle over custody of the baby? Will their horrible loss help them find
consolation in each other's arms? Or will fate intervene yet again?
Scene:
After Booker becomes her client, Erika accepts his invitation to have a
firsthand look at his business operations.
Enjoy
an extended excerpt:
Erika
stopped suddenly. "You've got to be kidding." She looked at the black
rims with the silver, riveted studs.
"No.
I mean every word."
"No,"
she contested. "Not that." Erika looked up at Booker, then at his
truck. "That."
Laughing,
Booker placed a hand on her shoulder. "See what I mean? A sense of humor
on display."
"I
can't climb up there." Although she adjusted the leg of her jeans, her
protruding tummy hindered her knee lift.
"You
don't have to." He uttered those words as he reached and cradled her in
his arms.
"Put
me down, Booker Templet."
"Erika."
He looked her dead in her unbelieving eyes. "It's the only way to get you
into the truck. Will you open the door for me, please?"
She
did. "Now, put me down." Her tush met the leather seat.
Booker
remained in the door as she buckled her seatbelt. Apparently satisfied with her
handiwork, he rounded the front end. He slid one long leg in before settling
into the driver's seat. After he cranked up, Booker hooked a right once he
reached the road.
The
serene countryside captured Erika's attention. She snapped shot after shot.
When he reduced his speed, she realized they neared his business.
"That's
the plant over there."
Erika
traced his finger point to the aluminum-sided building and silos in the
distance.
"Here's
where most of my work is done." He drove off the road.
What
Erika saw was green grass seeming to float in water. "Is that rice?"
"And
she's smart, too." Booker laid a wrist over the steering wheel.
"What's left of it. The crawfish pond is, also, where rice is grown.
Flood. Drain. Harvest. Re-flood."
"Sounds
like a vicious"—Erika watched him look over his field—"but profitable
cycle."
While
he sat in deep contemplation, she aimed her camera. The faint whir tempted him.
Booker glanced her way, and Erika snapped again.
"Plus
playful."
"You're
such an easy target…I mean, an inviting subject."
"Ahh,
Erika Washington. There's certainly more to you than meets the eye."
Erika
pondered what Booker said, smiled at him, and then started taking shots of the
area.
"Let
me show you something." He left his seat. She saw him shed his cowboy boots
for camouflage-green rubber boots from the truck bed. He came to her side.
"May I?"
"At
least you asked this time." Opening her door, she permitted him to pick
her up.
Booker
slushed through the bog to a patch of tall grass with her in his arms.
"Get your camera ready."
Excited,
Erika fumbled and almost dropped it. His quick recovery had her poised for the
photo shoot. "A boat?"
"Yep.
Specially designed for harvesting crawfish traps." Booker's diligence
seated her carefully under the boat’s canvas tarp. "Would you like to go
check a trap?" Hesitancy shone in his eyes. That was the first time he’d
appeared unsure about anything.
"I
don't run from new experiences. Let's do it," she said. Erika laughed,
happy with the way the day progressed. He smiled.
They
floated over to one of the markers that bobbed on the water. Booker elongated
his body to grab the top. When he lifted his arm, up came a wire basket. Erika
gripped it, too. Together they set it on the bottom of the boat.
"I
can now add crawfish harvester to my list of accomplishments."
His
eyes glinted.
"What's
that look?"
"Pure
admiration, Erika."
"Why,
Booker Templet. I declare, sir," she did her Scarlett O'Hara impersonation,
"I do believe you're being fresh."
Booker
grinned then shook his head. As was his habit, he pulled at his ear.
Curious about what happens next?
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Bio:
Mickie
Sherwood is an author and novice photographer who takes nature pictures right
in her own backyard. She loves to engage in her favorite pastime which also
incites her creativity. Combine that aspect of her life with the enjoyment of
spending time with her family, and cruising vacations, and the development of
interesting characters who encounter intriguing circumstances is not very far
behind.
Check me out.
1 comment:
Good morning, Lindsay,
I appreciate this opportunity to introduce your visitors to my newest romance. Templet's Tasty Tails is a touchy-feely, down-home romance set in Louisiana's Bayou Country.
Visitors, do you know how to peel crawfish? No. Well, I'll show you how http://mickiesherwood.com/blog/2015/02/13/templets-tasty-tails/.
Let me know what you think.
Mickie Sherwood
~~Sweet, spicy romance – a heartbeat away! ~~
www.twitter.com/MickieSherwood
www.mickiesherwood.com/blog
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