Cherie Noel's Blog, page 44
August 8, 2011
Manic Monday
Still Manic.
Does it ever change?
I sure hope not. I like to stay busy.
Today I'm reminding everyone that the contests are still running, trying to separate my personal FB page from my Author/Writer FanPage, writing letters, setting up ways to donate to charity, writing emails...on and on it goes.
And I have to squeeze in time to write and edit, lol.
Did I mention how much I love this job?
So here's the deal for the day.
Leave me an post in the comments section of THIS post. Earn points towards the month-long contest. Or go to the wishes of the heart blog and respond in the comment section for that post to enter for a chance at the signed print version of The Soldier & the State Trooper. Good times, right?
Yeah, yeah. I know. Easy-Peasy.
I do aim to please.
Does it ever change?
I sure hope not. I like to stay busy.
Today I'm reminding everyone that the contests are still running, trying to separate my personal FB page from my Author/Writer FanPage, writing letters, setting up ways to donate to charity, writing emails...on and on it goes.
And I have to squeeze in time to write and edit, lol.
Did I mention how much I love this job?
So here's the deal for the day.
Leave me an post in the comments section of THIS post. Earn points towards the month-long contest. Or go to the wishes of the heart blog and respond in the comment section for that post to enter for a chance at the signed print version of The Soldier & the State Trooper. Good times, right?
Yeah, yeah. I know. Easy-Peasy.
I do aim to please.
August 7, 2011
The Contests are still running...
Don't forget to add to your points for the month...stop by and leave a comment. Easy Peasy.
What? Sunday Again?
I adore rainy days.
Well, usually.
Not so much when it's a roaring 42 degrees Fahrenheit, I have a rad case of strep on steroids, and my First Sergeant has a "case of the ass" and sends me out to stand on a corner, in said rain to direct traffic. For eight hours.
LOL.
Good times, good times.
Okay, I can hear you squawking in the background.
Yes, oh impatient one, there will be an excerpt today.
Can't a girl be a wee bit nostalgic on a rainy day? Especially when she thinks she might have accidentally found by far the coolest squad leader she ever had?
Huh?
No?
*huffs*
Fine.
Then how about a sneaky peaky at an unedited excerpt of my upcoming story?
A SNEAKY PEAKY FROM TOUCH & GO!!
unedited, uncensored...and hopefully uncommonly intriguing.
Patrick eyed the other men in the room, thick clouds of tension radiating out from each one as they all struggled to stop vibrating hard enough to rattle their own teeth out. Shit. They were all a sorry bunch of junkies, and he loved every one of them. Leon had saved Patrick's life more than once as he struggled to get clean. Patrick squeezed the hard plastic chit in his hand. He looked down, because, damn it, something was in his eye, and he didn't want any of the fuckers to think he was some kind of pansy assed punk, crying over a cheap piece of plastic. Well.He might be a little moved by the whole six months of being clean bit. But he still wasn't going to let the fuckers see him cry. He snorted. They'd never let him live it down. Leon especially would rag him about it. Patrick looked up through his eyelashes at his mentor who currently had a wide white smile plastered on his very black face. Crap.He definitely saw the sheen of moisture in Patrick's eyes. A cool shiver whispered up the big red head's spine as the small dark skinned man continued to watch him with knowing eyes. Patrick blew out an aggrieved breath. Nothing could be done at this point to stave off the inevitable teasing. Patrick squared his shoulders and raised his head.Leon's grin changed to one of approval. Patrick stood up."Hi. I'm Patrick, and I'm an addict. Um. This is my sixth month—"Leon interrupted him."Damn boy, tell them the truth. You almost seven months clean now. Ain't it 'bout time you start in telling the truth full time?"The older man's eyes were fathomless pools of black. Patrick swallowed hard. He didn't have a chit for seven months yet. It felt like lying to say that. He firmed his chin."I'm not all the way there yet, Leon. I don't take credit for almost anymore."Leon nodded, his eyes warming until Patrick could feel the embrace they carried. "I'm an addict, and I'd like to start today by making amends to the men of this group. I lied to some of you…and I stole from Leon. Twice. And he never gave up on me. He took me to the hospital twice when I overdosed. And he lets me call him when I wanna use, no matter what time it is. So…I'm sorry Leon. And I want to find a way to pay you back…for…um…for everything."Words stopped coming, so Patrick sat, his hands clammy, and sweat rolling down the side of his face. Holy Christ, that was harder than he thought it would be. He could only imagine how hard it would be to make amends to Tony and Kevin.Fuck.He pushed that thought to the back of his mind. He'd wait until he had a chance to talk his strategy over with Leon. Then he'd approach the two men he'd hurt the most, even though the thought of doing so made his stomach clench and burn. Patrick focused on welcoming the next man in the circle."Welcome Henri."
*****
Leaving the coffee shop after his private meeting with Leon, Patrick realized he'd forgotten to buy toilet paper earlier in the week. He was down to his very last roll. Rolling his eyes at his absent-mindedness, he turned his Izuzu Trooper toward the grocery story.Ten minutes later he was in the paper product aisle when a sultry voice caressed his ears."Are you gonna spend all day looking, sugar, or are you gonna move along so the rest of us can get to the good stuff?"Patrick swung his head around quickly. A slender man with pink gloss on his plush, fuck-me-hard lips and bold black guy-liner all around his eyes was standing just behind him, eyeing him up like the last piece of chocolate on earth. He swallowed hard around the boulder that was suddenly lodged in his throat, and tried to keep his imagination from playing out all the parts of himself he'd like to rub the guy's long, silky black hair across.The man's mouth quirked up in a half smile. "Sugar, I know as fine as you are you have to have had an incident of homo-jayzus-those-jeans make me wanna put you in my grocery cart for dinner before today, hmm?"Patrick's mouth dropped open. He couldn't think of a thing to say.
And really?
He could think of far better things to do with his mouth than talk.
Well, usually.
Not so much when it's a roaring 42 degrees Fahrenheit, I have a rad case of strep on steroids, and my First Sergeant has a "case of the ass" and sends me out to stand on a corner, in said rain to direct traffic. For eight hours.
LOL.
Good times, good times.
Okay, I can hear you squawking in the background.
Yes, oh impatient one, there will be an excerpt today.
Can't a girl be a wee bit nostalgic on a rainy day? Especially when she thinks she might have accidentally found by far the coolest squad leader she ever had?
Huh?
No?
*huffs*
Fine.
Then how about a sneaky peaky at an unedited excerpt of my upcoming story?
A SNEAKY PEAKY FROM TOUCH & GO!!
unedited, uncensored...and hopefully uncommonly intriguing.
Patrick eyed the other men in the room, thick clouds of tension radiating out from each one as they all struggled to stop vibrating hard enough to rattle their own teeth out. Shit. They were all a sorry bunch of junkies, and he loved every one of them. Leon had saved Patrick's life more than once as he struggled to get clean. Patrick squeezed the hard plastic chit in his hand. He looked down, because, damn it, something was in his eye, and he didn't want any of the fuckers to think he was some kind of pansy assed punk, crying over a cheap piece of plastic. Well.He might be a little moved by the whole six months of being clean bit. But he still wasn't going to let the fuckers see him cry. He snorted. They'd never let him live it down. Leon especially would rag him about it. Patrick looked up through his eyelashes at his mentor who currently had a wide white smile plastered on his very black face. Crap.He definitely saw the sheen of moisture in Patrick's eyes. A cool shiver whispered up the big red head's spine as the small dark skinned man continued to watch him with knowing eyes. Patrick blew out an aggrieved breath. Nothing could be done at this point to stave off the inevitable teasing. Patrick squared his shoulders and raised his head.Leon's grin changed to one of approval. Patrick stood up."Hi. I'm Patrick, and I'm an addict. Um. This is my sixth month—"Leon interrupted him."Damn boy, tell them the truth. You almost seven months clean now. Ain't it 'bout time you start in telling the truth full time?"The older man's eyes were fathomless pools of black. Patrick swallowed hard. He didn't have a chit for seven months yet. It felt like lying to say that. He firmed his chin."I'm not all the way there yet, Leon. I don't take credit for almost anymore."Leon nodded, his eyes warming until Patrick could feel the embrace they carried. "I'm an addict, and I'd like to start today by making amends to the men of this group. I lied to some of you…and I stole from Leon. Twice. And he never gave up on me. He took me to the hospital twice when I overdosed. And he lets me call him when I wanna use, no matter what time it is. So…I'm sorry Leon. And I want to find a way to pay you back…for…um…for everything."Words stopped coming, so Patrick sat, his hands clammy, and sweat rolling down the side of his face. Holy Christ, that was harder than he thought it would be. He could only imagine how hard it would be to make amends to Tony and Kevin.Fuck.He pushed that thought to the back of his mind. He'd wait until he had a chance to talk his strategy over with Leon. Then he'd approach the two men he'd hurt the most, even though the thought of doing so made his stomach clench and burn. Patrick focused on welcoming the next man in the circle."Welcome Henri."
*****
Leaving the coffee shop after his private meeting with Leon, Patrick realized he'd forgotten to buy toilet paper earlier in the week. He was down to his very last roll. Rolling his eyes at his absent-mindedness, he turned his Izuzu Trooper toward the grocery story.Ten minutes later he was in the paper product aisle when a sultry voice caressed his ears."Are you gonna spend all day looking, sugar, or are you gonna move along so the rest of us can get to the good stuff?"Patrick swung his head around quickly. A slender man with pink gloss on his plush, fuck-me-hard lips and bold black guy-liner all around his eyes was standing just behind him, eyeing him up like the last piece of chocolate on earth. He swallowed hard around the boulder that was suddenly lodged in his throat, and tried to keep his imagination from playing out all the parts of himself he'd like to rub the guy's long, silky black hair across.The man's mouth quirked up in a half smile. "Sugar, I know as fine as you are you have to have had an incident of homo-jayzus-those-jeans make me wanna put you in my grocery cart for dinner before today, hmm?"Patrick's mouth dropped open. He couldn't think of a thing to say.
And really?
He could think of far better things to do with his mouth than talk.
August 6, 2011
BTW...
I just wanted to take a moment out to thank everyone who makes it not just possible, but fun to do what I do.
Jason, Lori, Jen, and Juniper from the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads; Laura, Kris, and (squee, I love my editor) Jennifer over at Mlr Press, the lovely and talented folk at Winterheart Design, and of course, all those who encourage my writing with words and deeds, my readers, friends, betas and honest (yes,you Bubbles!) reviewers. You guys rock out loud.
And always, always. To the wizard who set my sorrowing heart free from the restraints that held it bound to the ground and taught it to soar. Thank you my Balthazar. You're the bestest Patric ever, ever...ever.
Muah.
Jason, Lori, Jen, and Juniper from the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads; Laura, Kris, and (squee, I love my editor) Jennifer over at Mlr Press, the lovely and talented folk at Winterheart Design, and of course, all those who encourage my writing with words and deeds, my readers, friends, betas and honest (yes,you Bubbles!) reviewers. You guys rock out loud.
And always, always. To the wizard who set my sorrowing heart free from the restraints that held it bound to the ground and taught it to soar. Thank you my Balthazar. You're the bestest Patric ever, ever...ever.
Muah.
Get to the Island!!
http://cyberlaunchparty.blogspot.com/2011/08/celebrating-cherie-noels-new-mm.html
Get to the party and win-win-win with a side of winning!
Get to the party and win-win-win with a side of winning!
Saturday, on the Island
AuthorIsland that is, where the promo goddess is working her magic to get you babies here where you can win FABULOUS prizes!!
Cause today is the kick-off of some month long goodness and goody getting for those in the know!! There are three prizes up for offer...and they all relate to my sweet and hot new novel, The Soldier & the State Trooper : one an ebook, one a signed copy of the print version, and one....(this one is my fave) the right to co-create a character for Robert & Christie's next adventure!
Woot!
So here's the rules my lovelies:
Today's contests is easy-peasy.
Just go to www.CyberLaunchParty.blogspot.com and leave a comment. That's all. No fuss, no muss. At the end of the day we'll randomly draw a name from those entered and send your ebook winging on it's way to you.
The week-long contest is for a signed copy of the print version of the book.
Still pretty easy, my lovelies. Just find the "Wishes of the Heart" blog post and respond to it (preferably in that blog's comment slot, so I don't get confused). At the end of the week we'll use random.org or some such to draw a name from all those who've entered, and then you'll have to look on the website for your name to appear as a winner, and send me an email with your contact info so I can send you a signed copy of the book.
The month long contest (again, my personal fave!) is for the right to co-create a character for Robert & Christie's next adventure/life episode!
How cool is that?
You can earn a point for every day that you comment on the blog posts, a point for reviewing the book on Goodreads, five points for reviewing it on Amazon, a point for liking it on Amazon, and a point a day for responding to that day's post on my FB page (that will be specific to the contest) by emailing me the answer. Also, whomever can find the post either on FB or on TalesFromTheWritingCave where I explain what a Dragon Soldier is and tell me after reading it what Christie and I have in common in relation to that post can earn 25bonus points. At the end of the month, the person with the highest number of points can co-create a character with me to be written into the next Robert & Christie story. It can be someone you create, just a name, or even yourself. If there's a tie for points, we'll have a random.org drawing of those with the same high # of points!
How's that sound?
Cause today is the kick-off of some month long goodness and goody getting for those in the know!! There are three prizes up for offer...and they all relate to my sweet and hot new novel, The Soldier & the State Trooper : one an ebook, one a signed copy of the print version, and one....(this one is my fave) the right to co-create a character for Robert & Christie's next adventure!
Woot!
So here's the rules my lovelies:
Today's contests is easy-peasy.
Just go to www.CyberLaunchParty.blogspot.com and leave a comment. That's all. No fuss, no muss. At the end of the day we'll randomly draw a name from those entered and send your ebook winging on it's way to you.
The week-long contest is for a signed copy of the print version of the book.
Still pretty easy, my lovelies. Just find the "Wishes of the Heart" blog post and respond to it (preferably in that blog's comment slot, so I don't get confused). At the end of the week we'll use random.org or some such to draw a name from all those who've entered, and then you'll have to look on the website for your name to appear as a winner, and send me an email with your contact info so I can send you a signed copy of the book.
The month long contest (again, my personal fave!) is for the right to co-create a character for Robert & Christie's next adventure/life episode!
How cool is that?
You can earn a point for every day that you comment on the blog posts, a point for reviewing the book on Goodreads, five points for reviewing it on Amazon, a point for liking it on Amazon, and a point a day for responding to that day's post on my FB page (that will be specific to the contest) by emailing me the answer. Also, whomever can find the post either on FB or on TalesFromTheWritingCave where I explain what a Dragon Soldier is and tell me after reading it what Christie and I have in common in relation to that post can earn 25bonus points. At the end of the month, the person with the highest number of points can co-create a character with me to be written into the next Robert & Christie story. It can be someone you create, just a name, or even yourself. If there's a tie for points, we'll have a random.org drawing of those with the same high # of points!
How's that sound?
August 5, 2011
Fabulous Friday: Five Reasons to Jump for Joy
1) The Soldier & the State Trooper releases today at Mlr Press, and if that ain't reason enough to get jazzed, let me cook up four more...
2) There's a contest starting today right here in the Writing Cave that continues through next friday. The prize will be a signed copy of the book. All you have to do to enter is find my blog about Wishes of the Heart, and respond in the comment section. Be sure to also send me an email at cherienoel @ yahoo.com (without the spaces) so I have a way to contact the winner.
3)The official release party over at AuthorIsland is tomorrow...and there are prizes to be won there as well!
4)I have today achieved on of the wishes of my heart...I'm now a published Author. Yes, it did need to be in caps! LOL.
5)My next book will be out (tentatively) August 19th.
Guess that's enough reason to jump for joy, yeah? So get to looking for that blog, and then answer the question it asks. It's easy-peasy, and fun. I'll be in and out until 11am, then I'll be ready, steady, fully present until just before 5pm.
So, see you in the funny pages!
2) There's a contest starting today right here in the Writing Cave that continues through next friday. The prize will be a signed copy of the book. All you have to do to enter is find my blog about Wishes of the Heart, and respond in the comment section. Be sure to also send me an email at cherienoel @ yahoo.com (without the spaces) so I have a way to contact the winner.
3)The official release party over at AuthorIsland is tomorrow...and there are prizes to be won there as well!
4)I have today achieved on of the wishes of my heart...I'm now a published Author. Yes, it did need to be in caps! LOL.
5)My next book will be out (tentatively) August 19th.
Guess that's enough reason to jump for joy, yeah? So get to looking for that blog, and then answer the question it asks. It's easy-peasy, and fun. I'll be in and out until 11am, then I'll be ready, steady, fully present until just before 5pm.
So, see you in the funny pages!
August 4, 2011
Thursday Think Tank: Chasing the Muse
Today I'm chasing the muse.
The fickle thing slips in and out, whispers in my ear, and then disappears. I get glimpses of the shape my story should take, and the characters are set to holler if I get it wrong...but the spirit of inspiration slides away with only the slightest of winks in my direction.
*sigh*
So I'm chasing the muse.
What do you do when the muse slips away?
The fickle thing slips in and out, whispers in my ear, and then disappears. I get glimpses of the shape my story should take, and the characters are set to holler if I get it wrong...but the spirit of inspiration slides away with only the slightest of winks in my direction.
*sigh*
So I'm chasing the muse.
What do you do when the muse slips away?
August 3, 2011
Wednesday Whip
Well then.
I thought I was going to be over at LRC (Love's Romance Cafe) today, chatting and generally cutting up with a whole slew of the Mlr Press authors...sadly, not enough of us were available today to make it viable, so it got cancelled.
And now I'm late posting the Wednesday Work in Progress.
Again, mea culpa.
So sorry, my lovelies.
Friday is release day for The Soldier & the State Trooper, and there will be prizes and contests, both here the week of the 5th through the 12th and over at AuthorIsland during my launch party on Saturday the 6th. The prizes and contest will be different, so be sure to check out both events.
Okie, dokie. On to the Whip. Lol. Really more of a WIP today, very little kink involved.
Eh, maybe a little bit.
Unedited Excerpt from Touch & Go
Tony was so excited he couldn't stop bouncing on his toes. They were going to the fair today. With rides and everything. And then, tomorrow, Neil and Kevin were taking him to the arts show and they were all going together and it was so exciting he just had to bounce on his toes again a couple of times. He was waiting by the car, and he was following the rules. Well, he wasn't breaking any rules. Not really. They didn't have a rule for when you could get up, or how early it was okay to go wait by the car. So he was almost completely sure it was okay. Kevin didn't get mad when he guessed, unless it was about danger stuff. If he guessed about danger stuff then Kevin's face got red, and a little muscle in his jaw jumped, and…sometimes he would cry. Because of Tony. Kevin got scared that people would be mean to Tony and it made him cry. Tony had a note in his own writing to remind him of that. Cause it was important. Tony's eyes got stingy, and he had to sniffle a couple of times.He didn't like it when Kevin was scared. But he was pretty sure this was okay. He was still in the house. Kind of. The garage attached to the house, and he left the door open. But he didn't want to wake Kevin and Neil so early. They didn't get as excited about things like the fair. They got excited about "sleeping in", and "a nice night out". Whatever. Tony would take the fair any day. He bounced again. Cotton candy, rides that made his stomach flip and whirl…and the faces. All those faces he could soak in, and then paint later, when they seeped back out of him. A bird started to sing outside the garage.Tony lifted up on his tippy-toes, very slow. It was not what he would call a bounce.Birds meant Kevin and Neil would be up in an hour or so.Maybe.Tony's stomach rumbled, and he decided he might have time to eat before they got up. He walked backwards into the kitchen, pulled down his special cereal bowl (pink like his phone) and poured a third of the box of Captain Crunch into it. Then he very sneakily added some of Neil's Vanilla Flavored coffee creamer to his bowl, topping it off with the 2% that Kevin said was healthy. He thought maybe they wouldn't catch him about the Vanilla Creamer this time, because he even wiped off his finger prints like the guy from CSI. Tony grinned and ate his cereal. Then he ate another bowl, because the first one tasted so good, and by the time Neil and Kevin got up he had finished off both the Captain Crunch and all the special Coffee Creamer. That was how Neil said it, with capital letters. Very particular. Neil started the coffee, and Tony was glad even though it brought the finding out of him using up all the creamer closer, because making the coffee was on the list. He wasn't allowed, because when was working on a project one time he forgot and put macaroni in the filter. The canisters were right next to each other, and Tony was too busy thinking about all the shades of red and gold he would need to paint Neil's hair to pay attention, and somehow between him and the macaroni the and the wandering off to mix paints in the studio, the "whole damned coffee machine" got ruined. Those were Neil's exact words. He was late to a very important lecture that day, but he still remembered to kiss Tony good-bye and tell him to paint from his heart that day. So, anyways, they made a new rule, and Tony didn't make the coffee cause he didn't want to ruin another "whole damned coffee machine". Kevin laughed every time he said those words, and he made Tony laugh too, but he still insisted on the rule. He said Neil got cranky without his morning coffee. Tony and Neil eyed each other and silently agreed that it was Kevin who got cranky, but it was okay. Everybody had their cranky buttons.Tony started to sidle out of the kitchen when Neil realized the Vanilla Creamer bottle in the fridge was empty, and he lifted his big head of shaggy red hair to lift a red and gold brow as his sky blue eyes cut a hole in all Tony's defenses. Tony thought that maybe he shoulda remembered that one of Neil's cranky buttons might possibly be to run out of his very special Vanilla Creamer for his coffee. "I'm sorry Neil. I didn't mean to use it all up. It just tasted so good and with the Captain Crunch it made magic in my mouth—"Neil's gaze dropped to Tony's mouth. The edges of the professor's mouth turned up in a little smile. His eyes lifted back to Tony's, full of a twinkling light that Tony knew meant the older man was amused."Eh. I can certainly vouch for the magic in your mouth, Tony, and don't worry about the creamer. I have more."Tony lifted his tee-shirt and scratched absently at his stomach."Really? Because I'd sure like some in my coffee."Neil laughed out loud as his gaze strayed to Tony's rock hard abs. He pulled a bottle of creamer from somewhere in the depths of the fridge, and handed it to Kevin, who took it with a silly smirk on his face. Kevin's eyes were still on Tony's stomach, even though the tee-shirt was back down over it. "I told you he drank it all, Neil. You so owe me a foot-rub when I get home from work."Neil pointed to the counter where he'd put out three coffee mugs."Pour, Florence, we have pigs to see and money to lose on rigged games."Tony bounced again, just once, with a really big grin stretched across his face.
*****
I thought I was going to be over at LRC (Love's Romance Cafe) today, chatting and generally cutting up with a whole slew of the Mlr Press authors...sadly, not enough of us were available today to make it viable, so it got cancelled.
And now I'm late posting the Wednesday Work in Progress.
Again, mea culpa.
So sorry, my lovelies.
Friday is release day for The Soldier & the State Trooper, and there will be prizes and contests, both here the week of the 5th through the 12th and over at AuthorIsland during my launch party on Saturday the 6th. The prizes and contest will be different, so be sure to check out both events.
Okie, dokie. On to the Whip. Lol. Really more of a WIP today, very little kink involved.
Eh, maybe a little bit.
Unedited Excerpt from Touch & Go
Tony was so excited he couldn't stop bouncing on his toes. They were going to the fair today. With rides and everything. And then, tomorrow, Neil and Kevin were taking him to the arts show and they were all going together and it was so exciting he just had to bounce on his toes again a couple of times. He was waiting by the car, and he was following the rules. Well, he wasn't breaking any rules. Not really. They didn't have a rule for when you could get up, or how early it was okay to go wait by the car. So he was almost completely sure it was okay. Kevin didn't get mad when he guessed, unless it was about danger stuff. If he guessed about danger stuff then Kevin's face got red, and a little muscle in his jaw jumped, and…sometimes he would cry. Because of Tony. Kevin got scared that people would be mean to Tony and it made him cry. Tony had a note in his own writing to remind him of that. Cause it was important. Tony's eyes got stingy, and he had to sniffle a couple of times.He didn't like it when Kevin was scared. But he was pretty sure this was okay. He was still in the house. Kind of. The garage attached to the house, and he left the door open. But he didn't want to wake Kevin and Neil so early. They didn't get as excited about things like the fair. They got excited about "sleeping in", and "a nice night out". Whatever. Tony would take the fair any day. He bounced again. Cotton candy, rides that made his stomach flip and whirl…and the faces. All those faces he could soak in, and then paint later, when they seeped back out of him. A bird started to sing outside the garage.Tony lifted up on his tippy-toes, very slow. It was not what he would call a bounce.Birds meant Kevin and Neil would be up in an hour or so.Maybe.Tony's stomach rumbled, and he decided he might have time to eat before they got up. He walked backwards into the kitchen, pulled down his special cereal bowl (pink like his phone) and poured a third of the box of Captain Crunch into it. Then he very sneakily added some of Neil's Vanilla Flavored coffee creamer to his bowl, topping it off with the 2% that Kevin said was healthy. He thought maybe they wouldn't catch him about the Vanilla Creamer this time, because he even wiped off his finger prints like the guy from CSI. Tony grinned and ate his cereal. Then he ate another bowl, because the first one tasted so good, and by the time Neil and Kevin got up he had finished off both the Captain Crunch and all the special Coffee Creamer. That was how Neil said it, with capital letters. Very particular. Neil started the coffee, and Tony was glad even though it brought the finding out of him using up all the creamer closer, because making the coffee was on the list. He wasn't allowed, because when was working on a project one time he forgot and put macaroni in the filter. The canisters were right next to each other, and Tony was too busy thinking about all the shades of red and gold he would need to paint Neil's hair to pay attention, and somehow between him and the macaroni the and the wandering off to mix paints in the studio, the "whole damned coffee machine" got ruined. Those were Neil's exact words. He was late to a very important lecture that day, but he still remembered to kiss Tony good-bye and tell him to paint from his heart that day. So, anyways, they made a new rule, and Tony didn't make the coffee cause he didn't want to ruin another "whole damned coffee machine". Kevin laughed every time he said those words, and he made Tony laugh too, but he still insisted on the rule. He said Neil got cranky without his morning coffee. Tony and Neil eyed each other and silently agreed that it was Kevin who got cranky, but it was okay. Everybody had their cranky buttons.Tony started to sidle out of the kitchen when Neil realized the Vanilla Creamer bottle in the fridge was empty, and he lifted his big head of shaggy red hair to lift a red and gold brow as his sky blue eyes cut a hole in all Tony's defenses. Tony thought that maybe he shoulda remembered that one of Neil's cranky buttons might possibly be to run out of his very special Vanilla Creamer for his coffee. "I'm sorry Neil. I didn't mean to use it all up. It just tasted so good and with the Captain Crunch it made magic in my mouth—"Neil's gaze dropped to Tony's mouth. The edges of the professor's mouth turned up in a little smile. His eyes lifted back to Tony's, full of a twinkling light that Tony knew meant the older man was amused."Eh. I can certainly vouch for the magic in your mouth, Tony, and don't worry about the creamer. I have more."Tony lifted his tee-shirt and scratched absently at his stomach."Really? Because I'd sure like some in my coffee."Neil laughed out loud as his gaze strayed to Tony's rock hard abs. He pulled a bottle of creamer from somewhere in the depths of the fridge, and handed it to Kevin, who took it with a silly smirk on his face. Kevin's eyes were still on Tony's stomach, even though the tee-shirt was back down over it. "I told you he drank it all, Neil. You so owe me a foot-rub when I get home from work."Neil pointed to the counter where he'd put out three coffee mugs."Pour, Florence, we have pigs to see and money to lose on rigged games."Tony bounced again, just once, with a really big grin stretched across his face.
*****
August 2, 2011
Tuesday--Time to start the Countdown!
Pretties first.
Yeah, so there should just have been two, for Tuesday, but...they were so yummy I couldn't stop.
LOL.
Today is Tuesday, and my book, The Soldier & the State Trooper comes out on Friday.
Heh.
So the count-down really needs to start, right?
I'm going to be posting some clues on the blog between now and Saturday, August 6th, which is the book launch date at Author Island www.CyberLaunchParty.blogspot.com ...and since the book actually goes live on Friday the 5th, in addition to offering a free ebook as a prize that day, I'll be offering an autographed copy of the print edition for the lucky person who correctly answers three story-trivia questions that I'll post during the Launch party. That contest, the print book one, will run for a week after the launch party. :)
Stay tuned for more info...ummm, and pictures of smexy men.
Yeah, so there should just have been two, for Tuesday, but...they were so yummy I couldn't stop.
LOL.
Today is Tuesday, and my book, The Soldier & the State Trooper comes out on Friday.
Heh.
So the count-down really needs to start, right?
I'm going to be posting some clues on the blog between now and Saturday, August 6th, which is the book launch date at Author Island www.CyberLaunchParty.blogspot.com ...and since the book actually goes live on Friday the 5th, in addition to offering a free ebook as a prize that day, I'll be offering an autographed copy of the print edition for the lucky person who correctly answers three story-trivia questions that I'll post during the Launch party. That contest, the print book one, will run for a week after the launch party. :)
Stay tuned for more info...ummm, and pictures of smexy men.
