An Excerpt
from Fast Beat by Wren Valentino
Natasha Marchant always knew when Cassidy needed her the most. So when
she showed up unexpectedly in the hospital waiting room and insisted they go
share a pizza and a pitcher of beer, Cassidy was grateful but not surprised.
Thirty minutes later they were
sitting across from each other in wooden chairs at a table in the front window
of their favorite all-night pizza place. There were only a few other customers,
including a young couple who kept giggling at each other.
“Thank you for this,” Cassidy said,
reaching for a second slice. “It’s been a really long day.”
Natasha nodded. “You need nutrition
and some sleep.”
“You’re right. But, then again, you
usually are.”
“You’re only one person, Cassidy. I
know you think you can do it all and we both know you can, but don’t overdo it.
How many jobs do you have now?”
“What choice do I have? I’m saving
every penny I make so I can buy my own dance studio. I even found the building
I want. It used to be an art gallery.”
“Slow down,” Natasha cautioned.
Cassidy reached for her plastic cup
of beer. “You know that’s not my style. It never has been.”
Natasha leaned forward. “I’m worried
about you.”
“Don’t worry about me. Worry about
Tony.”
“It’s awful what happened to him. It
makes me so angry. Any news?”
Cassidy checked her phone. “No. I’m
hoping Teresa texts me soon with an update.”
“How’s she holding up?”
“Not good. You know how close she
and Tony are. All they have is each other.”
Natasha shot her a look. “Teresa has
a husband and a million children. She’s hardly living the lonely life like me.”
“Yeah, but I imagine the bond is
different between a brother and a sister.”
“She can have my sister if she wants
one.”
Cassidy smiled for the first time
that day. Tension eased somewhat around her shoulders. “That’s very generous of
you.”
“I’ve been trying to give my sister
away since she was five and chopped my hair off with her Hello Kitty scissors.
No takers yet.”
Cassidy’s grin turned into laughter.
“Gloria’s not that bad.”
“Sure, if you aren’t related to
her.”
“It feels good to laugh,” said
Cassidy. “Thank you.”
Her attention shifted to the window
beside them. Thoughts drifted far away from the pizza place, staring beyond the
orange and green PIZZA BY THE SLICE neon sign and to the city sidewalk. She
watched strangers – some alone and some together – heading in different
directions, living separate lives. Disconnected. That’s exactly how Cassidy
felt now.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “You know how much this competition
means to me. I’ve come so close, especially the last three years. I really
thought Tony and I had a shot to win this year finally. I mean, our routine is
amazing. We’ve put so much work into it.”
“I’m so sorry this happened,”
Natasha said. “There might not be any other choice. You might have to sit the
year out.”
Cassidy glanced down, defeated. “Yeah,
that was Teresa’s recommendation, too.”
“But I know there’s no chance of
that happening.” Natasha helped herself to another slice of pizza, covering it
with a quick shake of parmesan followed by a heavy coating of hot red pepper
flakes.
Cassidy looked up. “You know me, I
don’t give in.”
“And you never take no for an
answer,” said Natasha. “Yeah, I get it. That’s who you are. It’s who you’ve
always been. If there’s a way to still compete, you’ll find it.”
A thought erupted that invigorated
and inspired her suddenly. “I know what I need to do,” Cassidy explained. “I
need to find a new partner. And fast.”
“Who? We both know Tony is the best
dancer in this city. Hell, maybe even the entire state. There’s no guy who
isn’t already in a dance crew who can come close to being the dancer Tony is.”
“You’re right, but if he is
out there, I have to find him,” Cassidy said. “Like now.”
Fast
Beat
Wren Valentino
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Wren Valentino
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Blue Dasher Press
Date of Publication: May 29, 2020
ASIN:
Word Count: 15,000
Cover Artist: James at
GoOnWrite.com
Book Description:
After her long-time dance partner
Tony is injured, Cassidy Downs has only a matter of weeks to find a new partner
to remain eligible to compete in the All City Dance Off.
When she discovers Giovanni, a
talented and classically trained member of a dance conservatory, Cassidy
convinces him to become her new partner despite his reluctance to do so.
As the competition nears, neither
Cassidy nor Giovanni can deny the strong attraction building between them.
About
the Author:
Wren Valentino is an author,
playwright, poet, and screenwriter. He writes in multiple genres, primarily
contemporary romance with an international setting. Wren graduated magna cum
laude from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Communications and English. He earned an MFA in Creative Writing at Queens
University of Charlotte in North Carolina. He is a member of Gothic Romance
Writers and Romance Writers of America. He loves film noir, white chocolate,
classic cartoons, koalas, Julie London records, Nancy Drew, the Peanuts gang,
Disney villains, all things Tiki, Italy, and everything written by Jane Austen.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WrenValentino12
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