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.
An Excerpt
from Fast Beat by Wren Valentino
The buzzing vibration of a text message came in right at the end of the
lunch rush. Cassidy Downs reached into the apron’s front pocket and picked up
her phone. She glanced down, saw the words, and stopped in her tracks.
Come quickly. Tony is hurt.
Ducking out of view of the slow-eating customers, Cassidy sought refuge
in the claustrophobic break room, which comprised nothing more than a rickety
table, two beaten-up chairs, and a dead clock on the wall that hadn’t done its
job in over a year.
Too nervous to sit, Cassidy paced while waiting for Natasha to answer her
phone. Tension filled every muscle as she moved.
Finally.
“Hello?”
Cassidy froze. “Tasha? What happened? Is he okay?”
“No,” she said. “No, he’s not. It’s bad.” From the wavering tone in
Natasha’s voice, Cassidy knew the situation was serious.
Her grip tightened around the phone. “Tell me.” Her breath felt like it
was caught in her lungs. She closed her eyes, imagining the worst but hoping
for the best.
“You’re not going to believe this, but he got jumped.”
Cassidy opened her eyes. “What? By who?”
“Who do you think? It was the Firemakers.”
“Are you sure?”
“Cassidy, he had over two hundred bucks in cash on him. They didn’t touch
the money. Went straight for his knee. They wanted to make sure he’d never
dance again. And he won’t. Tony didn’t deserve this. We both know he’s a good
guy.”
“He’s my best friend,” Cassidy said. An emotional strand broke and crept
into her throat. Tears threatened to spill. Not one to show her feelings, she
stopped herself from crying. “And the best dance partner I’ve ever had. What am
I gonna do? The competition is in two weeks.”
“You need to be in the room when he wakes up,” Natasha said. “We’re at
County. How fast can you get here?”
Cassidy let out a lengthy breath. A sickening sensation churned her
insides as shock set in. How could this
happen? “I’ll ask April to cover the rest of my shift,” she explained. “She
still owes me from Christmas Eve.”
“Time to collect,” said Natasha. “And probably time to find a new
partner.”
Cassidy shook her head. “I can’t. That’s impossible.”
A detectable sigh was heard before Natasha spoke. “Is it?”
As if entering on cue, April
suddenly appeared in the doorway of the break room. Short and blonde, she was a
physical contrast to Cassidy who towered over most people, including many of
the guys they both knew from the neighborhood.
“I gotta go,” Cassidy said to
Natasha before ending the call. She turned to her co-worker and friend. “April,
I have a huge favor to ask.”
“I already know,” April responded.
“Just go, Cassidy. I got this covered.”
“You sure?”
April nodded. “What are friends
for?”
“Thank you.”
“Do me a favor, will you? Text me
from the hospital and let me know how he’s doing. It might sound crazy, but
I’ve had a little crush on Tony since the eighth grade. Not that he ever gave
me the time of day.”
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.
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