Rhythms of Love: You Sang to Me / Beats of My Heart
Four hearts. Two stories. One melody of love.You Sang to Me by Beverly JenkinsSassy streetwise crooner Regina Carson is still dreaming of her big break. And when Jamal Watts hears the stunning songbird, he's ready to sign her to his label. The love-burned producer isn't prepared for the passion Regina unleashes in him. Suddenly they're both hitting all the right notes. But Regina isn't ready to trust her heart—unless this gorgeous, caring man can show her how, together, they can make the most beautiful music of all. . . . Beats of My Heart by Elaine OvertonRayne Philips worked hard to turn her jazz club into the hottest downtown scene in the city. But her latest hire—hot young guitarist Tristan Daniels—is throwing off her rhythm. Tristan's star is on the rise and he wants to make more than sweet music with the sultry club owner. Can the mixed medley of the past turn into a brand-new tempo—the tempo of love?
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You Sang to Me
“You’re the only woman who’s ever made me fly back like this.”
“And I suppose you’re looking for a reward,” she said.
“Any bone will do.”
Rising up on her toes, she kissed him, and it was all the incentive he needed to wrap her in his arms and drown.
They fed on each other with a lazy fervor that left them both breathless. He brushed slow heated lips over the warm scented skin of her neck and savored her soft gasps of response. As he blazed a meandering trail back to her lips, he knew that if he didn’t make love to her sometime tonight he might explode.
Beats of My Heart
Suddenly, he felt warm, gentle hands sliding over his rib cage as she pressed herself against his back.
Tristan felt his slow heartbeat begin to accelerate once again, as her busy fingers continued their exploration of his body. Using all the willpower he could muster, Tristan covered her hands to stop their slow progression, opened his eyes and looked at her beautiful reflection in the mirror.
As if sensing his question, Rayne said, “Tristan, I know what I’m doing. I want you.”
BEVERLY JENKINS
Beverly Jenkins is an award-winning African-American writer. She has lectured at such prestigious universities as Oberlin University, the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan. She speaks widely on both romance and nineteenth-century African-American history. Beverly was first published in 1994 and has published twenty-one novels. This is her first novella for Kimani Romance.
ELAINE OVERTON
Elaine Overton resides in the Detroit area with her son. She attended a local business college before entering the military, and serving in the Gulf War. She is an administrative assistant, currently working for an automotive industry supplier. She is an active member of Romance Writers of America.
To my good friend Regina Belle—Beverly
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoy Reggie and Jamais story. Although the school where she volunteered is fictional, the woman for whom the school was named was very real. Madame Sissieretta Jones was an icon of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and sang all over the world. Billed as the Greatest Singer of Her Race, she was the first African-American woman to sing at Carnegie Hall. Although her name has been lost through time, she helped pave the way. In commemoration of Black Music Month this June, please honor her by learning more about her.
Thanks,
B
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read Beats of My Heart. I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Tristan and Rayne. I love music and during the writing of this book, I swear I could almost hear Tristans soulful voice in my ears! I hope you can hear it, as well.
Beats of My Heart is my first novella, so I hope I was successful in expressing the love between the main characters and the obstacles they had to overcome in order to be together. Please feel free to let me know what you think—my e-mail is [email protected].
Elaine
Chapter One
Regina, aka Reggie, Vaughn turned the key in her ten-year-old Escort and prayed the car would start. The plea was a daily ritual. The present state of her finances made replacing the aged vehicle impossible, so she relied on divine benevolence instead.
After two tries, the engine finally rumbled to life. The rusted green body shook and vibrated as if it was going to fly apart, but with her prayers answered, Regina backed down her grandmother’s snow-lined driveway and headed off to her job at one of Detroit’s most prestigious riverfront hotels.
She’d been on the hotel’s staff for five years. Initially, she’d worked at the concierge desk, but when the economy hit bottom two years ago, so did the hospitality industry. Her position was eliminated, and it was either be laid off or take any opening the hotel had. She found a spot in housekeeping. It was good honest work and she made a point of doing it well. However, being downsized also meant bringing home a smaller paycheck, one that didn’t pay enough to handle both her bills and college tuition, so finishing school had to wait. Having to withdraw had been disappointing, especially since she was just a few credits short of obtaining her bachelor’s in Music Education. She wanted to become a music teacher. In her heart she knew her dreams would come true, but right now, she was just glad to have a job.
At the hotel, she parked in the employee lot and entered the building. Housekeeping was run out of a small office in the basement. Ms. Harold headed the operation and had been doing so for fourteen years.
As Reggie entered and punched in, Ms. Harold called out, “Morning, Reg.”
“Hey, Ms. Harold. How are you?”
“I’d be better if Trina hadn’t called in sick again. You’ll have to cover her floors today. Sorry.”
Reggie wanted to jump up and down and throw a tantrum at the idea of all the extra work, but because she was twenty-seven and not seven, she said simply, “Okay. I’ll see you later.” Sighing, she left Ms. Harold and headed off to start her day.
