by JN Welsh
“We hope the fans vote us back next year. We’d love to play the main stage.” Velvet made her campaign for next year official.
“Those are coveted spots. Do you think you have a chance with the famous DJ lineups out there?”
Velvet smiled over her gnashing teeth. “The power is in the hands of the fans. Anything is possible.” She raised her hands to the sky and jumped up, her showmanship unwavering. If no one had faith in Bedazzled Beats making it to the main stage, she’d just have to carry the mother lode until they did.
Another reporter jumped in with his question and almost blocked her. “You ladies have been a rocket on the rise. What’s next for Bedazzled Beats?”
“Velveteen?” Candy lobbed it over to her.
From the beginning of their career many of the media folks had defaulted to Candy. Her friend’s uncontested beauty, posh style and fair-skinned currency gave them what they needed. Access. They played the game when it was in session. Candy lined it up and Velvet hit it out the park. As women they still hit ceilings and walls but since the day they decided to pursue their music career there was no stopping them.
“We’ll be doing more festivals and clubs and hope to get started on our album soon,” Velvet spoke into the microphone.
“Yeah. We have a lot of great music coming for our fans so stay tuned.” Candy pointed into the lens the reporter’s camera guy had fixed on them.
“Very cool. If your album is anything like your performance tonight the entire scene will be after your tracks. Any label announcements?”
The reporter highlighted yet another gaping hole in her and Candy’s plans. Tommy Boombox, their agent, had lined up a few label meetings but Bedazzled Beats were still label-less.
Candy deferred to her to answer. “We’ll have news on that soon so make sure to connect with us on social.”
“And sign up to our fan club via our website for Bedazzled Beats merch,” Candy added.
They answered more questions and posed for more pictures until the press found another DJ to cover.
They really needed to find a manager and soon. Boombox had gotten them some really great gigs since they’d opened for Luke “The Musical Prophet” Anderson in Los Angeles almost a year ago. They couldn’t have dreamed up that type of exposure. Her and Candy’s hustle had paid off and now Tommy hustled for them, too. However, with their sights set on the Temptation Festival main stage, they were going to need a lot more help.
They reconnected with LED, and as they made their way backstage to the artist lounge, a member of the press stopped LED.
“I’d love to cover your Egyptian performance tomorrow. Any official press welcomed?”
“I’m sure my manager would love to help you out.” LED communicated his manager’s name, all while being a one-man bodyguard clearing the path for her and Candy.
Velvet fanned post-performance heat from her neck, in addition to the bit of envy hovering over her. She and Candy handled the aspects of their career not handled by Boombox and Velvet wished the manager volley that LED had just pulled was part of her repertoire. She reminded herself of the moving train she rode, and that eventually more things would fall into place for her and Candy. You’ll get there.
“You’re going to bring the house down tomorrow at the Egyptian.” Velvet nudged LED.
Both Bedazzled Beats and LED were playing the nightclub after the festival closed tomorrow night. Velvet’s fingers itched to play again and she had just finished her set with Candy.
“By the way, I have a special guest that’s going to blow the roof clear off the spot.” LED wrapped his arm around Candy’s waist, despite the oval sweat mark on her lower back.
“Yeah? Who?” The cool breeze from the air-conditioning backstage blew against Velvet’s scalp of her half Mohawk.
LED pressed his index finger against his lips. “He’s going to come through after he does a little press.”
“Oh. A secret DJ? Is he performing tonight?” Velvet inquired.
“He performs tomorrow night and then will do the Egyptian with us,” LED responded.
“Main stage?”
“Yup.”
“Closing out the festival? Wow. Those are all big guns on the main stage. That can only be Tekko, The Musical Prophet or Tres Armadas.”
“I’m excited to see all those guys,” Candy cheered.
Joe “Tekko” Kim and Luke were their friends and wouldn’t be in town until tomorrow. Velvet looked forward to seeing them play. She hadn’t officially met the members of Tres Armadas but she had seen them perform a few years ago. Back then, Velvet played underground clubs spinning vinyl and she and Candy attended festivals as fans researching their future career.
“Guess we’ll just have to see who shows up.” Velvet strode toward the snack bar, gulped an energy drink, and fed her face with a granola and fruit yogurt cup. Candy participated, as well.
“If you ladies want something more just let them know, but the festival food is tight. Performers eat free,” LED informed them.
“We know,” Candy mumbled through a cheek full of chips.
“Post-performance hunger is no joke.” LED laughed at them as they finished up their snacks. “Well, our performances are done for the day. Now it’s all about networking and enjoying the festival.”
Music from the ongoing performances played in the club-lit lounge backstage. Neon bars and signs provided shelter from the sun as well as an evening feel. Candy danced around her, yanking Velvet back to the moment. Velvet marched in place and in time to the music. Damn, I love music. “I Love Music,” by the O’Jays played in her head, engulfed in one of Candy’s sexy, groovy house beats. She grabbed Candy’s hand, twirling her bestie.
Velvet shared her O’Jays remix and Candy lit up at the idea to add to their future DJ set. “Let’s do it with some underground groove house.”
“Now you’re talkin’.” Velvet’s familiarity with those lifted brows and dimpled cheeks spanned back to nights, after college classes, and weekends under the “turn-tablism” tutelage of their mentor DJ Reynard “FeNom” West. They later became never-ending students of dance music history and culture. The bittersweet memory of their time with the DJ made her pulse flare and Velvet tried to shake it off. They owed it to themselves and their teacher to blow the scene up.
“That’s my cue to get you ladies some drinks.”
“Thanks, Bernard,” Velvet said. She was glad Candy had chosen a less possessive and more fun boyfriend than the last nightmare she’d gone out with. Though pansexual, Candy settled into LED like she’d finally found her emotional and romantic match. LED treated Velvet like a sister and she liked it when they all hung out together.
“Stop calling out my government name, Asha. There’s beauty in anonymity.”
“All right, all right.” Velvet pulled a Charms Blow Pop out of a clip she used to attach it to her hair. She unwrapped the lollipop. “Let me just grab Nuts so we can take her with us.”
“You and that scooter are inseparable,” LED ragged on her.
“You’re just upset because you don’t have your own wheels to push.” Velvet popped the lollipop in her mouth. She enjoyed riding her through the festivals ever since she was an attendee, whether festival policy allowed it or not. Nuts and Blow Pops, her must-haves, went with her wherever she traveled. She left to reclaim her scooter. “Don’t do shots without me.”
Velvet walked a fair distance to a secure area to retrieve Nuts from one of the attendants backstage. She glided back to her friends and navigated through makeshift corridors, false partitions and moving bodies.
“Great show, Velvet,” someone called to her, and she returned the greeting with a wave.
When she returned her eyes forward, she found herself a split second from crashing into some dude walking ahead. His neon rainbow tie-dyed shirt and black and yellow hat blared like
a stop sign on a city street. She swerved Nuts to a halt and tapped the ass of her victim with one of her handlebars.
“Ow.” He regarded her and her scooter over his shoulder.
“Oh, man. My bad, I wasn’t looking.” She hopped off and walked Nuts past the wayward fan. The smell of cherries, maybe almonds, or both awakened her senses. She glanced at the shadowed face and more words followed.
“What?” The tone of his question rested between bass and baritone.
Velvet sounded perfectly clear in her head, but forgot she had a big, red ball of hard candy in her mouth. She pulled at the white stick and stepped back. “Sorry. That was negligent driving on my part. You all right?”
“Yes.” His response carried an accent she couldn’t quite place due to his economy of words. But as far as accents went, he definitely had one.
“Cool.” Her shoulders sagged back down to a normal level.
“Be careful with that.” Many of her fellow DJs hailed from the Netherlands and based on the d pronunciation of th he used, Velvet identified him as Dutch.
She shrugged. “Okay, byeeee.” She didn’t need a lecture on scooter safety. She pushed off her strong leg, balanced on Nuts and glided to LED and Candy, who were gathered around a high table glowing with blue light. A centerpiece tray of too many shots decorated the middle. Velvet braked and rested Nuts against a chair.
“What is it?” Velvet asked over the thudding music.
“Fireball,” LED said and clinked shot glasses with them.
“Blessed be.” Candy readied the glass to her lips.
“Ah! He’s here. Come here, man. Have this shot with us,” LED called to someone behind her and Candy.
Velvet aimed her attention in the direction of LED’s head movements. A man emerged from the shadows in a rainbow tie-dyed shirt. He took off his black and yellow hat and raked his fingers through his hair. Velvet’s heart stilled. Isaak “Zazzle” Van Sandt of Tres Armadas, the most famous DJ trio in dance music, headed to their table.
Don’t miss In Rhythm by JN Welsh, available now wherever Carina Press books are sold.
www.CarinaPress.com
Copyright © 2019 by Jennifer N Welsh
Also available from JN Welsh
Pining Over You
Copyright © 2020 by Jennifer N Welsh
Vermont nights might get a little cold, but Sasha Merry has her work to keep her warm. Running the family farm has always been her dream, and this year it’s her time to shine. Sasha won’t let anything stand in the way of her plans. So when her most valuable employee gets hurt right before Christmas, she will do whatever it takes to prove to her father that she is up to the job, even if it means accepting help from the man who broke her heart.
Rodney Chestnut is finally back home in Charlotte, Vermont after years of living the adventurous life he has always dreamed of. Rodney lives his life without regrets, but being back in town, he’s face-to-face with his only one—Sasha Merry. There was a time when he owned Sasha’s heart, and then he broke it. After years of putting his ambitions first, seeing Sasha again reminds him that he’s neglected his heart.
Swept up in a blizzard of their old memories, the old flames start roaring immediately. The passions between them have always blazed hot, but the question is, will they be brave enough to take a chance on love or will their dreams lead them on separate paths all over again?
To purchase and read more books by JN Welsh please visit her website at www.jnwelsh.com.
We think you have a good book in you!
Are you writing in the below genres? The Carina Press editors want to see your manuscript.
We Are Currently Acquiring
Most subgenres and all heat levels of romance:
• Contemporary
• Erotic
• Paranormal & Urban Fantasy
• Science Fiction & Fantasy
• Romantic Suspense
• Historical
• Your subgenre here. See our submissions guidelines!
We want to reaffirm our commitment to inclusion and representation in our publishing program and extend a specific invitation to Black authors, authors of color, disabled authors, LGBTQ+ authors, and other traditionally marginalized and underrepresented voices. We strive to make our list one of inclusion, and are working hard to build a catalog that is more representative of the romance reading public.
To learn more about our submissions guidelines, please visit: CarinaPress.com/WriteForUs
All submitted manuscripts receive a thorough editorial review and a response in approximately 12 weeks.
ISBN-13: 9781488055218
In Harmony
Copyright © 2021 by Jennifer N Welsh
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at [email protected].
Carina Press
22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.CarinaPress.com
