Beats of the Heart Read online

  Copyright © 2018. Charli B. Rose.

  First Edition. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referred to in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  charlirosewriter.wixsite.com/website

  Cover design by Susan Garwood

  Cover photo edit by Elora Keifer

  Cover photographer by svetikd photography

  Edited by Nathanie Serran

  Formatting by EZ Book Formatting

  To my boys.

  The two of you are the very BEATS of my heart.

  I love you both so much.

  “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

  Plato

  About the book

  Before they can have a second chance, they have to live through their first love… and heartbreak.

  Izzy

  We shouldn’t have taken the risk. We should’ve stayed just friends. Best friends. But only friends. But our hearts were foolish. I’d loved him forever. So, three years ago when he offered what I always longed for, I grabbed it with both hands. But I couldn’t hold on tight enough. The beauty of love blinded me. I didn’t see it coming. Didn’t expect to lose everything. My friend. My heart. My art. My privacy. All of them casualties of love lost.

  Dawson

  Every beat of my heart sang her name. She was my muse. Without her, there’d be no music. I was riding the high of fame and fortune. I had it all—status, money, her. Until the thing I’d always wanted cost me the thing I’d always needed. Love’s song drowned out all the warnings. Now she was gone. So was the music. So was my will. I was left with only silence.

  What happens when two hearts sharing one beat fall out of sync?

  NOTE: This is part ONE of Dawson and Izzy’s story. Their story will continue in early 2019.

  Note from the author

  Music was incredibly important in the creation of Dawson and Izzy’s story, not just because Dawson is a rock star. But also, because songs, more specifically lyrics, provided inspiration for several scenes as I wrote their love story. I’m a huge music lover. I enjoy all genres and decades of music, so the playlist for Dawson and Izzy’s love story is varied. In addition to a link for my Spotify playlist, there are little musical notes ♪ scattered throughout the book. In the e-book version of the book, if you click on the notes, you’ll be taken to the official YouTube video or the Spotify link for a song that’s relevant to the scene it’s in. (If you’re reading the paperback, obviously the notes aren’t clickable, but next to the notes, I’ve listed the title of the song and the artist in case you want to check them out.) I do not own the rights to any of these songs. They are added merely for reader enjoyment.

  This story picks up three years into Dawson and Izzy’s romantic relationship. So, this is not their beginning. It’s their ending. (At least for their first go around).

  Playlist link: https://spoti.fi/2D3aXgm

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Note from the author

  Sneak Peek

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Izzy

  ♪ Lipstick by Kip Moore

  “Isabelle,” a deep voice called my name. A large hand waved in the air. I couldn’t see the person attached to the fluttering hand, but I hoped it was signaling me. All around me a din of foreign tongues filled the air. I pushed through the throng pulsing in every direction. Moments before, I’d disembarked my international flight into the Amsterdam Airport. My hot pink bag bumped along behind me as I tried to get to the still waving hand.

  Finally, the crowd divided as if Moses had held up his staff and commanded them to part. There at the other side of the opening was my deliverer. Joe. He would take me to my salvation. With his hand pressed to his ear, he spoke into the blue-tooth headset. As soon as I got within reach, he scooped up my bag and tucked me against his side. Even with the chaos of the bustling airport, it was hard not to feel sheltered against the mountainous ex-cop who was my escort.

  “Did you check any bags?”

  “Nope. After touring last summer, I learned how to pack better. You’d be surprised how much I managed to cram in that bag.” I pointed to the bubblegum colored rectangle Joe comically pulled behind him.

  “Good. How was your flight?”

  “Long,” I sighed and rolled my neck in a circular motion. “Fourteen hours on a plane is no joke.”

  “International flights suck. You can rest soon. Ty should have the car brought around by the time we make it through this jungle.”

  I hurried to keep pace next to him, taking two steps for each of his one. “You know I could’ve caught a cab or an Uber to the hotel, saved you the trouble of coming to get me. I mean, shouldn’t you be at the arena for sound check?”

  “You have an Uber. It’s called Ty. Everything’s under control. Dawson would have my a…” He cleared his throat. “…rear if I didn’t take care of getting you to the hotel safely myself.”

  “No worries. It’s good to see you.”

  “You ain’t foolin’ me, Izzy. I know you’re itching to get to the hotel and see Dawson. I’m just the consolation prize.”

  I squeezed him around his waist. “You’re no consolation prize. But you’re right. I’m dying to see Dawson. I hope traffic is light. This has been the longest month of my life.”

  “You guys have had longer stretches apart than this.”

  “I know. But it doesn’t get any easier. And with the gossip rags always speculating about what he’s up to, it’s hard to be away from each other.” I hated voicing my insecurities. They were all mine. Dawson had never given me any indication that he was anything less than a hundred percent faithful.

  Joe halted. “You know he’s not up to anything, right?” His face was serious.

  Swallowing hard, I nodded. “I do. It’s just tough reading what they all think the bad boy of rock is doing and who he’s doing it with.”

  He clasped my shoulder. “I know. But I can tell you, once he leaves the stage every night, he has me escort him back to the bus or hotel. Alone.”

  Though I knew what he said to be true, it still felt good hearing someone else confirm it. “Thanks.”

  Joe stepped through the glass door, but held his arm up, keeping me behind him. He turned this way and that, examining each person on the sidewalk outside. No doubt assessing any potential threat.

  “Joe, there’s no need to be so cautious. I’m a nobody. People don’t k
now who I am.”

  “Can never be too cautious. If anything ever happened to you, I don’t know what would happen to Dawson. Come on. There’s Ty.”

  He led me to the sleek stretch SUV parked illegally along the curb. Ty leaned against the passenger door, looking like he belonged in the back being chauffeured around, not the front. A wide smile broke out on his face when he saw me. In three quick steps, he swept me up in his arms, squeezing tightly. After setting me back on my feet, he said, “I’m so glad you’re here. Maybe D will stop sulking so much now.”

  I chuckled as he moved to open the back door for me.

  “How long until we get to the hotel?” I asked him.

  “With traffic, probably thirty minutes. It’s only about ten miles. But getting out of the airport will take a bit.”

  I eased into the dark cavern provided by the black windows. “You gonna ride back here with me?” I asked Ty as I perched in the doorframe.

  “Naw. Got to um… discuss security stuff for the next show. But D should be finished up, so you can call him.”

  “OK. Thanks for picking me up, guys.”

  “Sure thing, Izzy.” Ty shut the door.

  I stayed on the edge of my seat, staring out the window in disbelief that once again I was on the other side of the world. The small-town girl from South Carolina.

  “You gonna stare out the window the whole ride or you gonna come give me a kiss hello?” a voice materialized from the far side of the vehicle.

  I jumped with a gasp. “Daw, you’re really here?” Oblivious to the motion beneath me, I launched myself across the empty space to the bench seat lining the back of the vehicle.

  A quick tap of the brakes sent me tumbling as Joe pulled into the flow of traffic.

  “Izzy, are you OK?” Strong arms reached down and pulled me from the carpeted floor onto the leather seat.

  “I’m good. No, better than good. I’m phenomenal. You’re here.” My hands cupped his jaw, needing to feel him. “You’re supposed to be at sound check.”

  “I rearranged. I didn’t want to wait a second longer than necessary to have you in my arms.” His hold tightened around me.

  My fingers traced his face, reacquainting themselves with every breathtaking feature—the prickly scruff along his jaw adding a depth to his face, high chiseled cheekbones, perfect Roman nose, long sweeping lashes, whiskey-colored orbs, plump lips that quivered beneath my touch, deep dimple in one cheek, lush dark hair peeking from the edge of his beanie.

  His eyes and fingers were making the same journey across my face—no doubt spinning lyrics in his mind as he went. “God, I’ve missed your face,” he breathed against my skin.

  ♪ “Baby I Love You” by Andy Kim

  “Shut up and kiss me,” I rasped.

  Wrapping his hand around the back of my neck, his fingers threaded through my hair as he pressed my mouth to his. The instant our lips collided the emptiness inside my chest filled up. His free hand gripped my hip and nudged me closer. Recklessly, I threw one leg across his lap, so that I straddled him. Pressure at the small of my back urged me closer to him. Oblivious to our surroundings, I poured every ounce of love, longing and desperation into the kiss. Words had never been my strong suit, but hopefully my body language spoke volumes.

  Satisfied that I wasn’t planning to divorce my mouth from his any time soon, Dawson let go of my head. He tugged on the hem of my shirt where it was pinned between us. I shifted slightly, freeing the fabric without tearing my lips from his. Calloused fingers ghosted up my side leaving gooseflesh to rise in their wake. The trip north was torturously slow. By the time they reached the underside of my bra, I ached for his touch. His thumb grazed my nipple through the cotton fabric. Instinctually, I arched into his caress.

  His other hand ran along the waistband of my leggings, dipping inside when they reached the front. I rose to my knees, hoping he’d yank my pants down. My own hands flew to be of assistance. From the seat beside us a mechanical voice said, “Destination ten minutes away.”

  Pulling back so I could form words, I breathed, “What was that?”

  “We’re ten minutes from the hotel.”

  “That’s not long enough,” I whined. I was desperate to feel him inside me, filling and completing me.

  “It might not be long enough for me to make love to you—”

  “It’s not long enough for a fu… quickie either.” Wow, I was so far gone, I nearly used the word I loathed.

  “No. But like I was about to say, it is long enough for me to send you into orbit.”

  “Oh, yeah, Mr. HotShot?”

  “Yeah,” he growled. “I might have needed ten minutes when we were sixteen. But over the years I’ve come to know your body better than my own. I don’t even need half that time.”

  “Take your best shot,” I egged him on, knowledge that I’d reap the benefits of the challenge in my tone. He knew it too.

  “Have I ever told you how much I love leggings?”

  His fingers dove beneath my damp panties and began to stroke my folds. My breath hitched, and I melded my mouth to his. My tongue thrust into his mouth in a mirror image of what his fingers were doing to my core. His thumb wrote lyrics of heaven and bliss on my swollen nub. Ripping my lips from his, I threw my head back and moaned.

  Wet, open-mouthed kisses littered my neck. Warmth rushed to the surface of my skin as I soared higher and higher. And then, with murmured words of love, I tipped over the edge and slowly floated back from heaven.

  “That might be a new record for me,” Dawson panted against my skin as he withdrew his fingers from me.

  I ground my center against the bulge in his crotch, making him groan my name.

  “You’re going to make me walk through the lobby with a raging boner?” he panted.

  “You’re going to make me walk through it with a blissed out orgasmic face. I’d say we’re even.”

  Chapter 2

  Dawson

  All too soon, the tap on the divider signaled we were about to be at the hotel. Unable to resist, I stole one more kiss before I eased Izzy from my lap and onto the seat next to me. Not bothering to hide the maneuver from her, I adjusted my crotch. Hunger filled her eyes as she watched. It made my blood boil each time I was able to read her desire. When we’d first explored our passion as teenagers, she’d always shuttered her feelings except in moments of absolute vulnerability. But three years ago, when we decided to venture from friends to lovers, we were both all in, hiding nothing from each other.

  “I want you so bad right now,” she growled in my ear.

  “Believe me, flutterby, the feeling’s mutual. I hope you didn’t have your heart set on seeing anybody else tonight.”

  “Just you. Every delectable inch.” She smirked and straightened her shirt.

  The smile permanently cemented on my face didn’t even fade with the group of fans waiting outside the Okura when we pulled up outside. Flashes of light flickered outside the window. I squeezed Izzy’s thigh and shifted to the partition separating us from Joe and Ty. With the press of a button, the dark glass whispered down.

  “Somebody must have alerted the fans that you didn’t return to the hotel with the rest of the band earlier. Sorry. You want to go in more discreetly?” Joe asked, eyeing me in the mirror.

  “Yeah. I don’t want Izzy hounded, and I don’t want to get hung up signing a bunch of autographs right now.” Priorities.

  “Give me two minutes,” he said, and the glass slid shut.

  Moving back to my spot next to Izzy, I tucked her against my chest and just relished the feel of her against me. Over the years, we’d managed to keep our relationship on the downlow. Originally, it was by our own design. We just hadn’t wanted to be hassled. But when Izzy worked for the label to photo document one of our tours, it had been the label’s insistence that we stay out of the public eye. I’d begun to resent it though. I was tired of the world thinking I was someone I wasn’t.

  The motion of the vehicle stopped
, and in moments, Ty had the door opened. He and Joe moved to the rear to get Izzy’s bag and the groceries we’d stopped for on the way to the airport.

  I climbed out, then held my hand into the interior to help Izzy. “You coming?”

  “Not at the moment, but hopefully I will be soon,” she said with a sassy smirk.

  When she put her hand in mine, I tugged her to me so fast, she collided with my chest. “Oh, you definitely will be. Over and over and over,” I mumbled in her ear. “I owe you like a month of orgasms.”

  “While I’m giddy at the prospect of that, technically you don’t owe me a month of them. I mean with all the video calls, we certainly assisted each other with plenty of climaxes while we were apart.”

  Over her head, I glanced at Joe and Ty, who grinned back at me, telling me they’d heard at least part of our exchange. They’d never let on to Izzy though because they’d never embarrass her like that. I shuffled her to my side then walked to where Joe and Ty waited.

  “Izzy, it’s good to see you again. I’m sure I’ll catch you in the next few days or so,” Ty said as he gave her a one-armed hug.

  “You’re not coming in?” she asked.

  “No. The rest of the guys are heading out in a little bit. I’m going to wait with the car for them.”

  “OK. Then I’ll see you later. Be safe.”

  Joe, laden down with a handful of cloth grocery bags and Izzy’s suitcase, led the way to the elevator. When the doors opened, he leaned in, checking it out before letting us board. The small box was empty. Izzy and I settled in the back corner while Joe stood formidably in front of us. With one large finger, he stabbed the button for the seventeenth floor.