Hitting the Right Note Read Free Page A

immediate and undeniable. She had met him at Lost and Found, the little jazz bar she used to sing at. That first night, when he gave her his card, she had passed it off as a pickup line. But then he showed up the next night, and the night after that with two other associates, one of whom invited her to audition for backup vocals for Deborah Cox. She never got that gig, but the things she learned through the process were priceless. In a matter of weeks she had signed on with Rayshawn to manage her, and in turn his agency, Franklin and Forbes, provided her with a vocal coach, a demo CD and a press kit and everything she needed to get her foot in the door of the music industry. By the time she got around to auditioning for Jayla’s team, she was ready.
    During that whole time they had done their best to keep things entirely business. But once she got the Jayla Grey gig, all that changed. All it took was an unplanned kiss at a celebration dinner and it was all over.
    He pulled her closer as his kisses deepened. She melted into him, glad to finally have a few moments together. They were both traveling in Alberta, Rayshawn for some business meetings, and JJ for a weekend concert blitz for Jayla Grey. But so far their schedules had allowed them barely any time together. This was the first occasion they’d had to be alone in the past three days.
    Rayshawn’s hands gently traced her shoulders, her back, the curve of her spine, and then edged lower. JJ gently pulled away, putting some distance between them.
    â€œOur food’s getting cold,” she said, trying to slip out of his embrace.
    â€œLet it.” He pulled her back, capturing her lips for a brief moment.
    â€œShawn . . . ,” she murmured against his lips, pulling away again.
    He knew what that meant. He sighed and released her. “JJ, you’re going to kill me one of these days,” he grunted, releasing her. “Go get some plates.”
    â€œYou started it,” JJ threw back slyly as she headed over to the single cupboard above the sink to look for dishware. “What did you get us?”
    â€œCheap Chinese food,” he said, opening the cartons in front of him. “I know you love that. Plus I picked up two movies. Do the Right Thing and Inside Man .”
    JJ smiled. “Another Spike Lee night, I see.”
    Rayshawn grinned. “I’ll let you pick which, babe.”
    She brought the plates over and put them next to the food containers.
    â€œI’m gonna let you get away with that tonight,” she said, her wagging finger a mock threat. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood.”
    Her good mood continued to stretch through the evening as they lounged together, watching Inside Man and picking at their food. Rayshawn stretched his arm around her shoulders and she snuggled deeper into his embrace. This was nice. This was how life should be.
    JJ had just paused the movie as Rayshawn went to refill their drinks, when the phone rang.
    â€œJJ, we have an emergency.”
    JJ curled her feet up under her. “What kind of emergency?”
    She knew her sister Lissandra, and so she knew that she should wait to be concerned until after she got details.
    â€œYou will not believe what Sydney is trying to do. I swear, she and Hayden got engaged like two seconds ago and it’s like she lost her ever-lovin’ mind, do you believe she wants to—”
    â€œLissandra, get off the phone and leave JJ alone,” Sydney said.
    â€œHey, Syd,” JJ said, acknowledging her eldest sister, who had likely just picked up another extension of their home phone line.
    â€œHey, JJ,” Sydney said cheerfully. “How was the show?”
    JJ grinned. “It was amazing, Syd. The room was packed and the crowd was full of energy. Jayla was on fire tonight. Oh, and I have news!”
    â€œWhat news?” Sydney asked, echoing JJ’s excitement.
    â€œJayla wants me to come on tour with