Heavy metal backbeat vs. the classics. Bassist Kit Barlow doesn't have time for romance. He's holding down two jobs and playing in a heavy metal band -- while raising his seven-year-old son by himself. But when Ebon joins the Cub Scouts, Kit can't help but notice his group leader, Max Hill. Max is everything Kit likes in a man: tall, dark, and determined. The two men come up with a way to keep their nosy families from trying to set them up with every available man in the city: they'll pretend to be dating each other. In between the afternoon pool games and the Sunday mac 'n cheese, Kit and Max find their pretend romance is developing some real heat. There's only one problem now -- Kit finds out Max despises rock and roll music. How's a heavy metal rocker supposed to woo a man who only likes classical music? Can they make their relationship work, or will they find their differences hit a sour note?

Backbeat Rhythm

Max belatedly realized his sister had said something to him. “Er…what was that, Renata?”


“Honestly, Max, you were miles away. I hope you weren’t thinking about work on your time off.”


Max felt his face flame. “I was just…”


His mother leaned forward, brandishing her fork. “Were you daydreaming about someone, young man?”


Ariana put a hand to her face. “He was! Max is interested in someone.”


“Who is it?” Sophia asked. “Is it serious? How long have you known him?”


Max wanted to shove away from the table and head for the front door. “For Pete’s sake, it’s nobody.”


“Nobody we know, you mean.” Mom nodded in a way that had the hairs on Max’s nape bristling. “Did you meet him at work?”


“I mean I haven’t met anybody. I don’t have time to meet anybody. I was just thinking about…something else.”


Chapter 8