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

He hated to end the evening, but Ebon needed to get to bed. “So,” Val said as they headed for the subway, “You two really hit it off, didn’t you?”


Max squeezed Kit’s hand. “I guess you could say that. We’ve got a lot in common.”


Kit could have kicked his sister for that. Max looked puzzled. “No, I’m a classical music lover, but Kit already told me he likes that sort of thing. It’s okay with me.”


Val gave Kit a speculative glance. She’d better not start talking about Radioactive or Kit really was going to smack her. He cleared his throat loudly. “Why don’t you tell Aunt Val about your report, Ebon?”


For the rest of the stroll, they were treated to a lecture on the famous mathematician who’d helped getNASA’s space program off the ground. Val’s expression said she was planning to have a good, long talk with her brother sometime in the near future, but she dutifully paid attention to Ebon’s excited speech.


Chapter 23