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

“You’re an idiot. You know that, don’t you?” Val had to raise her voice to be heard over the noise ofthe club’s patrons. Kit and the band were on break, and Val had a rare night off because a friend had needed a free afternoon. Kit was happy she’d gotten to come to the performance—she rarely saw him actually doing what he was best at—but he didn’t want another argument.


“I’ll tell him sometime,” he replied, popping a handful of peanuts into his mouth. “It’s not as big a deal as you’re making out.”


“Kit, this is your life—your real life. That damn restaurant is just to make enough money for you to do this on the weekends. Everybody who knows you knows that. Your music and your son. And you’re only sharing one of those with your boyfriend.”


“It’s not that bad. He knows I like rock music.”


Chapter 26