Back Beat

by Sloan, Ryleigh

  “What did she say?” Papaw calls even though the answer is obvious.

  “She said, she is going to kill me, but only after the wedding,” Dean replies.

  Everyone claps and cheers, and Keller starts drumming the beat to the “Funeral March.” We laugh and Dean flips him off. Kade comes onstage and congratulates my friends. Yes, you read that right. I count Dean as one of my friends. Like I said, I even love him a little. I flick my eyes to Keller, and he’s looking a little serious which is in direct contrast with how he looked a few moments ago. It’s a bit jarring. It’s also hot as hell. I’d like to see that intensity while I’m on top of him. I wonder if I could make it happen?

  I’m definitely going to try.

  Acknowledgments

  Writing Back Beat was such an incredible journey. I went into this book thinking it was just going to be a novella, and just for me. Dean and Blair had other ideas though, I fell in love with them so much and I just had to share them with you all. But no story gets written by the author alone, and I would just like to take the time to acknowledge all the love and support I had while writing this book.

  Firstly, I would not be able to do this without the love and support of my better half, Brian. Brian, you always know what to say when I need a pick-me-up and inspiration. You keep us all fed and hydrated when I’m pushing to finish a book, and if it weren’t for you, I think the girls would have missed more than a few swimming lessons. Thank you for always being willing to pick up my slack when I need to make word count or I’m running a bit behind. I love you with everything I have and every day I grow more and more in love with you. You are the reason my characters love the way they do, because you taught me how to love and never hold back.

  To my girls: thank you both for being my biggest cheerleaders and shouting out to the world that mommy is an author (even if I was trying to keep it a secret).