Off Beat — Bianca Sommerland

Former Marine, Vanessa Templar, never considered being security for a metal band as an alternative career choice, but as a favor to a friend, she takes the job with XVI Hours. How much trouble could a bunch of musicians get in anyway?

The answer? A lot.

Between stalkers, inter-band strife, and Oakley Godstone, the band's brand new tour manager, Vanessa has her work cut out for her. But the biggest challenge is an unknown enemy -- which means working with the strangely alluring computer geek, Oakley. They must unravel the dangerously tangled web that surrounds both XVI Hours and the headlining band, Winter's Wrath.

Without letting him become too much of a distraction.

Returning drummer for Winter's Wrath, Tate Maddox, seeks excitement in the band after healing from his injuries, but knows this tour will be his last. Secrets tear him apart but the sacrifices he made to protect those most important to him cannot be undone. He won't put his loved ones at risk, especially not North Beauregard, the man who was supposed to break his heart.

Instead, Tate crushed his.

As lead vocalist of XVI Hours, North has a reputation as a playboy who considers commitment as desirable as the plague. He shouldn't have any trouble replacing Tate, and yet he can't move on. He can fight to survive but until now, has never loved anyone enough to do so.

Why fight when the man he loves has already said goodbye?