Beautiful Music Together

By Megan Slayer

Can these two opposites find the right rhythm?

 

Jon Kagan likes his life. He's carefree unless he's in the recording studio with his trumpet. Then he's serious as hell. He plays the field like he does the notes on each track, but the single life isn't fun any longer. He wants a lover and partner. But how can he find the man of his dreams when the only people he spends time with are the same musicians night after night? He's convinced he won't—until he meets Benny. Then all bets are off.

 

Benny Walters burns the midnight oil, too, but not in the music business. He'd rather work on houses than play tunes. Putting in a good sweat over a flooring job or painting a room makes him happy—almost as much as watching the hot guy who jogs across the neighborhood in the middle of the day. When he finally talks to Jon, sparks fly. He'd love to get to know Jon better, but confidence isn't his strong point. Will he be able to get beyond his past and find the future he deserves?

 

Love happens in the strangest places, especially when it hits all the right notes.

 

This book has been re-edited for this reissue edition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Slayer
• Release date: May 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201030520

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Beautiful Music Together

By

Megan Slayer

Beautiful Music Together by Megan Slayer

Copyright © 2022, Megan Slayer

Edited by Kris Jacen

Cover Art by WZDesigns

Published by Megan Slayer Publishing

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Electronic Release: May 2022

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

NOTE: This book has been reedited for this reissued version.

Trademark: Thor

Can these two opposites find the right rhythm?

Jon Kagan likes his life. He’s carefree unless he’s in the recording studio with his trumpet. Then he’s serious as hell. He plays the field like he does the notes on each track, but the single life isn’t fun any longer. He wants a lover and partner. But how can he find the man of his dreams when the only people he spends time with are the same musicians night after night? He’s convinced he won’t—until he meets Benny. Then all bets are off.

Benny Walters burns the midnight oil, too, but not in the music business. He’d rather work on houses than play tunes. Putting in a good sweat over a flooring job or painting a room makes him happy—almost as much as watching the hot guy who jogs across the neighborhood in the middle of the day. When he finally talks to Jon, sparks fly. He’d love to get to know Jon better, but confidence isn’t his strong point. Will he be able to get beyond his past and find the future he deserves?

Love happens in the strangest places, especially when it hits all the right notes.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

About Megan Slayer

More from Megan Slayer

For the Lucky Ducks

For JPZ

Chapter One

Alittle exercise, a lot of sweating and maybe a dream come true—that’s all he wanted. Jon Kagan snorted as he jogged along the running path. He’d used the same exact route for the last three weeks just to go through the north end of his housing development. He could’ve taken the entire path and circled back to just behind his own property, but why not run past the hunky guy remodeling the house three blocks over?

He sped along to the cadence of the song on his phone. He needed to learn the solo for the tune in order to record it that night.

The bright sunlight burned his shoulders and heated his back, but he couldn’t run at any other time. He spent his nights at the recording studio, often not getting in until after five in the morning. By the time he slept and found coffee and hydrated enough to run, it was past three in the afternoon.

Jon turned onto the sidewalk and headed in the direction of the house with the hunky builder. He hurried to the house and glanced over at the man. Sure enough, the guy was outside and on the roof. Too bad he wasn’t shirtless. Jon wanted to see the physique beneath the damp blue shirt. He needed to get a better look.

Jon groaned. He snorted. If he was looking at men on rooftops, then he probably needed to find a date. The music stopped, but his thoughts rambled on. What if the guy up on the roof would like a date?

Hey asshole. Watch out.

Huh? Jon focused on where he was going. As soon as he turned back to look down the sidewalk, he collided with the person who’d shouted. His breath wrenched in his throat and he knocked arms with the man. He didn’t need to hear the guy’s voice to know who it was.

Sorry, he grunted. Didn’t mean to into run into you, Tim. Fucking hell. He wasn’t fond of his some-time friend and occasional band mate. Tim always wanted more than anyone could give.

Right. Tim yanked his earbuds loose. You’ve been trying to run into me for years.

He removed his own earbuds then draped them around his neck. I guess. Not really. Tim happened to be at many of the same recording sessions and clubs, but Jon wasn’t actively seeking him out.

I’m free tonight. You, me, wine? Yes? Tim nodded. We’ve danced around this for over a year.

I’ve got a session tonight. Three sessions to be exact, but he’d keep that info to himself. The local chamber orchestra needed him to record trumpet parts during two different sessions and the third involved collaborating with his friend, Bix, on a rock song that required a horn section.

You’ve always got work or something to record—unless it’s a different kind of session. Tim clicked his tongue. What kind is it? I bet it’s kinky. You strike me as the bondage type. He notched his chin. I’m down with it. Chains? Plugs? Or are you a whipping boy?

You’re clueless. Christ.

Really, Jon? Tim folded his arms, bunching his muscles. I don’t care about your kinks. I’m trying to get a date and I’m tired of taking no or not now for an answer.

I can tell.

Excuse me? Jon? The man from the roof strode up to Jon and Tim. I need your thoughts on the paint color for the house. You mentioned charcoal gray and slate gray, but I need to know exactly which one you’d like. He nodded twice. Please? I hate to interrupt your run and conversation.

Gray—yes. Was the roofer trying to save Jon’s ass? Praise God. Let me see the samples again. He pointed to the house. You left them on the porch, right?

Yes, the roofer replied.

You own this house? Tim asked. He pointed to the west. I thought you lived over that way.

It’s an investment property. Jon waved at Tim. See you. He walked across the lawn to the porch and waited to exhale until Tim left. He hadn’t realized he’d held his breath.

That guy bothers you a lot? the roofer asked.

We pretended a date would be a good idea. He appraised the man. The body he’d admired from afar looked even better close-up. Trim, muscled and not too hairy—at least where Jon could see. The blue shirt highlighted the strength in the man’s body, and no visible tattoos. Jon’s mouth watered. The guy had a just enough scruff on his cheeks to be sexy and rugged, and brown hair beneath the worn baseball cap. Jon sighed. He was a sucker for dark-haired men.

He met the man’s gaze and his breath lodged in his throat. He’d never seen such crystal blue eyes in his life.

The man tipped his head. I take it you didn’t hear me.

Huh? What? Shit. He hadn’t been listening. Not at all. I’m sorry.

Figured. The roofer smiled. I said my name is Ben—but everyone calls me Benny. If you’re out for one of your runs and need an escape, I’m here for another two weeks or so.

Thanks. Benny. The name oddly suited him. Jon nodded once. Like the clarinetist? Oh hell. His inner music nerd was showing.

Yeah. Mom always liked his playing. Benny shrugged. I think she had a thing for him, too. He shook hands with Jon. If I stepped in and you didn’t like it, just say so.

"Oh, the knight in