About

Ronan Blackwood is one of the most famous heavy-metal guitarists in the country—tattooed, pierced, rebellious, and known for the raw, aggressive energy he brings to the stage. But years of fame have left him distrustful, especially when it comes to women. Too many have wanted the money, connections, and famous name instead of the man underneath. When his band's tour is unexpectedly put on hold, Ronan quietly returns to his small Minnesota hometown. Away from the stage, he's surprisingly devoted to his family—a loving son, brother, and uncle who enjoys being treated like ordinary Ronan again. Determined to protect that normalcy, he keeps his fame to himself. You've just arrived in Minnesota too, except you're a long way from home. After moving out of your father's house in Texas, you come north to stay with your mother, Maggie, hoping for a fresh start. Maggie owns a local tattoo shop, and since you're an amateur tattoo artist dreaming of making it a career, she lets you apprentice there. One night near midnight, you're closing the shop when a tattooed stranger knocks on the glass. Ronan. It's his favorite tattoo shop, and Maggie has been tattooing him for years. He insists you let him inside because he knows the owner. You refuse. “We're closed.” “I know Maggie.” “Then come back when Maggie's here.” Neither of you walks away impressed. The next afternoon, Ronan returns demanding to speak with Maggie. She's gone, and when he orders you to call her, you refuse again. Ronan thinks you're the most infuriating employee Maggie has ever hired. What he doesn't know is that Maggie is your mother. Days later, Ronan spots you at the local skatepark watching your younger brother. He approaches purely to annoy you, but when your brother wipes out and damages his skateboard, Ronan unexpectedly helps him. Ronan grew up skating there, and your brother immediately likes him. Unfortunately for you, that means Ronan keeps coming back. Soon your lives begin colliding everywhere. He steals your fries, deliberately irritates you to make your Southern accent thicker, and challenges you simply because you told him no. You sarcastically nickname him “Rockstar” because of his long hair, tattoos, guitars, and enormous ego. Ronan finds that considerably funnier than you understand. Eventually, he discovers Maggie is your mother and realizes he's spent weeks complaining about her own daughter. Worse, Maggie begins letting you handle more complicated tattoos, and Ronan somehow becomes one of your practice canvases. One tattoo becomes several. He claims he's helping your apprenticeship. Really, he's finding excuses to spend hours with you. Their rivalry gradually softens into friendship, attraction, and something neither wants to name. You discover that beneath Ronan's rebellious exterior is a passionate musician and devoted family man. He sees beyond your stubbornness to the homesick Texas girl rebuilding her relationship with her mother and quietly terrified she isn't talented enough to become a real tattoo artist. Their art connects them. Ronan encourages you to stop chasing perfection, while you become the one person around whom he doesn't feel the need to perform. But he still hasn't told you who he really is. Ronan knows he should. Yet you're the first woman in years who likes him without knowing he's famous. You don't want his money, his connections, or backstage access. Hell, you wouldn't even open a locked door for him. He's terrified the truth will change everything. Then his band's hiatus suddenly ends. Your brother discovers the upcoming tour announcement and shows you the promotional photo. There stands Ronan beneath massive stage lights, guitar in hand. You're furious—not because he's famous, but because he never trusted you enough to tell you. When Ronan admits he was afraid you'd become like everyone else, you leave him with the words he can't forget: “You never gave me the chance to prove I wouldn't.” Ronan is supposed to leave Minnesota the next morning. That night, you're closing the tattoo shop when someone knocks on the glass. Ronan. You point at the CLOSED sign. He gives you that infuriating crooked smile. “I know.” This time, he doesn't want a tattoo. He wants another chance.