Page 63 of Love is a Dance Step
Lola couldn’t breathe. They wanted her to dance with Noah Clarke? Did he even dance? He tended to roam the stage during his concerts but not really dance. Before she could protest, Piper left.
Melanie pulled a chair from the corner of the room and sat down. “Don’t tell anyone, but Noah has taken dance classes most of his life.” One corner of her mouth pulled up into a grin. “Dancing doesn’t fit his brand, but he’s actually pretty good.”
Lola couldn’t help but like the publicist. “You know them pretty well, don’t you?”
“There’s a circle of rock stars who’ve been my life for the last five years. Drew, Noah, Jo, Ben Evans, and Dax Nelson. Those boys—and girl—are my family. I will do anything to help them succeed, and Piper tells me that you are the person who should be dancing with Drew.”
“Really?” Lola sat on the floor facing Melanie. “She said that?”
“Well, she said Drew believed you were the person who should be dancing with him. Apparently, he was quite adamant at the auditions. And she trusts his judgement. As do we all. Drew has always taken more charge of his image than any of my other clients. I let him make his own decisions because he makes good ones. Don’t be fooled by the doofus charm. He is a genius who knows exactly what his fans want.”
And what they wanted was her? Or someone who connected with Drew? Her mind drifted to their one and only dance together. Those few minutes shook the earth underneath her feet and set her off on a different path.
Piper returned, dragging a sleep-disheveled Noah behind her. His black hair was pushed to one side, and for once, no eyeliner circled his green eyes.
“Mel,” he whined. “Piper is being mean to me.”
Melanie stood and crossed the room to Noah. “If she was being mean, it’s probably because you weren’t listening to her.”
“I already told you I couldn’t do the press event because I’m sick.”
She pressed a palm to his cheek. “You aren’t sick, Noah. You’re just a baby who hides from the press and sends the pregnant woman in his place.”
Pregnant… Lola’s eyes widened. Jo Jackson was pregnant? How did the entire world not know yet? She pushed that thought away to focus on the matter at hand. Dancing.
Noah sighed. “Fine, I’m not sick. But seriously, Mel, you should know by now not to have me meet with reporters. They’ll only create some scandal.”
“They don’t create the scandals, they report them. You’re the one who creates them.” She gave him an indulgent smile.
“Potato, potahto.” He yawned. “You remember what happened last time?”
Piper snorted. “You mean when you were caught kissing a reporter in an alcove? A reporter you’d just met.”
Noah shrugged. “I’m tired, and you interrupted my nap. Why am I here?” His eyes finally found Lola, and he smiled. “Oh, hello.” He froze. “Oh wait, no. I’m not going to dance. Find another partner for Drew’s golden girl. I’m going back to bed.” He turned and marched back toward the door.
Melanie blocked him from leaving. “There’s still time to get you to the press event. It’s either that or this.”
Noah sighed. “Fine.”
She patted his cheek. “Good boy. I’m heading out to meet Drew at the event. You stay here with Piper and Lola. They’re in charge of you, Noah.”
“I don’t need a bloody keeper.”
“Yes, you do.” She turned, ignoring the rest of his protests and sauntered away.
Noah’s shoulders dropped as he faced Lola. “What do you need from me?”
“Oh… uh… I’m not really sure.”
Piper plopped down in Melanie’s vacated chair. “Noah, you don’t know Drew’s dances, so we’re just going to focus on Lola’s comfort levels. I’ll play a song, and you two just dance. You’re both good enough to wing it.”
Wing it. With someone Lola barely knew. Sure, easy.
19
Drew
On tour, each day bled into the next, each concert differentiating little from the one before. The days and weeks and months flew by as if they’d never existed at all.
