Page 37 of Love is a Drum Beat
The doorbell ringing snapped them out of their tiny bubble, and Dax pulled his hand away, curling his fingers in.
Jo moved to stand, but Dax shook his head. “I’ve got it.”
Her gaze followed him as he walked to the front door and pulled it open. She couldn’t make out the muffled words, but Dax returned a moment later with Nolan by his side.
Jo almost forgot Drew’s promise to send Nolan. She hadn’t told Dax yet.
“Hey.” Nolan stuck his hands in the pockets of his black jeans.
She smiled and tried to push herself to her feet. Both men rushed toward her, but Nolan got there first. He wrapped her in a hug. “We’ve missed you on the tour.”
“I’ve missed being there.” Nolan’s hug felt good, his presence calm. There was none of the tension that seemed to thrive between her and Dax.
Dax cleared his throat. “Am I missing something?”
Jo directed her next question to Nolan. “Drew made you sign an NDA, right?”
Nolan nodded. “But he wouldn’t say why.”
Jo pursed her lips and looked to Dax. “He has an NDA, and I’ll explain why he’s here in a moment. But I won’t tell him everything. It’s your secret, so you decide.”
Dax pulled on the back of his neck and blew out a breath. “Drew trusts him?”
She nodded. “He’s one of Drew’s dancers.”
Dax studied Nolan for a long moment before sticking out his hand. “I’m Dax Nelson.”
Nolan’s eyes lit up with pure glee. “No way.” He looked to Jo. “This is true?”
“I’ll explain everything, but I need to sit.”
“You should be in bed.” Dax’s admonishment didn’t hold the usual sternness. Instead, he seemed… flustered?
Jo sighed. “Fine, but if I’m going to bed, you two are coming with me.”
Nolan smirked at her words, and Dax frowned.
“Ugh, not like that, ya weirdos.” She hobbled toward the room that had become like a prison cell. Sure, a super nice prison cell with a view of the ocean, but it kept her trapped all the same.
She climbed onto the bed and situated herself. Nolan made himself comfortable next to her, but Dax hovered in the doorway.
“Okay.” She looked at both in turn. “Before I explain, you both need to remember this is Drew’s plan, not mine. We all know how Drew is.” She took a breath. “All right, so our problem is that the media is trying to dig up who my mystery man is in the photo. They were helped when Dax got caught fighting Blake. We need to change the narrative.”
Dax looked like he wanted to say something, but he kept his mouth shut. Wisely.
Nolan nudged her with his elbow. “So, I’m to pretend to be Jo’s lover. I don’t care if they learn who I am. I’m a nobody, so they’ll quit digging when they do.”
“Have you talked to Melanie about this?” Dax frowned.
Jo sighed. “Mel is not our publicist anymore. She’s off kissing Noah.” She shivered.
“Are you really sure pretending to date Nolan is the right way?”
“No.” She looked to Dax in challenge. “But would you rather the media keep looking for you?”
Dax didn’t say anything after that.
Jo clapped her hands together. “So, I have an appointment tomorrow. Doc wants me to come into the hospital in case something is wrong. I’m apparently high risk now. Nolan, will you take me? We’ll enter through the front and make sure we’re seen. By the time we leave, there’ll be paparazzi waiting for us.”
