Page 72 of Love is a Drum Beat
“Twelve hours? No. Get it out. Get it out now.”
“Hang in there, honey. It looks like you’ve done a nice job taking care of yourself. Despite the preeclampsia, I don’t expect this to be a complicated delivery.”
Jo leaned her head back. Twelve hours.
Ben was in the waiting room, she could get him to come entertain her.
But he wasn’t the person she wanted by her side.
The one who’d been with her all along.
Not Ben or Drew or even Noah.
She wanted Dax.
And she wasn’t sure what to make of that.
20
Dax
Dax loved playing the piano because it gave his mind time to decompress, to think. There was a time when he’d compose lyrics in his head while his fingers drifted over the keys. Now though, there was too much uncertainty clouding his brain.
That had never happened before.
He missed a note in the song and then another before slamming his hands down on the keys in frustration. The piano made a dying sound, and Dax rubbed his eyes.
Marco leaned forward, turning on the intercom. “I’m guessing that track isn’t the winner.”
Dax sent him the kind of scowl he always reserved for Marco. There was a reason Marco was the label’s top producer. He was good.
Dax was better.
But it put them in a battle of wills, trying to determine the right path for each song.
“Your phone won’t stop ringing, man.”
Dax shook his head. “I can’t answer it until I finish this song. Who is it?”
“Noah.” Marco raised a brow. “You know Noah Clarke?”
Dax shrugged. “We’re friends.”
“Is that why you’re not answering your phone?” He held it up as the screen went black.
“I’m not answering because we aren’t done.”
“If you’re friends with Noah, you should let him rub off on you. Not all music is life and death. I produced Noah and Jo Jackson’s last album. Noah is my favorite client to work with.”
“Shame. I thought you loved me.” Dax wiped his sweaty face on his sleeve. He’d never cared what people thought of him, not until Melanie forced him into Rockstars Anonymous and the guys—and gal—bulled their ways into his quiet life.
Marco shrugged. “Noah is different. Basically, he listens to me. He’s willing to learn.”
Dax stood from the piano and walked out of the booth. “I don’t have anything to learn from you.”
“Ah, there it is. Your arrogance is blinding.”
“You say arrogance, I say confidence.” Music was the only area of his life where he had confidence to spare. He didn’t see why anyone would want him to hide his talent or his knowledge. “Marco, you’re brilliant at what you do, and together we are going to make my best album yet. But we won’t get there by letting each other have our ways. The more we argue, the sooner we’ll arrive at the right decisions.”
