Page 81 of Love is a Drum Beat
Laquisha nodded. “Mr. Nelson was the first, actually.”
Three sets of eyes landed on him.
“Mr. Nelson?” Ben’s eyes widened. “You told them your real name?”
“Gentlemen.” Laquisha gave them a professional smile. “Let’s return to the issue we have here. Which one of you is the actual father?”
Noah sighed. “None of us is the father in the biological sense.”
Laquisha pursed her lips. “And are any of you married to Jo? Is that why you claimed to be the fathers?”
“Honestly, ma’am.” Drew leaned in and dropped his voice. “We’re her harem.”
Dax choked at that. Ben dropped into a chair with a sigh.
But Noah… the one who loved fake scandals and loved Jo… he dropped an arm over Drew’s shoulders. “Baby, you weren’t supposed to reveal that.” He pressed a kiss to Drew’s cheek.
Laquisha couldn’t seem to get another word out, so she cleared her throat. “Um, please let us know if you need anything. Anything at all. In this hospital, we appreciate our VIPs.” She turned on her heel and sprinted away from them.
Drew pushed Noah away with a laugh. “Don’t kiss me again. I’d rather it be Grandma Dax with those pretty clothes.”
Dax had always struggled to bond with people until this group, but they were also the first guys who treated him like he was one of them. “Well, I can already see tomorrow’s headline. Jo Jackson and her harem of rock stars have baby.”
“Nah.” Drew sat next to him and grinned. “Maybe that’s a page two headline. Page one will be all about the anonymous yet famous musician who revealed it all for the woman he loves.”
“And that makes you happy?”
“Ridiculously so. Daxy joins the rest of us. You should come out to my tour for your first concert.”
“Whoa there. Concert?” He swallowed. “There’s just no way.” He didn’t see concerts in his future.
“Now that the secret is out, the fans will demand it. You’d be wise to give them what they want.”
He couldn’t think of the next career move while Jo and her baby girl were down the hall, sleeping as if they both hadn’t just entered a new world.
He slouched in the chair and closed his eyes for a moment.
“Dax.” It was Ben this time. “You should go home, change, and get some rest.”
He was right, but Dax didn’t budge.
Noah put a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll call you when she wakes.”
He nodded and stood.
Drew did the same. “I’ll take you since I doubt you have your car. I could use some shut eye before I visit with the baby and then drive back to the tour so Piper’s head won’t explode.”
Dax was glad for the ride and for the company. But that changed the moment they walked out of the hospital where a crowd of paparazzi buzzed like tiny bees trying to become queen.
The two rock stars ignored the shouted questions as the valet attendant ran to get Drew’s car.
Dax looked back at the hospital, the past few hours overwhelming him with images and words.
The baby was here and healthy.
Jo had been brave enough to bring her daughter into this world. Dax had to find some of that courage for himself because he needed to tell Jo how he felt, and he wasn’t sure what she’d say in return.
25
