Page 13 of The Encore Effect

“That’s too bad,” Jo said at the same time Derek said, “That’s a relief.”

“They make a cute couple,” Jo said. Kat chose to ignore Jo’s comment and the inconvenient flutter in the pit of her stomach that accompanied it.

“She signed a non-fraternization agreement when she signed on to this tour,” Derek said.

How quickly that flutter turned to nausea.

“We needed a way to distract the press.”

Jo snorted. “Mission accomplished.”

“Why?” There was a hard edge to Derek’s voice, and Kat knew he’d already figured out why his tour manager and a member of the band had found themselves in that particular predicament, but he was still going to make her say it.

“Jackson snuck out, got drunk, and called Beckett to come get him.”

Derek sighed. “I suppose we should be grateful he called his brother and didn’t leave in an ambulance.”

“Derek,” Jo chided softly.

Kat sidestepped the uncomfortable image of Jackson drinking himself into a medical emergency. It was a scenario she’d contemplated more often than she’d like to admit. “The place was surrounded when we got there. Paparazzi everywhere. We slipped in the back, but they found our car. There was no getting Jackson out without a photo of him, drunk and shirtless, landing on the front page of Superfan. We needed a distraction.”

“So you decided to make out with his twin?” Jo asked. “I knew I liked your style.”

“I didn’t decide anything. Beckett said he had a plan. I—” She sighed, frustration warring with her bitterness. “I was just an easy accomplice.”

“Where’s Jackson now?” Derek asked.

“Sleeping it off. Gideon’s with him.”

Derek grunted, and she took that to mean he was satisfied with her answer. At least, as satisfied as he was going to be by anything in this situation.

On her nightstand, her earrings glinted in the early morning light filtering through a crack in the curtains. She fingered the delicate studs. “You don’t need to worry about this. I know you guys have Annie this you week. You need to focus on being with your daughter. I will find a way to walk it back.”

“Babe.” The incredulity in Jo’s voice bordered on pity. “There is no walking this back. There are pictures of you and Beckett everywhere.”

“But no one seriously believes it, right? Beckett’s never publicly dated anyone,” Kat said.

“That’s exactly why they believe it. When the man who refuses to talk about his personal life kisses a woman in front of a crowd of press and announces that she’s his fiancée, people believe it,” Jo said.

Kat squeezed her eyes shut against the panic clawing up her throat. “I fucked up. I’m so sorry, Derek. I know this means I’ll forfeit the end-of-tour bonus and—”

“What are you talking about?” Derek asked. “You haven’t forfeited anything.”

“But the headlines—”

“The terms of your agreement say no headlines about bad behavior. Beckett getting engaged doesn’t qualify.”

“But we’re not engaged.”

“Right now, nobody knows that but us,” Jo said.

“And the fact that you aren’t actually engaged is exactly why this doesn’t affect your bonus. If it’s all pretend, you haven’t violated the terms of your contract.” Derek hesitated. “But after the stunt Jackson pulled fake dating that Broadway actress, my partners at the label aren’t going to be too happy if another member of Midnight Storm gets caught lying to the press. I’ll let them know it’s a PR thing, so your standing with the label is secure and the non-fraternization clause in your contract remains in effect, but if word gets out that it’s a lie…”

“What do I do?” she asked.

“We lean in,” Jo said.

“What?”