The 27-year-old singer is set to move to the US once she has sold the mansion she once owned with ex-hubby Ashley Cole, according to reports.
Cole is close with American dancer Derek Hough and his step-dad Aaron Nelson said: 'When you love someone you want them close.'
He added to UK newspaper The Sun: 'Cheryl is looking at moving over here, which will be good for Derek. I'm not sure exactly what they have decided about living together. It's his business. When things got difficult for Cheryl, she came over to be with him.
'Derek's pretty level-headed most of the time. He's a good guy. He's always been a good guy and he's very supportive.
'She feels indebted to him - all to do with the fact that he is kind to her. He supports her, but that is Derek's nature. He's a cheerleader for her. He just wants to see her do well.'
Nelson, who lives with Hough's mum Marianne, added: 'Derek knows what's been going on. She came over to see him a few weeks ago. I can say that when you love someone you want to be around them and that's why he likes her.'