Rock Star's Ballad (White Mist Series Book 3) (3 page)

A spotlight clicked on, but there was no sign of Johnny. Demi’s eyes searched the dark stage for him. The crowd revved up, growing louder and more demanding as they screamed for Johnny. Demi kept a death grip on her purse and shoved back when those around her got a little too excited. When the crowd was on the precipice of plunging into violence, a man stepped into the circle of light and the arena went wild.
 

Demi’s breath caught in her throat. Johnny had grown since she last saw him. He was now six foot three and the scrawny teen she remembered was gone. He filled out well. When he raised a hand to wave at the crowd, his navy tee rose and she and everyone else got a glimpse of rock hard abs. Dark jeans rode low on his hips and the tattoos on his arms gleamed. Johnny had the beginnings of a beard that made him look dangerous and sexy. He swept the audience with dark eyes that promised a night of sinful decadence. The Mohawk he sported in the past was gone. He now had short cropped hair, which did nothing to lessen his appeal.

“God, I think he just looked at me!” Mandy gushed.

Demi didn’t bother to tell Mandy that between the bright lights and the sea of fans, Johnny would be hard pressed to see anyone. Demi didn’t scream, jump or flash Johnny like the women around her. She stood utterly still and was so focused on him that she didn’t register the feverish shoving going on around her as women wept and tried to clamber onto the stage. Johnny smiled indulgently at the crowd, unperturbed by the havoc going on around him. Demi could smell desperation in the air and didn’t blame them. Johnny was the epitome of an untamed rock god. Johnny Bentley was one of the most recognizable faces in music and consistently produced hit after hit. Johnny didn’t care what people thought of him. He did what he wanted, when he wanted and didn’t apologize for his lifestyle. He was the unattainable bachelor.

Johnny raised the mic to his lips and the crowd quieted immediately. His voice hit the speakers and it was so achingly familiar that tears pricked Demi’s eyes. Memories pulsed beneath the surface of her skin and she closed her eyes. His voice was more seasoned and smooth. Images of Johnny sitting on her bed and singing to her meshed with the performer on stage. There was no voice in the music industry like Johnny Bentley’s. It was gritty, piercing and hinted at a darkness that made women yearn for him.
 

Mandy elbowed Demi in the stomach. “He’s to die for, isn’t he?”

Demi’s eyes opened and she was glad Mandy’s eyes were glued to Johnny, so she didn’t see her glistening ones. “Yeah.”

The rock star on stage was so far removed from the boy she’d known that she could scarcely believe he was the same person. Johnny went from a wannabe musician to international superstar. Johnny strolled across the stage as he sang, completely at ease and in his element. Demi shoved the memories aside and just took him in. Johnny moved from song to song, sometimes playing guitar, bass, piano or drums. No instrument went untouched and Demi was amazed by how much he’d grown as a performer. He’d become so much more than she ever dreamed.
   

Several songs into the show, Johnny extended his hand to someone off stage. Demi was so busy staring at him that she didn’t register the rise in sound until a woman wrapped herself around him. She wore a dress that sparkled like a disco ball. She was short and curvy with auburn hair and brown eyes. The hug she gave Johnny was genuine. Johnny gave her a kiss on the cheek and with his arm around her waist, they faced the stadium. Demi joined Mandy and her club of fangirls as they clapped and hopped excitedly.
 
Gwen Harper Phoenix, songwriter turned singer, was going to sing with Johnny. Demi was a fan of her new album, which had been at the top of the charts for weeks.
 

“I’m happy Gwen flew out to help me close the tour tonight,” Johnny announced and Gwen beamed up at him. “She helped me with my album, The Scarlet Woman and I helped her record this song for her hubby, Trey.”

Gwen’s sultry voice hit the crowd and they all fell silent. Gwen and Johnny sang to one another, voices weaving together and rising in a harmony that made Demi tear up. Several of Mandy’s friends held up lighters and began to sway. Mandy wrapped an arm around Demi’s waist and drew her into their huddle. The whole stadium felt it and Demi let herself drift away. When the song finished, Gwen kissed Johnny, took a bow and walked off stage with a brilliant smile.
 

“This is the best night
ever
!” Mandy said.
 

“It is!” Demi agreed as heavy metal burst out of the speakers.
 

Johnny’s energy electrified the stadium and once more, Demi fought the crowd who surged around her. Demi gave herself up to the music and stopped trying to compare the man on stage with the boy she’d known. That boy was gone. He was Johnny Bentley, rock star, and nothing to her. She danced, sang along and pumped her fist like everyone else.
 

They were halfway through the show when it happened. Johnny leapt off stage into the crowd. Already a head above most around her, Demi saw Johnny reappear almost immediately. He continued the song without missing a beat as he was mobbed by his fans. Women tugged at his shirt and put sloppy kisses on his sweaty neck. Mandy nearly broke Demi’s hand as she squeezed it and screamed to get Johnny’s attention. As Johnny ambled through the crowd, still singing with ease, he turned in their direction and Demi went rigid. She jerked her hand away from Mandy and tried to back away, but the crowd locked her in place.
 

Johnny bumped fists, hugged and kissed people as they crowded around him, jostling for touch or a split second of eye contact. Demi stood like an iron statue as he moved closer. Johnny’s gaze moved over Mandy and her entourage who surged forward to fawn over him. Demi was about to slouch when his eyes met hers. The split second of contact was so potent that Demi turned her back on Johnny and tried to wade through the crowd. Panic skewered her insides.

“Oh my God, oh my God!” Mandy chanted from somewhere behind her.
 

Demi pushed against the sea of fans who happily let her slide through so they could get closer to Johnny. Demi thought she was home free until a hard hand gripped her arm. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she turned and faced Johnny. In that moment, everything else faded. He continued to sing even as his eyes became moody and intense. She tugged on her arm and waited for him to release her and continue greeting his fans, but he didn’t. He finished the last line of the song, lowered the mic and everyone erupted into applause.
 

They stared at one another and the rock-happy daze she’d been swimming in disappeared. Memories of the last time she saw him filtered through her and savaged her insides. She twisted her arm and managed to break free of his sweaty grasp, but before she could get away, Johnny wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her off her feet. Demi met Mandy’s stunned gaze for a split second before Johnny moved through the crowd. Demi had a blurred impression of envious faces and confused murmurs as she curled her toes in her pumps to keep them on her feet.
 

“Let me go,” she hissed, but Johnny made no reply.
 

Security pressed in around them. Johnny’s hold on her waist was so tight, it knocked the breath out of her.
 

“As many of you know, I grew up in New York,” Johnny said into the mic and New York natives hooted. “I had a good feeling about tonight’s show. One, because I’m in Madison Square Garden and two, because I need a vacation.” He paused and set Demi down as he hauled himself on stage. He leaned down and held his hand out to her. “And that feeling just got better.”

Demi turned to run, but security boxed her in. The men whirled her around and boosted her up. She had two choices. Take Johnny’s hand or have the security guards drop her. She took Johnny’s calloused hands and he hauled her up on stage. Demi was lightheaded with shock and horror. She stared out at an arena filled with more than eighteen thousand people. For some reason, the crowd was louder than ever. She switched her attention to Johnny who was soaked with sweat. Even with heels, she had to look up.

“Everyone has a first,” Johnny drawled, voice echoing through the stadium.
 

It was obvious he wasn’t talking about food, roller coasters or travel. Catcalls filled the stadium. Her face was magnified on huge screens on either side of the stage. Screw following her gut. She
really
shouldn’t have come here tonight.
 

“Demi.”

Johnny said her name with a sensual edge and it brought her eyes back to him.
 

“Demi was mine once upon a time, weren’t you, baby?” Johnny asked.
 

Demi tried to decide whether to slap him across the face, run or cry. She did none of the above. She glared at him and said, “A long,
long
time ago.”

The crowd hooted and laughed. She crossed her arms across her chest, beyond pissed. What the hell was going on? How dare he do this to her? She hadn’t decided what she was going to do when Johnny grabbed his guitar off the stand and began to sing. Demi’s heart stopped beating.
 

Never had a girl like you

You look at me and I can do anything

You believe in my dreams

Nothing can break us apart

Will you be my girl?

Demi, stay with me

Be my everything

The lyrics lanced her chest. With all that happened today, this was the last straw. Demi couldn’t stop the tears that surged to the surface. She stared at Johnny’s face, so familiar and yet… not. Lyrics she never thought she’d hear again were now being heard by thousands of strangers. She took a step back and tried to compose herself. Johnny followed, his voice wrapping her up in a caress of bittersweet torture. Memories of all they’d once been filled the air between them. Johnny sang her song and remembered every word, every chord.
 

When the song ended, a tear trickled down her cheek. She wasn’t aware of the crowd, the lights or the stage crew hissing from the sidelines. It was just her and Johnny.
 

“Why?” Demi’s tortured whisper echoed through the stadium.
 

The crowd was strangely quiet and hearing her voice blast from the speakers broke the spell the song wove around her. She looked out at the stadium and gave Johnny a killing glance before she stalked off stage. She was immediately surrounded by a group of people behind the scenes. She was an emotional wreck and wiped away her tears with shaking hands.
 

“How do I get out of here?” she demanded.

A man with slick hair stepped forward with his hand extended. “I’m Paul. We need to talk.”

She gave him a distracted look and didn’t take his hand. “I don’t think so.”

“Take her to my dressing room.”

Demi whirled and saw Johnny behind her. She could hear the furious whispers in the stadium as they stared at the empty stage. Johnny wasn’t looking at her. He was addressing the man named Paul.
 

“I don’t think so!” Demi snapped.
 

“She better be here when the show’s over,” Johnny ordered and walked back on stage.
 

There was a moment of shocked silence from the backstage crew. Paul gave her an insulting perusal that made her temper skyrocket. It was obvious he was trying to figure out why Johnny targeted her over the other women in the crowd who were more attractive and receptive.

“We have to figure out how we’re going to spin this,” Paul said.
 

“Spin what?”

“I’m Johnny’s manager. It’s my job to make sure this is handled well.”
 

“This conversation is done,” Demi said and tried to walk around him, but he blocked her path. Demi looked around for help, but the stage crew was focused once more on Johnny and talking feverishly into their headsets. No one was paying attention to her. She was about to make a run for it when a woman in flip-flops and sweats ran forward, hair mussed and face free of makeup. She grasped both of Demi’s hands in hers and squeezed.
 

“Oh, you have to tell me everything!” she gushed.

Sidetracked and starstruck, Demi whispered, “Gwen Harper Phoenix.”
 

Gwen grinned and tugged on her hand. “I sure am. And you’re Demi.”

“How do you know my name?” Demi asked stupidly.
 

“Johnny just announced it to the world,” Gwen said smugly.
 

At that, Demi snapped out of her daze and half turned to scowl at Johnny who was rocking the stadium. Arrogant, thoughtless asshole, she thought. Gwen put an arm around Demi’s waist and eyed Paul.
 

“I’ll take care of Demi,” Gwen said firmly.
 

“But Johnny told me to take her to his dressing room,” Paul said, “and I need to know what she’s going to tell the media.”

“I’m not going to tell the media anything,” Demi said hotly.
 

“You hear that, Paul? It’s all taken care of,” Gwen said and led Demi away from him.
 

The woman beside her bore almost no resemblance to the singer who performed half an hour ago. Gwen was petite and fit perfectly beneath Demi’s shoulder.

“Paul’s jaded. He wouldn’t know what’s honest and genuine if it cried on his chest.”

“Uh, thanks,” Demi said and still in shock added, “You change fast.”

Gwen rolled her eyes. “After a performance, I practically collapse. Tonight wasn’t too bad since it was just one song. I have terrible stage fright.”

“You have stage fright?” Demi asked dubiously.

“Yeah.” Gwen directed them away from the pounding music. “
So
, is it true?”
 

“Is what true?”
 

“
Were
you Johnny’s first?”

“I doubt it.” How had she gotten herself into this mess? Was she really talking about Johnny to Gwen Harper Phoenix? Her world was spinning out of control.