Rock Star's Ballad (White Mist Series Book 3) (6 page)

“So, you and Johnny know each other from a high school music class,” Regan clarified.
 

“Yes.”

Regan’s eyes swept Demi’s face. “You don’t look like a geeky coordinator. I thought you were going to say you were the head cheerleader and you and Johnny were prom king and queen.”

Demi grimaced. “I’m too big to be a cheerleader and not coordinated enough for sports. Neither of us went to prom. Johnny was what you’d expect, I guess. Bad boy that skipped school, got into a lot of fights and constantly surrounded by girls even then.”
 

“You’re not Johnny’s type,” Regan deduced.
 

“No, I’m not. We didn’t date until after he graduated.”

The server brought their breakfast. Regan stole her son back from the older women who put up quite a fight. Regan didn’t let them sway her and came back with Chase who was very excited to see food. Regan cut up pancakes and cast Demi an expectant look.
 

“And then?”

Demi hesitated. She never talked about that day, ever. Demi glanced outside at the small town. She didn’t even know these people, but she felt safer and more at home than she had in New York. If she wanted to stay, she had to spill her guts. Johnny would probably tell everyone, anyway since he had no filter, apparently. As clinically as she could Demi explained, “My dad didn’t approve of Johnny and that meant a lot to me. He pressured me about Johnny constantly until I broke up with him.”

“And that’s it?”
 

She had a hard time swallowing her food. “I had second thoughts and showed up at his condo.” She tried to sound cool, but her foot tapped double time beneath the table. “I didn’t know that Johnny got married the night before.”

Regan’s fork clattered to the ground. Chase showed his irritation of the derailed delivery of pancakes by thumping his fist on the table.
 

“Holy shit,” Regan said.

Demi set her fork down when her hand trembled. How could she still be so emotional over this? She blamed it on the break up with Barry and being faced with Johnny this morning. “No one’s more surprised than I am when he pulled me on stage last night. I wanted to see him live just once. I never thought he’d pick me out of the crowd, much less drag me on stage. All of this is just a huge misunderstanding.”

“He says you’re his first,” Regan said thoughtfully, feeding Chase and then herself.
 

Demi snorted. “It’s ancient history.”

“It’s not history for Johnny,” Regan pointed out.
 

“It should be. He’s been married three times and been with eighty percent of the women in this country. Why would he care what happened thirteen years ago? I just want to start fresh. He’s not the same guy, I’m not the same girl. He’s a rock star and I’m… jobless at the moment. You know of any openings in town?”

Regan didn’t miss a beat. “What did you do in New York?”

“My family owned the The Ashton Hotel
right off of Times Square.”

Regan looked impressed. “That’s a ritzy place. It’s in a couple movies, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s been in my family for generations…” Demi focused once more on Chase and closed her eyes for a moment and shoved the tears down. She cleared her throat and cut her food into tiny squares. “I mean, even if it’s a server job in town, I’ll do it. I’ve done almost every position possible in a hotel. I don’t mind hard work.”

“What happened to the hotel?” Regan asked.
 

“I lost it.” Demi hid her clenched fists beneath the table.

Regan stared at her, appalled. Demi gave her a brave smile.
 

“Life goes on, doesn’t it? Yesterday was my last day at the hotel and then I went to the concert and now I’m here. I need to start over and…”
 

Regan reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “You’re going to be all right, Demi.”

Regan’s confident statement made the band around her chest loosen. Demi squeezed back and nodded. “I’m starting to believe that.”

Demi was desperately trying to compose herself when a man stopped at their booth. She looked up and saw a familiar face. Daniel Martin was filthy rich, gorgeous and dressed as if he was in New York rather than a small town in Montana.
 

“What do you want, Daniel?” Regan asked sharply, pronouncing his name as ‘Danielle’ with a French accent that made Demi blink in surprise.
 

“Just came by to see Demi,” Daniel said and held out his hand. “It’s been a while.”

Demi shook his hand, bewildered by his presence. Not only was Johnny Bentley in this town, but billionaire Daniel Martin as well? Was there a goldmine nearby?
 

“Yes, it has,” Demi said politely and couldn’t help herself. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m building a resort fifteen minutes from here. It’s on the lake and hasn’t been staffed yet.” Daniel’s eyes flicked to Regan before he asked, “What are you doing here, Demi?”

“Starting over,” Regan said firmly.
 

Daniel looked back at Demi, eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “I heard The Ashton Hotel has a new owner.”

Demi gave him a steely smile. “Right.”

“You did the best you could,” Daniel said.
 

Demi nodded curtly. “I know.”

“You could have come to me for help before you were bought out. I—”

“I think I’m done looking to men for help,” Demi said and Regan gave her a thumb’s up.
 

“If you’re settling here and looking for a job, I could use your expertise at the resort,” Daniel said.
 

Demi’s heart skipped and she was about to answer when Regan kicked her under the table.
 

“Actually, Daniel, Demi is going to work with me,” Regan said.
 

Daniel frowned. “With you?”

“I’m starting my own business and Demi has the qualifications I need.”

Demi hoped Regan knew what the hell she was doing. Daniel’s hotel chain was world renown for quality and he was offering her a lifeline when she desperately needed one.
 

“Well, if you need a job… or anything else, call me.” Daniel inclined his head and walked out of the diner.
 

“How do you know him?” Regan and Demi asked each other at the same time.
 

“Was engaged to him,” Regan said with a grimace, “and now he’s invading my turf.”

Demi’s eyes bulged as she reciprocated. “He was a business acquaintance of my father’s. You were engaged to him? Oh my God. Why is he opening a Martin in Montana?”

“Thanks to Johnny, Gwen and Trey, White Mist has suddenly gone on the map,” Regan said gloomily. “Businesses are booming and it’s becoming
the
place
to stalk your favorite musicians. A lot of artists come here to collaborate with Gwen. Between the three of them, the traffic in and out of White Mist is sickening.”

“And what’s this business you’re starting?”
 

“I’m a business consultant,” Regan said airily. “My mom has a shop here and it wasn’t doing well, since there wasn’t much traffic through White Mist, pre Johnny, Trey and Gwen so I put her merchandise online. It was a huge hit, which is good since most of the crafters are locals. Several businesses have asked me to do the same for them and I’ve been doing it as a hobby, but its become more demanding and complicated so I decided to go legit and I’m taking on my first client. I’ve been requested outside of White Mist, but I want to start locally first. Since you have a similar background to me, I think you’ll catch on quick. I think we could work well together. What do you say?”

An hour ago she thought this place wasn’t for her and now, she was being offered a job. “You’re serious?” Demi asked dubiously.
 

“Of course. My husband works at the electric company and he’s a bear when I’m not home on time. I drag Chase everywhere with me and he’s a good trooper, but there’s some days when he’s not down with it and I need backup. If you’re good at it, we can expand the business and consult separately.”

Demi stared at her for a long minute. “Regan, you don’t even know me.”

“Yes, I do,” Regan said and leaned forward. “You care about Johnny.” She held up a hand when Demi tried to interrupt. “You can’t fake the emotion on your face when he sang to you last night. You know how to keep trucking on even when you lose your business. You’re classy, composed and you have a temper—traits I admire. You’re not a gold digger. If you look like you do and know people like Daniel, you don’t need to work. You’re looking for something. I know how that feels and you got hurt by a high school sweetheart, something I also have experience in. I can help you if you let me.”

Demi never had a real friend. She’d been coddled by her family and convinced herself that they were all she needed. When her family was stripped from her, she’d been cast into stormy seas and almost drowned. Now, she was being handed a lifeline by a woman she’d known for less than two hours.
 

“I’d like that,” Demi said gruffly, emotion clogging her throat.
 

Regan beamed. “Welcome home, Demi Ashton. It’s gonna be a blast.”

Chapter Three

Regan refused to let Demi pay for the bill. She gave Demi the car keys and handed Chase over. He wrapped his little legs around her waist and grinned at her. Promising herself that she’d be faster the next time they ate out, Demi put Chase in the car seat. Chase was easy going and content, secure in the knowledge that he was loved. Her heart clenched as she met his green eyes. Braxton would have been fifteen this year…

“Got it?” Regan asked.

Demi blinked and stepped back. “Yeah.”

Regan drove through White Mist, which had small shops lining the sidewalks, one grocery store and three traffic lights. Demi’s smile was a mile wide as she took it all in. She couldn’t have pictured a better place to settle. The town was clean and the people walking on the side of the road waved.
 

“Are you from here?” Demi asked.
 

“Yup.”

“You don’t seem like you’re from a small town, no offense.”

“Spent ten years away from home. Left at eighteen and did all the things my mom wouldn’t let me do. I backpacked across Europe, learned a new language, sang with Johnny, you get the drift. Before I was engaged to Daniel, I was his personal assistant and worked myself up to Regional Director of Hotel Operations. After I caught Daniel cheating on me, I dumped him and his company and came home. My high school sweetheart was waiting for me.”

“Wow.”
 

“Yeah.”

Regan drove out of town and Demi glanced at her. “Where are we going?”

“We’re gonna get you clothes at the mall. That cool?”

“Yes.”

During the forty-five minute drive, Regan talked about White Mist and the businesses in town, most of which were family owned. Demi quickly became confused by the families and other connections.
 

“I think I need a notepad,” Demi said.
 

“Don’t worry. Once I start introducing you to people, you’ll get the hang of it.”

It was hard to find parking at the mall since it was Sunday. Regan placed Chase in a stroller and handed him an action figure to keep him busy.
 

“White Mist is mostly a jeans and shirts crowd so you can get whatever you want,” Regan said.

Demi stood in the middle of a department store, completely at a loss as to what kind of wardrobe she needed for her new life. The only job she had was The Ashton Hotel, which meant she looked polished and professional at all times. Slacks, business suits and dresses were what she was comfortable with, but she didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb like Daniel who would probably wear a suit on a beach in Hawaii. She tried on several pairs of jeans, which her father would have forbidden her to wear and because she couldn’t help herself, got some business clothes as well.
 

“I just realized I bought all this clothes and have no closet,” Demi said on the way back to White Mist.
 

“Don’t worry about that,” Regan said dismissively.
 

“Don’t worry about it? I need to buy a car and look at apartments. Do you know of a good place to rent?”
 

Regan shot her a quick glance. “You know my phone’s been ringing so much, I put it on silent?”

Confused by this comment, Demi asked, “Is everything okay?”

“With me? Peachy. With Johnny? Not so much.”

Demi stiffened. “What does he want?”

“You.”

“He had me once upon a time. Too late now.”

Regan snorted. “Demi, the video of you and Johnny has gone viral. Millions are witnessing the look on your face as he sang you a song no one’s heard before. You cried.”

“I was shocked,” Demi mumbled, mortified.
 

“It’s obvious that you both still have feelings for each other. I mean, he dragged you on stage. In case you didn’t know, the reason why Gwen and I are in your face is because we love Johnny. We’re his best friends and we’ve
never
seen him react like this towards a woman. Ever.”

“Johnny sings to women during his shows all the time. Its part of his routine.”

“Usually Johnny points to a woman in the audience and security brings her to him. He sits her down and does everything in his power to make her blush.
You
didn’t go willingly. What he did wasn’t rehearsed and neither was your reaction. You told him, ‘Why’ after he sang the song.” Regan fanned herself. “I thought I was watching The Notebook or something. I could see how wrecked you were.”

Demi crossed her arms. “I’m starting a new life and I don’t need drama. I just broke up with a man yesterday. I’m not about to jump into the fire again with a rock star who’s been with half the country!”

Silence fell and Demi immediately regretted her outburst. Here she was with a woman she liked and understood and Johnny was in the middle of their budding friendship. She didn’t want to think about Johnny. She had a lot of practice ignoring her memories of him and now… any person with internet access could go to YouTube and witness how susceptible she was to him. Johnny could have any woman he wanted and demonstrated that repeatedly over the years. She had no idea how he viewed her. She may be the only female that ever broke up with him, which made her a novelty.