Rock Star's Ballad (White Mist Series Book 3) (7 page)

Regan reflexively tapped the steering wheel. “You ever think Johnny married the first wife because he was so broken up over you?”
 

Demi’s face twisted in disgust. “Johnny doesn’t get broken up over anyone. He married a woman two weeks after we broke up. Maybe he was cheating before that, I don’t know.” Regan said nothing and she shook her head. “Johnny likes petite, skinny women that go with the flow and don’t question him. He likes them wild, carefree and loose.” Belatedly, she remembered Regan had been one of those women and fumbled. “I mean, some of them are gems, but—”

Regan burst out laughing. “I’m not going to lie. I was loose then. I can’t deny that I’m petite compared to you. Thanks for the skinny comment, I’m flattered.”

Demi’s mouth twitched. “All I’m trying to say is I was an anomaly.”

“And how do you know this?”

“Because of every woman he’s had before and after me.” Demi let out a long breath. Feelings of betrayal and rage wriggled through her chest and she shoved them down. Once upon a time, Johnny had been hers. That was a long time ago. Demi knew the best way to get Regan off her back was to tell her everything. There was no way in hell she would be with Johnny Bentley again.
Ever
.
 
“I showed up at his place and his wife strolled up behind him, naked, and wrapped herself around him. She told me they got married last night and showed me her ring.”
 

Regan swore. Demi glanced back at Chase who was oblivious to the anger seeping from his mother. Thank God he was too busy crashing his action figure into the car door to listen to Regan’s creative curses.
 

“So,” Demi said deliberately, determined to make her point. “That’s the last time I saw Johnny and because fate hates me, last night happened. Now, I’m in White Mist with his best friend telling me he may have married that woman because he was torn up over me? He didn’t seem heartbroken then and he doesn’t now. I call bullshit.” When Regan didn’t speak, Demi decided it was now or never. If Johnny was going to be a factor in their friendship, she should find out now and move on if necessary. “Johnny and I have nothing to talk about. Neither of us has tried to contact the other since that day.”

“My high school sweetheart proposed to me when I was nineteen. I said no because I wasn’t ready,” Regan began in a quiet voice. “It caused a huge rift between our families and I left with my car and a trunk full of stuff. After six months of shit jobs and sleeping in my car, I came home with my tail between my legs. On the same day I came home, I saw him get married to someone else.”

“Oh my God.”

Regan nodded. “Yup. I saw that and didn’t come back for ten years until I caught Daniel cheating on me. I broke off our engagement, quit my job and drove to White Mist. I came home expecting Brooks to be married with kids, but he was divorced. Within a day of me being home, he was trying to pick up where we left off. I was freaked,” Regan said with a reminiscent smile. “My dad left when I was a kid and I was scared I’d do the same thing, but I’m still here and now I have Chase.”

“That woman he was married to? Does she still live in town?” Regan asked.
 

“Oh, yeah,” Regan said with grim humor. “My sister-in-law, Kerry, is married to Allison’s brother. Allison is sweet and sometimes, I still want to punch her in the face just on principal, but she makes these really great glass pieces that sell really well at my mom’s shop.”

Demi couldn’t imagine saying a single, civil thing to Johnny’s first wife. “This sounds like a soap opera.”

“Sometimes it is.” Regan glanced at her and then away. “What Johnny did, I don’t want to know how much that hurt. I know ‘hurt’ isn’t even the right word. When I saw Brooks get married, I shut down and that was six months after we broke up, not two weeks. If I caught Brooks with Allison naked around him, I probably would have killed them both. I can’t blame you for not wanting anything to do with Johnny.”

“I don’t know why he did what he did last night and I don’t care. It’s been over for thirteen years. I know he’s your best friend, which might make this weird. If we can’t work together, I totally get it—”

Regan shot her a killing glance. “Johnny has nothing to do with business. But, shit, he has a lot to answer for.”

“You can’t tell anyone what I just told you!” Demi didn’t care if she sounded like she was in sixth grade.
 

“Of course not,” Regan snapped. “Johnny needs to answer to you, and honey, don’t make it easy for him. That scene he caused with wife number one must have killed you.”

Demi didn’t want to talk about the years of depression that followed. Work and family were the only things that kept her going. It was pure self-preservation that made her hide within the family fold, dedicating herself to their every whim. Barry was the first man she’d given herself to since Johnny and that had been a colossal mistake as well. Her luck with men sucked and she was
so
done. “I just want to start over.”

“I can help with that.”
 

Regan parked in front of a cute cafe in the middle of White Mist.
 

“Need a hit,” Regan said and yawned. “Didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

Regan held Chase’s hand as they walked into a cafe that Demi instantly decided she would visit often. It was dimly lit with booths and tables tucked strategically for conversations, privacy and people watching. They moved up to the counter where one of the workers promptly took Chase from Regan.
 

“Who’s the best looking boy in White Mist?” the woman exclaimed. “Its Chase Hawking, that’s who!”

“Sam, I’m about to pass out here,” Regan said dryly. “And I don’t want Chase to have a complex.”

“He looks just like his daddy, you lucky dog. Are you gonna have another baby? You should have them close together.”

Demi’s mouth dropped open at the intimate question. Talk about small town life. She glanced around and saw that some of the customers were waiting for Regan’s answer.
 

“We’ll see,” Regan said and the woman looked crushed. “Sam, I need coffee.”

“Your regular?” At Regan’s nod, Sam shouted, “Jericha! Regan Lee wants her norm!”

“Gotcha!” came the holler from the back room.
 

“Demi, what do you want?” Regan asked.
 

“Chai,” Demi decided and pulled out her wallet.
 

“On my tab,” Regan said to Sam who was staring at Demi with big eyes.
 

“Aren’t you the gal from the concert last night?” Sam asked. “Johnny’s
first
?”

A young woman who Demi assumed was Jericha shuffled in beside Sam and absently kissed Chase on the cheek before she stared expectantly at Demi.

“Well?” Jericha asked.
 

“We’re not together. We just have,” Demi paused and looked around the cafe. Her heart sank when she saw that she had the attention of every local. “History. That’s it.”

“But you’re settling in, aren’t you? Gertie saw you two at the diner and overheard that you’re gonna work with Regan Lee.”

Demi stared at them. “Who’s Gertie?”

“Nosiest person in White Mist besides Sam,” Regan said and slapped the counter impatiently. “Coffee. Now.”

When neither Sam or Jericha moved, Regan sighed.
 

“Yes, Demi’s moving here. Yes, she’s working with me. Happy? Coffee, pronto!”

Sam and Jericha lurched into motion and handed Chase over as they got their order ready.
 

“If the coffee wasn’t so damn good, I wouldn’t come here. You have to say something about your private life for each cup of coffee. That’s just the way it works,” Regan said as Chase ate a chocolate croissant.
 

“That’s a high price for a cup of coffee,” Demi said uncomfortably.
 

“You’ll get used to it.”

When Demi took the first sip of chai, she had an inkling why she’d give a piece of her privacy for this drink. She sighed and Regan waggled her brows in a way that said, ‘Am I right?’ and she
so
was. They walked through town with Chase between them, each of them holding one of his hands.
 

“Lift!” he shouted and they did so, causing him to squeal in delight.
 

Regan nodded to a shop at the end of the sidewalk with a sign that said, Ever After. It was part bridal shop, part formal wear. The shop showed signs of age in the yellowed walls and thin carpet, but it was clean and had a pleasant fragrance hovering in the air. There were two dressing rooms with spotless mirrors and a comfortable sitting area.
 

“Bethany!” Regan shouted.
 

It was so quiet in the shop that Demi elbowed Regan, scandalized that she’d yell in a place that felt like a library. A woman appeared behind the front counter wearing a professional smile. She was short and slim with large blue eyes, a doll face and flawless skin. Her black hair was slicked back and pulled into a perfect bun. She was dressed formally in black slacks and a short sleeve turtleneck. Because of her appearance, Demi pegged her around their age until she came closer. The woman couldn’t be older than twenty-five, but she embodied competence. Her appearance was classy, no nonsense and professional, which Demi approved of.

“Regan Lee,” Bethany said with a polite nod and turned to Demi. “And you’re the one everyone’s talking about. Demi, right?”

Demi shot Regan a reproachful look.
 

“I didn’t say anything. I told you, the video’s viral,” Regan said defensively.
 

Demi sighed. “Yes, I’m Demi.”

“First time in a small town?” Bethany asked with a sympathetic look.
 

“Yes.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Bethany assured her before she turned back to Regan. “When do you want to start looking over the store’s finances?”

“Tomorrow,” Regan said and Bethany nodded. “Demi has similar expertise in business, so she’ll be shadowing me during your consultation.”

“Okay,” Bethany said with another nod.
 

“Good. We’ll be back tomorrow,” Regan said and without further ado, walked out of the shop.
 

“Nice meeting you,” Demi said awkwardly to Bethany.
 

“Same to you,” Bethany said.
 

Demi had to sprint to catch up with Regan.
 

“Ms. Congeniality you are not,” Demi observed.

“You got that right.” Regan balanced Chase on her hip. “I can be polite when I want to, but the people here don’t expect me to act like someone I’m not. Bethany came back to White Mist because her grandma had a stroke.”

“Oh no!” Demi said, stopping in her tracks.
 

Regan stopped too. “Bethany’s mom has to take care of her so Bethany came back from New York to run the shop. I haven’t seen her since she was a kid. Her grandmother started the shop and has been running it the same way since she opened it—with ledgers and paper receipts. Bethany’s coming into all of this without any idea how they’ve been running the store so she hired me to look into the finances and maybe update some things. I’m not sure how long all of this will take, but I’m thinking around a month.”

“Bethany lives in New York?” Demi asked, feeling an immediate connection with the other woman. She thought back to the serene expression on Bethany’s face. She may be stressed about her grandmother and the shop, but none of that showed. She was a pro through and through.
 

“Yeah, Bethany did well outside of White Mist. I think she’s considering moving back, which is why she wants to make sure everything’s in order with Ever After.”

“Makes sense,” Demi said.
 

Regan led Demi to a shop called
Valerie & Paula’s. The front window displayed a charming tea set that caught Demi’s eye before she walked into the store and was engulfed in the smell of brown sugar and vanilla. Demi’s heart lifted. The shelves were filled with glass, ceramics, wood signs, candle sets, vases, paintings… Demi didn’t know where to look first.
 

“This is my mom’s shop,” Regan said.
 

“
This
is her shop?” Demi asked, lifting a candle to her nose and breathing in the scent of pine and snow. “She had trouble selling this stuff?”

“There wasn’t much foot traffic. Eighty percent of her sales are online, but we keep the store stocked because my mom and Paula like to come to work and chit chat with everyone.” Regan rolled her eyes as an older woman rushed forward. “This is my mother-in-law, Paula.”

Paula nodded to Demi, but her attention was on her grandson.
 

“This is Demi. I just wanted to show her the shop. We’re heading over to mom’s,” Regan said loudly over Paula’s baby talk.
 

“Leave Chase with me. I’m heading over there once I close,” Paula said.
 

“Okay. Bye, baby.” Regan kissed Chase and pulled Demi out of the shop. “You can peruse later when my mom’s around. Paula loves my son and husband, but we’re not best friends.”

There was a lot Regan wasn’t saying, but Demi didn’t push. They hopped into the SUV and Regan navigated through an older neighborhood.

“So, how does Daniel fit into all this?” Demi asked.
 

“Fit into what?”

“You’re married and have a child with your high school sweetheart. Your billionaire ex is building a hotel nearby… Isn’t that weird?”

Regan snickered. “Brooks nearly lost his mind when he found out. I just gave birth to Chase when Daniel started scoping out land. I don’t hate Daniel, he doesn’t hate me. We’re… frenemies, I guess. I think in some part of his mind, he thought I’d get restless and work for him again.”

Regan pulled up in front of an old house and got out of the car.
 

“What are we doing here?” Demi asked.
 

“Dinner.” Regan pulled her up the steps. “I would’ve cooked for you myself, but I like you so I asked mom to make something instead.”
 

“You asked your mom to make dinner for me?” Demi was appalled. “You didn’t have to do that!”