Rock Star's Ballad (White Mist Series Book 3) by A. P. Jensen Read Free Book Online Page A

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 Hotelright 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