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
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
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