Page 40 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

In his will, her father had left each of his children a small inheritance, even her, but she hadn’t touched it. It hadn’t felt right to spend his money, so she’d deposited it into Charlie’s college fund. One winter, when Gemma almost had her electricity shut off, her mother asked where her inheritance had gone. She’d simply said she didn’t want his money. Her mother had tried to make excuses for him, even after his death, that he was just set in his ways and never liked to be proven wrong. That had resulted in a huge eruption from Gemma, as she unloaded 23 years of frustration on her mother for all the times she’d sat back and let him rip into her. She’d stood there and taken Gemma’s venting until she was done. Only then had she given her any kind of explanation.

“Someday, when you get married, you’ll realize that it’s important to support your spouse in public, and that all dissension should be handled in private, even in regard to your children. As long as he never struck you, anything I disagreed with could wait until we were alone, and I could let him have it, and I did, often.” Patting Gemma’s hand, she’d said, “But I’m sorry you felt like I wasn’t on your side, because it’s not true. I always defended you; he was just set in his ways, and I couldn’t budge him.”

Despite her assurances, Gemma still hadn’t fully forgiven her mother. Especially after she’d left Rock Canyon for Boise, her excuse being that she didn’t want to live in that big house by herself. Gemma still didn’t believe her. All three of her siblings lived in and around Boise, and that had been the reason, and no other. Gemma might have been the baby, but she must have proven her independence too well.

Ms. Addie had died a few months later, and Gemma had been heartbroken at the loss of her friend and mentor. What had touched her more than anything was Ms. Addie’s generosity toward Gemma and Charlie in her will, leaving her the shop, the building, and all of her inventory. With the building paid for, Gemma had been able to save for the first time, and when her mother had offered her the house, she’d jumped at the chance to buy it.

She’d been blessed in so many ways, but now she was back in the hot seat, having to handle things she’d rather avoid.

It’s time to pull up my big girl panties and deal.

Gemma would get past this, making it through the confession and the aftermath.

A knock sounded at the door, and with a deep breath and a brave face, Gemma went to open it.

Travis stood on the other side with a wide grin. “You ready to go?”

“I hope so.”

Chapter Ten

* * *

“ARE YOU TAKING me to a biker bar?” Gemma asked as she stared at the two guys in front of the bar they’d arrived at off Highway 30, dressed in leather from head to toe.

“Karaoke,” he said, grinning.

“If you wanted karaoke, why didn’t we go to Hank’s?” Instead of driving 45 minutes away . . .

“I thought you’d prefer a little privacy, so I decided to take you somewhere no one knows your name,” he said, and she smiled.

“That was really considerate of you,” she said, wondering why she was so surprised. Travis used to do sweet things for her all the time when they were teenagers, little things to make her comfortable or happy.

“I’m a swell guy, what can I say?” he said.

“But, again, karaoke? Not the most relaxing of dates.”

“Nonsense.” Travis grinned as he opened up the passenger door of the truck and helped her out. “Singing releases endorphins, which make us happy, relaxed individuals.”

Gemma looked at the front of the bar’s window doubtfully, taking in the glowing KARAOKE sign. “I think singing makes some people happy, but I don’t think standing up in a room full of people is going to make me happy.”

He took her hand and led her to the front door. “I promise, if you really aren’t having any fun, we’ll leave, but I think you’re gonna love it.”

“Says the man who does it for a living,” she muttered as they passed the bouncer, a thick man with a full beard who gave Travis a double take.

The bar was barely half full, and up on stage a skinny woman was trying her damnedest to sing “Any Man of Mine” but was so hammered she kept missing the lyrics. Gemma swallowed hard as Travis sat her down at a table.

“Want a drink?”

She looked from the stage to him. “If you want me to get up there, better give me a double of everything.”

His laughter trailed behind him as he walked up to the stage first, talking to the stacked blonde who looked like a six-foot-tall Dolly Parton. With a grin, he went to the bar to grab drinks. Her heart did a double-decker twist when he looked over at her with a smile, and she tried to calm down.

She didn’t sound bad singing in the shower, but up in front of strangers was different. When Mike, Gracie, and she went to Hank’s Bar on karaoke night, it was usually to heckle everyone else, although Gracie had no qualms about getting up and belting one out. Gracie, however, had also been in numerous musicals in high school and college.

Travis came back with a couple of shots and a beer.

Gemma took a shot without asking if it was hers, holding it to her lips before tipping it back. The burning alcohol singed her throat as she set down the glass, and Travis eyeballed her with a smirk, scooting the other shooter her way.

---