Romancing the Singer (Cami's Snow Valley Romance Book 5)

by Cami Checketts

  “So what do you love most about it?”

  Daisy crumbled a little bit of cornbread between her fingers. She said in a quiet voice, “Well, of course I enjoy”—she licked her lips and glanced around the house before continuing—“singing, but I love songwriting.”

  “Have you written all your songs?”

  She shook her head. “Only the last two.” She put a bite of cornbread in her mouth then turned her attention back to dinner. Jamison had so many more questions, but he didn’t voice them. Something was wrong. Why was she so wistful about her career? Why had she allowed someone to dictate what she ate, how much she worked out, what songs she sang? She’d pushed herself hard to succeed, but she didn’t seem thrilled with that success. Was it because her mom had died shortly after she won Singing with the Stars?

  They finished their dinner, and Jamison drove her back to Treven’s house. He’d messed up big time with the date, which looked to be a one and done, and he didn’t know how to make it better. He walked her up to the front door, wishing he had kissed her on the buggy ride. It may have pushed her too fast, but at least, he would know where he stood. He felt like he’d offended or upset her somehow and had no clue how to dig himself out of the hole.

  “Thank you for the ride and dinner,” Daisy said. “I had a nice time.”

  Oh man, he had jacked this all up. She’d had a nice time. Jamison pushed a hand through his hair. Everything was so awkward and sticky he didn’t know how to joke his way out of it. “Would you like to go on a hike tomorrow afternoon?” He was grasping at straws, but he knew she liked hiking, and he could make this better somehow.

  “Oh, um, no thank you.” She grasped the door handle and pulled it open. “Goodnight. Thanks again.”

  Jamison smiled and nodded, watching her slip through the door. He’d ruined his only chance with Daisy. His stomach pitched, and he was afraid he was going to be sick. So much for the date of a lifetime.

  Chapter 7

  Daisy slept fitfully that night and woke with a huge headache. Jamison was such a nice guy, but he hadn’t kissed her in the buggy when she’d wanted him to. Then she’d realized at dinner how very different they were. He prayed like Heavenly Father was his friend, he made homemade food, and his life was down to earth and happy. He was good, pure, fun, and not right for her at all.

  She’d almost revealed to him last night that she wasn’t going back to singing and recording and that her career was over, but then it had just gotten so awkward. It broke her heart. Jamison was one of the best men she knew, and when he touched her, she got warm and shivery all over, but it wasn’t going to work.

  The day dragged on. Hazel wanted to play Barbies then fairy princess then Polly Pockets then dress up. Daisy loved her niece, but her brain was frazzled. All she could think about was having Jamison’s arms around her in the buggy when he’d leaned in and she’d thought he was going to kiss her. Then his hands wrapping around hers before he prayed, his blue eyes intent on her face.

  Daisy and Hazel went into Maddie’s room to show off their beautiful dresses. Maddie clapped and oohed and aahed.

  “I’m going to change into Rapunzel,” Hazel said.

  “Okay, I’ll stay with your mom.” Daisy sat on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine, just wish I could be more fun for Hazel.”

  “That’s why I’m here.” Daisy forced a smile. She hated that every conversation was basically a lie. She should tell Maddie the other reason she was here.

  “Are you all full of happy butterflies?” Maddie winked at her. “Treven told me about your hot date last night.”

  “Treven knows nothing about how hot Jamison is.”

  “Ooh.” Maddie laughed. “And how hot is he?”

  Daisy let out a breathy sigh. “So stinking hot. If only …” She stopped and could hardly meet her sister-in-law’s gaze.

  “If only what?”

  Daisy swallowed and was reminded of the lump and everything wrong with her life. “Well, it’s not like I’m going to be here for long.”

  Maddie frowned. “Would it be the end of the world if you fell in love? You could still sing. I’m sure Jamison would support you.”

  But she couldn’t still sing. “It was one date.” Daisy protested.

  Maddie stared at her perceptively. Hazel rushed in. “Look! So pretty.” She twirled.

  “Yes, you are.” Maddie beamed at her daughter.

  The door banged open, and after a short pause, closed downstairs, and Daisy sighed. She’d made it past five o’clock. “I think Daddy’s home,” she told Hazel.

  “Yay!” Hazel hurried out of the room.

  Daisy stood. “I’ll send Treven up while I figure out dinner.”

  “Okay, but we’re not done with this conversation.” Maddie pointed at her.

  Daisy didn’t have a clue how to respond, so she simply followed Hazel. She could smell something delicious coming from the kitchen. Had Treven picked up dinner from Tina’s? Daisy should really try to cook more and ease Treven’s burden there, but playing with Hazel, cleaning the house, and hanging out with Maddie kept her busy all day. She usually did something easy like sandwiches or spaghetti.

  The food smelled spicy, like Mexican. She entered the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks. Jamison stood over the bar, uncovering glass Pyrex dishes and telling Treven what was in each one. Treven held Hazel, and they both gawked at the food, practically drooling over it.

  Daisy’s mouth fell slightly open as well, but it wasn’t about the spread of chicken and steak fajitas and all the fixings on the countertop. It was about the man who had prepared it. He was wearing a heather gray t-shirt that molded to his muscular chest and showcased his biceps much too nicely. His jeans fit him perfectly. He glanced up, and Daisy’s mouth went dry, and her heart started racing.

  “Daisy.” Just the way he said her name gave her warm chills.

  “Hi, Jamison.”

  He grinned at her, and his cheeks crinkled slightly. He should be on a cowboy pinup calendar or something. He wasn’t wearing his hat tonight, but she could too easily picture him with no shirt on, those jeans, and the hat. Oh my, it was boiling hot in the house.

  “You’re staying to help us eat all of this,” said Treven, staring back and forth between the two of them with that sly look in his eyes. He was still wearing his goofy pharmacist smock.

  “Only if you take that thing off.” Jamison pointed at him.

  Panic washed over Daisy. Things hadn’t gone well on their date last night. For some reason, Jamison hadn’t wanted to kiss her when she wanted him to. Then she woke up to the reality that her surgery was a week away and she couldn’t get into a relationship until she knew she was in remission. Even then, was it fair to rope somebody into a relationship when the cancer could come back any time? That’s what had happened with her mom. She’d beaten the breast cancer the first round. A few years later, it’d come back as stage four and spread to her lymph nodes. After that, it was all over. Daisy couldn’t stand the thought of Jamison seeing her weak, unable to empty her own puke bowl. No. She wanted to remember how he seemed to think she was beautiful.

  “Sure, I’ll stay.” Jamison replied easily.

  “Why don’t you go say hi to Maddie while I wash up Hazel’s hands?” Treven asked.

  “I’d love to.” Jamison brushed past her on his way up the stairs to the master suite. He gave her a smile that she couldn’t return but still made her weak in the knees.

  Treven grinned at Daisy who stood frozen. “You’ve got a crush on my buddy.” He taunted her.

  Daisy closed her eyes and shook her head. She couldn’t do this right now.

  Treven carried Hazel to the sink to wash her hands, singing to her. “Daisy Pipsqueak and Carrot Top sitting in the tree …”

  Daisy would’ve laughed at his juvenile teasing, but her stomach churned. She could not do this, could not entertain daydreams of Jamison in her life.

  She needed to
escape. Luckily, she was in yoga pants and a long-sleeved running shirt. She remembered Jamison asking her if she wanted to go on a hike tonight. He was seriously too good to be true, and she wasn’t going to saddle him with a washed-up singer with throat cancer.

  Slipping past Treven and Daisy, who had their backs to her at the sink, she hurried into the mudroom and grabbed her trail running shoes and the keys to Treven’s truck hanging on the hooks. He’d be so ticked at her, but all she could do at the moment was run.

  Jamison knocked on Maddie and Treven’s bedroom door. Most times when he’d come to visit she’d been downstairs, but she must be really tired today.

  “Hey, you,” she said smiling. “Come on in.”

  “How’s the sickie?” He sat in the recliner by the window.

  She laughed. “Just bored.” She tilted her head to the side. “And wondering what you did with my sister-in-law last night.”

  Jamison’s eyebrows arched up. “All good things.” Not really. Nothing great had happened. “What did she tell you?”

  “Not much, but she did admit that she thinks you’re pretty hot.”

  “Do you blame her?” Jamison spread his hands and winked. Daisy thought he was hot? That was at least one good thing in his favor.

  Maddie laughed. “Always the overconfident one.”

  “I wish.” He leaned forward. “Honestly. Do you think she’s into me? Last night didn’t go great. Kind of awkward.”

  Maddie bit at her lip. “I think she feels something, but she did say she won’t be around very long.”

  “So that’s it.” She was planning to leave. His stomach churned. “She doesn’t want to fall for me if she’s just going to leave.”

  “You act like it’s a given she’d fall for you.” Maddie teased him.

  “Come on, who wouldn’t?” Jamison loved joking with Maddie. He really wasn’t as confident as he acted, and she knew that.

  Maddie giggled. “Okay, Thor.”

  “You heard about that?”

  “Yep. She liked you with a hammer.” She winked. “So go downstairs and use that charm of yours. I expect you to take her to Big C’s for shakes or on a drive for a kiss after dinner.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Jamison stood and saluted. “I’ll send Treven up with a plate.”

  “Brilliant.” Maddie leaned back against the pillows and waved him off.

  He whistled his way back downstairs. Maddie thought he had a chance. His idea to bring dinner to them tonight was the perfect way to be around Daisy and fix what he’d messed up last night. He didn’t know what he’d done to make her clam up and get so awkward, well besides the missed kiss, but if he spent more time with her, he could figure it out and figure out how to get a second chance with her. Maddie’s words had given him a lot of hope.

  He entered the kitchen and looked around. Daisy was gone. Treven and Hazel had also disappeared. Jamison wandered into the formal living room and then dining room, checked the den and went back into the kitchen. He heard cursing from the garage entry and rushed through the laundry and mudroom into the garage. Treven stood in his socks, holding Hazel, and shaking a fist at the empty spot in the garage where his truck was usually parked.

  “What’s going on? Where’s Daisy?”

  “She took off in my truck.”

  Jamison took the words like a punch in the gut. She’d run away so she wouldn’t have to be with him? Confusion and frustration slammed into him next. What was wrong with him? Maddie thought Daisy liked him, but she must be wrong. Daisy had fled so she wouldn’t have to even see him.

  Wind rattled the garage door, seeping underneath, and it was more than evident to any Montana boy that a storm was coming.

  “Jamison!” Treven turned to him and grabbed his arm. “You’ve got to go after her.”

  “Me? She obviously wants nothing to do with me.”

  “I think she actually likes you, but she’s acted so off since she came home. If she took my truck, she’s driving up to the trails to run.” He gestured around. “She can’t run in this. It’s almost dark, and she’ll freeze to death.”

  Cold swirled around Jamison and seemed to race up his spine.

  “I’m cold, Daddy.” Hazel whined, cuddling into Treven’s neck.

  Treven turned pleading eyes on Jamison. “I can’t leave Maddie and Hazel here alone and go after her.”

  Jamison nodded shortly, rushing through the garage and out the side entrance. He couldn’t believe Daisy wanted to ditch him so badly she’d been crazy enough to try to go running in weather like this. She’d lived in California for too long and had forgotten how dangerous this area could be. She was putting herself in danger just because she wanted nothing to do with him? And he was fool enough to chase after her. He’d see her home safely for Treven, and then he was done trying to force himself into her life. No matter what connection, warmth, desire he felt for the woman, he needed to let it go. She obviously didn’t want him in her life.

  Chapter 8

  Daisy knew as soon as she reached the trail that it was too dark and windy to run very far, but she needed the release of energy. A short run then. She’d warm up once she started moving. She pounded up the familiar trail, her mind whirling with frustration and angry retorts, mostly directed at herself. Jamison was so good, and she was such a jerk. How did she tell him the truth when she hadn’t even told her own brother? She had cancer and could wither away just like her mother. She couldn’t leave someone who loved her behind. Maybe this round would be a simple surgery, but what if it came back like it had with her mom? It would be hard enough to break Treven’s, Maddie’s, and Hazel’s hearts. Her dad was too out of it to care one way or another.

  She took in a breath and pushed it out hard, seeming to vibrate the mass in her throat. It didn’t hurt right now, but it was always there. She was being dramatic, and contrary to the act she put on while on stage, she wasn’t a dramatic person. Why did Jamison have to be so fabulous, and how was she going to keep him at arm’s length without hurting him?

  She slowed her pace as sleet pelted the back of her head and the ground started getting sloshy. Darkness fell deeper, and she stopped. Taking a few seconds to breathe deeply, she knew she should head back. Would Jamison still be at Treven’s house? Her heart leapt thinking about him. She wanted to see him, wanted to be around him, but it wasn’t fair to him.

  She turned around and was smacked in the face with pelting sleet and wind. Daisy lifted her hand to protect her face as she cried out. She’d felt this against her back, but hadn’t realized how strong it was until she was staring the vicious storm in the face. Yikes. How was she going to get home in all of this? She glanced around, trying to see through the storm and determine how far she’d come. She had no idea where she was on the trail, and she was cold, tired, and suddenly terrified. Why did she always have to be alone?

  She steeled her spine and forced her already-tired legs into motion. The only thing she could do was plow her way through it. She’d freeze to death if she stayed here, and even if she found shelter, she wasn’t dressed warmly enough. Her long-sleeved running shirt was already soaked through.

  Each step felt like it yanked more and more energy out of her as she bowed her head and fought through the wind and the sleet. Her hands ached with cold. She tried to clench them into fists, but her fingers were too frozen. She buried them in her armpits and kept trudging down the trail. Just keep moving, she repeated over and over again.

  Daisy’s steps were getting slower and slower. The sleet was turning into full on snow, and she could barely see the trail. Finally, she let herself stop and turn her back to the wind, hugging herself for warmth and uttering a prayer, Please, please help me. I’m sorry I turned my back on you.

  It was all she could manage, and sadly, she couldn’t even promise she would become some saint or make some other deathbed promise, but she needed help. Even through all the anger over her mom’s death and then again when she found out she had throat cancer, Daisy knew that He
would be there for her. He didn’t hold grudges or turn his back like a human would.

  She turned back to face the wind and the rain and snow. He would help her. She could do this. But her steps were heavier than ever. She plodded along down the steep incline and then tripped on a root. Slamming to the ground, her frozen hands and knees took the brunt of the fall. Daisy knelt there in the wet snow and wanted to take her prayer back. Why wasn’t He helping her, giving her strength?

  She wanted to win, against cancer, against this storm, but she was so tired. Finally, she tried to humble herself, bent her head, and muttered, “I’m sorry, Lord. I’m sorry for my bitterness and anger. Thy will be done.” It didn’t matter anymore. If He wanted to take her home, then she would accept that. She wasn’t ready to leave this world. There were a lot of good things she wanted to do. At least, she’d set it up with her lawyer last week so most of her money would go to the Cancer Foundation. Maybe others wouldn’t have to suffer through what she and her family had.

  She put her head between her hands and sobbed. Death was much more painful than she’d imagined and colder. Her hands were so hard and cold they might shatter if she hit them on anything. Her body ached with the icy wetness. She hated it. She shouldn’t have left California.

  Suddenly, she got angry. She wasn’t ready to die. If the Lord wanted her, He could take her, but He wasn’t going to take her while she knelt in the snow crying like a wussy girl.

  She stood on trembling, achy legs, bent her head, and started down the trail again. She would beat this. She would survive. And maybe if she survived this, she could survive cancer and somehow get her voice back and get back on top of her music career again and maybe someday be worthy of someone as fabulous as Jamison.