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

by Cami Checketts

  The wind howled against her ears, and she shivered uncontrollably. She could’ve sworn she’d just heard her name. She must be hallucinating. Nobody knew where she was, and just like always, she had to rescue herself.

  Daisy took one step and then another. Then she ran into a solid mass. She screamed, and the ice around her turned to fire in her throat. The huge form wrapped its arms around her and said, “Daisy, I found you!”

  Daisy stared up into Jamison’s handsome face, and she started sobbing again. His large frame surrounded her, and he blocked her from the wind and the rain. He hugged her close, and the warmth and safety of this wonderful man rushed over her. Her legs buckled, and Jamison lifted her against his chest and held her close.

  She had no clue how long they stood there with him holding her and a little bit of feeling returning to her legs and arms. Her fingers and toes would probably never be warm again, but Jamison was here, and today probably wasn’t her day to die.

  “Come on,” he murmured, gently setting her feet on the ground. “We need to get you home.”

  She nodded against the slick fabric of his coat, but didn’t honestly know if she could keep putting one foot in front of the other.

  “Just a second.” He kept shielding her from the wind as he took off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.

  The blissfulness of his warmth being transferred and wrapped around her made fat tears plop onto her cheeks and roll down. Jamison had really come for her. She could hardly comprehend such a huge blessing from her Father above when she’d all but turned her back on Him, and from Jamison himself, who she’d ditched repeatedly.

  He helped her slide her heavy, nonresponsive arms in and then zipped the huge coat up. It drowned her. Her hands were lost in the sleeves, and it draped down to her knees, and she’d never been so grateful and happy. Jamison lifted the hood over her head and smiled down at her as he pulled the strings on the hood tight and tied it.

  “Y-you need your coat.” She tried to protest through her trembling lips.

  “Not as bad as you.” He stared down at her as he lifted the hood of his sweatshirt over his head. “I didn’t know the brilliant songwriter would be so stupid as to run in a winter storm in a t-shirt.” He said it with a smile on his face, teasing her.

  “Really stupid.” She concurred. “Thank you, Jamison, for coming for me.”

  He nodded, growing serious as he stared at her. She wished with everything in her that he’d pull her close again and not for warmth this time. His coat was slowly heating her up, but the look in his eyes heated her up much faster. Instead, he said, “Let’s get you home.” Then he turned, and still blocking her from the wind and the driving sleet, he pulled one of the sleeves of her coat up to his lower back. “Hold onto me.”

  Daisy’s hands were still too numb to hold onto anything, but she tried to loop one around his waist and match his steps. It was obvious he was going slowly for her as they sloshed down the trail for a few minutes. Suddenly, he stopped and turned to face her.

  “There’s a cave right off the trail here. I think we should get out of this for a little while and see if it eases up.”

  Daisy looked up into his face, and even in the dark, she could see how red it was. He was taking the brunt of this vicious storm for her. Her heart expanded, and she cursed cancer for the millionth time and questioned God again. Why would he bring someone as wonderful as Jamison into her life right at the time that she couldn’t commit to anyone?

  “Okay.” She had to give the word her all to be heard above the howling wind. She’d seen the cave on her runs and always increased her pace to get past it quicker. She didn’t like the thought of bears, mountain lions, or whatever else hung out in caves watching her go by.

  Jamison wrapped his arm around her and ushered her off the trail. Her heart started thumping harder the closer they got to the cave. What creepy, scary things would be in there, or what huge, scary things would be in there? Jamison didn’t seem afraid at all. She glanced up at him. He was almost as big as a bear, so maybe he thought he could take one on.

  They entered the overhang, and it was so dark she couldn’t see her hand in front of her. The shelter from the wind and the wet snow was welcome, but she didn’t dare speak for fear that some animal would come rip them apart.

  Jamison stopped once they were in far enough to avoid getting pelted by the wet, horribly cold wind. He still had his arm around her, and Daisy leaned into him and wrapped both her arms around his waist. She couldn’t really feel him through the long sleeves of his coat that draped over her hands, but just leaning against his solid presence was enough.

  “You think we’ll survive?” he asked, his voice husky and deep, teasing her.

  “Shh.” Daisy brought one long sleeve up and pushed it against where she thought his mouth would be.

  Jamison chuckled against her hand. “This cave used to be my secret spy hideout when I needed to get away from all my brothers for a while. Treven and I used to hide out in here and shoot bottle rockets at Luke and Porter Wilson, and they never found us. We’re safe here.”

  “You don’t know that,” she whispered. It made her laugh that he’d shot bottle rockets at his friends. He had loved to tease everyone in high school. “I know there are bears and mountain lions in these mountains.”

  “Yet you’re nuts enough to go running by yourself all the time?”

  “All the time.” She scoffed. “I’ve only been home a week.” She realized this wasn’t the best tone to take with her rescuer. “Sorry. I’m just scared of bears.”

  He wrapped her up tighter in his arms. “Don’t worry. I’m a bear whisperer.”

  “A bear whisperer?” She couldn’t help but laugh and even forgot to whisper herself. “What does that mean?”

  “I calm them down by whispering sweet nothings into their ears.”

  She’d take him whispering sweet nothings into her ears, and she flushed just thinking about it. Ah, warmth was fabulous. “Such as?”

  He leaned even closer and whispered against her cheek, “Don’t worry, sweet Mama Bear. I won’t go bugging your cubs. Let me scratch that itch on your backside. That’s right, pretty mama. You don’t want to rip me apart with your claws.”

  Daisy laughed even though his breath on her face made her long to turn her head and capture his lips with her own.

  Jamison chuckled and sort-of rocked her in his arms. “Don’t worry, sweet Daisy.” He drawled. “I won’t scratch that itch on your backside, but I’ll protect you.”

  Daisy smiled and shook her head. He was a goof, but she loved it. He really would protect her. She cuddled against him and was so grateful he was here. His coat, his strength, his sense of humor, and his warmth. She loved him a little bit right now, okay, a lot. She knew that she shouldn’t allow herself to fall for him, but how could she help it? Maybe she could confide in him. He’d understand and be there for her, she knew he would. Now if she could just work up the nerve to tell him the truth.

  Jamison heard the wind still rushing outside and didn’t know when they could safely get out of here. They were only about a mile from the trailhead where his truck was parked, but it was going to be a miserable mile if the storm didn’t calm down.

  He still couldn’t believe Daisy would go run up the mountainside by herself in a storm. What had she been thinking? He’d had to run by his house to get a sweatshirt and coat and hadn’t gotten to her as fast as he wanted. She had to be frozen.

  It made him smile that she was afraid of bears, and he hoped his gentle teasing eased her worries. He pulled her closer and sank down to rest his back against the cold cave wall, pulling her with him. His sweatshirt was damp from trying to plow through the storm, but he didn’t mind the cold too much. When Daisy rested her head into the crook of his neck, he really didn’t mind the cold.

  “Thank you for coming for me.”

  It took every ounce of Jamison’s self-control not to tilt her chin up and find her lips in the dark. She wa
s everything he’d always wanted and more, but she’d made it more than obvious that she didn’t want him. It was good he’d been able to find her and be here for her. He’d return her safely to Treven, but he wasn’t going to make himself into a fool going for her time and again when she kept running from him. He groaned and held her close. How could he help himself, though?

  “What was that for?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “I said thank you for rescuing me and you groaned. Sorry I’m such a pain to you.”

  “You are a pain to me, a huge pain, but not because I had to rescue you.”

  She stiffened and tried to pull away, but his arms were locked too tight. “Well, excuse me,” she said all haughtily.

  Jamison wanted to fight with her, and he wanted to kiss her, but he’d worked up a sweat fighting the storm. Now, his sweatshirt was wet, and he was starting to chill. His earlier teasing mood evaporated as he realized he couldn’t explain his comment without revealing how much he wanted to be with her, and she had made it obvious many times she didn’t reciprocate those feelings. A man had to have a few ounces of pride.

  He listened and realized the wind wasn’t howling outside anymore.

  “Let’s get going,” he said gruffly.

  He stood and helped her to her feet. Daisy said nothing as they ventured out into the night again. There was a break in the storm, and he knew they had to take it or spend the night in that cave. He didn’t want to sit there all cold and miserable, and he really didn’t want to fight his feelings for Daisy all night, second-guessing why he wasn’t good enough for her and why he had to be so drawn to a woman who didn’t want him when there were many who did.

  The wind was still cutting, but the sleet had stopped, and thankfully, the moon was peeking through the clouds. He should’ve thought to grab a flashlight and some hand warmers from his house, but he’d been so worried about Daisy he’d been in a huge rush. Jamison plowed down the trail. Daisy kept a hand on his waist and followed after him. It was cold and miserable, but eventually they made it to the trailhead, and he saw his silver truck gleaming in the moonlight. Ah, it was beautiful. Treven’s black truck was next to his. They’d have to get it tomorrow.

  He helped Daisy into the truck, pulled the blanket he’d grabbed over her, and hurried around to the driver’s side. Starting the vehicle, he pulled it into gear with numb fingers and drove toward town. Within minutes, warm air was blowing out of the vents. It felt fabulous. He wished the woman next to him was as warm. She sat there stiff, hiding under the blanket.

  They got to Treven’s house, and he put the truck into gear but left it running. He wasn’t going to be here long. He rushed around, but she already had her door open and was climbing down, leaving the blanket behind on the seat. She stumbled and Jamison caught her. Even through his thick coat that she was wearing, he could feel her lithe body and the rush of desire was something he didn’t want to deal with.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, looking up at him with those beautiful blue eyes. “You were my hero tonight.”

  He gave her a half of a smile. He wished. “Give me a hammer and you can call me Thor again.”

  She smiled back, but it was also guarded. He escorted her up to the back door, and the shelter of the house protected them from the wind. He should let her go. He told himself he was being a gentleman but knew there was much more to it than that where she was concerned.

  “Thank you again.” She unzipped his coat and shrugged out of it, holding it out to him. “I think I would’ve died if you hadn’t come. I wish there was some way I could thank you.”

  He thought a kiss of gratitude would be more than enough, but he didn’t say that. “No problem, little lady.” He did his best John Wayne impersonation and cursed himself for turning to joking when he really wanted to be serious right now.

  Her smile came swift and sure. It was so beautiful, but he felt like she was more grateful that he hadn’t gotten serious than she was that he’d rescued her. Fine. He wouldn’t get serious with her. He’d rescued her, but he’d keep it all light and fluffy and let her go back to her fans and California and never let her know how hard he’d fallen for her. How he would’ve treated her like a princess and loved and protected her forever if she would’ve let him.

  He inclined his chin. “And … I’m out.” He turned and started down the steps.

  “Without one kiss?” The words seemed to rip from her throat of their own free will.

  Jamison whipped back around, and sure enough, she was clutching her throat with one hand, her eyes wide like she couldn’t believe she’d said that. Her dark hair was plastered to her head, and her clothes were wet and showing off her incredible shape far too well. Her blue eyes were what he wanted to focus on. He stared into them, and they were saying that she wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her.

  Jamison dropped the coat he was holding, strode back up the steps, framed her face with his hands, and took possession of her lips. If this was the only kiss he got from her, he didn’t want her to doubt his feelings one iota. She flung her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes, and returned the kiss with all the passion he could ever hope from her.

  He released her from the kiss and smiled against her lips. “I knew you had a thing for cowboys.”

  She grinned back. “Before you know it, I’ll be writing songs about my dog, my truck, and my ex-wife.”

  He laughed, and then he was kissing her again, and he didn’t care about anything else.

  Daisy was lost in Jamison’s kiss. He was her hero in so many ways, and he kissed better than she’d ever imagined Thor or any other hero could kiss. Their mouths were tangled up, and he trailed his hands along her jaw, down her neck, and along her sides. She shivered from the sheer pleasure of his touch. He wrapped his hands around her waist, lifted her off her feet, and kissed her until stars were exploding around them. His lips were the perfect shape, and when his tongue touched hers, joy exploded through her entire body.

  When he set her back on her feet, he released her mouth and leaned his forehead against hers. “I love you, Daisy Castleton,” he said.

  It was so simple with him, so strong and sure and true.

  Daisy’s eyes widened, and her heart thudded harder than when she thought they might be sharing a cave with a bear. How could he say that? How could he feel that? She’d thought about confiding in him earlier, but this was too much, too soon.

  She ripped herself from his arms and backed against the door. “No. You don’t.”

  “I don’t?” His brows drew together.

  “No. You don’t really know me. I mean … you rescuing me and that kiss. Of course, we’re both having strong feelings right now, but it’s not l-l … it’s not that.” Love was terrifying. The only people she’d let herself love since losing her mother were Treven, Maddie, and Hazel, and even they were a huge risk to love. Especially if the cancer took her like she feared.

  Jamison’s brow smoothed, and he arched an eyebrow. His blue eyes seemed to penetrate through her as he took a step closer. Daisy would’ve backed into the door, but she was already there. Jamison towered over her, but she’d never felt threatened by him physically. It was emotionally that he terrified her.

  Jamison lifted his hand and gently traced the curve of her cheek. “I know what I feel Daisy. I don’t know why you’re scared. Maybe I’m not what you want, though your kiss says differently. But it doesn’t change how I feel.” He cupped her face with his large palm and placed a tender kiss on her lips.

  Daisy couldn’t help but melt into him. Jamison pulled her in tight, and she savored his warmth and his beautifully muscled chest and his goodness and everything that was Jamison.

  Jamison pulled back and stared down at her. “I’ve fallen in love with you, Daisy. You decide the next move for us because I’ve just ripped my heart out and handed it to you on a platter.”

  Daisy couldn’t help but giggle at that grotesque image, even though this situation was much to
o serious and she wanted to run and hide. “On a platter?”

  He grinned and gave her a quick kiss. “On a platter.”

  Daisy shook her head. “You’re crazy.”

  “Certifiably.” He agreed. “I just told the most beautiful woman in the world, who also happens to be a famous singer, that I love her. She’s probably going to ditch me and go back to sunny California and have a good laugh with her friends that my heart is sitting on this platter and she dumped the platter in the garbage, but it is what it is.”

  Daisy pulled in a quick breath. If only she could explain that her career had nothing to do with why she couldn’t let herself be with him. If she did explain, he would be understanding. He would tell her it was okay, that they’d beat the cancer together, and that wasn’t true. She’d seen what had happened to her dad. But Jamison was made of tougher stuff than her dad. Still, how could she hurt him when she suspected she was every bit as much in love with him as he claimed to be with her. Oh, this was all such a mess, and why couldn’t she have just stayed away?

  “I can’t, Jamison.”

  His arms fell away, and he just stared at her. His blue eyes full of pain.

  “You have no clue how much I want to say yes. How much I want that platter with your heart on it, but I can’t. Not now. I’m sorry.”

  His jaw kind of dropped open. Daisy turned the door handle and scurried into the house, shutting and locking the door behind her. She pressed her back against it, trying to calm her racing heart and fighting against the insane urge to rip the door back open and kiss Jamison until all her worries and fears disappeared.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Treven said from the kitchen table.

  Daisy blinked back the tears and stared at him. “What did you see?”

  “My friend rescuing you, a lot of kissing, and then you running away.” He shook his head. “You’re pretty good at that. Running away that is, not kissing.”

  As if she hadn’t understood where he was going with his snide comment. “Don’t do this to me.”