Dreaming of Daisy (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #6)

by Theresa Paolo

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He wasn’t, but he wasn’t going to inconvenience everyone because he couldn’t man up. “It’s fine.”

  Cassie looked at him for a moment, as if she was waiting for him to change his mind. “Okay then.” She patted her knees and stood. “I’ll get Mason and we can talk sales.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Nick opened his briefcase, ready to throw himself into work when Cassie paused at the doorway.

  “I know what it’s like to let your past have too much power over you. And speaking from experience, letting it hold you hostage won’t do you any favors. Sometimes it’s easier to let the ghosts down to rest. Something to think about.” She tapped the doorframe and disappeared.

  A few minutes later, Daisy’s laugh floated down the hall and right into his office.

  He knew Cassie meant well, but his ghost was just on the other side of the wall.

  ***

  Despite her annoyance, Daisy kept glancing back to where Nick’s office was. She couldn’t help herself; it should be illegal to look that good in a pair of dark gray slacks and a light blue button up. She was slowly starting to get used to seeing him, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to the new him. When she’d left he didn’t even own a pair of dress pants. He’d lived in cargo pants and mud stained jeans and she assumed he always would.

  It was becoming blatantly obvious that while she touted on and on about being an adult, he actually was. He’d grown up and made something of himself while she was still floundering around, trying to make her dent in a scene that continued to eat her up and spit her out.

  Maybe her determination was holding her back, tying her down to a dream that should have been nothing more than a passing phase. Being on stage, seeing her name in lights on Broadway, adored by fans, raved about by critics, it had been engrained in her mind for so long. It made her wonder if she really still wanted it or if she was too damn stubborn to admit defeat.

  Six years was a long time to pursue something, but for Daisy six years was an eternity. Growing up, she’d never stuck to anything. She’d floated around, jumping from one fad to the next while her family supported every bright idea.

  When she’d wanted to play the flute, her grandparents had gone out and bought her the nicest flute they could find. Two months later the silver instrument had been tossed to the back of her closet, never to be taken out of its case again. When she’d wanted a donkey because it was the cutest thing she had ever seen, her parents had gotten her Dylan. Then she’d abandoned him like she had everyone else. Then the gymnastics, karate, sailing, skiing and painting… All things she’d had to do or the world would’ve ended, but when they’d gotten too tough or turned out to not be what she’d hoped, she’d dropped them like a bad habit.

  Acting, pursuing Broadway… that was the only thing she’d ever stuck with, the one thing she could wholeheartedly say that she’d done on her own. She couldn’t turn her back on it now or ever.

  So what if she didn’t have a stack of Playbills to prove her worth? Or clippings of her name highlighted in reviews? She had the blood, sweat, and tears to prove she wasn’t exactly where she was six years ago. Six years ago, she would have given up, tail in between her legs, and come back home, but she hadn’t. If that wasn’t proof that she’d grown up then she didn’t know what was.

  Nick might have grown up, but damn it, so had she. Sometimes she needed to step back and remind herself of how far she’d come.

  But then there was that foolish kiss. He had every right to hate her after that. She had no idea what the hell she was thinking, obviously she wasn’t, but my God if it didn’t knock her on her ass.

  Regardless of the way it ended, she could still feel the hard press of his lips against hers, the demanding swipes of his tongue, and the desperate way he’d held her. There hadn’t been many men since Nick, but they couldn’t even compare. They were all pathetic amateurs compared to the way he was able to light up her body.

  She forced the memory away and turned her attention back on the two customers at the far end of the bar. They still had two out of the four tasting glasses to get through so she gave them space to finish. If her job as a waitress had taught her anything, it was be accessible and ready to help at a moment’s notice but don’t be overbearing. So she stood off to the side of the bar, reading over the tasting menu, trying to learn all the beers. This job was only temporary, but she wanted to be knowledgeable enough if someone asked her a question.

  Plus, a part of her wanted Nick to know she could stand on her own two feet. Silly really, since what they had together was so long ago and she shouldn’t care. But she did and maybe a little too much.

  “How’s it going?” Cassie asked, coming back behind the bar with a rack of clean glasses in her arms.

  “Good,” Daisy said and put the menu down. “Here let me help you with that.”

  “I got it,” Cassie said as she placed the rack down. Daisy didn’t know Cassie as well as her other siblings did, but she was aware of her need for independence. It’s the reason Mason waited so long to propose.

  What Daisy did know was that Cassie got trapped in an abusive relationship, relying too much on a man who hurt her both physically and mentally. Now, she found it hard to rely on anyone, refusing help and preferring to do things on her own. Daisy could understand that. Not that she was ever in an abusive relationship, but she had fully relied on people for a good portion of her life. It was the reason why she needed Nick to know she was capable of taking on anything that was sent her way. She’d relied so heavily on him for so long and it gave her the need to prove herself. So while their cases were much different, incomparable really, Daisy understood Cassie’s motives and respected them.

  Cassie grabbed two glasses and began placing them back where they belonged behind the bar. “So that was intense,” she said as she grabbed another pair.

  Intense was the understatement of the decade.

  Daisy shrugged as she grabbed a rag and began to wipe down an invisible spot on the bar. “I guess there’s a lot of resentment on both sides.”

  Cassie stopped stacking glasses and folded her arms over her chest. She leaned against the bar and waited for Daisy to meet her gaze. “Not to overstep my boundaries, but aren’t you the one who left?”

  There was no argument there just the harsh truth. “Touché,” Daisy said. “But as much as everyone wants to paint me as the bad guy, and maybe I am, Nick wasn’t perfect either. Or maybe he was and that’s where the problem was. He had everything figured out, you know? Everything. The only problem was he never cared to ask what I wanted.”

  Cassie nodded with understanding. “He’s a planner.”

  “Yeah and I’m not.”

  “Forgive me if this is totally out of line, but do you still have feelings for him?” Cassie asked and Daisy had to physically keep herself from stumbling back at the words.

  Daisy’s lips parted but the word clung to her throat. “No.” It was a battle to get the single word out but she finally managed. Once out there, even she didn’t fully believe it.

  Being with Nick for so long, he’d been there for all the milestones of her life, a fixture in every memory, it wasn’t something she could just get over. She tried and even convinced herself that the space in her heart that had always been reserved for Nick was now vacant and ready for someone new to move in. But the truth was, that space would never be vacant. The ghost of their past would always linger there, and Nick, no matter how hard she tried to let him go, would always have that part of her.

  “I’m only asking because you two will be working together,” Cassie said. “I don’t know how much Mason has filled you in on Nick’s role here at the brewery, but he’s pretty hands on. He does a lot of work outside of the brewery, but he does all his vetting and phone calls in house. Also when it gets super busy he’s been known to jump in behind the bar and help out. He’s an asset and a big part
of what has been accomplished, and I don’t want to see that jeopardized.”

  The respect for Nick was obvious in Cassie’s tone. He clearly had earned his place in not just the brewery but in Cassie’s good graces.

  Daisy had known Nick worked for Mason, in her family not much was left unsaid, but she had no idea how big of a role he actually played. If she’d known that she might not have offered to fill in. She desperately needed the money though, and in a few weeks, when she saved enough, she’d be on the next train out and Nick could go back to his Daisy free world. Everyone could be happy again.

  She looked at Cassie, needing her to believe the promise she was about to make. “It won’t be a problem. What happened earlier won’t happen again. I promise.”

  Cassie’s shoulders visibly slumped in relief. “Okay good, because I’d really hate to fire my soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

  Daisy laughed. “I’m glad you’d feel a little sad about it.” Daisy was afraid that what had transpired earlier, created an awful picture of her character. Cassie’s admission gave her a little peace of mind.

  “Oh, I’d feel awful,” Cassie confessed. “But Mason would never do it, so I’d have to take one for the team if necessary.”

  “It won’t be.”

  While some people might be offended, it made Daisy like Cassie even more. Cassie didn’t treat her differently because she was baby Hayes, and for that alone Daisy couldn’t be more grateful. She was looking forward to spending more time with her soon to be sister-in-law and getting to know her even better. From what she could already tell, she was a perfect fit to the family.

  “You and Mason make a great team. He’s lucky to have you.”

  “He is lucky, isn’t he?” Cassie said, a slight smile playing at the edge of her mouth and to see Cassie accept the compliment—and, by the look in her eyes, honestly believe it—it was proof that Cassie was letting go of her past and seeing exactly what she was worth, and Daisy was happy she was here to be witness.

  Chapter 7

  Nick loosened his collar and walked into Calhoun’s, the local pub, to meet up with Tyler.

  He spotted him at their usual corner of the bar, beer in hand and striking up a conversation with a brunette. Since Nick knew every person who lived in Red Maple Falls and didn’t recognize the woman, he assumed she was one of the many people visiting the ski resorts just outside the town limits.

  Calhoun’s was popular for their great beer, including three of Five Leaf Brewery’s on tap, and their burgers. But for the single population of Red Maple Falls it was the place to meet someone they hadn’t known all their lives.

  Tyler had that look girls loved—dark blond hair and blue eyes—and he knew it. Sometimes Nick wondered what Tyler would do if he didn’t have his looks to fall back on.

  He waved to Billy behind the bar, and Billy gave him a nod to acknowledge him. Billy grabbed a pint glass and filled it with Nick’s favorite beer, Five Leaf Brewery’s Hippity Hop IPA, and slid it across the bar top to him.

  “Thanks, Billy. How’s the coconut stout selling?”

  “Really well. People are loving it. Declan already said he’s going to be ordering another keg from you soon.”

  “Awesome. That’s what I like to hear. Hopefully in a few weeks we’ll have a badge to attach to it.” Mason and Cassie would be bringing it to competition. Hippity Hop IPA took gold last year. That gold badge helped propel the brewery and was a great selling point for Nick to use whenever he could. Another badge would just be another weapon in his arsenal when it came to increasing distribution.

  “We’ll be crossing our fingers for you guys.”

  “Thanks, we appreciate that.” He tipped his head toward Tyler. “How long has that been going on?”

  “I’d say about fifteen minutes, so if he hasn’t sealed the deal yet, it’s not looking good.”

  Nick laughed. “Thanks, Billy. I’ll talk to you later.” Nick grabbed his beer and made his way over to Tyler and the mysterious brunette.

  Tyler finally took his eyes off the girl and spotted him. “Hey, my man, what’s going on?”

  “You tell me.”

  “Go grab a table. I’ll be there in a second.”

  Nick didn’t even wait for an introduction; he knew the girl was just a flavor of the night. In a few hours, if she wasn’t in Tyler’s bed, he’d never even remember her. Nick didn’t feel like meeting anyone new today anyway.

  He grabbed a high-top and slid onto a stool, placing his beer on the table. Tyler whispered in the brunette’s ear, and she gave him a seductive smile. Nick diverted his attention to his phone and answered a few emails before Tyler finally made his way over to the table.

  “Sorry about that,” he said as he sat across from him.

  “Whatever.”

  “What crawled up your ass? Wait. Don’t tell me. About five-two. Hundred and fifteen pounds. Curly blonde hair. Big blue eyes.”

  “I kissed her.”

  Tyler’s glass hit the table with a thud. “You what?”

  “I mean she kissed me. Either way we kissed and then we had a huge fight, she told me she hated me and I told her to do what she does best and leave.”

  “Holy shit! You found your balls.”

  If he only knew the half of it. “It gets better.”

  Tyler leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, an amused smirk forming on his face. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

  “She’s working at the brewery. At least until she goes back to New York. So I can’t stay away from her even if I want to.”

  “Do you want to?” Tyler asked.

  The answer should be a simple, yes, but it wasn’t. Nothing with Daisy was ever simple. “I have no fucking clue. Oh, and to put icing on the cake, my mom’s staying in South Carolina.”

  “For the rest of the winter?”

  Nick took a swig of his beer and swallowed down the cold liquid, hoping it would ease the tension in his shoulders. No such luck. “No, for good,” he said.

  Tyler sat up, folding his arms on the table. “I did not see that coming. So what are you going to do then when she sells the house?”

  “She’s not selling it. She gave it to me.”

  Tyler’s eyebrow lifted. “What?”

  He sounded as shocked as Nick had felt and strangely it gave him comfort, knowing he wasn’t the only one completely caught by surprise.

  “She told me I could do what I want with it. I can keep it, remodel it, or I can sell it. But if I sell it, she wants me to give part of the money to Kevin, which is only fair.”

  “Definitely.” Tyler nodded in agreement. “You’re selling it right?”

  “I don’t think so.” It had only been a day since he spoke with his mom, but the more he thought about it the more he realized if he sold the house he’d be selling the last link he had to his dad. He couldn’t do that, and his mom said she didn’t want to come back now, but what if that was the grief speaking? What if in the future, when things settled a little more, she decided she wanted to come home but there was no home to come home to because he foolishly sold it?

  “So let me get this straight,” Tyler said, jabbing his finger at the table. “You’re going to live in your childhood home with the same furniture that’s been in there since you were ten?”

  “I could get new furniture.”

  Tyler raised his hands like he knew this was a wasted conversation. “If that’s what you want to do.”

  It had nothing to do with what he wanted, it had to do with what he felt was the right thing to do. His dad installed the kitchen cabinets, laid the living room carpet, replaced the bathroom tile, so how in the hell was he supposed to just walk away from that? From everything his dad built? Tyler wouldn’t understand. His relationship with his father was different. And if his dad needed something done, he hired someone to do it.

  “I’m hungry,” Nick said. There was no way Tyler could fully grasp Nick’s reasoning behind his decision and he didn’t feel li
ke trying to make him. He just wanted to have a burger and talk about mindless bullshit. Did you order anything?”

  Tyler smirked, his eyes drifting back to the bar. “I was too busy feasting on that brunette.”

  “Do you even know her name?”

  His eyebrows pulled together and he looked deep in thought. He raised his finger then let his hand fall back to the table. “She told me, but I don’t remember it.”

  “Sometimes you really are an asshole.”

  “I know.” Tyler smiled. “It’s great, isn’t it?”

  Nick shook his head and waved over one of the waitresses. He and Tyler put their orders in and then went back to their conversation. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the mindless bullshit Nick had been hoping for.

  “I think it’s time to cut ties,” Tyler said.

  Nick took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I wish it were that simple.”

  “It is. You have to let the past go, man. And I’m not just talking about Daisy, though she’s part of it, but you live in your parents’ house, you’re driving your dad’s truck. Other than your job, you’re stuck in the past. How the hell do you ever plan on being happy if you’re letting all that shit anchor you down?”

  “I don’t see it that way. It’s not anchoring me. The truck, the house… They’re all I have left of my dad. I can’t let them go.” Nick shook his head. “Forget it. You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Wrong,” Tyler said, and the muscles in Nick’s shoulders tightened. “That’s not all you have left of your dad. Those are just things, possessions, they have no real meaning. “Look in here”—Tyler tapped his head then pointed to his chest—“and here. Everything you need, all that matters, are there in those two places. You don’t need a truck or a house to remind you of that. They’re crutches, giving you something to lean on when you’d be better off to move on without them.”

  “Maybe they are just crutches, but I’m not ready to give them up. Those memories that you’re talking about I’m reminded of them every day because of that truck and because of the house. What if, without them, I forget? What if I forget?”