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

by Cami Checketts

  “At some point you’ve got to stop running from those who love you.”

  Daisy blinked back the tears, hurried away from the door and to the stairs. Treven watched her go. His disappointment and condemnation was so heavy the air felt weighed down. Tears rushed down her face, and when she got to her room, she climbed under her covers, wet clothes and all. She curled up into a ball, shivering and crying. She’d never be enough for Treven or Jamison. Maybe it was time she ran again.

  Chapter 9

  The next few days were absolutely miserable. Treven worked extra hours, claiming he was doing it so he’d have more time off when the baby came. Daisy was glad he wasn’t around to give her his looks of disappointment. She tried to be cute with Hazel, take good care of Maddie, and even cook a little bit, but she missed Jamison so horribly she could hardly keep a smile on her face. She had to keep reminding herself why she couldn’t be with him right now. Maybe after the surgery next week. After she knew a little better what her future held.

  Thursday night, she slipped out of the house and walked through the cold darkness to the house she grew up in. Her hands trembled as she stood on the porch and pushed the doorbell. Nothing happened for a few seconds. She almost fled, but forced herself to rap her knuckles on the door.

  “What?” she heard a growl from inside and instinctively stepped back.

  The porch light popped on, and she blinked and stepped back again. The door swung open. He looked horrible—unkempt hair, greasy beard, dirty clothes. “What do you want?”

  “It’s-it’s Daisy,” she said.

  Her father blinked at her, his eyes dark and cloudy. Then he shook his head and muttered. “Go away.”

  Daisy tripped down the porch steps. The door banged closed with a finality that rang through her chest. She rushed back down the street, not looking back. Had he even recognized her? Tears started, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. Her father was gone, and it wasn’t her fault. It was cancer and alcohol’s fault.

  Rushing in the back door, she quietly went up to her room and started penning lyrics to a new song. A song she’d never sing, but she loved writing them still, and it calmed her when she got down. Seeing her father had made her resolve to stay away from Jamison stronger than ever. She knew what cancer could do.

  Her phone rang. She jumped and hoped against hope that it was Jamison, but why would he call? He’d told her he loved her and his heart was on a platter, and she’d told him she was sorry. She hated herself more than ever.

  She plucked her phone off the dresser. Her agent. This wasn’t going to be good.

  “Hi, Isaac.”

  “When are you coming back from Montana?” He wasn’t one to waste time, and she appreciated that about him.

  “I can’t really commit to a day. My sister-in-law is on bed rest, and we’re waiting to see when the baby will be born.”

  “I’m not trying to be insensitive.” Daisy rolled her eyes because he’d never been sensitive. “But I think you should hire someone to be with your sister-in-law and you should get back here.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Come on, Daisy. You’ve been my favorite client to deal with. Why are you turning into such a pain in the butt?”

  Before she could attempt an answer, he rushed on. “You’re at the top right now. Everybody’s clamoring for your next song, and you’re hiding away in Montana. I need you here. The CEO of Millennial called me personally yesterday and guaranteed if you can bring a new song to them in the next few weeks, they’ll put every bit of marketing money they have behind it. Coke wants to sponsor you with their new ads for Christmas, using your voice and changing the lyrics to one of your songs. Everyone loves you right now, and you’re missing the wave, girl.”

  Daisy wished with everything in her she could take one of the many songs she’d written and go sing her heart out, but she couldn’t. “I can’t,” she said again.

  “Stop saying can’t. The Daisy Castleton I back would never say can’t. She’d work until her fingers cramped and sing until her throat bled.”

  Daisy sniffed. He was too close to the truth. “No, you don’t understand. I can’t do it.”

  “Give me one good reason why not.”

  “I have throat cancer!” she yelled into the phone. She clapped a hand to her throat, closing her eyes against the pain and the idiocy of telling her secret.

  Silence came on the line for a few seconds. Then Isaac groaned. “Ah, no. Oh, Daisy … I’m sorry.”

  She nodded even though he couldn’t see her. What was there to say anyway? Her music career was basically over, and she knew it wouldn’t just hurt her alone. She was Isaac’s top client, and he had invested a lot of time and effort into her.

  “Is there anything I can do?” he asked in a weak, defeated voice.

  “No. I fly to Seattle for surgery next week. After I recover, we’ll see if there’s any hope that I’ll sing again. The surgeon is going to initiate the operation through my chest so there’s a chance he won’t damage the voice box as he removes the tumor, but who knows.”

  “Okay. Well, um, good luck. I’ll pray for you.”

  “Thank you.” Daisy pushed on the screen to end the call and set the phone down. At least, one person besides her pastor was praying for her. A wistfulness washed over her. She’d prayed for help in that storm and Jamison had come. If she gave Pastor John the green light, he’d have the entire congregation praying for her, and she knew they would, but it was better to keep this secret tight. Sharing it with Isaac had only made her feel worse.

  Chapter 10

  Jamison drove into town Saturday morning feeling morose and lonely. He should’ve made one of his brothers come with him, but they were rushing through chores so they could make it to Jordan’s game later this afternoon. The little man’s team was in the quarter-finals, and Jamison was happy for him. At least the game would be a distraction from his constant missing of Daisy Castleton. How many times did she have to reject him before he got the message?

  He pulled into a stall at Dove’s Grocery Store and shoved his truck into park. He went to swing the door open when a movement in front of him caught his eye. Daisy and Hazel walking hand in hand into the store.

  Daisy smiled down at her niece, and Jamison’s breath caught in his throat. She looked unimaginably beautiful in a long red sweater thingy with patterned tights and a decorative ear warmer wrapped around her head. Her dark hair flowed down her back like a silky curtain. What he wouldn’t give to part that curtain and kiss the back of her neck.

  They swished through the door, and he laid his head back against the headrest. Should he sit out here until they left or be brave and go inside? He imagined her seeing him and being all pleasantly surprised. He could suggest they go get breakfast at Tina’s, and Hazel would be distracted by a cinnamon roll while he held Daisy’s hand under the table.

  He banged his head against the headrest a few times, but it didn’t help him forget about these stupid daydreams. Daisy didn’t want him. His heart had been ripped out on a platter, and she didn’t just dump it in the garbage. She ground it into the dirt with her running shoe first.

  He closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them, he noticed a small crowd lurking on the opposite side of Main Street, close to Tina’s Place. He blinked and studied them some more. Women and men dressed like they were going to be on the national news or something with high dollar cameras and holding microphones. They looked excited and hungry, their eyes searching the street and the shops.

  Jamison looked back and forth between the store entrance and the crowd of reporters. They were here for Daisy. He didn’t think she’d be happy about that, but it wasn’t his problem. His eyes went back and forth a few more times. Not his problem, not his problem. He turned the key on his truck. They didn’t seem to know where she was, but they were obviously on the hunt. He should get out of here before the show started.

  Daisy wandered the aisles of the small grocery store w
ith Hazel sitting in the cart. It was always a little unnerving to be out in public. She still felt like at any minute the paparazzi would swoop in and catch her without makeup on, scratching her nose. She tried to laugh at herself. She was in Snow Valley. Safe, quiet Snow Valley. The paparazzi were far away in California, and nobody but her agent knew she was here.

  She’d grabbed the essentials—milk, eggs, veggies, fruit, bread, and chocolate—and sauntered to the checkout. Hazel was grasping a bag of Kit Kats in her hands.

  “Smart girl, going for the chocolate,” Daisy said.

  Hazel grinned. “Thank you, Aunt Daisy. I love my Kit Kats so much.”

  “Anytime, love.” She hated the uncertainty in her life right now, but at least, she got to spend time with this darling little girl. Even if Hazel’s dad was ticked at Daisy, Hazel was always strong in her love.

  Daisy started stacking groceries on the belt. Her eyes flickered over the magazines on display, and she gasped. Her face was on one of the covers.

  “No.” Groceries forgotten, she grabbed the magazine, The Rising Star. The cover said, “Daisy Castleton stricken with throat cancer, may never sing again.”

  “No, oh no.” Daisy ripped the magazine open and scanned the article quickly. All they knew was she had cancer and wouldn’t be singing anytime in the near future. The rest was all speculation. But one thing made her stomach clench. They knew she’d gone home to Montana. No! Did Isaac leak this? That thought ripped her up. She’d always trusted him, and he’d been a straight shooter with her.

  As if on cue her phone rang. She pulled it out. Isaac. “How could you?”

  “It wasn’t me. Daisy, I promise. I met with the CEO of Millennial yesterday, and Jacob was so understanding, Daisy. He wants—”

  “I don’t care what he wants. How did this get out?”

  “Ma’am?” The young checker was staring at her.

  Daisy held up a hand then looked at Hazel. Her eyes were wide with fear. Daisy picked her up and cuddled her close. “It’s okay, sweetie.”

  “We don’t know,” Isaac said. “Please believe me, Daisy. I wouldn’t do this to you. Jacob’s tracked it down and his secretary overheard us and sold the exclusive story to The Rising Star. That’s how they got the scoop before it came out everywhere online today.”

  Daisy closed her eyes. She’d always trusted Isaac, and she didn’t want to pick a battle with the CEO of Millennial Music, but honestly, this was awful. She’d have to leave Snow Valley. Hopefully, no one knew where she was getting surgery done. She would fly to Seattle today and lay low until her surgery on Tuesday.

  “But Daisy, your sales are skyrocketing.”

  Daisy shook her head. She should be happy. At least she’d have plenty of money until she could figure out a new career, or if a miracle happened, get back into hers. Of course Isaac would be happy about the sales, but all she wanted was privacy, and she didn’t want to be a spectacle and, oh no! How were Treven, Maddie, and Jamison going to respond to this? She should’ve told them before it came to this. She was such a wimp.

  “I’ll talk to you later.” She swept the call closed and dropped it into her purse. Closing her eyes for a second, she looked out the glass front of the store and gasped. Women dressed much too fancy for the cold fall day in Montana holding microphones while large cameras were perched behind them. They were searching up and down Main Street.

  “Oh, no,” Daisy gasped. “We’ve got to go, baby girl.”

  Hazel clutched her Kit Kats close. “My Kit Kats.”

  Daisy held onto her and dug a twenty-dollar bill out of her purse and tossed it at the clerk. “I’m so sorry. That’s for the candy and putting all of the groceries back.” She clung to Hazel, pulling her own ear warmer down over her forehead and praying they could sneak out the door without being seen. Had the paparazzi followed her in here, or were they just scoping out Main Street? Did they know where Treven lived?

  She felt awful about it, but she kind of held Hazel up to shield her face as she exited the store. Trying not to draw attention, she forced herself not to run, but her entire body trembled with anxiety. She didn’t want to answer questions and be some spectacle. Having cancer was bad enough without being on display for the world.

  “What’s wrong, Aunt Daisy?” Hazel asked.

  “We just need to get home, love.”

  She heard the uproar and couldn’t stop herself from looking. They were all focused on her, and as soon as she looked, they called out, “Daisy, Daisy!”

  No! She clung to Hazel and broke into a run. The roar of a truck cut off the reporters crying out to her and effectively blocked their rush across the street. The passenger door of the silver truck popped open, and Jamison yelled, “Get in!”

  Daisy’s heart leapt. He was here. She lifted Hazel up and scrambled in after her before slamming the door shut. Jamison backed up and then flipped a U-turn and gunned it out of town. Daisy glanced back at the paparazzi scrambling to retreat and find their own vehicles. She leaned back into the seat and gasped for a few breaths.

  “Jamison, thank you.”

  He nodded shortly. “Buckle up.”

  Oh, Hazel, oh no. Daisy got onto her knees and lifted the little girl into the backseat. Hazel stared at her with wide eyes, squishing her beloved Kit Kats. Daisy secured the seat belt over her niece. “It’s okay, sweetie. You’re just safer in the backseat.”

  She patted her, hoping to reassure her then sat down and secured her own seat belt. Checking over her shoulder, she couldn’t see anyone following, yet. One thing that was impressive about reporters, they were persistent.

  Jamison was flying down the highway now. Daisy said a prayer of gratitude that he’d come for them, especially with how she’d left him after he rescued her from the storm, and a prayer of desperation that they wouldn’t crash with Hazel not in a car seat.

  “Thank you,” she said again. “How did you know?”

  “I saw you going into the store. Then I saw them.” He clenched the steering wheel. “I was going to leave, but I couldn’t do it.” His eyes flickered to her then back to the road.

  Daisy studied his handsome face and strong grip on the wheel. He could give Thor a huge run for his money as a hero. She reached back and patted Hazel’s leg.

  “Why you driving so fast?” Hazel asked.

  Jamison chuckled. “I had to rescue two pretty ladies.”

  “Who’d you rescue us from?”

  “Vultures,” Daisy muttered. She raised her voice. “He’s just teasing sweetie. We’re okay.”

  They sped along the county road, and Daisy recognized Jamison’s ranch approaching fast. She so appreciated his help today, but how was she going to stay strong if they were at his house? At least, Hazel would be there as a buffer.

  “Do you want to go play at my house?” Jamison asked. “We can make cookies.”

  “Yay!” Hazel held her bag of Kit Kats up. “I’ll share my treats too.”

  Daisy couldn’t help but smile. “That’s so nice of you.” She glanced at Jamison. Did he know about her cancer? Had seen something online? Isaac had said The Rising Star got the scoop first and it had only hit the Internet this morning. She’d learned the first year of her career to not look at social media or Google herself.

  They pulled into Jamison’s driveway, and within seconds, his truck was parked in his garage, and Daisy finally felt safe.

  “Thank you.” Her voice quivered. “I hate facing paparazzi.”

  “I wonder how they knew to come. Pastor John did a pretty good job of protecting you last Sunday.” Jamison smiled softly at her.

  Daisy was thrust back to remembering him sitting by her in church, so protective and so appealing to her. Why did she have to find the man of her dreams when her life was such a mess? Was it completely selfish of her to tell him about the cancer and ask him to wait for her? Would he hate her if he found out from the news or social media?

  Her thoughts were interrupted as Jamison jumped down from his seat in
the truck and came over, swinging both her door and the back door of the truck open. Hazel climbed into his arms and happily let him carry her into the house. Daisy followed behind as they climbed the steps from the garage. Jamison swung open the door to his mudroom and stepped back, allowing her to go in first.

  He walked into the kitchen, settled Hazel up to the bar, and started pulling out ingredients for cookies. Daisy didn’t know what else to do but sink into a barstool herself. She didn’t know what his plan was, if he understood exactly what he’d rescued her from, or if he knew about her cancer. She asked tentatively, “Did you have paparazzi follow you in Europe?”

  “Sometimes.” He nodded and pulled out a Bosch mixer. “I was like a king over there.” He winked to show he was teasing, but she used to idolize him as a teen, and he’d just gotten better with age.

  “Do you mind if we hang out here until it dies down?” she asked.

  Jamison stopped in the act of pulling butter from the fridge. “You can crash at my pad as long as you need.” He started singing. “Welcome to my house. Baby, we’ll have fun now!”

  Hazel giggled, and Daisy couldn’t help but smile, liking the way he changed the lyrics. She wished she could sing along. She used to sing whenever she was by herself, but when it had started hurting her throat a few weeks ago, she learned quickly not to break into song.

  Her phone started ringing, and she glanced at the display. Treven. Oh, crap.

  “Excuse me,” she murmured to Jamison.

  He nodded and handed a pound of butter to Hazel. “Can you open all those up for me, cute girl?”

  Daisy swiped the phone open. “Hello.”

  “What the crap is going on?” Treven demanded.

  Daisy walked into the living room, not sure if she could get far enough away so Jamison wouldn’t hear. “I’ve got Hazel with me at Jamison’s. We’ll come home when the reporters go away.”

  “They’re staking out my house, Daisy.”