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

  Romancing the Singer

  A Return to Snow Valley Romance

  Cami Checketts

  Birch River Publishing

  Copyright

  Romancing the Singer: A Return to Snow Valley Romance

  Copyright © November, 2017 by Cami Checketts

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Dedication

  For my mom’s best friends, Marie Evans and Vicky Ralphs. Both of these amazing ladies lost their battles with cancer but they’re happy smiles and love for everyone around them live on.

  You were both like second mothers to me and I miss you dearly.

  Contents

  Introduction

  Free Billionaire Bride Pact Romance

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Fighting for Love

  About the Author

  Also by Cami Checketts

  Introduction

  It is not possible for me to say the name ‘Cami Checketts’ without thinking of a beautiful smile, kind words, and laughter. Her stories make me think of…kisses—that make my heart race, suspense—that makes me pull the covers over my head, and beach destinations—that make me long for the feel of sand between my toes. Alas---she is just as amazing and beautiful as her stories! I count myself blessed for the fateful day when she and I sat next to each other over lunch at a writer’s conference!

  The best thing…is that working together on Snow Valley started our friendship so it is with great pleasure that I introduce her book ‘Romancing the Singer: A Return to Snow Valley Romance!’ You are not going to be able to put this one down! Cozy up and enjoy!

  Taylor Hart, Author of The Tough Love Groom

  Free Billionaire Bride Pact Romance

  Sign up for Cami’s VIP newsletter and receive a free ebook copy of The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance and here.

  You can also receive a free copy of Rescued by Love: Park City Firefighter Romance by clicking here and signing up for Cami’s newsletter.

  Chapter 1

  Daisy Castleton’s calves burned as she ran up the mountain trail. Her lungs ached, and she wanted to quit, but she’d been forced to quit too many things lately. She could at least conquer this one rock-strewn dirt path.

  The stately pine trees shaded her from the sun, but also made it hard to gauge how much farther up this vicious incline she had to go. The view at the top of Leavitt Peak would be her reward for the agony her legs and lungs felt at the moment.

  A dog barked right behind her. She jumped and whirled. The German Shepherd raced around her, and her heart beat rapidly from surprise.

  Seconds later, a massive brown horse thundered up the trail, a tall cowboy on its back. Daisy jumped out of the way, unable to stop the scream that ripped from out of her. Immediately, pain seared through her neck. She clamped a hand to her throat, not that it helped much.

  The horse reared, hooves flailing, and Daisy tried to scoot up against the mountainside to stay out of the way.

  The man clung to the bridle and saddle horn. “Whoa, Jade. Whoa, girl.”

  How the guy kept his seat was completely beyond Daisy’s comprehension. She’d grown up around horses, but wasn’t an accomplished rider. This man looked as big as his horse. Watching his powerful thighs gripping the sides of the horse and the muscles in his arms flexing as he held on was a beautiful but terrifying sight. The horse danced on the edge of the trail with her back hooves, her front hooves clawing the air.

  Daisy prayed desperately that they wouldn’t go over the edge. How to help? Anything she did might startle the horse more.

  The horse slammed back onto all fours, but skittered around on the trail while the man tried to soothe her. Daisy scrambled farther out of the way, panting for air and forcing herself not to cry out and startle the horse again.

  The man kept saying calming words. Daisy couldn’t see much of his face below the cowboy hat besides a strong jaw line with dark reddish-brown stubble. The dog came racing back down the trail, barking deep and low. Daisy jumped again, and the commotion didn’t seem to be doing much for the horse either.

  Agonizing seconds slipped by as she watched the trail’s edge and the horse’s hooves with a captivated kind of horror. She didn’t want to watch, especially if they went over, but she couldn’t look away either. Daisy wished she felt on intimate terms with the Lord above. These days her prayers might do more harm than good.

  Finally, the horse’s steps slowed, and the man patted her side with a large hand. “That’s it, pretty girl. You’re the boss. You got this.”

  He glanced over at Daisy, and she was struck by two things. His eyes were a beautiful shade of Montana sky blue, and she recognized him. He was her brother’s friend from high school, Jamison Hall, but she hadn’t seen him in years.

  “Are you all right, ma’am?” he asked.

  Daisy stood to her full five six and tried to speak clearly and loudly. Speaking loudly, screaming, swallowing, or sadly, singing, were the times when the tenderness in her throat reminded her there was a mass that had no business being there. “Yes. I’m sorry about your horse.”

  Jamison’s brow squiggled. He swung one leg over and jumped down, holding onto the reins and giving Jade a few soft pats to make sure she was calm before taking a couple of steps closer to Daisy. He towered over her, his cowboy hat making him even larger. “I’m sorry. My ears must be full of horsehair. I couldn’t understand what you said.”

  She swallowed, which was an unconscious thing but always brought its own measure of discomfort. “I’m all right,” she said. “Sorry I scared your horse.”

  He patted the horse again. “Jade’s just fine. She’s a sad suss sometimes but a good little woman.”

  Daisy found herself liking the way he talked. She remembered now that he’d always been funny, but she hadn’t remembered how huge he was. “How tall are you?” she asked, grateful he was close enough that he could easily understand her when she spoke in normal tones.

  He grinned. “Six six. The hat is what makes me look so manly and big.”

  She laughed, thankfully something with her voice that didn’t hurt. “I don’t think you can blame it all on the hat.”

  “I’d take it off to prove you wrong, but then I’d have hat hair, and that’s just awkward.”

  She really liked his personality. “I didn’t know big tough cowboys worried about how their hair looked.”

  “Huge issue with us big toughs.” He winked at her.

  Daisy couldn’t believe how much he’d changed since high school. He’d been gangly, all elbows and knees, and had bright red hair. She couldn’t see his hair under the hat, but his beard was the most perfect color of dark reddish brown. His eyes were ocean blue, and his face had the sculpted look of a man, a very handsome man. She’d met her fair share of handsome men in L.A. when her singing career took off, but this broad cowboy was more appealing to her—down to earth, funny, and rugged.

  Reality slammed into her. This man had just winked at her, and he
was definitely flirting with her. Sadly, she could not allow that with the uncertainty in her life right now.

  She started to back away, wishing she could stay and banter. “I’m glad your horse is okay.” Spinning, she hurried up the trail.

  He followed, catching her quickly with his long legs. His horse trailed behind him. They walked side by side, and she found it comforting. Sometimes, in the mountains all by herself, she got nervous. Four-legged creatures and two-legged creatures could be a threat, and pepper spray wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. More of a mist than an actual spray.

  “I failed to introduce myself. My mama would be so disappointed.” He smirked. “I’m Jamison Hall.”

  She glanced up at him. “I know who you are.”

  “I’m that famous?” He pumped his eyebrows.

  She couldn’t help cracking up at that, especially since he didn’t know who she was yet. A lot of people were disappointed when they met her in real life and she wasn’t all dolled up with makeup and perfect clothing and hair. She wasn’t a classic beauty, but her manager and her team of hair and makeup professionals had sure made her look like one.

  “You’re my brother Treven’s friend,” she said.

  “What?” He stopped, and she should’ve just kept on walking, but she stopped with him. “You’re Daisy?” His eyes were wide, and his mouth was hanging slightly open. “Daisy Pipsqueak?”

  “Yes, thank you for reminding me of that.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and picked her clean off the ground. Daisy was hit with several things at once—the smell of his musky cologne and horse, the strength in his arms and chest, and how amazing it felt to be held by a man. She’d been too focused on her career and protecting herself from the predators in the music industry to allow herself to get close to any man but her agent, and they had a very professional relationship.

  “Daisy Pipsqueak. You were such a little doll.” Jamison set her on her feet. “How have you been? I was proud as any annoying big brother’s friend could be to hear you won that Singing with the Stars show.”

  “Thank you,” she said, but the reminder of all she’d lost was a huge punch in the gut. She’d had to leave home while her mom lost her battle with cancer to be on the show that had been Daisy’s only chance to break into the music industry. She’d won, maybe partially because of the sad story trailing her, and she’d been on the top of the dog pile. For four intense, busy, and lonely years she’d been on top. She had climbed so high that falling all the way down had caused internal injuries that would never heal correctly.

  “So a big contract with Millennial Recording, and you’re all over the radio now. Wow. From cute little pipsqueak to model gorgeous and ultra-successful.” He beamed at her like he was a proud big brother.

  She definitely wasn’t model gorgeous and she wasn’t going to be ultra-successful, not anymore. The media and her agent hadn’t found out the truth yet, but they would know soon enough. She only had the two original hit songs. The other releases were her voice but not her creations, and she didn’t really count them. Now, there would be no more songs of any kind. She hadn’t wanted to hide in Snow Valley while she waited for her surgery, but her sister-in-law, Maddie, was on bed rest with their second and had begged her to come. Not that Maddie or Daisy’s brother knew about the cancer yet, but the timing to come help with her niece had been perfect. If only she was brave enough to tell her brother the truth. He acted tough, but their mother’s death had skinned them all of toughness, and at the funeral, Treven had told her he would never forgive her for accepting the invitation to Singing with the Stars while their mother wasted away. She’d run from facing him for years.

  “Thanks.” She wanted to run away right now. Jamison was too masculine, too happy for her, too fun to talk to. At least it didn’t feel like he was flirting with her anymore. “What about you? I remember you played basketball at Utah State. What happened after that?” Please let him shift the focus off of her.

  “I went to Europe and played professionally for a few years.”

  “Good for you.” That was why he was teasing about him being famous.

  “Yeah, it was great. Glad to be back in the good old US of A though.” He gestured ahead of them. “Do you want to mosey up the trail together?”

  She glanced down his lean legs to his cowboy boots. “You shouldn’t be hiking in those things.”

  “I’ll be okay.” He flashed her a grin that had her stomach swooping. “I want to hear all about you.”

  Way wrong answer. Daisy shook her head and backed up a few steps. Pastor John was the only one who knew all about her, and it was going to stay that way.

  His eyes belied his confusion, but he still smiled. “Maybe you can sing me a song, Daisy Pipsqueak. Like you always used to.”

  Daisy’s stomach dropped. “I’m sorry … I can’t.”

  She whirled away from him and ran up the trail before the tears sprang to her eyes. He could catch her any minute on his horse or even in his cowboy boots. He was an athlete, and she was nothing more than a washed-up singer with throat cancer. She hoped she’d been rude enough to keep him away.

  Chapter 2

  Jamison strode out of the barn after unsaddling, brushing, and feeding Jade. The afternoon sky was bright and sunny, white puffy clouds touching the mountains surrounding his family’s Montana ranch. There was a chill in the air that made everything crisp and fresh, but Jamison couldn’t focus on anything but the beauty he’d seen back on the trail.

  Daisy Castleton. It was insane that he’d run into her on the trail and he’d been able to see firsthand what she’d blossomed into with her long dark curly hair and her exquisite facial features. He loved the contrast of her bright blue eyes and her tanned skin. She’d probably been nipped and tucked by professionals. Maybe all of that beauty wasn’t natural. That should make him not as interested, but it didn’t matter. She’d been his favorite little girl, and somehow, she’d grown into his perfect woman.

  They’d always teased back and forth when she was in middle school and he ran around with her brother, Treven, and the Snow and Wilson boys. Daisy had been funny and cute back then, always singing at the top of her lungs and making him smile. But she’d been too young for him to really look at her as a woman. Eight years could flip a steer on his head.

  Unfortunately, she hadn’t been interested in talking to him. Had he come on too strong? He’d tried to keep the enamored look out of his eyes and focus on how proud he was of her, like a big brother. Yet the feelings her lean body encased in a fitted long-sleeved shirt and tight black pants stirred in him were not brotherly at all. Where was Pastor John when he needed him?

  He hurried past his parents’ house, even though his stomach was rumbling and he wouldn’t mind some mom food right now, toward the home he’d had built for himself when he returned from Europe last year. He’d socked away millions of dollars playing in the Eastern European league. Then he had started a business helping high school players who were interested in being recruited by colleges to be able to find the right fit for them. It worked well with his connections in athletics, and he felt like he was providing an honest service that wasn’t just taking money from aspiring athletes. The athletes only paid after they’d received a scholarship offer they were pleased with. Because of that, he was also extremely picky about his clientele and was sought after throughout the nation.

  His brother, Jordan, jumped out from behind the fence and yelled, “Ya!”

  Jamison was jolted from his thoughts. “Whoa, tough stuff.”

  Seven-year-old Jordan beamed at him. “Did I scare ya? Did I?”

  “Yeah, for sure. I about crapped my diggers.”

  Jordan laughed uproariously. “Wait till I tell Justin. He says I suck at scaring.”

  “Come on, bro. You’re too smart to have suck in your menagerie of words.”

  “There’s so many stupid words I can’t say I can’t even keep track.” Jordan was big for his age and redheaded, just
like the rest of them. The youngest of five brothers by a long shot, he was wearing Mom out, but Jamison loved being around the spunky little man.

  “That’s why I’m here, to refine your vocabulary.”

  “Thanks, big bro.” Jordan beamed up at him. “Can you take me to trunk or treating tonight?”

  “My pleasure.” Jamison had never told the kid no. Sometimes he had to say later, and a lot of times he was traveling for work, but when he was home, he was pretty flexible. “Why aren’t you at school?”

  “It’s three-thirty. I just barely got off the bus and saw you coming so I could scare you.”

  “It’s three-thirty?” Jamison had ridden a lot longer than he’d intended. After Daisy had literally ditched him, he’d ridden Jade back down the trail then took another route. He’d been able to follow her from a distance and make sure she made it out of the mountains safely. It was silly of him to worry. She was up there running alone, so obviously, she either had a weapon or she was confident she’d be safe, but he’d felt better keeping an eye on her. Then he’d kept riding because she had him all riled up. She was a famous singer now and probably just home for a visit. There wasn’t time to get to know her better, especially when he’d tried to talk to her and tease her and she’d basically run away. He ran a hand over his beard. Maybe he should shave it? His new sister-in-law, Lori, claimed he looked great with it, but she was one of those sickly-sweets whose compliments only counted for half.