Shorty leaned against his car door, giving him a knowing look. “You think you and Jamie will still be together then?”
Clayton didn’t even blink. Hell, he didn’t even hesitate.
“Till the cows come home.”
The second he said it he knew it wasn’t just words. It was the truth. Solid as the ground beneath his boots. He’d fought it, ignored it, tried to act like what they had was just circumstance, proximity. But it wasn’t. It never had been.
Jamie was his. And as long as there was breath in his lungs, nothing and no one would ever hurt her again.
CHAPTER 37
JAMIE
Ruth dropped by the next morning and Jamie wasted no time filling her in. The moment she revealed that AJ had been behind the threats Ruth froze, eyes wide.
“No way,” she breathed. “James, your dad did this?”
She gripped her coffee mug, the words still foreign, like they belonged to someone else’s life. “Yeah.”
“But . . . why?” Ruth’s voice wavered between disbelief and fury. “I know he’s been borrowing money, but threatening you? Who does that to their own daughter?”
Jamie exhaled slowly, staring at the floor. “Someone who doesn’t see me as a daughter. Just a pawn in his game.”
Ruth’s expression softened. “James . . .”
She swallowed hard, pushing past the lump in her throat. “The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. He showed up after Star Factor because of the money. He only sees me as a bank.”
Ruth straightened. “Not anymore.”
The anger was there, but underneath it was something worse: heartbreak.
Sensing the weight in the room, Ruth changed gears. “Okay, how about some good news? The song you and Clayton wrote? Reba loves it.”
Jamie blinked, her mind struggling to shift. “Wait—what?”
“She’s going to record it.”
A flicker of pride cut through the haze. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack,” Ruth grinned.
Jamie narrowed her eyes. “Did you have something to do with it?”
Ruth smirked. “I might have mentioned you’re a great songwriter.”
Jamie let out a breath, the excitement finally settling in. Reba McEntire—theReba—was recording her song.
“Oh, by the way, I passed my exams,” she added.
Ruth’s jaw dropped. “Why didn’t you tell me thatfirst?!”
Jamie groaned. “Because I knew you’d make a big deal out of it.”
“Darn right I will! We’re celebrating. Dinner party. Tonight!”
Jamie shook her head. “Ruth, I really don’t—”
“Nope. No arguments.” Ruth crossed her arms. “You worked for this and we’re celebrating. End of discussion.”
