Her jaw tensed so much her face hurt. “No, but I’ve seen him in action. That’s enough.”
“He’s not what I expected based on how he talked to you on that show. Yes, he’s a superstar, but he’s more down to earth than I imagined. From what I’ve read, he’s been through the wringer with the press and his record company. That’s why he’s in Quinn Valley.”
“Not my problem.”
“It isn’t,” her uncle agreed. “But he’s here to rest and recover without anyone knowing. I’m not sure how you figured out it was him.”
Uncle Bob wasn’t using Nash Bennett’s name. She was happy to do the same. “He took off his sunglasses tonight. He seemed to want me to recognize him.”
“I’m surprised he did that.”
“I wish he hadn’t.” Then she could keep pretending he hadn’t destroyed her dreams and changed her life.
“Please, don’t tell anyone he’s in town. If the paparazzi inundate Quinn Valley, we’ll have high-priced attorneys threatening everyone who signed the NDAs. They’ll blame us, not him.”
One text or email to a gossip website and his whereabouts would be broadcasted near and far. Ivy didn’t care what happened to Nash Bennett, but she didn’t want her family or anyone in town to suffer.
She sighed. “I won’t say anything.”
Which was in her best interest, too. Otherwise, everyone would want to know how seeing him again felt.
She shuddered.
“Thank you, Ivy.”
Her uncle’s relief in those two words made her sorry she’d stressed him out.
“I don’t want to see him again.” Not ever.
“I’ll tell him to stay away from the pub, if you like.”
“Please do. Thanks.”
Silence filled the line. “Seeing him tonight must have brought back bad memories.”
Ever since she recognized Nash Bennett, her pulse had been sprinting and hadn’t slowed. She’d been thrust into that awful time of grieving her father’s unexpected death, postponing her move to Nashville after high school graduation, and having her dreams destroyed by her once-favorite country singer.
“I’d rather forget the memories.” That included Nash Bennett.
“You can’t escape the past.”
So far, she’d been doing a good job at it. “Maybe not, but I’d prefer to stick my head in the sand whereheis concerned.”
“That will only work for so long,” Uncle Bob cautioned.
“It’s been ten years. I think it’s working well.”
“With him in Quinn Valley, this might be the perfect time to talk to him about what happened.”
A shiver shot through her. “No.”
“You might gain perspective and peace.”
“I’m good.” And she would stay that way if she avoided Nash Bennett. “Do you know how long he’ll be in town?”
“That depends on his recovery.”
He appeared fine to her, but medical conditions weren’t always visible. “Any guesses?”
