CHAPTER TWO
Guitar case in hand, Ivy Quinn hurried through the kitchen of her family’s restaurant, Quinn’s Pub, to the small room containing employee lockers. She set the case against the wall, as she did whenever she filled in for the talent who cancelled. Tonight was for a band whose lead singer was sick. At least they weren’t booked for two nights.
Though, she’d never turn down the chance to sing.
Ivy grabbed her apron from a hook, put the top strap over her head, and went into the kitchen where the scents of spices and herbs filled the air. The temperature, however, was only slightly lower than outside. Typical for June in Quinn Valley, Idaho, but Ivy preferred the cooler air in the dining room.
She tied the apron strings around her waist.
Washing her hands, she glanced at her brother Ryder, who co-owned the restaurant with their sister, Maggie. He stood at the stove, looking more like one of their chefs. He was happy to step in as necessary.
She dried her hands. “I’ll close out a few tabs and clear tables before I go on.”
“No rush.” Ryder stirred whatever was inside a large pot. Most likely the creamy roasted red pepper soup his wife and the pub’s chef, Bethany, had made before she headed home for the evening. Thesoup du jourwas a customer favorite tonight. “Just happy to have you as our backup entertainer. People expect live music on the weekends. With you on the staff, we never disappoint.”
“I’m happy to help.” Especially when doing so enabled her to perform.
Ryder removed the spoon from the pan. “Maggie and I appreciate it, but if you want to perform elsewhere—”
“All I have to do is ask,” Ivy finished for him before pulling a tray of glasses out of the dishwasher. Her brother and sister would give her time off, but Friday and Saturday nights brought in the biggest tips. She only accepted a gig when she would earn the same amount or more than she would make at Quinn’s. She was saving for a new guitar. “I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
“Do.” He studied her the way only the oldest brother in the family could. “I can ask around to see if there are any dates open locally. Lewiston might have some, too.”
She held back a sigh. They’d had this conversation. She’d had a similar one with Maggie recently. With David and Carter, too.
Ivy filled pitchers with ice and water. “Thanks, but I’ve got the connections I need to find gigs in the area.”
Concern flashed in Ryder’s gaze. His eyes were the same green as Maggie’s and David’s. Ivy had hazel eyes like Carter, but the resemblance to her siblings ended there. Her hair with natural auburn and caramel highlights was lighter than everyone else’s dark brown. She often felt like the odd sibling out given her sister and three brothers owned businesses while she worked as a server and occasional performer.
“I have it covered,” she added, feeling self-conscious, even though people telling her to perform more often wasn’t new.
“You should pursue those connections and your music. Maggie agrees with me. You could be so much more than a server.”
Ivy raised her chin. “Hey, I enjoy being a server. What else would I do?”
“Sing.”
A shiver raced along Ivy’s spine. She nearly dropped the water pitcher. Carefully, she returned it to the counter before she made a mess.
She’d taken her shot at stardom. Crashed and burned in a fiery explosion. Her dreams hadn’t been dashed, but they’d imploded in front of millions. Almost ten years had passed, so most didn’t remember what had happened. But Ivy hadn’t forgotten. She never would.
“You could make your living as a singer,” Ryder added in that oldest-brother-knows-best tone.
She forced a laugh, hoping she sounded lighthearted and amused. The silverware supply was low, so Ivy wrapped a knife and fork in a napkin. “Thanks for the suggestion, but I’m considering enrolling part time at the community college in the fall. I picked up a course catalog.”
Not a lie. Ivy had picked up one, more out of curiosity than interest, but she hadn’t opened it yet. As she worked on the silverware, she glanced at her brother.
Ryder’s features now appeared relaxed. Catching her gaze, his lips curved into a more natural smile. “That would be great. Especially if you took music classes.”
She nodded, biting her tongue to keep from saying more. Agreeing was the best—the only—option that would satisfy him and her entire family. No matter how many times she’d told them she had no regrets giving up on a music career, they still pushed.
Over and over again.
Out of love, but it annoyed her.
Ivy might be the youngest of five, but she was twenty-eight years old. She could decide her own path in life. She’d never planned to be a server at Quinn’s for this long, but she was comfortable here. Why do something else? Her family was nearby. She would be an aunt soon. No doubt, more nieces and nephews would follow.
Thankfully, her mom was too busy with her “friend” Harry Peterson to hover the way she used to, but Ivy’s sister and three brothers felt they knew what was best for her. They still treated Ivy as if she were eighteen—the age she’d been when their father died of a massive heart attack.
