Ryder glared. “I’m doing this for Ivy and the pub, not you.”
Nash raised his hands. “Understood.”
And he did. Understand that was. He’d hurt their sister when the family was at their lowest point. He wouldn’t be so understanding, either, which was why Ivy’s forgiveness continued to amaze him.
He put on the jacket and replaced his beanie with the chef’s hat.
“I can drive you,” Ivy said.
“As I mentioned, this isn’t my first rodeo. Let them think I’m Will.” Nash straightened the chef’s hat. “I’ll walk directly to the hotel. I’ll go now so no one is the wiser.”
Ivy started to speak and then stopped herself.
He wanted to kiss the worry from her eyes. “I’ll text you when I’m in my room.”
“Please do.”
“Before I go.” Nash pulled out a wallet and handed a fifty to Maggie. “For my drinks.”
She took it but said nothing.
Ivy touched his arm. “Be careful.”
“I’ll be fine.” But given the mood of her four siblings, he was more worried about her than himself. “You take care, okay?”
With that, he hurried out the door. As he walked through the alleyway, he saw only a raccoon scavenging for food in a dumpster. When he turned onto the crossroad that intersected with Main Street, a few people glanced his way but only for a moment.
Nash kept a brisk pace all the way to the hotel. When he stepped inside, relief flowed through him.
Someone cleared his throat. It was Bob, who shook his head. “Do I even want to know why you’re dressed like that?”
* * *
Ivy had never wanted to face a firing squad, but she imagined the people aiming at her might have more sympathetic expressions than those from her four siblings. She had a feeling they were about to go ballistic on her.
“Nash Bennett?” Maggie’s tone was vitriolic. “I’ll have to sterilize the entire bar now.”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t have cooties.”
“Why are you singing with him?” Carter asked.
David shook his head. “Why did you let him kiss you?”
“The kiss was unexpected,” Ivy admitted, but it sure was nice. Best not to share that part, especially with her brothers. Though Maggie didn’t look happy, either.
“Why is he here? He’s your mortal enemy,” Maggie reminded. “Did you forget what he said to you?”
No, Ivy would never forget, but… “I forgave him.”
Four jaws dropped. Her siblings stared at Ivy as if she’d lost her mind.
“Why?” they asked in unison.
She didn’t feel right sharing what Nash had told her during his apology, but her sister and brothers needed an explanation. “We talked on Sunday. He explained why he said what he did but made no excuses. He feels bad over what happened and apologized.”
Carter rolled his eyes. “Ten years too late.”
“Better late than never,” Ivy countered. “He never watched the show. He didn’t remember judging me.”
