He wished he could go to her, but he’d promised R.J. he would stick around the hotel today, and Nash would keep his word. He owed that to his manager who had been with him from the beginning. “A statement will be released saying how we reconnected after I heard you sing at your family’s pub and decided I was wrong about your talent and wanted to help you with your music career.”
“But that’s what happened.” She sounded surprised.
“Not all PR statements are complete fabrications. Though some are, but—”
“Uh-oh, do I want to know?”
“The reaction to the song has been great, but questions have been raised about whether we’re together…as in dating. My team decided it was in both of our best interests, especially yours given what happened ten years ago, to say we aren’t romantically involved at the moment.”
Silence greeted him.
“I understand,” Ivy said with no emotion. Weird, given she wore her heart on her sleeve most of the time. “You’re leaving in another week or so, anyway. And it’s not like we—”
“We’re dating, Ivy.” Nash wasn’t about to let her think otherwise. “We haven’t put a label on us, but that’s how I feel and why the ‘at the moment’ is in there. To give us leeway for the future.”
A beat passed. And another. “Okay. What did R.J. think?”
R.J. had fought Nash about the wording. When Nash admitted there could be a video or photo of a brief kiss after the song, his manager had cursed him for an hour before relenting, saying he’d have the usual background checks run on Ivy. “He went along with it.”
“Good.”
“Yes.” Nash was under no illusion that would be the end of it with R.J., but Ivy didn’t need to know that. “So what’s the plan for tomorrow?”
Silence filled the line once again.
“Ivy?” Nash asked.
“You still want to go?”
The disbelief in her voice hurt his heart. No way would he let the past derail whatever was happening with Ivy. “I do. I even shaved for the occasion since my cover has been blown.”
“You’ll have to leave the hotel.”
“R.J. knows I’m going. He only said to stay here today. And trust me.” Nash kept his voice lighthearted. He wanted to cheer her up. “Beard or not, I’m an expert at sneaking out of hotels with no one seeing me. If there are any paparazzi in Quinn Valley, they won’t know where I am. But we should drive separately.”
“I understand.”
He hoped so. “Text me their address and what time I should be there.”
“I will.” Her voice was stronger. “And please don’t worry about bringing anything. If you explain the situation to Mama Aimee, she won’t get on you.”
Man, Ivy had nailed that situation well. “Mama Aimee called earlier to see how I was doing. I told her about the picnic.”
“What did she say?” The words sounded tight again.
Nash wanted to reach across the distance separating them and hold Ivy tightly, until the stress evaporated from her body and she smiled.
“She said your family sounds like a hoot, and I should have a blast whether or not I bring something.”
Though he had asked Bob to help him with a special surprise for Ivy. One that Nash thought the entire Quinn clan might enjoy.
“You will,” Ivy said, sounding a little more like herself.
That wasn’t good enough for Nash, especially since his wanting to sing a duet had brought the nightmare incident from her past back into her life.
“As long as I’m with you, Ivy.” He spoke from the heart. “I know that’s true.”
Nash only hoped she believed him.
