Summer Serenade

by Melissa McClone

“Believe in yourself the way so many others do.”

  She nodded, but all she could think about was the three songs he wanted. She didn’t know the titles of the other two, but it didn’t matter.

  “There’s one more thing.”

  She placed her hand over her chest. “I’m not sure my heart can take much more.”

  “You can handle this,” he assured her. “I want you to record ‘Broken Dreams’ with me. I told R.J. and he still has to run it by a few people, but no one else can do justice to that duet but you. I can’t see anyone having a problem with it.”

  “I get to sing with you?” Ivy’s own words sank into her. “I get to sing with you! Talk about a dream come true.”

  “I want all your dreams to come true.”

  Her body tingled. Her heart raced. She felt as if she was one second away from floating into the sky.

  Ivy wrapped her arms around him. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

  “You’re the one with the songs and the voice.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “You did this. I was the conduit.”

  “You’re an excellent one of those.”

  “Enjoy the moment.” He hugged her. “The songs are a done deal, but the duet should be soon.”

  “I won’t tell anyone about the duet, but can I—”

  “You can tell anyone you want about the songs.”

  She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the house. “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?” he asked, amused.

  “To tell whoever is here about the songs.”

  His latest surprise was awesome, but the best part was being in a relationship with Nash. She didn’t know how the distance would work once he left Quinn Valley, but she knew they would figure it out. She would show the naysayers in her family how wrong they were about Nash Bennett.

  Ivy couldn’t wait to hear them apologize.

  * * *

  The next two days, Ivy was still caught up in the glow of knowing Nash wanted three of her songs. He seemed to want to be with her, too. But that didn’t mean her regular life stopped.

  She carried a lunch order to table four. She didn’t normally work this shift but was splitting it with another server to cover for a third on vacation. The extra hours would be good for her savings account, but she missed being able to spend more of the day with Nash.

  “I have a chicken Caesar salad for you.” She placed the plate in front of the customer in seat one, which was how she kept track of orders. “And a macaroni and cheese lunch special for you.”

  “Thank you.” A woman in her twenties, the one who ordered the salad, studied Ivy. “You sang on that video with Nash Bennett.”

  “I did.” And at some point Ivy would record it with him. She wiggled her toes.

  The other woman, who appeared to be a little older, picked up her fork. “What a lucky break he found you in Quinn Valley.”

  A thrill raced through Ivy. “I thank my lucky stars every day.”

  “I bet,” the salad woman said. “Have you met his girlfriend yet?”

  Ivy froze. “Uh, no?”

  “He and Peyton Rush make such a cute couple. You must be thrilled to have her singing your song with Nash.” The other woman scooped up a bite of the mac and cheese. “She’s not only amazing, but she’s more famous than he is.”

  Everyone knew Peyton Rush. Ten years ago, she’d dated Nash. Now both were superstars. Her more so than him.

  Feeling dizzy, Ivy steadied herself with the back of the chair. “Excuse me. I have to check on an order.”

  Heart pounding, Ivy went into the kitchen. Spots appeared before her eyes. The tight feeling across her chest got worse. She was having trouble inhaling.

  Bethany stood at the stove with a spoon in her hand. She wore her chef’s jacket and hat. “Hey, I have…”

  Ivy put her hand over her heart. Air left her lungs faster than she could bring it in. “Can’t breathe.”

  Something clattered onto the floor. Bethany sat Ivy on the bench in the employee locker room. “Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Slowly.”

  Ivy tried. One breath. Two breaths. Okay, she could breathe again. “Thanks.”

  “You’re pale.”

  Nash’s girlfriend. Singing Ivy’s song.

  Bethany touched her shoulder. “Take deeper breaths.”

  Ivy did.

  “What’s going on?” Bethany asked.

  “I need to check my phone.” Ivy grabbed hers from the locker. She searched news for Nash’s name. Multiple articles appeared. All saying the same thing. That Nash had reunited with Peyton Rush, the princess of the country charts, after ten years apart, and the two would record a duet called “Broken Dreams” together by a new songwriter Nash had discovered.

  Not only a songwriter but also his… Ivy handed her phone to Bethany.

  Her sister-in-law gasped. “I don’t understand.”

  “Me, either.”

  “Did you know about them?”

  Ivy shook her head. “I thought we…”

  “Maybe it’s a publicity ploy or something.”

  Not all PR statements are complete fabrications. Though some are.

  “Maybe.” Ivy took back her phone. She shouldn’t look, but curiosity got the best of her.

  Multiple posts cheered the relationship, calling them the powerhouse couple of Nashville. Several stated his girlfriend, Peyton Rush, had turned Nash’s troubled life around. The Bad Boy had become Prince Charming.

  But what about his other girlfriend? The one right here?

  Her sister and brothers had warned Ivy. Told her Nash was bad news and would hurt her, but she hadn’t wanted to believe them. Now…

  Tears pricked. Her stomach roiled.

  She ran outside and threw up in the alley.

  Bethany handed her a wet paper towel. “You need to talk to Nash. Find out the truth.”

  “I know.”

  “There’s mouthwash in the bathroom,” Bethany offered. “Not sure whose, but I doubt they’ll mind.”

  “Thanks.” Ivy glanced at the door. “My shift—”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Compassion filled Bethany’s eyes. “You take care of this. I’ll call Ryder and Maggie. Someone will cover it.”

  After Ivy cleaned herself up in the bathroom, she walked toward the hotel. She didn’t want to think the worst of Nash. Okay, she had at first. Admitting that only made her feel worse.

  No more jumping to conclusions.

  She would give him the chance to explain what was going on.

  Ivy only hoped he could.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The knock didn’t surprise Nash. Seeing Ivy standing on the opposite side of the door with a frown did. He assumed Bob or one of her brothers would pay him a visit when the news broke. Nash hadn’t expected her to find out at work.

  No worries.

  Once he explained as R.J. had said to, she would understand. She’d forgiven Nash before, this time would be no different. Knowing that, however, didn’t lighten his heavy heart. He opened the door.

  She stormed into his suite. “Is it true? Peyton Rush is your girlfriend, and you’re singing ‘Broken Dreams’ with her?”

  He didn’t think his muscles could tighten more. He was wrong. “Peyton isn’t my girlfriend. You are. But I am singing your song with her.”

  Ivy plopped onto the couch. A range of emotions crossed her face, one after the other, but relief didn’t appear. She pinned him with a hard gaze. “Why didn’t you tell me what was happening?”

  “Nothing was decided until this morning. You had to work early and longer hours, so I didn’t want to bother you.” Nash sounded defensive, but that was how he felt. “This wasn’t something I could explain to you over the phone or via text. I planned to talk to you after your shift.”

  “The stuff I read…” Ivy rubbed her hands against her pants. “What’s going on?”

  Nash sat next to her. He waited for her to scoot closer. She
didn’t. “My producer and the record execs want me to sing the duet with Peyton Rush.”

  “Your ex-girlfriend, right? The one who put you in such a bad mood on my audition day?”

  He hadn’t remembered Peyton’s connection to Ivy. “Yes, but that’s been over a long time. We’re friends. Nothing more.”

  “You told me the duet wasn’t a sure thing, but hearing Peyton Rush is your girlfriend? She has no idea I exist, yet she’s had and continues to have a huge impact on me.” Ivy barely got the words out before she hung her head. “But if things are over between you two, why do people think you’re dating her again?”

  He’d upset her. Again.

  His heart squeezed tightly.

  Nash cut the distance between them, put his arm around Ivy, and pulled her close. “Peyton has a spotless reputation. Being with her will help me clean up mine. She truly is as sweet as she appears. That’s all this is about. Nothing else. I promise.”

  Ivy’s forehead creased. “I thought a PR firm was handling that.”

  “They are and have been doing a good job, but R.J.’s still worried. He came up with this idea to help—said it would be the best thing for my career.”

  Ivy’s shoulder sagged. “‘This’ meaning Peyton.”

  Nash nodded. He wanted to kiss away the sadness from Ivy’s eyes. He knew this would be a difficult discussion but seeing her upset was tearing him apart. “Peyton agreed to be my ‘fake’ girlfriend if she could sing the duet with me. Somehow she heard our recording and wanted the song, too.”

  Ivy took a breath. “How did it come together?”

  “Discussions started last night. Details were finalized this morning.”

  Ivy’s eyes widened. “You said your PR firm was the best in the business, but you’re not kidding. They got the news out fast.”

  “R.J. didn’t think there was any reason to wait.”

  She flinched. “Giving your ‘real’ girlfriend a heads-up wasn’t a good enough reason?”

  Ivy hadn’t come up in the discussions besides her being mentioned as the songwriter. R.J. felt the less others knew about her the better, so the plan wouldn’t appear too complicated. That, however, didn’t excuse Nash from leaving her out. “I didn’t think about that.”

  “At least you’re honest.” She didn’t sound amused. The lines on her forehead deepened. “Did you go to bat for me?”

  He hadn’t, but there was a reason for that. One he knew she would understand. “No, because you’re unknown without a platform. Over the past five years, each of Peyton’s songs has hit number one. It’s been a few years since I hit the top of the charts, so that was the producer’s and label’s reasoning for having her sing ‘Broken Dreams’ with me.”

  “I didn’t mean the duet.” The words rushed out. “Did you go to bat for me as your girlfriend so you wouldn’t need a fake one?”

  His lips parted. He hadn’t.

  Ivy exhaled slowly before moving away so his arm dropped from around her. “I’ll take that as a no.”

  “R.J. says this isn’t a big deal. You and I can still see each other, and I’ll be back on top with a shiny reputation. A win-win.”

  “I’m not dating R.J.” Her harsh tone matched her hurt expression. “I was dating you.”

  The past tense sent a chill along Nash’s spine. His stomach knotted. “Nothing has changed. You’re my girlfriend. This fake relationship is for publicity. It doesn’t affect us.”

  “That’s not true. Everyone, including my family, will believe you’re dating Peyton Rush.” Ivy’s voice grew thick. “People will think you’re cheating on her with me.”

  He hadn’t considered that. R.J. hadn’t mentioned it, either.

  Nash rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s not a problem. All we have to do is make sure no one sees us together.”

  Ivy stiffened. “So I become your secret girlfriend? A guilty pleasure? Not good enough to be out in public with you? Please tell me you’re joking.”

  Nash gulped. R.J. had made it sound so simple. “That’s not how I feel about you. It’s what we’ve been doing.”

  “Only because you didn’t want people to know you were in town and, once they found out, to avoid the media. You didn’t mind going to the picnic on the Fourth.”

  “This will only be temporary.”

  “Unless R.J. decides you need to continue to date Peyton.” Ivy’s jaw tensed. “I’m guessing he wants me out of your life. A superstar doesn’t need to be dating a second-rate performer who fills in at her brother and sister’s pub even if she writes hit songs for you to sing.”

  She wasn’t wrong about that, but Nash would make this work. “You’re not a second-rate performer. We need to give R.J. time to get used to us dating. He’ll come around.”

  “Before or after I hear you’re ‘fake’ engaged to Peyton Rush?” Ivy fired back.

  “Please,” Nash implored Ivy. “We can make this work.”

  “Do you know what you’re asking?” Her voice cracked.

  “I’m doing this for us. I want you in my life.” He couldn’t imagine her not in it. “Everything will go back to normal sooner than you think.”

  She shook her head. “My family won’t understand. I’m not even sure I get it.”

  The distance between them grew. The thought of losing her was sending him into a tailspin, but he had to remain in control.

  “Please, Ivy. Don’t take this personally.” He tried to think of something—anything—he could say to make her understand. “It’s business. Things are great between us. We can’t let this get in the way of that.”

  Her hands clenched. “Stop saying ‘this’ when you mean a fake relationship with a beautiful, successful singer who is the envy of people everywhere. One who keeps affecting my life in negative ways each time I’m at the cusp of seeing my dreams coming true.”

  A lump burned in his throat. Ivy wasn’t reacting the way he’d expected. He thought she might be confused, maybe even sad, but her anger surprised him.

  “R.J. is only doing what’s best for me. Like he’s always done.” Nash tried to keep his voice steady, but his insides trembled. “He’s been with me since the beginning.”

  “And how long have you been miserable because of him?” Ivy didn’t sound spiteful, more…honest.

  Nash couldn’t… He didn’t dare answer.

  “Whose life is it? R.J.’s or yours?” Her voice rose. “You’re not that kid plucked from a dive bar, playing for a percentage of the take. You’re Nash Bennett, country superstar.”

  “Without R.J., I’d be nothing.”

  “You have no idea where you’d be, but it might be in the same place or a better one.”

  Nash shook his head. “You don’t understand.”

  “I don’t,” she admitted. “I only know the music business from what I’ve read or seen on television. I do know you’ve seemed happy in Quinn Valley, away from R.J. and whatever he wants from you on a given day.”

  Nash hated that what she said was true, but he knew the reason. “I’ve been happy because this is a vacation.”

  Her face fell. “So I’m your vacation romance?”

  “No.” Nash felt like he was drowning, but nothing he did or said would save him. Ivy was his lifeline, but she wasn’t helping him. “That came out wrong. I’m sorry.”

  “Are you?” Her hard gaze cut into him like a blade. “You say you don’t want to hurt me, yet you keep doing it and end up having to apologize.”

  “I know. And I hate it.” The harder he tried, the worse things seemed to get. But he couldn’t lose her. The thought he might sent panic surging through him. “Tell me what I can do to fix this. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  A beat passed. And another.

  “You can’t.” Ivy stood. She squared her shoulders, but that didn’t hide the quiver of her bottom lip or the gleam in her eyes. “My family warned me, but I defended you. I fell for you hard. Never thinking they were right. Trusting you. Believing in you. But you kno
w what? You are bad for me.”

  Nash jumped to his feet. He reached for her, but she moved away so fast his hand hit only air. “Ivy, please—”

  “I never thought you could hurt me more than you did in Seattle. But you have.” She rubbed her eyes. “This has nothing to do with the duet. It’s because you agreed to have a ‘fake’ girlfriend when you have a ‘real’ one right here. I won’t be a secret. Your ‘other’ woman. Because that’s what the media and fans would call me if they found out even though I was here first. I deserve better, and the fact you don’t realize that when you say you care about me breaks my heart.”

  No. This couldn’t be happening.

  “I care. You have no idea how much I care.” His vision blurred. His heart ached. “I don’t want to lose you. I can’t.”

  “Too late. You already have.” With her head held high, Ivy went to the door. “Goodbye, Nash.”

  * * *

  Ivy hurried from the hotel to her apartment. It wasn’t that far, but she didn’t want to chance running into anyone if she stopped at the pub to get her car. She would pick it up later.

  She’d thought her dreams would finally come true. That she and Nash could sing and be together. But that wasn’t happening.

  Now or ever.

  The title “Broken Dreams” had never seemed more appropriate. Or would that be ironic?

  How about pathetic?

  She should have known better. Her dreams hadn’t come true ten years ago. Why had she thought it would be different this time?

  Somehow her dreams and Nash had become linked, then and now. She didn’t even want to think about Peyton Rush’s unknowing role in this.

  Ivy’s siblings had told her this wouldn’t end well, yet she hadn’t believed them. She’d trusted Nash, given him her songs and her heart. Hoped for the best, but she’d admitted to herself he might break her heart. She just hadn’t expected it would be in this way or so soon.

  Nash wanted her, but the thought of seeing him in secret made her feel less, not good enough. He and the trolls on the internet had made her feel that way before. Never again.

  That was why she’d stood up for herself. Something she should have done during the audition ten years ago, but she hadn’t been strong enough. Today she was. That made her proud despite her broken heart.