to sports, but he’s been known to capitalize on other opportunities.”
“The town had seemed so welcoming before,” Ivy said.
“Have the people you know changed their attitude or how they’re treating you?”
Ivy thought about this. “No, I can’t think of anyone other than Darla.”
He clasped her hand as they strolled. “Small towns are wonderful places to live when residents are supportive, but sometimes a few characters can change opinions. I haven’t seen it happen often, but I won’t say it doesn’t. Overall, Summer Beach is a pretty good place to live.”
Ivy was glad to hear that. “I can manage the gossip, though it is annoying. But I’m concerned about Shelly and Mitch. Since Darla is behind it, she’s driving this divisiveness even more. Do you know why she has taken such a sudden dislike to Shelly?”
“It all has to do with how she feels about Mitch,” Bennett replied. “She’s like a protective mother hen. She only wants what’s best for him.”
“So, she doesn’t think Shelly is?”
Bennett paused at the end of a row. “Okay, I see your point. I could talk to her if you want.”
Ivy considered this offer. “I appreciate that, but it’s not your place. Mitch ought to be the one to talk to her and stick up for Shelly.”
“He probably will. He’s just working through some things right now.”
Ivy’s ears pricked up at that. “Like what?”
Bennett ran a hand over his face. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. That’s really between Mitch and—”
“And who?” Ivy turned to face him.
Bennett blew out a breath. “I can’t betray the trust that Mitch has placed in me. This is something personal for Mitch. Forget what I said.”
Alarms went off in Ivy’s mind. “Now I can’t forget it. If my sister’s happiness depends on what Mitch is working through, then she ought to know.” What was Bennett keeping from her? And what was Mitch concealing from Shelly?
Bennett blinked several times, clearly at a loss as to what to say. “I don’t want to ruin this beautiful day by having an argument about Mitch and Shelly.”
“I wouldn’t call this an argument,” Ivy said. “Unless you continue keeping whatever secret could hurt Shelly.”
“Trust me,” Bennett said. “They will work out what they need to without our intervention. I know you’re protective of Shelly. I feel the same way about Mitch, and I assure you, I want what’s best for both of them. I know how much is at stake for them and their future. Mitch will tell her, but that will be between them unless they want to share it. Please trust me on this.”
Reluctantly, Ivy agreed. She wondered if she should tell Shelly what Bennett said—or if that would worry her sister even more. She would have to think about this later.
“It’s just that the time for our parents’ planned departure is drawing closer,” Ivy said, trying a different approach. “If there is anything I can do to move this wedding along…”
“There isn’t,” Bennett said sharply before softening his tone. “Let’s focus on us today. I brought you here so that we could talk about our future and what we want.”
“And we have been talking about that,” she said. “Your renewed interest in surfing, my children and my painting, the inn.” She paused. She didn’t mean to sound defensive, but she desperately wanted Shelly to be happy. Her sister had waited so long for her turn. What had she said? To sail into her sunrise.
“After we get married, where would you like to live?” Bennett asked, turning onto another row of vines marked Tempranillo.
“We have plenty of rooms at the inn,” she said, attempting to inject some levity into their conversation. She’d hardly thought about his question.
Bennett smiled at that. “Which room—yours or mine? Or did you have another idea? Once the tenants in my home move out, we can relocate there. You can redecorate any way you want.”
Ivy thought about this. As appealing as it should be, she didn’t want to move. Now or in the future. “I rather like being at the inn. Sunny is still there, and it’s a place for Misty to come home to as well. Not that she is, but it’s available if she needs it. And I love having the space for entertaining my family.”
“None of that would change if we lived in my home. You’d still have the inn. Or another house of your choosing. I could get a good price for my place if I were to sell it.”
“No, don’t do that. The inn