Chapter 12
When Markus came down, dressed in taupe pants, a white linen shirt, a Stetson, and snakeskin cowboy boots, he found Sierra alone in the kitchen, drinking a glass of white wine.
He’d met her only briefly the day he’d checked Nina in, but their short acquaintance didn’t detract from the fact that Sierra Hunt probably knew more about Nina’s new living situation than he did.
And Markus needed to know how Nina was really doing and why she’d been moved into the Hunts’ private home.
If he’d thought it was just because of the blatant attraction between Maverick and Nina, he wouldn’t have worried so much.
But Markus sensed there was more to it than that.
Still, he took his time, started with: ‘Where is everyone?’
‘They got a head start. Figured I’d wait for you and sneak an unofficial glass of wine before heading back.’ She swirled her glass in his direction. ‘Want one?’
‘Always.’
Markus watched her as she went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Chardonnay.
He figured good looks ran in the family.
While Maverick and Poppy had dark chocolate hair, Sierra’s was closer to honey-blonde in colour.
But their skin was that same warm tone he thought of as Perpetual Tan in colour.
While the strength in Maverick’s body and the gentle wear on his face matched the fact that he worked outside and with his hands, Sierra had a tall, slender figure and smooth, unlined skin that hinted at a woman who looked after herself militantly.
‘Do I have something on my face?’ she asked, catching his direct perusal.
‘Who does your Botox?’
‘Au naturel.’
He might have called bullshit had he not seen the smirk on her face, so settled for a pout instead. ‘I hate you.’
She shrugged. ‘Good genetics.’
‘That’s for damn sure.’
He thanked her when she passed him the glass of chilled wine, took a small, deliberate sip, sighed in pleasure, and then pushed the conversation in the direction he wanted it to go. ‘Okay. While I have you alone. Tell me everything about your brother.’
Sierra didn’t shy away. She grinned wickedly. ‘You see it too?’
‘See it? The pheromones slapped me in the face the moment I walked in.’ Sierra laughed, as he’d intended, but Markus reminded himself of what Nina had been through, and sobered. ‘I’m not snooping,’ he said.
Sierra leaned both elbows on the kitchen counter. ‘Coulda fooled me.’
‘Okay. I’m not only snooping,’ he corrected. ‘I’m really worried about her.’
Sierra tipped her head. She took a moment to think through it before replying, but when she did, the first thing she said was: ‘He’s been hurt.
And he’s closed that part of himself off since.
I can count the number of dates he’d been on in five years on one hand – and I use the word “date” generously. But he’s interested in Nina.’
‘All that tells me is that he has eyes.’ Markus took a bigger sip of wine. ‘Have you seen my girl? Every man is interested. I want to know who he is and if he’s worthy.’
Sierra ceded his point with a small nod. ‘After his ex walked out to pursue her modelling career, he put everything into raising Poppy. And say what you want, but you only have to watch him with his kid to answer any question you have about his character.’
‘Give me the SparkNotes anyway.’
Sierra shrugged, but she complied. ‘Unfalteringly loyal. He’ll stick, even when people don’t deserve it.’
Markus noted the bitterness in her tone, and though he wondered over it, he didn’t comment.
‘Kind. Gentle. Patient. He saves and trains rescue horses, and he supplements the funding for them with his own paycheque when he thinks I’m not paying attention. He’s stubborn. He can fight for what he wants, but he has to want it enough.
‘Incredible singer,’ she continued. ‘Terrible cook unless it’s scrambled eggs. Aquarius. And the fact that he’s even looking in Nina’s direction means he already cares.’ She tipped her glass in his direction. ‘Your turn.’
Markus didn’t hesitate. ‘She’s nervous of men – even before the assault. Which is why I tend to be a little overprotective on this one issue.’
‘Define nervous.’
‘She’s never dated seriously. Ever. Which, incidentally, means she already cares too.’
Sierra exhaled a surprised breath.
‘She’s fierce and determined. Hardworking. The best friend.’ He grinned. ‘Loyal. Stubborn. Also, can’t cook. Gemini. And despite his gorgeous face, if your brother hurts her, I will eviscerate him.’
Sierra tapped her glass to his. ‘Same goes, honey.’
Markus threw back his head and roared with laughter, making Sierra chuckle, and when he finally piped down enough to talk, he asked, ‘Are we friends?’
Sierra nodded. ‘Looks like.’
‘Good.’ He didn’t waste any time. Leaning forward, he asked, ‘So tell me, how did my girl end up moving in so fast?’
Sierra narrowed her eyes on his face, fully aware that she had been neatly trapped. ‘Nina is still a paying guest at the ranch.’
Before she could add more, Markus held up one hand.
‘Something happened. I know that. But she won’t talk to me about it, and I’m terrified because ever since the attack, I’ve sensed …
’ He thought about how to explain to a virtual stranger that he knew in his heart that something was very, very wrong.
‘I don’t know. Something. Like she’s not being entirely honest with me.
And I’m really worried. She was hurt, Sierra.
Badly. And even though she’s still terrified, she’s refused every attempt I’ve made to hire her protection. It doesn’t make sense.’
Sierra didn’t shrug off his concern. ‘Yeah. Maverick’s worried too.’
‘So?’
‘I don’t know much. She hasn’t offered, and I haven’t asked. She only moved in last night, which coincidentally is the only time I’ve spoken to her for more than five minutes.’
‘But why did she move in?’
‘If you tell her I told you, I will deny it. And I will terminate this newfound friendship immediately,’ she warned.
‘I won’t say anything – but I need to know.’
‘She had been locking herself in her bathroom at night and sleeping in the bathtub.’
Markus swore.
Sierra continued cautiously. ‘We only found out because she forgot to put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door one morning so housekeeping went in and found her bedding inside the tub.’
Markus scrubbed both hands over his face. ‘Fuck.’
‘Do we need to be concerned for her safety?’
‘I don’t know,’ he replied honestly. ‘I know she has some past trauma with this kind of thing – her mom was a junkie who let her Johns get too close a few times. But none of her behaviour since the attack has struck me as normal – if there is such a thing.’
‘Yeah. We’ve been wondering too – about why she didn’t bring close protection …’
‘She told me it would just attract attention and that she wanted to get back to the way things were. I insisted. She pushed back – there’s that stubborn streak.
But, yeah, it’s weird. I don’t know if she’s in denial, and I need to be here to protect her.
Or if she’s not telling me everything. Or both. ’
‘What are you going to do?’ Sierra asked.
There was nothing he could do. Markus wasn’t delusional, and there was a reason Nina was one of the few women who had actually made it in Hollywood.
She was strong and independent but that didn’t make him wish she’d lean on him a little too.
‘Trust,’ he said slowly, ‘that she knows her own mind and knows what she needs to heal. Worry, because she’s the other half of my heart and I can’t just turn that off.
Hope, that I’m just being paranoid and that your brother keeps an eye on her anyway. ’
‘He will.’ Sierra reached out and squeezed his hand. ‘As long as she’s here, we all will.’
‘Thank you.’ Markus returned the squeeze. But because things had gotten far too serious far too fast, he threw back the last of his wine. ‘Now, are you gonna show me a good time or what?’
Sierra held up her index finger, finished her own wine, and replied, ‘Let me go put on my lipstick.’
‘Blood red,’ Markus told her.
Sierra pointed at him and nodded as she rounded the kitchen counter and hurried upstairs.
The Wagon Train at Hunt Ranch was a beautiful outdoor eating area by the lake.
Three ancient oak trees circled the grassy lawn, the paved dance floor, and the small stage, forming a natural boundary.
Two restored and outfitted wagons, one on either side of the clearing, served as bars.
And, at least for tonight, a huge barbecue rig smoked happily away next to tables where staff were busy setting up a series of chafing dishes in preparation for dinner.
Nina, Maverick, and Poppy had claimed a cluster of wicker chairs right beneath one of the oak trees. As the band finished setting up, tuning their instruments and testing the mic, Maverick sipped a beer, Nina, a blended margarita.
It was a perfect June evening, the warm day cooling down to the mid-seventies. All around them, guests dressed in western attire formed little groups. Laughter rang through the air.
Nina was thinking how beautiful it was when she saw Markus and Sierra arrive, their arms linked, their heads bent together as they walked over.
In the big wicker chair next to the love seat she sat on, Maverick followed Nina’s gaze. ‘I haven’t seen Sierra smile like that in a while.’
‘Markus has a way about him,’ Nina said fondly. ‘He cares about making people happy. And he tries really hard – with everyone.’
Maverick didn’t have a chance to reply as Markus and Sierra reached them. But he stood up immediately, asked, ‘Can I get you two a drink?’
‘I’ll stick with Chardonnay,’ Sierra replied and slipped onto the settee with Poppy.
‘Markus?’ Maverick swung his gaze to Markus.
‘Uh, I’ll have the same. Thanks.’
The band started playing and Sierra and Markus picked up their conversation, Nina covertly watched Maverick as he walked up to the bar. Whatever he said to the young bartender had the man grinning openly.