Chapter 23
‘How are you holding up?’ Markus asked Nina as soon as Mav, Sierra and Benji left for the weekly staff meeting.
Nina didn’t tear up. She was too tired to even cry. But she replied honestly. ‘Not great.’ She rested both arms on the kitchen table. ‘I’m scared. And angry. And in love for the first time. But, mostly, I’m exhausted.’
‘Focus on the good,’ he advised. ‘Always. Let the anger fuel you for the days ahead but let go of the fear. We’re here. He can’t hurt you now.’
‘He can,’ she argued. ‘And he will.’ But she smiled, remembering how Maverick had stood by her side to confront Alex. ‘But I think I’d have enough, you know. If I lost my career. Mav. Poppy and Sierra. The ranch …’
‘You fell fast,’ he said, but his tone was cautious.
Nina heard it. ‘What?’
‘Just be careful, okay? I really like Maverick. And God knows, the man is easy to look at. But just … be careful. I want this for you – but that doesn’t mean I can’t be scared at how quickly you’re moving, too.’
Nina wasn’t offended. Markus’s concern came from a heart that loved her fiercely. She did say, ‘I never wanted a man.’ She laughed aloud at herself. ‘After watching Lulu all those years …’
‘You’re not your mother.’
‘I know that. I do. But growing up in that environment really damaged me, Markus. Men have always made me anxious. Even the few that I slept with … I only did it because I thought I had to prove to myself that I wasn’t …
I don’t know – “frigid” sounds too cold.
But it’s probably close to accurate. I didn’t enjoy it – sex.
I didn’t feel a connection or … or pleasure.
The idea of intimacy terrified me. And instead of proving to myself that I was normal, the few times I tried only seemed to reaffirm my doubts.
Because how could I go thirty-four years without feeling—’ she slapped one hand to her chest ‘—this? This want. And need. Just the urge to be closer to someone, to be touched by someone – him.’
When tears burned her eyes, she refused to let them fall.
‘And it’s the loveliest feeling to know that I’m not broken, just locked.
And that I was waiting for the person who had the key.
The right person.’ She exhaled a huge breath as the immensity of emotion wrapped around her.
‘He’s so kind, Markus. So gentle with me. ’
Markus sniffled. ‘Girl,’ he rasped.
As she spoke, Nina realized what she had found. And it gave her courage. ‘I’m going to marry him.’
‘What?’ he stared at her.
Nina laughed, as stunned by her declaration as he was. ‘He doesn’t know it yet. I only just realized it myself … But why wouldn’t I hold on to this with both hands?’
‘It’s a lot to take on.’ He tipped his head in the direction of the lounge where Poppy was still watching TV.
She shook her head. ‘Not for me. Loving Poppy is easy. Maybe it’s not maternal love yet, but I have no doubts that I can get there in time. Loving Mav is scary and overwhelming, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. He makes me want things I’ve never thought about before.’
‘Like marriage.’
Nina nodded slowly. ‘Like marriage. And …’ She swallowed the lump in her throat down. ‘He makes me think about babies,’ she admitted shakily.
Markus gasped dramatically. He used both hands to run a drumroll on the table.
‘I can do your wedding and maternity shoots! Oh my God – long, lace sleeves on the dress. Hair, half down, half up. And you, on horseback in that white gown and black cowgirl boots. Mav on the ground, looking up at you. And when you’re preggers, Mav can do that trick where he gets Zephyr to lie down.
I’ll dress you in a maroon – no, hunter green!
– tube dress and a cowgirl hat and boots, and then you can lean back against Mav and the horse, both hands on your belly.
Oh. My. God! I’m so excited. I know I said go slow, but I changed my mind. Can you expedite this?’ he teased.
Nina didn’t laugh it off. She could see his vision. And she wanted it. ‘I mean, as maid of honour, you’d have a deciding vote on the dress.’
Markus did a booty shake in his chair. ‘How soon do you think you can get this ball rolling?’ he asked. ‘Now that the idea’s in my head, I’m not going to sleep until it’s done—’
‘Nina?’
Both Markus and Nina turned as Poppy came into the kitchen. ‘What’s wrong, Poppy?’ Nina asked kindly.
‘Where’s my dad?’ Poppy asked, but she came to Nina and climbed onto her lap with no self-consciousness.
Nina absently tucked an errant strand of Poppy’s hair back into her braid. ‘He just had to pop into work for a bit. He should be home soon.’
‘The bad man came.’
Nina’s hands paused in their task. She floundered for a moment before making a decision. Turning Poppy a little, she said, ‘He did. But your dad scared him away.’
‘Daddy always scares away the bad man.’
‘He does,’ Nina agreed.
But Markus saw her hands shaking and intervened. ‘Hey, Poppy. What do you think about me being your Uncle Markus?’
Poppy eyed him seriously. ‘Do you like dolls?’
‘Girl, I had a Barbie Dreamhouse growing up. My mom saved up to buy it for me when I was about your age.’ He looked at Nina. ‘She knew it would make me happy even though it was hard for her.’
‘I have a Dreamhouse!’ Poppy chirped. ‘Daddy bought it for me after we watched the movie!’ She hopped off Nina’s lap and grabbed Markus’s hand. ‘Come see!’
Markus winked at Nina. ‘Excuse me. I have uncle duties to attend to.’
Nina watched them go with a smile on her face.
But seeing that there were wine glasses on the table and plates in the sink, she pushed to her feet.
Doing the dishes would give her something to distract herself with because although she knew that there was a future on the ranch with Maverick, and all she had to do was reach out and take it, the notion was still terrifying to her.
He might not have said he loved her yet, but he had also told her he wouldn’t. He had told her that there would always be a place for her in his life, and in a way that was far more of a commitment than those three words, which were used so often and so casually.
Nina’s life as a perpetual single hadn’t been lonely, but she wondered now how much of that had to do with finding comfort in avoiding fear and how much of it had to do with genuinely not being lonely. Had she actually been happy, or had she been comfortable? She wasn’t quite sure.
She’d had Markus, of course. But they both worked all week and some weekends and nights too. So, getting together wasn’t always easy. And when they did get together, it was for a few hours here or there, brunch or a drink or dinner.
But what she did know now, after only a few weeks of being surrounded by the Hunts, was that she couldn’t imagine ever going back to that solitary existence.
She liked living with them, liked that they ate dinner together every night and celebrated birthdays and bickered. She adored Poppy’s happy chatter and little footsteps as they sounded through the house. She loved making love in Mav’s big bed and then falling asleep in his arms.
When she was with them, she felt like she’d found a family, her family. And if there was a part of her that was terrified it might all just be novelty, she snuffed it. Because wasn’t it better to choose happiness, even if it only lasted a short while? Nina thought so …
Maverick sat in Sierra’s office, waiting for the management staff to join them for the weekly debrief. Although he hated making Nina’s attack the centre of attention, the resort staff deserved to know what they would be facing.
For the first time in a long time, Sierra and Benji didn’t snap at one another as they waited for everyone to trickle in. They didn’t talk either, but Mav figured Nina’s story had given them something to distract them from their usual standoff.
On the floor, Shadow sighed in her sleep.
As staff began to arrive, Mav couldn’t help but compare this meeting to that first one where he’d heard about Nina, only two weeks ago. It was so strange that a life could drastically change in such a short period of time.
Two weeks for him.
Less still for Nina. Her life had changed completely in only a few minutes, when a man had broken into her house and stolen pieces of her using force.
Sierra finally looked up and did a quick headcount before saying, ‘Let’s get started.’
As the room fell quiet, Sierra continued, ‘Today’s meeting is going to be a little different from what you’re used to.’
Nobody spoke, though there were a few curious expressions and raised eyebrows.
‘As you all know, Nina Keller has been staying here for the past two weeks—’
The clamour immediately started again. Deb gushed, ‘She’s so sweet!’
Lucas, their event planner, added, ‘Pretty, too,’ and shot a wink in Mav’s direction.
Sierra talked over them, calling attention back to her before they could continue. ‘Her attacker showed up at the ranch today.’
A deathly silence followed.
Sierra spoke into the void. ‘She knew who he was. A producer on her new film who didn’t like the fact that Nina didn’t want to date him.’
‘What?’ This came from Jordyn, whose feet dropped off Sierra’s desk as she leaned forward in her chair.
‘Holy shit,’ Paul added.
‘He threatened her after the attack, which is why she came here. And this morning, he came to—’ Sierra made air quotes ‘—check up on her.’
Lucas turned beet red. ‘I hope you told him to fuck off.’
‘Actually,’ Sierra said, smiling, ‘Mav broke the guy’s hand.’
There was a loud round of applause.
Paul slapped him on the back.
Jordyn gave him a single nod of approval.
‘But?’
All eyes turned to Deb.
‘I mean, there is a but – right? You wouldn’t be telling us if there wasn’t.’
‘Tomorrow morning, Nina and Mav are going to head back to LA. To officially file a police report.’ Sierra linked her hands together on the desk, Mav knew, trying to appear calm despite the storm. ‘After which, we will be closing the resort gates to the public for two weeks.’
Sierra continued through the ghostly silence. ‘We’re expecting a media storm. And we want to keep Nina as safe as possible during it. Obviously, we also want to continue to provide our guests with the luxury and privacy they’re paying for.’
Jordyn collapsed back in her seat. ‘Sierra … The restaurant – the bar – is our cash cow.’
‘I know.’ Sierra sighed. ‘I am fully aware of the risk we’re taking, but we can survive two weeks of limited operations.’ When Jordyn didn’t say anything, Sierra added, ‘Think of it as a two-week vacation, Jords. You’ll be feeding twenty to fifty people a day instead of hundreds.’
‘I mean, I’m all for the break and I’m sure my staff are too, but I don’t want you guys to risk the resort. I freaking love my job here.’
Several nods followed her statement.
‘We’re not risking the resort. Closing to the public will hurt – yes. But we’ll manage.’ Sierra sighed. ‘We look after our own here. And since Mav and Nina are dating—’
‘Goddammit.’ Jordyn fished a hundred-dollar bill from her bra and passed it to Deb.
Paul groaned. ‘I’ll give it to you after the meeting.’
Lucas said, ‘Ditto.’
Mav had to ask, ‘You guys had a pool going?’
‘We did,’ Deb said sheepishly.
‘Dude!’ Jordyn slapped his arm. ‘I’m happy for you and shit, but you just cost me.’ She shook her head. ‘Maverick Hunt dating the Nina Keller. Who would’ve guessed?’ She angled her head to look at him. ‘I’d ask if it’s serious, but I know you.’
‘I don’t do casual,’ was all he said in reply.
‘Oh my God, could you imagine if she moved here? And we got to see her all the time?’ Deb asked excitedly. ‘We’d have our own resident celebrity!’
‘Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves,’ Mav warned, only because he desperately wanted that future but couldn’t focus on it until Nina was safe.
There was a lot that needed to happen before they even had that conversation, including dealing with Alexander Cane and the ensuing fallout. And, still, he was man enough to admit that he was scared.
Nina had a life that she had worked really hard for.
But so did he. If they chose to stay together, if she chose to stay with him, it would be hard.
For both of them. He would never ask her to give up acting, so there would be months of distance when she was actively filming.
And, yeah, he could visit relatively often.
But it would weigh on them.
And Poppy.
He could know in the depths of his soul that Nina and Shannon were nothing alike and still understand that it would be difficult for him and Nina to make an honest go of it. And if it didn’t work out …
‘It’s going to be a rough couple of months here,’ Sierra said, distracting him from his thoughts.
‘I’ve put together some Dos and Don’ts of talking to media.
’ She reached for a wad of papers and passed them around.
‘The gates will be locked, but they’ll try get in anyway.
If in doubt, just say “No comment,” and then come and get either Mav or me. ’
She picked up another stack of papers and passed them around. Mav looked down at the IMDb photo of Alexander Cane. Handsome. Successful. Wealthy. And a complete predator.
‘This is the man who assaulted Nina …’