Mav hadn’t fought her on it because he’d known she’d needed the break. But he wasn’t worried about her career either. He had seen all her films now, and he knew she’d have her choice of projects when she was ready. But knowing it –believingit – and trying to convince her of it were two separate issues.
And even then, he barely had the bandwidth to focus on it. The trial and online war were brutal.
During the first few weeks, Mav had made what Sierra had called a ‘rookie mistake’ and started reading the comments on Nina’s first post after the assault. Although most of them were supportive and encouraging, there were many that tore her apart, calling her a liar, an attention seeker, a slut, and worse. Reading them had left Maverick in despair for days.
He didn’t understand how anyone, but especially someone who hadn’t been in that room with Nina as Alexander Cane had violated and hurt her, could be so casually and thoughtlessly cruel.
It was taking its toll on Nina, too. She struggled to sleep. She never felt like eating. And the result was that her already diminutive frame had shed weight she couldn’t afford to lose in the first place.
And still, she powered forward.
Maverick did, too. He showed up for her, again and again. He went to every attorney meeting and court date and held her hand through it. He attended interviews Linda organized and stood on the side of the set as the interviewers made Nina relive her trauma over and over again. He drove her to and from the ranch every time.
He was exhausted.
So, he had absolutely no idea how she must be feeling, but he did know one thing: if he had loved her after only two weeks, whatever he felt for her now couldn’t be measured with something as simple as a word.
He was in awe of her strength. He marvelled at her innate and consistent kindness. He deeply appreciated that she still found reasons to laugh because it was something he had started struggling with through his own exhaustion. And every time she went out of her way to help Poppy with even the most minuscule of tasks, he had to fight his urge to drop onto his knees right then and there.
But he had waited. He hadn’t wanted to give her anything else to think about. He understood that even good things could be distracting and exhausting, and he wanted Nina to focus on herself. On staying strong and healthy and whole.
But now, with things so clearly about to wrap up, he wanted to take that step.
Sierra came into the kitchen just then. She wore rhinestone-studded bell-bottom jeans, a cherry-red top and matching boots, her long blonde hair tucked beneath a black cowgirl hat.
‘You coming to the barbecue tonight?’ he asked, in lieu of a greeting.
She nodded tiredly in response, but Mav could see that the additional burden of his half of the ranch was beginning to weigh on her, too.
He waited for her to look up at him. ‘I’m sorry I’ve been so preoccupied recently. I feel like you’ve been handling my portion of the resort …’
She frowned. ‘Mav, you don’t need to explain. Jesus, the last six months have been hell on us all, so I can only imagine what Nina – and you by default – are going through.’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, it’s been rough.’
‘How’s she doing?’ Sierra asked. ‘When I ask her, she just smiles and says “Good,” but I know she just doesn’t want me to worry.’
‘She’s tired, Si. But I think she’s holding on.’ He laughed softly, but it was at himself, at how wrapped up in her he was. ‘I woke up this morning to an empty bed, and figured she was just up before me. But when I popped my head into Poppy’s room to check on her, Nina was passed out in the bed with her.’
‘Poppy’s having nightmares again?’
‘Yeah. And if she cries in the night, even when I insist that I’ve got it, Nina gets up and she comes with me.’ Mav took a moment to steady himself before adding, ‘I always hoped I’d find someone. I always wanted what Mom and Dad had, you know …’ At Sierra’s nod, he continued, ‘With Shannon … I knew I was making a mistake even though I truly believed it was for the right reasons. But with Nina … I’ve found this woman who’s going through her own hell but still finds the energy to get out of bed and snuggle my kid when she has bad dreams.’
‘I’m happy for you, Mav. Nobody deserves to be happy more than you do.’
‘Yeah … So, I was actually hoping I could talk to you about that …’
Both of Sierra’s brows rose.
‘You know Mom and Grandma’s rings were being stored in the safe …’
Sierra’s eyes watered with emotion instantly. ‘You’re going to ask?’
Mav reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box with their grandma’s ring. ‘I just have a feeling that we’re close to done with Cane, and I don’t know … I guess I want to give us something good to hold on to through the end. But if you want this,’ he held up the box, ‘I’ll find something else. I was thinking maybe a ruby.’
‘No. Take the rings,’ Sierra said hurriedly and swiped her eyes. ‘I have no need for them. If I did, they wouldn’t have been sitting in the safe for so long.’
‘I’ll take Grandma’s,’ he said. ‘You take Mom’s. I know it’s yours.’ It was the ring Benji had once asked him for.
