He roped one arm over his saddle, leaned against Zephyr, his eyes intensely focused on her. ‘I would have really liked that, but I can’t just yet. Gotta head home quick, get Poppy ready for daycare. But if I see you around here later, I’ll help you with Barbie.’
Nina wasn’t entirely sure why she was disappointed, or why, as she watched him fluidly mount Zephyr, she felt like he was taking her safety net with him. Suddenly, the barn felt too big, too dark, too unfamiliar.
She stopped walking and looked around, searching the quiet.
‘Nina.’
‘Hmm?’ she replied distractedly.
‘Listen,’ he said.
‘What?’
‘Listen,’ he repeated, and tapped his ear.
She strained to hear over the sound of her racing heart and managed to pick out the talking and laughing, punctuated by the occasional whistle.
‘You hear that?’
‘Yes.’
‘The wranglers are bringing the pastured riding horses in for the day. In thirty seconds, this place is going to be teeming with people, not one of whom would let anything happen to you.’
Even as he finished talking, a man rode in.
Nina blinked once as she took in horse and rider and tried to decide which one was more beautiful. The man was tall and lean with blond hair the colour of antique gold and piercing green eyes. Like Maverick, he wore a ball cap over his shaggy hair.
The horse he was on was champagne coloured with an impossibly long black mane and a tail that, even braided, dragged on the ground behind its hind legs.
‘Morning.’ The stranger sent her a megawatt smile. ‘Didn’t know anyone was up yet. Early riser?’
‘Bad sleeper,’ she replied.
‘Benji, Nina. Nina, Benji.’
The man – Benji – only rolled his eyes. ‘Unlike you, Mav, I know who Nina Keller is.’
Nina’s eyes swung to Maverick.
He legitimately blushed. ‘I don’t watch many movies,’ he explained, ‘and when I do, they have to be suitable for a five-year-old.’
‘HenceBarbie,’ she replied, unoffended.
‘Yeah.’
Benji watched the back-and-forth with interest. ‘You two get a ride in, then?’
‘Yup,’ Maverick replied. He nodded in Nina’s direction. ‘Girl can sit a horse.’
Benji seemed genuinely surprised. ‘Really? She sure looks like a city slicker with all those pretty clothes.’
Nina looked down at her jeans and flimsy white blouse, both of which were covered in dust and black horsehair.
‘She’ll be riding circles around you by the time she leaves.’ Maverick shifted slightly, sending Zephyr forward without so much as a click. ‘She’s going to hang around, have some coffee and see to the new rescue – Barbie. Show her the ropes.’ He looked at Nina, nodded once, and though his last words were directed at Benji, Nina knew they were meant to remind her that she wouldn’t be left alone. ‘Don’t let her out of your sight. It’s bad publicity if a celebrity gets hurt.’
Benji caught on fast. He turned a killer grin in her direction. ‘Ma’am, did you sign the liability waiver?’
Nina replied, ‘On the dotted line.’ But she watched Maverick ride out of the dark barn and into the sunlight, his posture relaxed, natural, and thought she might just team up with Markus to try and convince him to be in the photoshoot. Not only for womankind everywhere – but for her.
