‘Do you?’
‘Yes.’ Nina gave him one last squeeze. ‘I found you, didn’t I?’
Markus sniffled and waved her away. ‘Go. I’m done with you for the day.’
‘Does that mean you’re queen now?’
Markus winked at her. ‘You know it.’
Nina laughed as she walked away in search of Maverick. She found him back at the barn, mucking out Zephyr’s stall as if the devil were on his back.
She stopped a little distance away, watching him through the open door. He was so big, so strong, and, she knew, so capable. It made her want to lean on him. It made her want to tell him all of her dark truths because he would help her – she absolutely knew that to be true. In fact, that might have been the entire reason shehadn’ttold him yet. Before she’d known him well, she’d worried that he would judge her. But now, she knew she hadn’t told him because she was terrified of what he might do. Not to her. Butforher.
He sensed her. His gaze lifted, and the moment he saw that it was her, he banked the worst of his anger. The fact that he didn’t want to scare her only made her love him more, but Nina didn’t say that. She didn’t say anything.
She walked to him and, roping her arms around his waist, nestled in. ‘I’m sorry.’
The fight drained from his body in one big exhalation. Nina felt it leave him. ‘I’m sweaty.’
‘I don’t care.’
He sighed and, dropping the rake, wrapped his arms around her. ‘You have nothing to be sorry for.I’msorry. I keep promising myself I won’t pressure you, and then every time I’m with you I feel this urge to drop to my knees and beg.’
Nina’s heart swelled until she couldn’t contain it any longer. The love seemed to burst within her, flooding her system with absolute joy.
‘And I know that’s unfair – to you and to Poppy. Christ, you’re a famous actress! I know that.’
That joy dimmed around the edges.
‘I know it’s a mistake as sure as I know that I was raised to fight for what I want. And even though I want to believe it might work if I asked you to stay, history has made me terrified to trust. And it’s not just me this time. It’s Poppy too. And I can’t make decisions based only on what I want anymore. So, I’m not going to ask you.’
She nodded, unable to meet his eyes as her disappointment flared.
‘But Nina—’ he tipped her chin back, forcing her gaze to his anyway ‘—there’ll always be a place for you here. With us.’ Those blue eyes held hers. ‘Do you understand what I’m saying?’
She knew that he wouldn’t give the words to her, that he was leaving it up to her. She nodded. ‘I do.’
‘One day, one month, one decade. It doesn’t matter. I’ll be here.’
He didn’t kiss her. He wrapped both of his arms around her and held her close, cocooning her in the safety of his promise.
And Nina could only internally laugh at herself because she’d already made up her mind.
She wouldn’t tell him though.Couldn’ttell him until she’d sorted out her life and weathered the upcoming storm. Because it was coming. She could feel it gathering with every day that she sheltered. And when it broke, it would hurt. It might even destroy her. But if there was one thing she could do, it was protect Mav and Poppy from her choices.
Chapter 18
That night at the wrap party, Nina sat with Sierra and Poppy as models, assistant photographers, clothing and makeup artists, and brand reps enjoyed relaxing after a long, hot day of hard work. Markus made the rounds, completely in his element being the centre of attention.
On stage, a different band than the one that had played earlier that week, sang ‘Something in the Orange’ by Zach Bryan. Nina hummed along as she sipped Maverick’s beer, which he’d given her when he’d gone to fetch her another margarita from the bar.
As the band wrapped up the song, Nina joined the applause.
‘Thank you. Thank you.’ But the lead singer didn’t immediately start into the next song. She said, ‘We have a special treat for you tonight.’
People stopped what they were doing to look towards the stage.
‘For those of you who don’t know Maverick, he’s one of the owners here at Hunt Ranch.’ Behind her, the musicians started playing quietly. ‘He’s gonna be singing a song for you tonight. And, trust me, this is a rare occasion.’ She ducked under her guitar strap and held out her instrument. ‘Put your hands together, folks.’
