Maverick held out one hand for Nina. ‘Come on, baby. You can’t leave me stranded.’
‘I don’t know how.’ Nina laughed.
‘That’s why there’s an instructor,’ he insisted and pulled her to her feet.
He didn’t offer Shannon a hand or tease her lightly, but that cool, blue gaze met hers. He tipped his head towards the dance floor, said, ‘Shann?’
‘Yeah,’ she rasped. She loved to dance, loved to lose her thoughts to music. ‘I love to dance.’
‘Me too!’ At Maverick’s side, Poppy’s eyes lit up. They skimmed over Shannon, considering now.
As she pushed to her feet, she tried to keep her tone casual. ‘What’s your favourite song to dance to?’
Poppy considered this question seriously as they walked. But after a few seconds, she turned those big eyes on Maverick. ‘Daddy, what’s that one called?’
‘“The Git Up”.’
‘I like that one,’ Poppy said. ‘What’s yours?’
‘It’s called “Tik Tok”. By Kesha.’
‘Oh, I don’t know that one.’
‘I’ll play it for you sometime,’ Shannon said.
Poppy grinned up at her. ‘Okay!’
Shannon smiled as she took her place next to Poppy on the dance floor. But for the first time ever, she stayed. And she danced. And when the song ended and another one started, and Poppy grabbed her hand and giggled, Shannon thought about what Nina Keller had told her. And she decided that maybe late was better than never.
And it would help to have a contact who was a famous actress – just in case.
Chapter 19
Two days later, while Maverick went in for a few hours to check in on the horses and prepare for the week ahead, Nina stayed at the ranch house with Poppy. Upstairs, Markus was packing his bag to head back to LA.
At first, the five-year-old had seemed content to watch TV, but after an hour, she started getting restless. Still dressed in her PJs and dragging her teddy bear along by one arm, she came to where Nina sat at the kitchen island, drinking her coffee.
Without a word, she passed Nina the teddy bear and when she took it, Poppy used both hands to pull out the bar stool next to Nina’s. Seeing what Poppy intended, Nina used one foot to hold the stool in place as Poppy climbed – literally – into the seat.
‘Do you want some juice?’
Poppy shook her head. ‘Where did my dad go?’
‘I think he’s checking on the horses,’ Nina replied. But because Mav had specifically asked her to keep an eye on Poppy if she woke up, Nina added, ‘Maybe we can all go for a ride later?’
Poppy instantly brightened at that. ‘Yeah!’
‘Which horse is your favourite?’ Nina asked.
‘Zeph. She’s Daddy’s horse. The black one.’
‘I know Zeph. Your dad is teaching me how to ride on her.’
‘How come you don’t know how already?’ Poppy asked. ‘You’re old.’
Nina laughed lightly at that. But she replied, ‘I live in the city, so there aren’t many horses around to learn on.’
This news seemed to genuinely upset Poppy. ‘No horses?’
