‘Ah, let me follow you in my car.’ He indicated to a brand-new BMW in glossy black. ‘That way I can leave from there.’
‘Sure thing.’ Mav climbed into the Jeep and started the vehicle, his thoughts still on Sierra and Benji.
He drove the mile to the ranch house slowly, enjoying the clear day and the hot country air blowing in through his open window, and when he pulled beneath the shade of the oak tree out front, he felt a little more settled.
Alexander slipped his BMW in next to the Jeep and got out. ‘Are you employed here?’ he asked.
‘In a manner of speaking.’
‘It’s a nice piece of property. Must be worth a fortune.’
‘I bet.’
‘Says something about the owners – that they haven’t sold out yet.’
Mav nearly smiled. ‘I’m sure it does.’
‘Not quite sure what she’s doing here,’ Alexander continued. ‘She didn’t even tell anyone where she was going. Just up and disappeared – right at the end of filming too.’ He dusted the leg of his trousers. ‘She has me worried.’
‘Hmm,’ Maverick said noncommittally. Nina’s bruises were gone, but he knew the damage was still there. And it was her story to tell or to keep close.
He tried to make conversation as he led the way up the porch steps. ‘You just out for the day?’
‘Yeah. I figured I’d track her down and check in before heading back.’
Maverick frowned at that. That same niggling feeling set in at the base of his spine. Something about the word – track – didn’t sit right.
But then he opened the door and the first thing he heard was Nina and Poppy’s laughter coming from the kitchen. His unease vanished. His heart swelled.
He led the way to his girls without a word.
Alexander followed, wordlessly too.
Maverick entered the kitchen, and then just stopped and looked. Nina and Poppy were sitting at the kitchen table, rolling cookie dough into balls with their hands. They both had flour streaked on their cheeks. Poppy had a dollop of batter on her nose.
Nina looked up and saw him. Her dark eyes lit. ‘Hi!’
And then Alexander stepped out from behind him, and everything changed.
The spoon she’d been using dropped from her hands to the floor with a clatter, causing Poppy to giggle hysterically.
Nina didn’t react to the mess or to Poppy’s giggles. She just stared at the newcomer, her face deathly pale, her eyes huge in her face.
‘Nina! It’s so good to see you!’ Alexander took one step forward.
Nina pushed to a fumbling stand. Her hands reached for Poppy, half dragging the five-year-old out of her chair too.
‘Nina?’ Poppy asked, even as Nina held her close.
Maverick was so confused for a moment that he just stood and stared. He waited for Nina to meet his eyes, but she couldn’t. She was too focused on the man standing next to him, on watching his every expression and movement as a prey animal might watch a predator it knew it couldn’t outrun.
Realization crept up on Mav like a surprise attack in the wilderness, slowly and then all at once and violently, and when Nina finally managed to glance at him, one look between them was all it took to confirm it.
And then the rage came.
PART THREE: STAND
Chapter 20
