‘Girl, I had a Barbie Dreamhouse growing up. My mom saved up to buy it for me when I was about your age.’ He looked at Nina. ‘She knew it would make me happy even though it was hard for her.’
‘I have a Dreamhouse!’ Poppy chirped. ‘Daddy bought it for me after we watched the movie!’ She hopped off Nina’s lap and grabbed Markus’s hand. ‘Come see!’
Markus winked at Nina. ‘Excuse me. I have uncle duties to attend to.’
Nina watched them go with a smile on her face.
But seeing that there were wine glasses on the table and plates in the sink, she pushed to her feet. Doing the dishes would give her something to distract herself with because although she knew that there was a future on the ranch with Maverick, and all she had to do was reach out and take it, the notion was still terrifying to her.
He might not have said he loved her yet, but he had also told her he wouldn’t. He had told her that there would always be a place for her in his life, and in a way that was far more of a commitment than those three words, which were used so often and so casually.
Nina’s life as a perpetual single hadn’t been lonely, but she wondered now how much of that had to do with finding comfort in avoiding fear and how much of it had to do with genuinely not being lonely. Had she actually been happy, or had she been comfortable? She wasn’t quite sure.
She’d had Markus, of course. But they both worked all week and some weekends and nights too. So, getting together wasn’t always easy. And when they did get together, it was for a few hours here or there, brunch or a drink or dinner.
But what she did know now, after only a few weeks of being surrounded by the Hunts, was that she couldn’t imagine ever going back to that solitary existence.
She liked living with them, liked that they ate dinner together every night and celebrated birthdays and bickered. She adored Poppy’s happy chatter and little footsteps as they sounded through the house. She loved making love in Mav’s big bed and then falling asleep in his arms.
When she was with them, she felt like she’d found a family,herfamily. And if there was a part of her that was terrified it might all just be novelty, she snuffed it. Because wasn’t it better to choose happiness, even if it only lasted a short while? Nina thought so …
Maverick sat in Sierra’s office, waiting for the management staff to join them for the weekly debrief. Although he hated making Nina’s attack the centre of attention, the resort staff deserved to know what they would be facing.
For the first time in a long time, Sierra and Benji didn’t snap at one another as they waited for everyone to trickle in. They didn’t talk either, but Mav figured Nina’s story had given them something to distract them from their usual standoff.
On the floor, Shadow sighed in her sleep.
As staff began to arrive, Mav couldn’t help but compare this meeting to that first one where he’d heard about Nina, only two weeks ago. It was so strange that a life could drastically change in such a short period of time.
Two weeks for him.
Less still for Nina. Her life had changed completely in only a few minutes, when a man had broken into her house and stolen pieces of her using force.
Sierra finally looked up and did a quick headcount before saying, ‘Let’s get started.’
As the room fell quiet, Sierra continued, ‘Today’s meeting is going to be a little different from what you’re used to.’
Nobody spoke, though there were a few curious expressions and raised eyebrows.
‘As you all know, Nina Keller has been staying here for the past two weeks—’
The clamour immediately started again. Deb gushed, ‘She’s so sweet!’
Lucas, their event planner, added, ‘Pretty, too,’ and shot a wink in Mav’s direction.
Sierra talked over them, calling attention back to her before they could continue. ‘Her attacker showed up at the ranch today.’
A deathly silence followed.
Sierra spoke into the void. ‘She knew who he was. A producer on her new film who didn’t like the fact that Nina didn’t want to date him.’
‘What?’ This came from Jordyn, whose feet dropped off Sierra’s desk as she leaned forward in her chair.
‘Holy shit,’ Paul added.
‘He threatened her after the attack, which is why she came here. And this morning, he came to—’ Sierra made air quotes ‘—check up on her.’
Lucas turned beet red. ‘I hope you told him to fuck off.’
