Free Heart of Winter by Diana Palmer Page A

hearts…”
    â€œI’ll bet he did,” Nicky murmured. She looked up. “Did you know about the blonde?”
    â€œEverybody around here knew about the blonde,” Sadie replied. “It was a nine-day wonder. The gossip went on forever, as it does in small communities. Winthrop got back on his feet and lived it down, but I imagine he hasn’t really gotten over it. She was a first-class barracuda. She’d have cut him up like fish bait if they hadn’t been in that wreck. She’d have taken him for everything he had, and left him bleeding without a backward glance. She married an oil millionaire, you know. They say she’s got a closet full of mink coats.”
    â€œHow sad,” Nicky said genuinely, her green eyes full of bitterness. “So many people marry for money. Or try to.”
    â€œI’ll bet you never would,” Sadie said unexpectedly. “Gerald always did like you. I’m a bit jealous of you.”
    â€œMe?” Nicky grinned. “Thanks, but he’s too nice a man to make a play for his secretary. I’d do anything for him, but only in the line of duty. I’m shy that way. Most men don’t appeal to me physically.”
    â€œDoes Winthrop?”
    Nicole flushed and flapped around while Sadie burst out laughing.
    â€œI’m sorry, but your guilty secret is safe with me,” Sadie said with a laugh. “Oh, Nicky, what a man to get hot and bothered by. The iceman!”
    â€œIt could be worse. I could develop a case for some married man with twenty kids.”
    â€œTrue, true.” She put the finishing touches on the table arrangement. “Come and meet Mother, and then I’ll show you where to put your overnight case.”
    â€œYou’re nice to let me stay,” Nicky said. “You and I know that nothing would go on, but people talk. I don’t want any gossip about my nice boss.”
    â€œNeither do I, and I’m glad you’re old-fashioned.” The nurse narrowed her eyes. “You really are old-fashioned, aren’t you?” she asked with startling perception.
    Nicky cleared her throat. “I always thought…well, marriage is nice. They say white only means it’s your first marriage, but it means a lot more than that to me. I had old-fashioned grandparents.”
    She didn’t add that she had wildly liberated parents and a succession of stepparents, or that her grandparents had gone to court to save her from the glitter.
    â€œGood for them,” Sadie said. “Her room’s through here.”
    Sadie’s mother was small and withered and very quiet. She looked like a little doll lying there, white hair and pale blue eyes and a beaten look about her. She could only move one side of her body—even one eye and part of her mouth were affected. It must have been a massive stroke.
    â€œMama, this is Nicky,” Sadie introduced her.
    Gerald moved. He’d been sitting on the bed beside the little old woman, holding her hand. He got up so that Nicky could sit and take the wrinkled little fingers in hers.
    â€œHello, Mama,” Nicky grinned. “Or should I call you Mrs. Todd?” She raised her eyebrows.
    â€œYou may call me Mama if you like,” Sadie’s mother said, with the first hint of a twinkle in her eyes.
    â€œThat would be nice,” Nicky said, smiling. “Mine died a long time ago. I don’t have one. So if Sadie doesn’t mind, I can share you. It’s a pretty big deal,” she added with mock solemnity. “I live on a tight budget, so working another person into my Christmas shopping list is a great honor. I give Godiva chocolates as presents,” she whispered.
    The old lady actually laughed. Her thin fingers tightened on Nicky’s. “Do you?” she whispered.
    â€œDo you like chocolates?”
    Mama managed to smile. “I love them!”
    â€œLucky you, to have just adopted me,” Nicky