Free Mountain Man by Diana Palmer Page B

him. Just between you and me, I think he took unfair advantage, too, but she loved him like a tigress. They were very happy.”
    “Did he look like Winthrop?” Nicole asked softly.
    The old eyes seemed suddenly young. “Yes.”
    “A big man?”
    “Body and heart. How is Winthrop? Is he getting over that woman?”
    “I don’t know him that well.”
    “Of course you don’t, but you light up when I mention him, all the same. Turn on the television, child, and save your blushes. And then why don’t you say good-night to the young lovers for us both and we’ll hope something nice develops.”
    Nicole laughed delightedly as she followed the smug instructions. She tiptoed down the hall. It was unusually quiet, and when she reached the hall door, she saw why. Gerald, who seemed such a quiet and shy man, had Sadie in an embrace that spoke volumes and the way they were kissing said everything. Nicole tiptoed back and shut Mrs. Todd’s door.
    “Did you say good-night?” she asked Nicky.
    Nicky said no with a straight face. “They’re having a lively discussion. I expect it will be some time before we hear from them.”
    Mrs. Todd settled back against her pillows.“Lovely. I think it would do Sadie good to have company more often.”
    Nicole just smiled and settled down to watch the movie.
    It was late the next morning before Nicole heard the sound of a vehicle coming up the driveway. That would be Gerald, she thought and she smiled at Sadie.
    “I’ve had a lovely time,” she told the other woman. “Thanks for letting me stay.”
    “I’m glad you did,” Sadie mused. “Mother hasn’t enjoyed herself that much since the stroke. You were just what she needed to shake her out of her lethargy. And now that I know you aren’t making eyes at my Gerald, I’ll be your best friend.”
    Nicole’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “You didn’t think that?”
    “Of course I did,” Sadie replied, amused. “So did everybody else. Gerald isn’t the kind of man who brings women home, even secretaries, unless they mean something to him. Or at least, that’s what we all figured.”
    Nicole wondered then about Winthrop’s strange behavior, and if he could have thought the same thing. She went back over her easy friendship with her boss and began to see what an outsider might have seen.
    “He’s a very nice man,” Nicole began quietly, “but …”
    “That ‘but’ saved your life,” Sadie whispered conspiratorially. She looked up as a knock sounded on the door and she went to open it with wide, bright eyes. But it wasn’t Gerald standing outside. It was Winthrop.

CHAPTER FIVE

    Sadie’s face fell, although she tried not to let her disappointment show. “Oh, hello,” she faltered. Winthrop’s expression didn’t encourage any pleasurable outbursts. He looked out of humor and unapproachable. Nicole, watching him, thought that he’d had time to build walls again, and he’d done it with enthusiasm. So much for her optimistic outlook on the future; the iceman had frozen over.
    “Where’s Gerald?” Nicole asked hesitantly. Her question made the situation even worse.
    He positively glared at her. “He’s at home on the phone, coping with some office disaster that one of his vice presidents is in the middle of. He’s drinking buttermilk by the gallon, eating antacid tablets by the handful and generally getting sicker by the minute.”
    “Winthrop, you should have disconnected the phone,” Sadie sighed.
    He smiled at Sadie. “How’s your mother?”
    “Doing better, thanks, and all because of Nicky. She built a fire under Mama.” Sadie grinned.
    Winthrop stared at Nicole speculatively. “She’s good at starting fires, all right,” he said, but it wasn’t a compliment. He was spoiling for a fight.
    Nicole glared back. He was wearing jeans with a chambray shirt and the familiar sheepskin jacket, and a wide-brimmed hat shadowed his cold face. He looked very Western and deliciously sexy. Nicole wondered why