The Winter Man by Diana Palmer Page B

you, would it?”
    His broad chest rose and fell. “I failed her,” he said quietly.
    She patted his big arm. “Life is all about redemption,” she said softly. “Go make up.”
    He grinned at her. “You wouldn’t be in the market for a husband, I guess?” he teased.
    She laughed merrily. She was seventy if she was a day. Her white hair sparkled in the overhead light. “Get out of here, you varmint.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    He reached Millie just as she ended the story and kissed little cheeks.
    â€œGo get some cake and punch now,” she told them, easing them back on their feet.
    They laughed and kissed her back. They were pretty little girls. One had jet-black hair and eyes, the other was a redhead. They held hands on the way to the treat table.
    Millie was smiling after them when a shadow fell over her. She looked up into Tony’s face and caught her breath.
    He knelt in front of her chair. “Yeah,” he said deeply, searching her green eyes through the lenses of her glasses. She wasn’t wearing contacts tonight. “That’s how I feel when I see you, too. It takes my breath away.”
    She didn’t have enough time to guard her response. She was so happy to see him that she began to glow. “I didn’t expect to see you,” she said.
    â€œDidn’t you?” His dark eyes smiled. “I stayed away until I thought I’d given you enough time to get over what I did.”
    â€œYou saved my life,” she protested. “I barely thanked you for it.”
    â€œYou look good with little kids in your lap,” he said quietly. “Natural.”
    â€œI like children.”
    â€œMe, too.”
    She searched for something to say. “Why are you here?”
    â€œBecause you’re here, and it’s Christmas Eve,” he said.
    She didn’t understand. “But how did you find me?”
    â€œI work for the government,” he pointed out. “I know how to find anybody.”
    That reminded her of the shooting, which brought back disturbing images.
    â€œI’m mostly administrative these days,” he said quickly. “I don’t have to use a gun. That night…” He looked tormented. “I didn’t have a choice,” he began.
    She put her hand over his mouth. “I’m sorry!” she said huskily. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty over what you did. If you’d hesitated, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation!”
    He caught her wrist and kissed the palm hungrily.
    Her breath caught again at the hunger his touch ignited in her.
    He saw it. His dark eyes began to glow.
    For long seconds, they just stared at each other, blind to amused looks and muffled conversation.
    â€œCan you come outside and sit in the car with me for a minute?” he asked, clearing his throat.
    â€œI guess so.”
    He got up and pulled her up with him. He waited while she got into her coat and spoke to the white-haired lady Tony had been flirting with. The elderly woman gave Tony a thumbs-up sign behind Millie’s back and he laughed.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” Millie asked as they went out the front door.
    â€œI’m thinking of having an affair with that lady you were just talking to,” he said with a blatant grin. “She’s a hoot.”
    â€œMrs. Mims, you mean?” She laughed. “Isn’t she, just! She’s president of our ‘friends of the library.’ Before she retired, she was an investigative reporter.”
    â€œWell!” He saw something in Millie’s face that made him curious. “What does she do now?”
    â€œShe writes mystery novels,” she told him. “Very successful ones.”
    â€œI should talk to her. I know a lot of mysteries.” He frowned. “Well, most of them are classified. But I could give her a few hints.”
    â€œShe’d love