Rags To Riches Collection. Rebecca Winters

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      ‘No apologies necessary,’ his mother cut in. ‘Just tell me you’re over the worst of it.’

      He nodded. ‘I’m through with looking back and trying to work out where it went wrong. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand why Fran did what she did, but it’s time to look towards the future. From here on it’s onwards and upwards.’

      ‘And does a particular pretty nanny have anything to do with that?’ Delia asked archly.

      ‘For God’s sake, Dee, not everything is about sex and romance,’ he muttered in disgust.

      Dee didn’t look convinced.

      ‘She’s a bit of a lost soul is all and I thought we might be able to...’

      She cocked a wicked eyebrow again. ‘To?’

      He refused to rise to the bait. ‘To make her feel at home here. To take her under our wing and...and make her feel better about herself.’

      ‘I think that’s a lovely plan,’ his mother said.

      Cade shrugged and then glared at his sister. ‘One thing’s for sure, Nicola certainly doesn’t think she’s pretty, and she thinks she’s fat.’

      Verity sighed. ‘Don’t we all.’

      Harry snorted. ‘And some of us are a bit on the heavy side, but I know my worth.’

      Dee had gone to the window. ‘She is pretty, but in a quieter way than Fran’s flashiness.’

      He didn’t like the way she spoke about Nicola and Fran in the same sentence. It seemed wrong somehow. He didn’t say anything, though. He could just imagine what Dee would make of it if he did.

      ‘A haircut,’ she said, suddenly swinging back to face them. ‘Something that would make the most of her eyes. Mum?’

      Verity hadn’t trained as a hairdresser, but she had a knack for it. When she’d lived at Waminda Downs all the station women in a three hundred kilometre radius would come to get their hair done by her.

      Dee touched her hair. ‘I brought along a couple of bottles of permanent colour and a highlighting kit. I was hoping you’d do my hair for me while we were here, but we can use it on Nicola instead.’

      He glanced from one to the other. They wanted to change her hair colour? There was nothing wrong with her hair.

      Verity joined Dee at the window. ‘I believe I know the exact style that would suit her.’

      ‘Those clothes,’ Dee sighed.

      ‘Far too baggy,’ her mother agreed.

      Harry winked at him. ‘Sounds like our Nic’s in good hands.’

      She wasn’t his anything. He wanted that crystal-clear, but...

      ‘I don’t want you bullying her into something she doesn’t want.’

      His mother swung around. ‘Of course not, darling. Harry, can you look after the children for a couple of hours this afternoon? Dee and I will help with dinner in return.’

      ‘No probs at all.’

      ‘And I don’t want you wrecking her.’ He thrust his jaw out. ‘She’s not a Barbie doll. Don’t go making her look all plastic and...and fake.’

      Like Fran. The words hung in the air.

      The three women exchanged glances but didn’t say anything.

      ‘And...and don’t make her feel like a charity case either.’ She’d hate that and he didn’t want to do anything that would make her feel uncomfortable. He hadn’t broken her confidence about her two-timing fiancé and back-stabbing girlfriend, but he had verbalised his opinion of her mother and he was pretty sure she wouldn’t have appreciated that. He shifted his weight from his heels to the balls of his feet. Now that he had his mother and Dee on board, conversely he wanted to protect Nicola from their ministrations and meddling.

      Nicola didn’t need doing over or dollying up. As far as he was concerned, she was perfect the way she was. She was brilliant with his kids. She made them laugh but, more importantly, she made them feel secure.

      And she kissed like an angel. Like a bad, bad angel, and just the memory of their kiss had his blood heating up.

      ‘Darling,’ his mother said, ‘do give us more credit than that.’

      His mother was tact personified. And, despite how much she enjoyed teasing her older brother, so was Dee. They were kind, generous women. They wouldn’t do anything to make Nicola feel bad about herself.

      He shoved his hands into his pockets. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to suggest... It’s just she’s been so good for Ella and Holly. I owe her for that.’

      His mother nodded her understanding. Dee bit her lip. Harry set her knife down and threw him a challenge. ‘You know she still uses that blasted gym each afternoon when she puts the kiddies down for a nap.’

      He stiffened. Then he set his shoulders. ‘I’ll think of something,’ he promised. He’d find something else in the exercise line she’d enjoy more.

      ‘In the meantime, we have this afternoon taken care of,’ Dee said, rubbing her hands together. ‘What fun!’

      He glanced around at the three women and a grin full of reluctant admiration tugged at his lips. ‘I should’ve known I could count on you guys.’

CHAPTER FIVE

      AT LUNCH, remembering Cade’s words from the previous evening, Nicola made an effort to be friendlier. Poised, self-sufficient and self-possessed was the image she wanted to portray, not stiff, standoffish and unapproachable.

      ‘Mum,’ Dee said towards the end of the meal, ‘I was hoping you’d give me a haircut this afternoon for old time’s sake, and I’ll set your hair for you.’

      ‘A girls’ afternoon, darling? Ooh, what fun.’

      Unbidden, pain pierced Nicola’s chest, so sharp it almost made her double over. She swallowed back a gasp and lifted Holly out of her high chair to cuddle the child on her lap. The pain shifted and settled in her side like a stitch. She and Diane once had regular girls’ nights. They’d slather on face masks and paint each other’s nails. Sometimes they’d colour each other’s hair. They’d play their music too loud and share their dreams and plans for the future.

      They hadn’t had one of those sessions in over six months and it was only now Nicola realised how much she’d missed them. She closed her eyes. Diane was still a dear friend. Maybe when Nicola returned home...

      Nausea swirled through her. Diane had listened to all of Nicola’s dreams for the future with Brad. She’d known how much Nicola had yearned for a home and family. She’d known all the hopes Nicola had pinned on Brad. And yet she’d still...

      Nicola buried her face in Holly’s hair. There СКАЧАТЬ