Winter Heart — Jane Bonander

Facing the somber silhouette of a cold stone house, Dinah Odell nearly lost hope when she arrived at the lonely ranch in the Sierra Nevada. But it was better than the dark place she had escaped from. Risking her precious freedom, she'd posed as a nurse and accepted a job caring for her new employer's mentally fragile sister. She was prepared for anything. Except Tristan Fletcher. For beneath his harsh, wintry facade was a sensitive, generous, intriguing man....

As a child, Tristan had suffered jarring words and sharp blows from his adoptive mother. He had survived by building a wall around his heart. He wasn't fooled by spunky, outspoken Dinah. Tristan knew she was fleeing from something, and suddenly he wanted her to come running to him. He was ready to protect her, to marry her. But could he love her? Once Dinah's secret was revealed, the truth would either shatter their tenuous bond or set them free....