Wildest Hearts

would she want to have lunch with you?”

    Ella chuckled. “Because Annie married Oliver Rain the day before yesterday.”

    “Married. Annie and Oliver Rain? Oh, myGod .” Raphaela's eyes swung back and forth between Ella and Annie. “This is a joke, right? You're teasing poor Raphaela.”

    “No joke.” Ella assured her. “Big surprise, but no joke.”

    “Oliver Rain? That weird guy who used to own half of Seattle before he sold his holdings?”

    “He's not weird,” Annie said, annoyed.

    “I'm surprised you haven't heard about the wedding, Raphaela,” Ella said. “It was in the business section of the papers this morning.”

    “Why on earth was it in the business section?” Raphaela demanded.

    “Because Rain is going to take over the management of Lyncroft Unlimited,” Ella explained with a sidelong glance at Annie.

    “Just until Daniel returns,” Annie said firmly.

    Ella and Raphaela looked at her with pitying eyes, but they did not argue.

    “Sure,” Ella said kindly. “Just until Daniel returns.”

    “This is incredible,” Raphaela breathed. “You're married to Oliver Rain. I can't believe it.” Her eyes narrowed speculatively. “Tell me, what do the interiors of his new penthouse look like? Is it true the whole thing was done in black? I've been hearing rumors.”

    “There's a lot of black and gold,” Annie said. “And gray. It's very striking.”

    “Black and gold, hmm? Sounds too dark for a Seattle residence. And not your style at all.” Raphaela smiled encouragingly. “As his new wife, you might want to lighten things up a bit. Keep me in mind if you decide to make some changes.”

    “Something tells me Oliver wouldn't tolerate too many changes,” Annie admitted.

    “Nonsense,” Raphaela said. “Making changes in a man's life is what a wife is for. Just ask any of my ex-husbands.”

    Three hours later Sybil dipped a spoon into a bowl of lobster bisque and looked at Annie who was seated on the other side of the table. “We were all quite stunned by the suddenness of this marriage.”

    “I understand.” Annie picked at her shrimp cocktail. She was not very hungry. The minute she had sat down, Sybil had begun grilling her. Annie was beginning to feel like one of the entrées on the restaurant's overpriced menu.

    “Of course Oliver has always been secretive,” Sybil said smoothly. “One never really knows what his real plans are until he chooses to reveal them.”

    “I realize he's a very private man.” The phrase was rapidly becoming a litany, Annie thought.

    Sybil smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. “Some people feel he's a very dangerous man.”

    “I'm sure his reputation is exaggerated.”

    Sybil's mouth tightened. “Take it from me, Annie, it's not. I can personally testify to that.” She put down her spoon. “Look, there's no point in beating about the bush. I asked you to have lunch with me today because I think there are some things you need to know.”

    “About Oliver?”

    “Yes.” Sybil paused for effect. “I think you should be aware that there is every reason to believe that Oliver married you in order to get control of your brother's company.”

    Annie looked up from her shrimp. “That's not true.”

    “Annie, believe me, I know him infinitely better than you do. I know what he's capable of doing to achieve his own ends. And I know that love would be Oliver's last reason for getting married. He doesn't even understand the word.”

    “I'm not so certain about that,” Annie said gently. “It seems to me he's been very good to his family. He's taken care of all of you, hasn't he?”

    An old bitterness flashed briefly in Sybil's gaze. “For a price. That's what I advise you to remember when you deal with Oliver. There is always a price tag attached.”

    Annie stirred uneasily in her chair. “There's no reason to worry about me. I knew what I was doing when I married Oliver.”

    “Did you?” Sybil studied her closely. “I hope you're smart enough to know that if you married him for his money, you wasted your time. You'll never get your hands on it. Oliver is much too clever to allow any woman to fleece him.”

    Annie was incensed. “I didn't marry him for his money.”

    “If you married him for love, you're going to be even more disappointed.”

    Annie gave up on the shrimp. “I don't think there's much point in continuing with this friendly little get-acquainted lunch. If you'll excuse me, I have