Wildest Hearts

later Annie sat with Joanna in front of a cheerful fire and realized she was feeling much better. Joanna's mood had lightened, too. At least she was no longer teary-eyed.

    “I feel closer to him here for some reason.” Joanna gazed around at the rustic cottage, taking in its faded drapes, old braided rug, and heavy wooden furniture. “I'm glad we drove out here.”

    “So am I.” Annie propped her feet on the scarred wooden coffee table. She closed her eyes and let the atmosphere of the cottage sink into her bones.

    Images of Daniel drifted through her mind: Daniel teaching her to play poker. Daniel teaching her how to drive when she was fifteen. Daniel comforting her when her first date ditched her at the last minute for another girl. Annie smiled at that last memory. She'd found out later that Daniel had challenged the boy to a fistfight because the kid had made Annie cry.

    “He's not dead,” Joanna said, touching her stomach.

    “No.” And Annie was somehow more certain of that than she had been for several weeks. She would know if her big brother was gone forever.

    Joanna tucked one leg under herself and leaned back into the corner of the faded sofa. “Tell me the truth, Annie.”

    Annie opened her eyes, surprised at the odd demand. “About what?”

    “You and Rain. Your marriage of convenience isn't working out the way you thought it would, is it?”

    Annie made a face. “You're very perceptive. No, it's not.”

    “You're in love with him, aren't you?” Joanna asked softly.

    “Yes.”

    “I was afraid of that. I knew there was something between the two of you right from the start. I saw the way Rain looked at you the night he met you. It was like watching a big cat stalk a butterfly.”

    “Good lord.” Annie stared at her in astonishment. “What a thing to say.”

    Joanna shrugged. “It's true. And you were aware of him the whole time he was in the room, weren't you?”

    “Guilty as charged.”

    “Well, I guess now we know what put that insane notion of a marriage of convenience into your head. Basic lust.”

    “I resent that,” Annie grumbled. “It was an incredibly astute business decision that had nothing to do with the fact that I had the hots for him.”

    Joanna chuckled. “If you say so. I've got to admit, I have a hard time imagining the two of you together. You're so different from each other.”

    “Don't you dare ask me what he's like in bed,” Annie warned.

    “Wouldn't dream of it.” Joanna slanted her a laughing glance. “Just tell me one thing.”

    “What's that?”

    “Is there anything kinky involved? Velvet whips maybe? Feathers? Little golden balls?”

    “Joanna.”

    Joanna grinned. “You can't blame me for being curious. The man's got a reputation for being strange. Just how weird is he?”

    Annie hesitated. “No whips, no feathers, no little golden balls.”

    “Gee, that's a disappointment. I was sure there would be something interesting and exotic to report.”

    “Ferns,” Annie said softly, recalling the passionate enthusiasm in Oliver the morning he had explained fern reproduction to her. “The man is very good with ferns.”

    The ringing of the telephone on the end table interrupted whatever Joanna was going to say in response. Annie jumped.

    “No one knows we're here,” Joanna said, staring at the phone.

    “Bolt knows. I left him a note.” Annie scooped up the receiver. “Hello?”

    “Good evening, Annie.” Oliver's voice was a perfect monotone. “I didn't know you had plans to go out of town while I was gone.”

    “Hi, Oliver.” Annie flopped back against the sofa cushions. “I assume you got this number from Bolt.”

    “He said you left a note on the kitchen table.” There was an almost indiscernible pause. “A very brief note.”

    “No point writing a long letter to Bolt. He and I don't communicate all that well, anyway.” Annie was amazed at how good it felt to hear from Oliver. He was acting like a real husband, phoning while out of town on business. It made her feel warm and cozy inside to know he cared enough to call.

    “Bolt tells me you're at a cottage on the coast?”

    “That's right,” Annie said. “Aunt Madeline's old place. Daniel and I inherited it.”

    There was another infinitesimal pause. “And you're there with Joanna?”

    “Uh-huh.” Annie glanced at Joanna. “She and I drove out here this afternoon.”

    “The decision to go out there was a spur-of-the-moment one,