Wildest Hearts

him and a chunk of raw meat.”

    “He's not that bad. His growl is much worse than his bite,” Annie said quickly.

    “If you say so.” Carson looked unconvinced.

    “Annie doesn't know him very well yet,” Valerie muttered.

    Annie decided it was time to take charge of the situation. She was aware of the expectancy in the crowd around her and she reminded herself that Oliver could be difficult when he chose. Smiling determinedly, she went forward to intercept him.

    “There you are, Oliver.” Annie planted herself squarely in his path. “I'm so glad you could make it. I was afraid you wouldn't get back to town in time.”

    He came to a halt. “What are you doing here, Annie?”

    She put one hand on his shoulder and stood on tiptoe to brush her lips across his cheek in what she hoped was a typical wifely greeting. “Behave yourself,” she muttered for his ears only. “I promise I'll explain everything later.”

    For a tense moment Oliver looked as though he were going to ignore her demand. A cold rage burned behind the even colder mist of his rain-colored eyes.

    “You will definitely explain this later,” he said very softly.

    His hand closed around her arm in what probably looked like a polite gesture of affection to those standing nearby. Annie, however, felt as if she had been caught in a steel trap. He was not hurting her, but she knew she could no more have pried herself free of his grasp than she could have flown. She kept her smile plastered on her face as Oliver guided her toward where Valerie and Carson stood.

    Realizing that Oliver was going to speak to Valerie, Annie rallied for another attempt to defuse the explosive situation.

    “Oliver, I don't believe you've met Valerie's friend, Carson Shore, have you?” she said brightly. “Carson, this is Oliver Rain, Valerie's brother.”

    Carson smiled politely, but his eyes were cautions. “My pleasure.” He held out his hand. Beside him Valerie looked brave but despairing, as if she were facing a firing squad.

    When Oliver did not immediately respond to Carson's proffered hand, Annie threw caution to the winds. She brought the heel of her black pump sharply down on the toe of one of Oliver's Italian leather shoes.

    A slight, but unmistakable, flinch went through Oliver. He slanted an unreadable glance at Annie and then, to her enormous relief, he held out his hand to Carson.

    “I know your father,” Oliver said enigmatically as he gripped Carson's hand in what had to be one of the briefest handshakes on record.

    “So I've been told.” Carson retrieved his hand and put it around Valerie's shoulder in a proprietary gesture. “I hope you won't make the mistake of assuming my father and I are clones.”

    Valerie swayed slightly against Carson, her eyes bleak.

    Annie turned up the wattage in her smile. “Oliver always keeps an open mind. He never makes snap judgments, do you, Oliver?”

    Oliver's eyes skimmed over Annie's brilliant smile. “No. I gather as much information as possible before I make any decision. But once in a while I discover I've made a mistake. When that happens I correct it immediately.”

    Annie decided to read that statement in the most positive light. “Yes, I know, dear. That's why you've been so wonderfully successful. By the way, I've been talking to Valerie about the new exhibit of Pre-Columbian art that she's curating at the Eckert Museum. We'll want to attend the preview, won't we?”

    “Will we?”

    “Naturally. No point being related to the curator if you can't get into a few private showings. Now, then, say good-bye to Carson and your sister. I know you've had a busy trip and you must be exhausted. We'll go straight home and have a nice, relaxing dinner. I have so much to tell you.”

    “I have a few things to say to you, too,” Oliver said. He looked at Valerie. “Good night, Val.”

    “Good night, Oliver,” Valerie said stiffly. There was a flicker of relief in her gaze, however, as if she had just realized that the firing squad wasn't going to fire. At least not tonight. She cast a quick, anxious look at Annie. “I'll see you later.”

    “Right.” Annie looked at Carson. “Thanks again for helping me find the elephant.”

    “Any time.” Carson was still watching Oliver.

    “Let's go home.” Oliver tightened his grip on Annie's arm and turned her toward the entrance to the solarium.

A distinguished, well-dressed couple walked into the solarium at that precise moment.