Wildest Hearts

to be sure we start even.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her head and brought her face down to his. “That means you have to catch up with me.”

    “Maybe we should talk about this a bit more. I'm not sure you've really got a handle on the concept I'm trying to get across here.”

    “This time we'll make it happen together, Annie. I swear it.”

    “You're sure?”

    “I'm sure.”

    She sighed happily and ducked her head to kiss him. “I knew you'd get the point. You're not nearly as arrogant and thick-headed as everyone seems to think you are.”

    “I appreciate your confidence in me. A man needs to know his wife believes in him.”

    A long while later Annie curled contentedly against the hard length of Oliver's warm body. There were definitely some positive aspects to her husband's formidable self-mastery. He had promised her they would reach the peak together, and he had delivered on that promise. He had been with her all the way.

    They had gone over the edge together, and it had been a stunning experience.

    Annie was feeling quite optimistic about the future tonight. She stirred against Oliver. When his arm tightened around her, she knew he was still awake.

    “Oliver, I've been thinking.”

    “I hope this isn't about another book you've been reading.”

    “I'm not joking,” she said.

    “Who's joking?” His mouth curved faintly. “All right, what were you thinking about?”

    “The way you handled Paul Shore tonight.” She smiled. “I was very proud of you.”

    Oliver did not move. “I barely spoke to him.”

    “Yes, I know, but you agreed to talk to him when he suggested it. You invited him to meet with you. It was a wonderful first step.”

    “Is that how you saw it?”

    She turned her head on the pillow and studied his expressionless profile. “I know it must have been difficult for you after all these years and after all that happened between the two of you.”

    “It was not exactly a pleasure,” Oliver said without any inflection.

    “I realize that. But you did the right thing. You took the olive branch that Paul Shore extended. Valerie and Carson must be feeling enormously relieved tonight.

    “Do you think so?”

    “I'm sure of it.” Annie put her arm behind her head and gazed up at the shadowed ceiling. “Something tells me that the meeting between you and Shore will go very well.”

    “Forget Shore.” Oliver turned and gathered her into his arms. “There's something I've been meaning to ask you.”

    “What's that?”

    “Where did you get the book you used to study for this evening's performance?”

    “Three Nights Among the Amazons?” Annie chuckled. “Arthur Quigley, the man who owns the bookshop next to Wildest Dreams, recommended it to me. All in all, I think it was a good choice.”

    “You asked the owner of that bookshop for a recommendation?”

    Annie sensed that Oliver was not pleased. “There's no need to be embarrassed,” she assured him. “Arthur is a very good friend of mine. He understood.”

    “What exactly,” Oliver asked, “did this good friend of yours understand?”

    “Don't worry, I was very subtle about the whole thing.”

    “Tell me, how do you make a subtle request for a book likeThree Nights Among the Amazons ?”

    Annie cleared her throat discreetly. “I merely explained that I wanted a book that would give us some inspiration.”

    “Inspiration?”

    “Arthur was very nice about it. After all, we're newlyweds, remember. People realize that newlyweds fumble around a lot at first.”

    “Fumble around?” Oliver repeated ominously.

    “It's nothing to be ashamed of,” Annie said quickly. “No one expects you to be a perfect lover right from the start.”

    “I don't believe this.”

    Annie bit her lip. “Are you angry?”

    “Me? Angry? Whatever gave you that idea? Just how good a friend is this Quigley?”

    “I told you, very good. Arthur used to have a terrible problem with shyness. He would bury himself in his bookshop and virtually ignore his customers. It was sad. He didn't sell many books and he never dated. A very lonely man.”

    “Until you came along?” Oliver asked coolly.

    Annie smiled and shrugged. “Arthur and I became friends a few months before I opened up my shop. We went out together for a while. But I wouldn't say we dated. Mostly we talked business. I always knew Arthur and I would never be more than friends and I think Arthur knew it, too.”

    “Is that right?