Wildest Hearts

What did you two do when you got together?”

    “We talked a lot. And after a time he began to get over his shyness.”

    “Amazing.”

    “It was really. And rather gratifying,” Annie admitted proudly. “He even began to date. In fact, I introduced him to the woman he eventually married. She was a little shy, too. Arthur helped her get over it. They had a lot in common.”

    “Quigley sounds like another Melvin Finch.”

    “Melvin?” Annie considered that. “Oh, no, Arthur and Melvin are really quite different. Melvin had a problem relating to his father if you'll recall. He wasn't shy like Arthur.”

    “How many Arthurs and Melvins do you know?”

    Annie frowned. “I don't understand.”

    “Never mind.” Oliver sat up amid the rumpled sheets. “Where are my neckties?”

    “They're probably crushed by now. Don't worry, I'll iron them for you.” Annie scrabbled about behind the pillow until her fingers closed around a strip of silk. She held it aloft triumphantly. “Got one. I'm sure the other is around here somewhere.”

    “That's all right.” Oliver took the necktie from her. He grasped it firmly in both hands and pulled it taut, testing the strength of the silk. “One will do nicely.”

    “What are you going to do?”

    “Fumble around a little.” He reached out and caught her gently by the wrist.

    “Oliver. You wouldn't.”

    But she saw the new sexy laughter in his eyes and something within her responded joyously. She started to giggle. It was going to be all right, she thought. Oliver was finally learning how to play in bed.

    At eleven o'clock the next morning Annie sat behind her desk at Wildest Dreams. She was gazing at the pile of paperwork spread out on her desk, but her thoughts were on the events of the preceding evening.

    Oliver was making terrific progress.

    True, he would probably have occasional lapses, she thought. It was only to be expected. A leopard did not change its spots overnight. She had to remember that he was not accustomed to the notion of sharing power in anything, let alone in a relationship. He was accustomed to being the one in command. But he was learning. That was the important thing.

    Deep down, Oliver was a fundamentally decent man, an honorable man. His problem was that he'd been forced to be strong for so long that it was second nature to him now. He instinctively exercised power in everything, including his interpersonal relationships.

    But last night he had proven he was capable of modifying his behavior. He was trying to change. For her sake.

    Annie hugged the knowledge to her and began to hum a cheery off-key tune as she pored over a small catalog.

    She was preparing an order when a slight sound in the doorway made her look up. She smiled when she saw who stood there. “Hi, Valerie, come on in.”

    “I'm sorry to bother you.” Valerie's eyes were shadowed. “I like your shop. You have an interesting collection.”

    “Thanks. No priceless Pre-Columbian gold, but we're getting by. Sit down.” Annie waved her to a seat on the other side of the desk. “How did things go at the Shores' benefit after Oliver and I left?”

    “Fine. No one made any acutely embarrassing comments about Oliver to my face if that's what you mean.”

    “Not exactly.”

    Valerie hesitated. “Annie, I want to talk to you about last night.”

    Annie closed the catalog. “What about it?”

    “I heard Oliver ask Paul Shore to schedule a meeting.”

    “Yes, I know.” Annie grinned smugly. “A good first step, don't you think?”

    Valerie searched her face anxiously. “That's what I wanted to ask you. Do you really think Oliver intends to make his peace with Mr. Shore?”

    “Yes, I do.” Annie leaned back in her chair, feeling very wise and very sure of her analysis of Oliver. “Your brother is a bit stubborn.”

    “You can say that again.”

    “And he's a trifle arrogant.”

    Valerie grimaced. “Tyrannical would be a better word.”

    “But,” Annie said as she held up a hand, “he's also very smart.”

    “Okay, I'll give you that.”

    Annie chuckled. “Smart enough to know when he's fighting a losing battle. I think he realizes that the relationship between you and Carson is not something he can control. So he's decided to mend some fences with Paul Shore in an effort to create harmony between the families.”

    Valerie twisted her hands in her lap. “I wish I could believe that. I want to believe it.”

    “Believe it.”