Wildest Hearts

outside on the sidewalk.

    “Bolt will bring the car around in a minute.”

    “That's all right,” Annie had assured him. “I'd rather walk. It's only a few blocks to the shop.”

    “It's raining.”

    “I've got my umbrella.”

    “As you wish.” His eyes locked with hers. “I'll see you at home this evening.”

    Annie touched his arm. “Oliver, do you want to talk?”

    “No. Not now.”

    Before she could respond the black limo had arrived at the curb with the stealth of a shadow. Oliver had gotten inside and shut the door without looking back at her.

    That was when Annie had known for certain that the luncheon with Shore had not gone nearly as smoothly as she had at first thought. She had walked slowly back to Wildest Dreams through the cold, driving rain. By the time she reached the shop, she was convinced she had screwed up royally.

    But looking back she did not see how she could have handled things any differently.

    Now Annie paused in the doorway of the kitchen.

    “Bolt?”

    There was no sign of Oliver's household robot. The lights were off in the kitchen. Normally Bolt would have been midway through preparations for another gourmet meal. His absence was definitely a bad sign.

    Annie trailed reluctantly down the hall into the living room. It was empty, too. The rain slanted steadily against the expanse of windows.

    That left the study. Annie knew Oliver would be waiting for her there in his ebony and gold lair.

    She had to force herself to make the long trek down the gray-carpeted hallway. When she finally arrived, the door was closed.

    For some reason that annoyed Annie. She straightened her shoulders, opened the door without knocking, and stalked into the room. She came to a halt just inside, letting her eyes adjust to the subdued light.

    Oliver was sitting at his desk, a leopard crouching in his cave. His face was in shadow. The halogen lamp created a ring of sharp, white light on the polished surface of his desk, revealing his folded hands. For some strange reason her eye was caught by the golden gleam of his wedding ring.

    “Hello, Oliver.” Annie stomped defiantly over to a chair and threw herself down into it.

    “Good evening, Annie.”

    “Where's Bolt?”

    “I told him to leave early today. We won't be needing him this evening.”

    She groaned. “You're angry, aren't you?”

    “Let's just say I've been thinking about this relationship.”

    Annie winced. “You really are pissed.”

    “I have tolerated a great deal from you, Annie. But today you went too far.”

    Icy fingers traced the length of Annie's spine. “I didn't do anything.” But she knew that wasn't true. And so did Oliver.

    “You interfered in a situation that was no concern of yours.”

    “I didn't exactly interfere, Oliver. I just invited myself to lunch with you and Shore, that's all.”

    “Why?”

    She blinked. “Why? Well, I suppose because I was a little worried.”

    “About what?” Oliver prompted very softly.

    Annie struggled with that one. “I was afraid you might do something you'd wind up regretting.”

    “Regrets? Annie, I made it a policy a long time ago not to have regrets.”

    “The thing is,” she said earnestly, “you've been carrying a grudge against Paul Shore for so long, I didn't know if you would be able to think clearly when you were actually face-to-face with him. I thought that having someone else there at the table would help defuse the situation. And I was right, wasn't I? Admit it.”

    “You deliberately involved yourself in a matter that had nothing to do with you.”

    “Damn it, Oliver, I just sat there and chatted over lunch. I didn't involve myself in anything.”

    Oliver said nothing. An intimidating silence ensued.

    “Stop that,” Annie ordered.

    “Stop what?”

    “Stop trying to intimidate me.” Annie shot out of her chair and went to stand at the window. “It won't work, Oliver. I won't allow you to use those tactics on me.”

    “And I will not permit you to involve yourself in matters that are the sole concern of myself and my family.”

    “Oliver, I am part of your family. I'm your wife.”

    “That status, according to your own words, is temporary.”

    Annie's stomach knotted in pain. “I know that.”

    “You're the one who wanted a marriage of convenience.”

    “Yes, I know, but…”

    “I did not find our marriage very convenient today, Annie.”

    “Damn it, will you stop sounding as if you're conducting a