Wildest Hearts

court-marshal? I get the impression you're going to strip me of my rank and insignia and make me walk the plank or something.”

    “It's obvious we need to arrive at a clearer understanding of how this marriage is going to work,” Oliver said. “I won't tolerate any more interference in my affairs.”

    “Is that so?” Annie's frustration made her reckless. “What are you going to do about it?”

    There was another heartbeat of shattering silence. “Have you forgotten that you need my help to save Lyncroft?” Oliver finally asked very softly.

    The shock of the blatant threat robbed Annie of her breath. It took a few seconds for her to recover. When she did, her anger drowned out any fear she might have felt. She swung around to confront him, her hands in fists at her sides.

    “How dare you?” she shouted.

    Oliver's eyes were colder than the rain on the window. “You came to me for help to save your brother's business. You proposed the marriage of convenience. You need me, remember?”

    “Don't threaten me. Don't you dare threaten me.”

    “I'm not threatening you. I'm pointing out certain facts. You have a lot more at stake in this marriage than I do. I can survive very nicely without the profits I might ultimately see from Daniel's wireless technology.”

    “Is that so?”

    “Yes. You, on the other hand, are up against the wall. You're desperate to hold Lyncroft together. And I'm the only one who can do it for you, Annie.”

    “What are you saying? That if I don't stay out of your family affairs, you'll abandon me and the company to our fates?”

    Oliver's jaw tightened. “I don't think it will come to that, will it? You're impulsive, but you're smart. Smart enough to know when you've gone too far. You crossed a line today, Annie. Don't ever cross it again.”

    Annie threw up her hands. “Why are you so mad at me? What did I do that was so wrong?”

    “I told you what you did. You chose to involve yourself in a family matter, a matter that was none of your business. You should have stayed out of it, Annie.”

    “I just sat there and talked.”

    “You deliberately ruined everything,” Oliver said evenly.

    She glanced quickly at him. Oliver's grim face was as expressionless as ever, but something in his voice warned her that he did not have himself as firmly under control as he would have her believe.

    “I ruined everything?” Annie echoed. “Come on now, Oliver. Are you telling me that I have that much power? Are you admitting that just by inviting myself to lunch I managed to trash all your carefully arranged plans?”

    “Stop it, Annie.”

    She took a step toward him. “Are you saying that I, little Annie Lyncroft, purveyor of tacky art, had the power to force the mighty Oliver Rain to scrap his clever schemes for revenge?”

    “Annie, I'm warning you.”

    She took another step toward him. “Good God, Oliver, it boggles the mind. To think that I could change the course of history so easily.”

    “I said, that's enough, Annie. I meant it. What does it take to stop you?”

    “Why, Oliver, I'm not sure anything can stop me.” She made a sweeping gesture with her right hand. “Heck, I'm a force to be reckoned with, according to you. I have the power to alter your whole life. Just by inviting myself along to lunch. Lord only knows what would happen if I ever invited myself to join you when you're having dinner with one of your enemies.”

    Oliver sat unmoving. His hands were still clasped on the top of the desk. Annie noticed that his knuckles had gone white.

    “Do you or do you not want me to save Lyncroft for you?” Oliver asked.

    “Forget the threats.” Annie walked to the door. She turned, her hand on the knob. “You know damn well you aren't going to follow through on them.”

    “No?”

    “No. And I'll tell you why. Because you know as well as I do that I didn't force you to give up your plan to use Shore's son as a weapon. You're the one who abandoned the scheme. You're the only one who had the power to give it up.”

    Oliver still did not move.

    “You could have gone ahead and blackmailed Shore if that was what you really wanted to do. I couldn't have stopped you. No one could have stopped you.” Annie opened the door.

    “Come back here, Annie.”

    “I understand now why you're mad. You're furious with me because I made you stop and think today. Having me there at the table forced you to consider exactly what you were doing.”

    “Come