Free Wildest Hearts by Jayne Ann Krentz

safe. For now Oliver is my partner. That's all there is to it.”
     
    “You think so?” Barry demanded fiercely. “You think it's that simple?”
     
    Oliver reached out and ripped Barry's clutching fingers off Annie's arm. “Take your hands off my wife.”
     
    Barry jerked his hand back as if it had been burned. But his desperate eyes never left Annie's face. “Ask him what happened to a guy named Walker Gresham. Go ahead, Annie.Ask him .”
     
    “Let's go, Annie.” Oliver prodded her gently but firmly into the limousine. Bolt stood close. His mirrored sunglasses reflected Barry's distraught face.
     
    “Barry, I don't understand why you're so upset. Everything is going to be fine.” Annie broke off as Oliver got her inside the car and slid in beside her.
     
    Barry bent down to lean into the back of the car as Bolt started to close the door. “Annie, for God's sake, listen to me. Five years ago a man named Walker Gresham was a partner in a company Rain took over. Gresham died within months after the takeover. There were rumors, Annie. Do you hear me? There were rumors that Gresham's death was no accident…”
     
    The car door slammed shut. Bolt got behind the wheel in the blink of an eye and a few seconds later the limousine pulled away from the curb.
     
    Annie turned her head to glance out the back window. Barry stood on the sidewalk looking as if he had arrived late to a funeral rather than a wedding.
     
    5
     
    Ithink the leopard works well in here.” Oliver leaned back in his chair, steepled his fingers, and gazed at the jeweled statue with satisfaction.
     
    As it happened, the exotic beast looked very much at home in his study. But he would have lodged it in here even if it had looked as ridiculous as the elephant and the carousel. The cloisonné leopard was, after all, a gift from his bride.
     
    His bride.
     
    He savored the deep sense of satisfaction he had been feeling since he had walked out of the courthouse with Annie at his side.
     
    “You're sure?” Annie studied the leopard with a dubious expression.
     
    “Yes.” Oliver smiled slightly. “He suits the room very nicely.”
     
    His gaze went past the leopard to the rain-streaked darkness beyond the window. It was nearly eight o'clock, and he and Annie were finally alone. He thought that he had concealed his impatience well for the past few hours while his family produced the surprise reception. He admitted to himself that he had been oddly touched by their efforts, but he had been relieved to see everyone, including Bolt, leave a few minutes ago. This was, after all, his wedding night.
     
    “Well, that takes care of the formalities.” Annie blew a small sigh and sank back into her seat. “No offense, but I thought your family would never leave.”
     
    “I was beginning to think I would have to ask Bolt to toss them out the door,” Oliver said.
     
    “Can't blame them for wanting to celebrate, I suppose. They think this marriage is for real. By the way, where did Bolt go? Into a closet somewhere?”
     
    “Bolt has an apartment of his own down on the sixth floor of this building.” Oliver masked the flare of irritation Annie's offhand comment about their marriage roused in him. He wondered how long it would take before she realized he had every intention of making this marriage very, very real.
     
    “Oh.” Annie glanced down at her hand and gave a small start. “Good heavens, I almost forgot. You can have your ring back now. The ceremony is over.” She started to remove the simple gold band.
     
    “Don't you think you'd better keep it on? It's customary, you know.” And he was old-fashioned enough to want his wife to wear the symbol of her commitment to him in plain view.
     
    “I hadn't thought about having to wear a ring all the time. Do you really think it's necessary?”
     
    “Yes. We don't want any speculation at this juncture. The marriage must appear solid and secure.”
     
    Annie eyed the ring dubiously.