Wildest Hearts

for a while, I want you to know I don't expect you to give up your private life entirely. You should feel quite free to date or whatever.” It was hard to imagine Oliver on a date. “After all, it's not like this will be a real marriage.”

    “If word gets out that the marriage is a sham, your brother's creditors will panic. They might not believe we'll stay married long enough for me to save the company unless they believe we're in love.”

    Annie groaned and slouched deeper into her chair. “I suppose you're right. I hadn't really thought about that part. I guess we're going to have to make this thing look real, aren't we?”

    “If you want it to serve the purpose you intend, yes.”

    “There will be questions, I suppose. People will be surprised at how quickly we decided to marry.”

    Oliver looked thoughtful. “We'll tell them we've been seeing each other for quite a while but preferred to keep the relationship private until such time as an announcement seemed appropriate. Now, with Daniel gone and the company in need of leadership, we decided to go ahead and formalize our relationship.”

    “Hmm. Sounds okay. You already have a reputation for being something of a mystery. Still, there are going to be lot of little problems, aren't there?” Annie glanced uneasily around the study, wondering if she would actually have to move into Oliver's austere penthouse.

    “Yes, you will,” Oliver said politely as if he had read her mind. “No one will believe we're seriously married if you don't live with me.”

    Annie felt a brief stirring of genuine panic. “This is going to get complicated, isn't it?”

    “Don't worry about it, Annie. I'll take care of everything. That's why you're marrying me, remember?”

3

    It took the patience of a saint or the devil himself to propagate ferns from spores. Oliver had that kind of patience. He took quiet satisfaction in the process, even though it could take anywhere from six months to two years to see the results of his efforts.

    Rain beat down on the huge rooftop greenhouse as he carefully misted a tray of tiny hybrids. Around him cascaded ferns of every size and description. Ferns were his passion, and the greenhouse was devoted entirely to them. Here on the roof above his penthouse he had created his own private rain forest.

    There were many species represented in the greenhouse, although Oliver favored maidenhairs and staghorns. Adder's-tongues, tree ferns, glade ferns, and shield ferns occupied several rows of metal mesh benches. More plants hung suspended from the ceiling, forming a canopy of green. A few examples of some aquatic species floated on the surface of a small grotto pool at the far end of the structure.

    The lacy young maidenhair ferns Oliver was misting were only an inch tall, but he was hopeful that he had created a new and interesting variety with this latest attempt. He would not know for certain, however, until the mature fronds appeared, which might not be for another year and a half. He was content to wait.

    Oliver had learned a long time ago that patience was a virtue that nearly everyone else in the world lacked. Not that he minded that lack in others. It gave him a distinct advantage.

    But in the matter of Annie Lyncroft, he had not had to exercise his singular talent for waiting at all. Two days ago she had announced she was prepared to hurl herself into his arms. Or at least into marriage with him.

    Oliver allowed himself a faint smile as he contemplated the image of Annie Lyncroft in his arms. When he had first seen her at Daniel's engagement party, it had been rather like discovering an entirely new species of fern. She was unlike any other woman he had ever met. He had promised himself that he would find a way to collect her.

    Oliver had decided that the time had come to find himself a wife. He thought Annie would suit him very well.

    She was unquestionably unique. That did not altogether surprise him. After all, she was Daniel's sister and Daniel was an unusual man. Oliver had trusted Daniel Lyncroft during the years Lyncroft had worked for him. There were not many people Oliver trusted.

    Annie's determination to save Daniel's company did not come as a surprise, either. A capacity for loyalty was obviously a family trait. It was also a trait Oliver required in his wife.

    There was a strong, undeniable physical attraction between himself and Annie, which he could no doubt use to secure the bonds.

    He had felt