Wildest Hearts

safely out of the sabotaged plane before it went under the waves. Garbed in a survival suit, he had made it to a small island with the aid of the inflatable life raft he had carried on board. But he'd had no radio, no way of calling for help.

    Daniel had employed a variety of clever methods using materials from the survival suit and the life raft to stay alive. He had subsisted on fish and wild foliage for several weeks. Then he had finally gotten lucky and caught the attention of a passing cargo ship.

    The freighter's captain had spoken only minimal English, but he had managed to get across the point that his schedule was more important than returning Daniel to Seattle. The ship's radios had not been functioning so Daniel had good-naturedly earned his keep working aboard ship until the freighter had docked at its next port of call. Once on solid land he had raced to the nearest phone only to find that long-distance lines were not functioning on the tiny island that week.

    He found a boat charter captain who agreed to take him to a larger island where he could catch a plane. Daniel had had fifteen minutes to make a phone call before the plane left. No one had been at home at either Annie's or Joanna's apartments. Daniel had given up trying to notify them that he was safe and sound and raced for the plane instead. Nearly two months after he had gone down, Daniel finally managed to get back to Seattle.

    “He looks awfully thin,” Annie said, “but I expect Joanna will fatten him up.”

    “Yes.”

    Annie turned in his arms, smiling up at him. “I'm so incredibly happy, Oliver.”

    “I'm glad,” Oliver said. He tightened his hold on her and willed himself to take the plunge. “It looks like you won't be needing me around to save Lyncroft.”

    “Nope. Lyncroft is safe and sound again with Daniel at the helm.”

    “Annie…”

    “Hmm?”

    “When you proposed to me, you said you would file for divorce when Daniel returned.”

    She went still. “Did I?”

    “Yes.”

    “If I recall, you implied at the time that the arrangement was fine with you,” she said carefully.

    “It's not. I don't want a divorce.”

    Annie levered herself up on one elbow. Her eyes were glowing with happiness. “Are you serious?”

    “Very serious.” He studied her face in the shadows and saw the hope in her eyes.

    Relief surged through him. She didn't want their relationship to end any more than he did, Oliver thought with satisfaction. Everything was going to be all right. Everything was under control.

    Annie smiled. “Oliver, are you telling me that you want our marriage to become a real one?”

    “I've told you all along that it was real.”

    “I know, but we both understood that it was a marriage of convenience. You married me to do me a favor. I don't want you to feel obligated to do the noble thing just because you know how I feel about you.”

    “I married you,” Oliver said with great precision, “because I wanted you. I wanted you from the moment I saw you. If you hadn't asked me to marry you, I would eventually have proposed.”

    “I'm so glad.” Annie threw herself across him, cradling his face between her hands. She rained passionate little kisses down across his mouth.

    Oliver smiled up at her through the storm of kisses. “Does this mean you're willing to make the marriage permanent?”

    “Of course it does. There's nothing I want more.” Annie raised her head slightly, her mouth curving in a rueful smile. “And don't tell me you don't know it. You've known from the beginning how I feel about you.”

    “I knew you were attracted to me,” he admitted carefully. “But I wasn't certain I could convince you to stay married to me.”

    She gave him her most brilliant smile. “How could you have doubted it? I love you.”

    “Yes.” Oliver was genuinely awed. “I believe you do.” He reached up, captured her face between his hands, and dragged her mouth back down to his. “Oh, God, Annie. You won't be sorry. I swear it.”

    “I know,” she mumbled against his lips. “Oliver?”

    “Hmm?” He could feel his body hardening. The urge to bury himself in Annie's sweet heat was swamping him once more.

    “You do love me, don't you?” Annie snuggled closer. “I've been telling myself all along that you do, but you've never actually said the words.”

    Oliver froze. “Annie?”

    Annie lifted herself away from him. “What is it?”

    He closed his eyes briefly, struggling to