Wildest Hearts by Jayne Ann Krentz Read Free Book Online Page A

children.

    In his more optimistic moments, Oliver had told himself the alliance between Sybil and his father just might work. If Sybil was willing to play the role of a loving mother to Heather and Valerie in exchange for the social and financial status she had achieved by marrying Edward, Oliver was willing to keep his opinions to himself.

    Heather and Valerie, at the tender ages of ten and twelve, had accepted Sybil with surprising ease. A year later when the twins, Nathan and Richard, were born, Heather and Valerie had good-naturedly accepted their baby brothers, too. No one could replace Mary Rain, but the household appeared to be functioning smoothly.

    On that fateful afternoon Oliver had driven on impulse to the big house on Mercer Island to pay a surprise visit to his sisters and baby brothers. He had parked the car in the long drive and let himself into a side door with his key.

    He had known something was wrong as soon as he stepped into the too-silent house. There was no sign of the housekeeper, his sisters, or anyone else, but he had sensed that the house was not empty.

    Oliver's first thought was that there was a burglar in the mansion. He raced silently up the stairs to check the bedrooms. After finding the twins safely asleep in their own room, he went on down the hall.

    He discovered Sybil in the luxurious master bedroom. She was in bed and she was not alone. The naked man who lay entwined with her in the pale blue satin sheets was as startled to see Oliver as Oliver was to see him.

    “Shit.” The man rolled out of bed and grabbed his clothes. “What the hell is this? Hey, I'm out of here, man. She never said anything about you. Told me her old man was a geriatric case, I swear it.”

    Sybil clutched the sheet. “Oh, God. Oliver.”

    Without a word Oliver turned and walked out of the door and down the stairs. He went into the living room and stood at the window. He spent a long time staring out at Lake Washington. By the time Sybil came warily into the room, he had made his decision.

    “Look, Oliver,” Sybil began nervously, “your father and I have an understanding.”

    “Some understanding.”

    “The relationship between Edward and myself is none of your business.”

    “You don't think so?” Oliver challenged softly. “What about the kids?”

    “Don't you think I care about the children? I gave Edward two sons, didn't I?”

    “Did you?”

    Her eyes widened in horror. “For God's sake, don't you dare imply Nathan and Richard aren't Edward's children. I swear they are.”

    “Lucky for you they have his eyes and his hair, just as I do, isn't it? Otherwise we'd be talking about blood tests right now.”

    “You bastard,” she breathed. Tears formed in her beautiful eyes. “You don't understand. Greg is the man I love. If things had been different, I would have married him.”

    “What was different?” Oliver asked coldly. “Wasn't he rich enough for you?”

    “He's married, damn you.” She took a step forward. “Oliver, please, listen to me. You're too young to know what this is all about.”

    “You're wrong. I know exactly what this is about. You've betrayed my father and this family. And now it's time for you to understand exactly how things are going to work from now on.”

    “What are you talking about?”

    “I don't want Heather and Valerie subjected to any more emotional disruption. They've adjusted to you and they'd be confused and hurt if you were to leave. Little girls need mothers.”

    “I'm not leaving,” Sybil shrieked.

    “Nathan and Richard have a right to know their father. God knows he isn't around a lot, but they'd see even less of him if you were to take them away.” Oliver set his teeth. “Boys need their fathers.”

    “Damn you, Oliver, I'm not taking them away.”

    “Children also need to believe that their mothers are angels.” Oliver ignored the desperate look in Sybil's eyes. “So for the sake of my brothers and sisters, I won't