Hearts Are Wild

by Laura Wright

  No one would suspect, though. So far she’d kept a brave face, smiling, thrilled with her opening and the thirty-five new clients she had signed up so far.

  She glanced around the room, spotting a few of the ladies she’d set him up with, their sights set on new prey.

  Then her heart fell into her heels.

  Nick stood by the door, talking to a woman. But this woman gave Maggie no palpitations. It was her grandma who stood there, talking animatedly to Ted, Nick and his father. Easy confidence emanated from Nick, as if he belonged here and defied anyone to tell him differently.

  She allowed her gaze to move over him, though her misery grew with every inch she perused. But she couldn’t help it; she still felt as though he belonged to her. Because she knew him inside and out. Or she’d thought she had.

  His hair had grown some since he’d had it cut, and it now licked the collar of his dark-green dress shirt. His eyes were darker than normal, but his smile was easy. Lord, suit and tie had never looked so good on any bad boy. Her fingers itched just thinking about loosening that tie, unbuttoning those buttons…

  She closed her eyes and turned around. They didn’t have to talk tonight or even see each other. Presumably, after he moved the rest of his things into his father’s house, she’d hand him a check and never have to see him again.

  She needed a minute to compose herself, try to quell the ache in her heart. She was already halfway out the back door to do just that when she heard a familiar baritone say, “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen.”

  Her feet felt as if they were stuck in quicksand, and her lungs refused to pull in any air. Silence quickly enveloped the room like an imposing fog.

  “My name is Nick Kaplan, and I’m here to give a testimonial.”

  Slowly Maggie turned, horror filling her at the prospect of listening to him tell the world about the wonderful woman who had stolen his heart—the woman she’d introduced him to.

  His gaze scanned the room. Then he spotted her, and he smiled, slow and sinful. “I’m a cynic,” he told the crowd as a flashbulb went off. “I’ve always believed that love was the worst of all four-letter words. Actually I believed that love was for fools. So when Maggie told me—actually she guaranteed me—that she could find me the love of my life, I think I laughed.” He raised a brow at her. “I laughed, right, Maggie?”

  Everyone turned to look at her. She nodded bleakly. What had started out as a successful evening was quickly turning into a nightmare.

  “But she was right,” he continued. “Maggie Conner found me the woman who has changed me forever…just plain ruined me for other women.” He chuckled and looked around. “And that’s saying something.”

  The room erupted in laughter, while inside Maggie her heart shrank.

  Nick sobered, his eyes—those magnetic green pools—searched her own. “I told the reporter from the Press that Maggie had found me that woman, my soul mate. But I didn’t give him her name.”

  A hush seeped through the crowd. Maggie felt as though a sponge was stuck in her throat, slowly expanding with each new revelation. She didn’t want to hear any more. She didn’t want to hear the name of the woman who’d stolen the heart of the man she loved.

  She wanted to run, but she couldn’t seem to move. His gaze held her where she was.

  He smiled at her, a very tender smile. “Her name is Maggie Conner.”

  Another flashbulb went off, a distinct gasp sounded somewhere in the room as the crowd murmured amongst themselves.

  Maggie stilled, totally submerged in disbelief. She’d heard him wrong. Maggie Conner was the woman who brought us together, that’s what he’d said. But no, around her, people stared, whispered the very words she would swear she’d only imagined him saying.

  “Now, guys,” he said, his face growing more serious as he looked around the room. “I took the cream of the crop, so she’s off-limits.” He grinned. “But if I can find that perfect woman, I guarantee that you can, too. Good luck.”

  Nick felt about as confident as a toddler trying to stand for the first time as he walked down the steps and through the crowd. But he didn’t give a damn. If all went as planned, in about five seconds he’d be holding the woman he loved in his arms.

  Around him guests chattered quietly, trying to appear as if they weren’t watching to see what happened next. But he could feel their eyes on him.

  He came to stand before her. She looked shaken, and he had no idea what that meant.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Hi,” she said softly.

  “Can we talk?”

  She nodded, her eyes wide and luminous.

  “Outside?”

  She nodded again.

  He didn’t wait for the shock to wear off. He took her hand and led her outside. And they kept on walking, down the steps, to the moonlit beach, until they couldn’t hear the crowd, the music—until they couldn’t hear anything but the familiar sound of the waves rolling up onto the sand.

  “I don’t understand, Nick. That article…”

  Her voice was broken, confused and unsure, and all he wanted to do was hold her and tell her what was in his heart, but after what he’d unwittingly put her through, she deserved an explanation. “Maggie, that article was supposed to have come out tomorrow. It was supposed to have been a love letter. From me to you.”

  She gasped, tears springing to her eyes. “But, I thought…”

  “I know, I know,” he said gathering her in his arms. “You thought that I’d fallen in love with one of those women you set me up with.”

  “But you didn’t.” It wasn’t a question, rather a confirmation.

  The anxiety in her voice tore at him, but he couldn’t stop from smiling. She was here, in his arms. “No, I didn’t.” He held her away from him slightly, lifting her chin to his gaze. “I love you, Montana Eyes.”

  Maggie stood there, staring up at him on legs as weak as water. If this was a dream, she prayed, never let me wake up. “Say it again, Nick.” She was tempting the Fates, but she needed to hear it again, over and over, until it made sense in her bruised and muddled mind.

  He kissed her softly. “I love you. Everything about you. You are my perfect match, my soul mate.” His gaze grew serious. “Let me be that for you.”

  Inside her, it was like Las Vegas all over again. Bells ringing, shouts of joy, cries of happiness—and the remnants of a fear still deeply imbedded. “I love you, too, Nick. So much. And I want everything you have to give.” She looked away. She had everything, right here, but somehow she just couldn’t take it. “But I’m still afraid.”

  “Of what?”

  “The Conner Curse.” The ocean breeze blew her hair about her face. “I know it sounds silly and stupid, but, Nick, I’m really afraid I’ll lose you.”

  “Sweetheart, I promise you, I’m not going anywhere,” he said, though his eyes glowed with understanding. “But just in case, I may have the perfect antidote.” He grinned, his arms tightening around her. “How about changing your name to Kaplan?”

  “What?”

  He released her then, pulled a small gold box from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. Her heart soared like the seagulls overhead. He loved her and he wanted her.

  With shaky fingers, she opened the box. A beautiful sapphire ring surrounded by tiny diamonds winked back at her. “It was my mother’s. My father gave it to me this afternoon. He thought I might need it tonight.”

  Tears filled her eyes. How could such an ill-fated girl end up so lucky?

  As the waves lifted and crashed, Nick lowered to one knee. “Marry me, Maggie. Be my wife.”

  “Oh, yes,” she said softly, smiling, then breaking out into joyful laughter. “Yes, Nick. Yes.” Suddenly she sobered as she remembered the tie to the past that would always bind her unless she gave it up for good.

  “There’s just one thing.”

  His eyes darkened with worry as he slowly got to his feet.

  With heartfelt determination, she lifted th
e necklace and locket over her head. “I have to do something first.” The cool gold felt heavy now. She opened the oval and tossed the heavy grains of sand it contained into the air. “This sand was from the spot where my mom and dad said goodbye. I thought it would always remind me to keep my heart closed and safe.” But it didn’t have that power, Maggie thought as she bent and took another bit of sand from the ground between them.

  With steady fingers this time, she dropped the creamy-colored grains into the locket, snapped it closed, then looked up at Nick. “Now it will be a reminder of you. The man who taught me to live and love and trust again.”

  He had her in his arms in seconds, covering her mouth with his own. He kissed her deep and long as the wind picked up around them and the waves in turn answered. When he finally pulled his lips from hers, her knees no longer felt like rubber. She felt strong, her heart completely filled.

  Under the glowing moon, she tipped her chin up and looked into his eyes. “I love you like crazy, Nick Kaplan. And I can’t wait to be your wife.”

  He scooped her up in his arms and smiled. “Let’s not wait, then,” he said. “How does next Saturday sound?”

  She laughed. Lord, he could always make her laugh. Her arms went around his neck as she lowered her lashes and played coy for a moment. “I need some time to get a dress and some flowers, maybe take a little time to get to know your family.”

  He held her against his chest, against his heart. “They’re your family now, Maggie.”

  A true and honest warmth spread through her soul. She had everything she could ever want in this man. A real success story. And she was forever grateful.

  “Let’s go, sweetheart.” He turned and started up the beach. “We have some of that family waiting impatiently to hear if you said yes or not.”

  “That’s a lot of steps.” She cast a look over her shoulder to the steps that led to her shop. “Do you want to put me down?”

  He grinned at her. “Never. Besides I need the practice.” Then he winked. “You know, for the threshold?”

  They moved away from the darkness of the beach and toward the light of their future. With a contented sigh Maggie let her head fall against his shoulder. “Who’d have believed it? From my first customer to my husband in one fell swoop.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “And I assure you, Montana Eyes, I’m the most satisfied customer you are ever going to have.”

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-0076-0

  HEARTS ARE WILD

  Copyright © 2002 by Laura Wright

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and TM are trademarks of Harlequin Books S.A., used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

  Visit Silhouette at www.eHarlequin.com