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younger than one would have expected. She was probably not more than a few years older than Oliver. She was also a strikingly attractive woman.
     
    Annie decided that none of the rest of the Rain clan had Oliver's talent for keeping their expressions cool and unreadable. They all watched Annie and Joanna with unconcealed curiosity.
     
    Annie surveyed her future in-laws-in-name-only and was glad she had taken the time to put on her hunter-green dress. The long sleeves and full sweep of the calf-length skirt gave her a more polished look than she would have had in the slacks and sweater she had originally intended to wear.
     
    “I suppose we'd better make a few introductions before we go inside,” Oliver said. He took Annie's arm and steered her toward the rest of the Rains. Joanna trailed after them, looking extremely unhappy.
     
    Oliver's proprietary grasp on Annie's arm drew the full attention of his family. As one, their eyes swung from Joanna and settled on Annie. Sybil's gaze narrowed.
     
    “Trust Oliver to spring a surprise bride on us like this,” Heather said as she shook Annie's hand. “He never gives out any clues about what he's going to do or when he's going to do it.”
     
    “Surprise is right,” Valerie murmured. She shot her brother a speculative glance. “The rest of us are expected to get any potential spouses approved by him. But Oliver apparently didn't feel he had to get our approval for his own marriage. Hardly fair, big brother.”
     
    “Not much point in being the head of the family if you don't get to approve your own bride, right, Oliver?” Richard grinned at his brother as he shook Annie's hand.
     
    “Yeah, old Oliver deserves a few perks as head of the clan. We'll let him get away with selecting his own bride,” Nathan added cheerfully. “Looks to me like he's done a good job of it.”
     
    Sybil smiled without much warmth as she stepped forward. “It's not as though we have much choice, is it? Welcome to the family, Ms. Lyncroft. I certainly hope you know what you're doing by marrying Oliver.”
     
    “Annie knows exactly what she's doing,” Oliver said coolly. “Don't you, Annie?”
     
    “Definitely,” Annie agreed. She was acutely aware of Oliver's big hand wrapped around her arm. He was holding onto her as if he thought she might try to flee.
     
    Nathan looked at Oliver. “I'd better warn you that you're not going to be allowed to sneak away after the wedding. We've planned a little surprise of our own.”
     
    “That's right,” Heather said. She smiled at Oliver. “Don't worry. Just a small reception. Family only. We know you wanted to keep this low-key, but you can't expect us to ignore your wedding altogether.”
     
    “After all,” Sybil drawled, “your marriage is a major event in the family, Oliver.”
     
    Oliver accepted the news with apparent equanimity. “I don't mind if Annie doesn't.”
     
    “Well,” Annie said cautiously, “I hadn't really planned on making a big deal out of this. It's just a little wedding, after all.”
     
    Everyone, including Oliver, looked at her.
     
    “Just a little wedding?” Sybil repeated dryly. “Come now, Annie. It's a bit more than that, isn't it? You're marrying one of the wealthiest men in the state. Some might say this kind of alliance is more of a business move than a romantic one.”
     
    Annie flushed.
     
    “I think we're ready.” Oliver started forward with Annie in tow.
     
    “Yes, let's get this over with,” Annie muttered.
     
    The formalities were completed in a blur as far as she was concerned. She realized that Joanna was on one side casting worried glances at her during the short ceremony, and she was very conscious of the assembled Rains hovering nearby. But mostly she was aware of Oliver. He seemed very large and substantial standing there next to her.
     
    And then it was over. Annie breathed a sigh of relief as they all trooped back outside onto the sidewalk. She was telling herself that