THE TYCOON'S REBEL BRIDE(12)

two days, and already you’re planning to marry me off. And tell me, what do you mean

by a woman in my position can’t be too careful?”

“You’re wealthy, young and beautiful,” he said bluntly. “You’ll have every man

between the ages of twenty and eighty plotting to wed and bed you, not necessarily in

that order.”

She sat back in mock surprise. “Wow. And not a word about my intelligence, wit

or charm. I’m glad to know I don’t plan to wed for superficial reasons.”

Theron sobered then reached over and took her hand. Warmth spread up her arm

as his fingers stroked her palm. “This is precisely why I felt I should be involved in your

search for a husband. Men will try to take advantage of you by pretending they’re

something they’re not. Fortune hunters will pretend they know nothing of your wealth.

They’ll be swept away by your kindness and generosity. It’s important that any man we

allow close to you be carefully vetted by myself.”

Her lips twitched, but she dare not laugh. He was utterly serious, and she had to

admit that his concern was endearing. It would be quite sweet if he weren’t so intent on

marrying her off to another man.

“Don’t be disheartened, pethi mou,” he soothed. “There are many men who would

give you the world. It’s a matter of finding the right one.”

It was all she could do not to cringe. If that wasn’t a painful lecture, she’d never

heard one.

“You’re right, of course,” she murmured.

Because what else was she going to say? What she really wanted to do was lean

over and ask him if he could be that man. But she already knew the answer to that. He

couldn’t be that man. At least not yet. Not until he had time to get used to the idea.

Theron smiled his approval and slipped his fingers from hers as he leaned back in

his chair. She glanced down at her open hand, regretting the loss of his touch.

“So tell me, what are your requirements in a husband?” he asked indulgently.

She gazed thoughtfully at him, her mind assembling all the things she loved most

about him. Then she started ticking items off on her fingers.

“Let’s see. I’d like him to be tall, dark and handsome.”

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THE TYCOON’S REBEL BRIDE

17

MAYA BANKS

SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944

THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS

Theron rolled his eyes. “You’ve described the wishes of half the female

population.”

“I also want him to be kind and have a sense of responsibility. As I’d prefer not to

have children right away, his agreement on that matter would also be important.”

“You don’t want children?” he asked. He seemed surprised, but then he likely

thought all women aspired to pop out a veritable brood as soon as they got a ring on their

finger.

“I didn’t say I didn’t want them,” she replied calmly. “Let me guess, you’d want

them immediately?”

He arched one brow. “We aren’t discussing me, but yes, I see no reason to wait.”

“That’s because you aren’t the one having them,” she said dryly.

For a moment it looked as though he would laugh, but then he waved his hand

and urged her to continue with her wish list.

She pretended to consider for a moment. “I want him to be wealthier than I am so

that my money is a nonissue.”

Theron nodded his agreement.

Then she let her voice drop, and she leaned forward. “I want him to burn for me,

to not be able to go a day without touching me, holding me, caressing me. He’ll be an

excellent lover. I want a man who knows how to please me,” she finished in a husky,

longing-filled voice.

He stared at her, his eyes sharp. For a moment she imagined that there was

answering passion in his eyes as they flickered over her exposed skin.

“Do you not agree that these are things I should expect?” she asked softly as she

studied him.

He cleared his throat and looked briefly away. Was she affecting him at all or was

he completely immune? No, there was something in his eyes. His entire body emanated

sexual awareness. She might be young, but she wasn’t naive, and she certainly wasn’t

stupid when it came to men. She’d had her share of interested parties. She could read

harmless, flirty interest, and then there was the dark, brooding intensity of a man whose

passions ran deep and powerful.

Never before had she felt the intense magnetism that existed between her and

Theron. She’d spent years searching for something that even came close to the budding