He blinked in surprise. “Ruin what?”
“The kiss. Don’t ruin it by apologizing.”
“It shouldn’t have happened,” he said tightly.
She sighed. “You’re ruining it. I asked you not to.”
He stared at her open-mouthed. How the hell was he supposed to hand her the
lecture he’d carefully planned when she looked positively disgruntled over the fact that
he’d brought it up?
“If you positively must regret it, I’d appreciate it if you did so quietly,” she said
before he could offer anything further. “You’re allowed to forget it ever happened, you’re
allowed to regret it, you’re allowed to swear on all that’s holy that it’ll never happen
again. Just don’t expect me to do the same, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t patronize
me by making light of it. As kisses go, I thought it was damn near perfect. You saying
differently doesn’t make it any less in my mind.”
He was speechless. A first for him. He who always had something to say. He was
the diplomat in the family, always the level-headed one, and yet he’d been reduced to a
mindless, gaping idiot by this infuriating woman.
She crossed one leg over the other and pressed her hands together in her lap.
“Now, if that’s all you had on your mind, I thought we could finalize the arrangements
for the apartment and plan our shopping trip? I arranged for the papers I need to sign for
the apartment to be faxed here since I was sure you’d want to look over everything first.”
That was it? She could so easily shove what happened the night before out of her
mind when he’d been consumed the entire morning? The memory didn’t just consume
him, it tortured him endlessly.
Even now he looked at her lips and remembered the lush fullness against his
mouth. He could remember her taste and scent. The throb in his groin intensified as he
imagined how she’d look, spread naked on the bed as he moved over her.
He cursed again and ripped his mind to present matters.
“Check with Madeline and see if she has the agreement. I’ll have my lawyer look
it over if you like. As for shopping, Madeline will know my appointments for the week.
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THE TYCOON’S REBEL BRIDE
24
MAYA BANKS
SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944
THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS
Stop on your way out and have her schedule a few hours for us to pick out your
furniture.”
She flashed him a smile that warmed parts of his body that didn’t bear
mentioning. With a toss of her long hair, she rose gracefully from the chair. She gave him
a small wave bye then turned and walked to the door.
A fairy. Her tattoo was a fairy with a sprinkling of glittery dust and sparkles
radiating from the design.
It suited her.
But it brought up another very intriguing thought. Did she have any other tattoos?
Maybe one or two that could only be seen when she wore no clothing? It made him
twitchy as he imagined going on a hunt with her body as the map.
Isabella left Theron’s office, biting her lip to keep from smiling. He’d certainly
been prepared to give her an endless lecture on how they could never again do what
they’d done the night before. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t expected which was why
she’d been prepared to head it off before he ever got started.
She mentally patted herself on the back at the expert way she’d diffused the
situation. He was probably still off balance and trying to figure out just what had
happened.
She approached Madeline’s desk and politely asked if Madeline had received a
fax for her.
Madeline tapped a stack of papers at the edge of her desk and then smiled up at
Isabella.
“Did he tell you about the party?” Madeline asked.
Isabella picked up the rental agreement and frowned. “No, he didn’t mention it.”
Just then Theron stuck his head out the door. “Bella, I forgot to tell you that I
have a cocktail party planned this Thursday that I’d like you to attend. Seven p.m. at my
penthouse. Madeline will arrange for a car to pick you up at the hotel.”
Before she could respond, he withdrew into his office again and closed the door.
“Well, there you have it,” Madeline said in amusement. “I don’t suppose he’s also
told you the occasion?”
Isabella turned back to the older woman, her frown deepening. “Why do I get the
idea that I’m being royally set up?”
“Because you are?” Madeline said cheerfully.
Isabella flopped down in the chair beside Madeline’s desk. “Tell me.”